Evening Prayer, 3rd Monday in Ordinary Time
Please feel free to pause the service at any point if you would like more time to pray or to reflect.
OPENING SENTENCES
God is light,
and in him is no darkness at all.
Jesus Christ is the Light of the world,
the light that no darkness can overcome.
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! (Psalm 141:2)
THE GLORIA PATRI
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 EVENING HYMN Phos Hilarion
O gladsome light of the holy glory
of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by joyful voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of Life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.
THE SILENT PRAYER AND PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Beloved of God, we have come together in the presence of Almighty God our heavenly Father, to give him thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his holy word, and to ask, for ourselves and on behalf of others, those things that are necessary for our life and our salvation. And so that we may prepare ourselves in heart and mind to worship Him, let us pray with penitent and obedient hearts and confess our sins, that we may obtain forgiveness by His infinite goodness and mercy.
Praying together, let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God:
Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who pardons all who truly repent and turn to you: We humbly confess our sins and ask your mercy. We have not loved you with a pure heart, nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves. We have not done justice, nor loved kindness, nor walked humbly with you, our God. Have mercy on us, Father, according to your steadfast love. According to your great compassion, blot out our iniquities. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Do not cast us from your presence, nor take your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of your salvation and sustain us with your bountiful Spirit. Through Jesus Christ our Lord AMEN.
And now, let us silently confess our particular sins:
A brief silence is kept. Please feel free to pause the service if you would like more time. Then:
Most holy and loving Father, help us from now on to live in your light and walk in your ways, according to the commandments of Jesus Christ our Lord, who taught us to pray, saying:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. AMEN.
THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Almighty God, who freely pardons all who repent and turn to him, now fulfill in every contrite heart the promise of redeeming grace; remitting all our sins, and cleansing us from an evil conscience, through the perfect sacrifice of Christ our Lord; and keep us evermore in the peace and joy of a holy life, that we may love and serve him always; in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. AMEN.
THE SONG OF PRAISE Magnificat
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever. (Luke 1:46–55)
THE PSALTER
Psalm 85
To the Choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
Lord, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you covered all their sin. Selah
You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.
Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us!
Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
but let them not turn back to folly.
Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
that glory may dwell in our land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from the sky.
Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before him
and make his footsteps a way.
THE PSALM PRAYER
O Lord, who never leaves imperfect that which you have begun, even though our wickedness and unthankfulness deserve that we should be deprived of all your benefits: Nevertheless we beseech you of your great mercy to cast away our sins; and grant that we may fear and serve you in such a way that you maintain us in peace and tranquility. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN
THE SCRIPTURE LESSON
A reading from Mark, chapter 5:
And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” And he went with him.
And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. (Mark 5:21-43)
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
THE PRAYER FOR GRACE
Let your Gospel, O Lord, come to us, not in word only, but in power and in much assurance, and in your Holy Spirit, that we may be guided into all truth and strengthened to all obedience and doing of your will with joy. And grant that, abounding in the work of faith, the labor of love, and the patience of hope, we may finally have our inheritance with all the saints in glory. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
Pause the service now if you would like more time.
THE AFFIRMATION OF OUR FAITH
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.
THE EVENING PRAYER
Almighty God, the Father of our spirits: meet with us at this, the close of day, and grant to your children, the peace that passes all understanding, which the world cannot give. Let no unholy thoughts or cares disturb the quiet of our night’s rest. Deliver us from the vain things that have such power over us, and grant that we may we learn wisdom, receive strength, gain hope, feel the influence of things unseen, and find our rest in you, our God. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
THE PERSONAL INTERCESSIONS AND THANKSGIVINGS
Let us offer our own prayers to the Lord…
Feel free to pause the service here for your personal prayers and thanksgivings for yourself, the Church, your officers, and others
Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN.
O God, who makes all things to work together for good to those who love you and are called according to your purpose: Pour into our hearts such steadfast love for you that those desires that spring from you may not be turned aside by any temptation. Govern our wills, O Lord, and direct our steps, that every day, as we are guided by you to what is good and profitable, we may, by your help fulfil your commandments.
Lord, our Light and our Salvation, only be with us, and we shall fear no evil. We commend ourselves, all whom we love, all that is ours, and all events and changes of our lives, into your hands, you who are able to keep us, our God, our Father, our Savior. AMEN.
Keep watch, dear Lord, over those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Care for the sick, Lord Jesus; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, have mercy on the afflicted, shield the contented; all for your love’s sake. AMEN.
THE SONG OF SIMEON Nunc Dimittis
Lord, let your servant depart in peace
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel. (Luke 2:29-32)
THE CLOSING PRAYER
Lord, be our thoughts when we lie down to sleep; and when we wake, let us know and feel that we are still with you and you with us, O Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. AMEN.
THE DISMISSAL
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, until the day breaks and all these shadows flee away. AMEN