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1.16am on Friday 21 November 2025

Evening Prayer (Evensong) in Traditional Language

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    Evening Prayer from
    The Book of Common Prayer
    Saturday, 22 November 2025
Cecilia, Virgin, Martyr at Rome, c.230
  The introduction to the service is used on Sundays, and may be used on any occasion. If the Introduction is not used, the service begins with the opening responses.
  Introduction
   
  The minister may use a seasonal sentence before using one or more of the penitential sentences.
   
  The minister introduces the service
     
    Dearly beloved [brethren],
    the Scripture moveth us in sundry places to acknowledge
       and confess our manifold sins and wickedness;
     
    [and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before
       the face of almighty God our heavenly Father;
    but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent and
       obedient heart;
    to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same
       by his infinite goodness and mercy.
    And although we ought at all times humbly to acknowledge
       our sins before God;
    yet ought we most chiefly so to do,
    when we assemble and meet together
    to render thanks for the great benefits that we have
       received at his hands,
    to set forth his most worthy praise,
    to hear his most holy word,
    and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary,
    as well for the body as the soul.]
     
    Wherefore I pray and beseech you,
    as many as are here present,
    to accompany me with a pure heart, and humble voice,
    unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying [after me]:
     
    (or)
     
    Beloved, we are come together in the presence of almighty God and of the whole company of heaven to offer unto him through our Lord Jesus Christ our worship and praise and thanksgiving; to make confession of our sins; to pray, as well for others as for ourselves, that we may know more truly the greatness of God's love and shew forth in our lives the fruits of his grace; and to ask on behalf of all men such things as their well-being doth require.
     
    Wherefore let us kneel in silence, and remember God's presence with us now.
   
All
   Almighty and most merciful Father,
    we have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep.
    We have followed too much the devices and desires
       of our own hearts.
    We have offended against thy holy laws.
    We have left undone those things
       which we ought to have done;
    and we have done those things
         which we ought not to have done;
    and there is no health in us.
    But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders.
    Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults.
    Restore thou them that are penitent;
    according to thy promises declared unto mankind
       in Christ Jesu our Lord.
    And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,
    that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life,
    to the glory of thy holy name.
  Amen.
   
  A priest says
     
    Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    who desireth not the death of a sinner,
    but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live;
    and hath given power, and commandment, to his ministers
    to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent,
    the absolution and remission of their sins:
    he pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent
       and unfeignedly believe his holy gospel.
    Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance,
       and his Holy Spirit,
    that those things may please him which we do at this present;
    and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy;
    so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
   
  or other ministers may say
     
    Grant, we beseech thee, merciful Lord,
    to thy faithful people pardon and peace,
    that they may be cleansed from all their sins,
    and serve thee with a quiet mind;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
   
All
   Our Father, which art in heaven,
    hallowed be thy name;
    thy kingdom come;
    thy will be done,
    in earth as it is in heaven.
    Give us this day our daily bread.
    And forgive us our trespasses,
  as we forgive them that trespass against us.
    And lead us not into temptation;
    but deliver us from evil.
    For thine is the kingdom,
    the power and the glory,
    for ever and ever.
    Amen.
  Evening Prayer
     
    The introduction to the service is used on Sundays, and may be used on any occasion. If the Introduction is not used, the service begins with the opening responses.
     
    These responses are used
     
    O Lord, open thou our lips
All
   and our mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
     
    O God, make speed to save us.
All
   O Lord, make haste to help us.
     
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
    and to the Holy Ghost;
All
   as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
    world without end. Amen.
     
    Praise ye the Lord.
All
   The Lord's name be praised.
     
  Psalmody  
   

Psalm 108

  
 

  
1
 O God, my heart is ready, my heart is ready *
 I will sing and give praise with the best member that I have.
  
 
  
2
 Awake, thou lute, and harp *
 I myself will awake right early.
  
 
  
3
 I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the people *
 I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
  
 
  
4
 For thy mercy is greater than the heavens *
 and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.
  
 
  
5
 Set up thyself, O God, above the heavens *
 and thy glory above all the earth.
  
 
  
6
 That thy beloved may be delivered *
 let thy right hand save them, and hear thou me.
  
 
  
7
 God hath spoken in his holiness *
 I will rejoice therefore, and divide Sichem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
  
 
  
8
 Gilead is mine, and Manasses is mine *
 Ephraim also is the strength of my head.
  
 
  
9
 Judah is my law-giver, Moab is my wash-pot *
 over Edom will I cast out my shoe; upon Philistia will I triumph.
  
 
  
10
 Who will lead me into the strong city *
 and who will bring me into Edom?
  
 
  
11
 Hast not thou forsaken us, O God *
 and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts?
  
 
  
12
 O help us against the enemy *
 for vain is the help of man.
  
 
  
13
 Through God we shall do great acts *
 and it is he that shall tread down our enemies.
  
 

Psalm 109

  
 

  
1
 Hold not thy tongue, O God of my praise *
 for the mouth of the ungodly, yea, the mouth of the deceitful is opened upon me.
  
 
  
2
 And they have spoken against me with false tongues *
 they compassed me about also with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.
  
 
  
3
 For the love that I had unto them, lo, they take now my contrary part *
 but I give myself unto prayer.
  
 
  
4
 Thus have they rewarded me evil for good *
 and hatred for my good will.
  
 
  
5
 Set thou an ungodly man to be ruler over him *
 and let Satan stand at his right hand.
  
 
  
6
 When sentence is given upon him, let him be condemned *
 and let his prayer be turned into sin.
  
 
  
7
 Let his days be few *
 and let another take his office.
  
 
  
8
 Let his children be fatherless *
 and his wife a widow.
  
 
  
9
 Let his children be vagabonds, and beg their bread *
 let them seek it also out of desolate places.
  
 
  
10
 Let the extortioner consume all that he hath *
 and let the stranger spoil his labour.
  
 
  
11
 Let there be no man to pity him *
 nor to have compassion upon his fatherless children.
  
 
  
12
 Let his posterity be destroyed *
 and in the next generation let his name be clean put out.
  
 
  
13
 Let the wickedness of his fathers be had in remembrance in the sight of the Lord *
 and let not the sin of his mother be done away.
  
 
  
14
 Let them alway be before the Lord *
 that he may root out the memorial of them from off the earth;
  
 
  
15
 And that, because his mind was not to do good *
 but persecuted the poor helpless man, that he might slay him that was vexed at the heart.
  
 
  
16
 His delight was in cursing, and it shall happen unto him *
 he loved not blessing, therefore shall it be far from him.
  
 
  
17
 He clothed himself with cursing, like as with a raiment *
 and it shall come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
  
 
  
18
 Let it be unto him as the cloke that he hath upon him *
 and as the girdle that he is alway girded withal.
  
 
  
19
 Let it thus happen from the Lord unto mine enemies *
 and to those that speak evil against my soul.
  
 
  
20
 But deal thou with me, O Lord God, according unto thy Name *
 for sweet is thy mercy.
  
 
  
21
 O deliver me, for I am helpless and poor *
 and my heart is wounded within me.
  
 
  
22
 I go hence like the shadow that departeth *
 and am driven away as the grasshopper.
  
 
  
23
 My knees are weak through fasting *
 my flesh is dried up for want of fatness.
  
 
  
24
 I became also a reproach unto them *
 they that looked upon me shaked their heads.
  
 
  
25
 Help me, O Lord my God *
 O save me according to thy mercy;
  
 
  
26
 And they shall know, how that this is thy hand *
 and that thou, Lord, hast done it.
  
 
  
27
 Though they curse, yet bless thou *
 and let them be confounded that rise up against me; but let thy servant rejoice.
  
 
  
28
 Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame *
 and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a cloke.
  
 
  
29
 As for me, I will give great thanks unto the Lord with my mouth *
 and praise him among the multitude;
  
 
  
30
 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor *
 to save his soul from unrighteous judges.
  
 
     
    At the end of each psalm these words are said or sung
     
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
    and to the Holy Ghost;
    as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
    world without end. Amen.
     
    Old Testament Reading  
 
   

First Reading: Daniel 12

 

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
 Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.
 And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
 But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

       
  Magnificat  
     
    Either the Magnificat (as follows) or Cantate Domino (Psalm 98) is said or sung.
     
1
   My soul doth magnify the Lord :
    and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
     
2
   For he hath regarded :
    the lowliness of his handmaiden.
     
3
   For behold, from henceforth :
    all generations shall call me blessed.
     
4
   For he that is mighty hath magnified me :
    and holy is his Name.
     
5
   And his mercy is on them that fear him :
    throughout all generations.
     
6
   He hath shewed strength with his arm :
    he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
     
7
   He hath put down the mighty from their seat :
    and hath exalted the humble and meek.
     
8
   He hath filled the hungry with good things :
    and the rich he hath sent empty away.
     
9
   He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel :
    as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.
   
Luke 1.46-55
     
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
    and to the Holy Ghost;
    as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
    world without end. Amen.
     
  New Testament Reading  
 
   

Second Reading: Revelation 13.11-end

And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

     
  Nunc dimittis  
     
    Either the Nunc dimittis (as follows) or Deus misereatur (Psalm 67) is said or sung.
     
1
   Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace :
    according to thy word.
     
2
   For mine eyes have seen :
    thy salvation;
     
3
   Which thou hast prepared :
    before the face of all people;
     
4
   To be a light to lighten the Gentiles :
    and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
   
Luke 2.29-32
     
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
    and to the Holy Ghost;
    as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
    world without end. Amen.
     
  The Apostles' Creed  
     
All
   I believe in God the Father almighty,
    maker of heaven and earth:
    and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
    who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
    born of the Virgin Mary,
    suffered under Pontius Pilate,
    was crucified, dead, and buried.
    He descended into hell;
    the third day he rose again from the dead;
    he ascended into heaven,
    and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty;
    from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
    I believe in the Holy Ghost;
    the holy catholic Church;
    the communion of saints;
    the forgiveness of sins;
    the resurrection of the body,
    and the life everlasting.
    Amen.
     
  Prayers  
     
    The Lord be with you.
All
   And with thy spirit.
     
    Let us pray.
     
    Lord, have mercy upon us.
All
   Christ, have mercy upon us.
    Lord, have mercy upon us.
     
All
   Our Father, which art in heaven,
    hallowed be thy name;
    thy kingdom come;
    thy will be done,
    in earth as it is in heaven.
    Give us this day our daily bread.
    And forgive us our trespasses,
    as we forgive them that trespass against us.
    And lead us not into temptation;
    but deliver us from evil. Amen.
     
    O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us.
All
   And grant us thy salvation.
     
    O Lord, save the King.
All
   And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.
     
    Endue thy ministers with righteousness.
All
   And make thy chosen people joyful.
     
    O Lord, save thy people.
All
   And bless thine inheritance.
     
    Give peace in our time, O Lord.
All
   Because there is none other that fighteth for us,
    but only thou, O God.
     
    O God, make clean our hearts within us.
All
   And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.
     
    Three Collects are said.
     
  The Collect of the Day  
     
    Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
     
     
  The Collect for Peace  
     
    O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels,
         and all just works do proceed;
    give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give;
    that both, our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments,
    and also that, by thee,
    we being defended from the fear of our enemies
    may pass our time in rest and quietness;
    through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
All
   Amen.
     
  The Collect for Aid against all Perils  
     
    Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord;
    and by thy great mercy defend us
         from all perils and dangers of this night;
    for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
All
   Amen.
     
    The order for the end of the service may include:
     
    hymns or anthems
       a sermon
    further prayers (which may include prayers from here)
     
    This prayer may be used to conclude the service
     
    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    and the love of God,
    and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost,
    be with us all evermore.
All
   Amen.
     
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