Evening Prayer, 3rd Wednesday 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 125
A Song of Ascents.
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore.
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
on the land allotted to the righteous,
lest the righteous stretch out
their hands to do wrong.
Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,
and to those who are upright in their hearts!
But those who turn aside to their crooked ways
the Lord will lead away with evildoers!
Peace be upon Israel!
THE PSALM PRAYER
O Mighty King and Lord, the rock and fortress of all those who put their trust in you: Undo the force and break down the pride of those who afflict your poor Church, and do not allow your simple folk to be overthrown by them, but rather confirm them as Mount Zion, that they may abide in the new Jerusalem, which is Christ’s Church. Do not allow your people to shake hands with unrighteousness, but et peace be upon Israel, who do not walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Through Jesus Christ your Son. AMEN.
THE SCRIPTURE LESSON
A reading from Mark, chapter 6:
King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.
But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. (Mark 6:14-29)
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