Vespers (Evening Prayer)
INTRODUCTION
O God, come to our aid.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
Hymn
Before we end our day, O Lord,
We make this prayer to you:
That you continue in your love
To guard your people here.
Give us this night untroubled rest
And build our strength anew:
Your Splendour driving far away
All darkness of the foe.
Our hearts’ desire to love you, Lord,
Watch over while we sleep,
That when the new day dawns on high
We may your praises sing.
All glory be to you, O Christ,
Who saved mankind from death
To share with you the Father’s love
And in the Spirit live.
Psalm 136 (137)
By the rivers of Babylon
If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand wither!
By the rivers of Babylon
we sat and wept
remembering Zion.
On the willow-trees of Babylon
we hung up our harps.
In that place they asked us,
those who had captured us,
to sing them a song:
“Sing us,” they said,
“a song of Zion.”
They had brought us affliction
and asked us for joy.
How shall we sing the songs of the Lord
in a foreign land?
Jerusalem, if I forget you,
send my right hand to oblivion;
let my tongue stick in my throat
if I do not remember –
if I do not rank Jerusalem
the first of my joys.
Remember, Lord, the Edomites
on the day of Jerusalem:
“Raze it,” they said, “to the ground.”
Babylon’s daughter, destroyer –
blessed be he that takes his revenge,
that smashes your child on a rock.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand wither!
Psalm 137 (138)
Thanksgiving
Before the angels I will bless you, my God.
I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth.
In the presence of the angels I will make music to you,
worship before your holy temple.
I will praise your name
because of your mercy and faithfulness:
high above all other names is the greatness of your word.
Each day that I call on you, Lord,
listen to me, strengthen my spirit.
All the kings of the earth will proclaim your glory, Lord,
when they hear your word.
They will sing of the paths of the Lord,
so great is his glory.
For the Lord is on high
but he cares for the humble;
and he knows the proud from afar.
If I walk in the midst of troubles, you will give me life.
If my enemies rise up against me,
your right hand will keep me safe.
The Lord does all that I need.
Lord, your kindness lasts for ever:
do not forsake the work of your hands.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
Before the angels I will bless you, my God.
Canticle
Apocalypse 4,5
The song of the redeemed
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive glory and honour.
You are worthy, our Lord and our God,
to receive glory and honour and power;
for you made all things,
and it is by your will that they exist and were created.
You are worthy, Lord,
to receive the book and open its seals,
for you were killed,
and with your blood you have ransomed people
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and made them rulers and priests for God;
and they will rule over the earth.
The Lamb is worthy, who was killed,
to receive power and riches and wisdom,
strength and honour, glory and blessing.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive glory and honour.
Short Reading
Colossians 3:16
©
Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God.
Short Responsory
You will give me the fullness of joy in your presence, O Lord.
– You will give me the fullness of joy in your presence, O Lord.
I will find happiness at your right hand for ever.
– You will give me the fullness of joy in your presence, O Lord.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
– You will give me the fullness of joy in your presence, O Lord.
Canticle
Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
Do great things for us, O Lord, for you are mighty, and Holy is your name.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.
For he has shown me such favour –
me, his lowly handmaiden.
Now all generations will call me blessed,
because the mighty one has done great things for me.
His name is holy,
his mercy lasts for generation after generation
for those who revere him.
He has put forth his strength:
he has scattered the proud and conceited,
torn princes from their thrones;
but lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
Do great things for us, O Lord, for you are mighty, and Holy is your name.
Prayers and intercessions
Christ taught us to set our hearts on the Kingdom of God, and on its justice. In that Kingdom all that we need will be given to us. Until then, let us pray:
– Your Kingdom come, O Lord.
Blessed are those who know their need of God:
lead us to seek your face in purity of heart.
– Your Kingdom come, O Lord.
Blessed are those who work for no reward, those who suffer for what is right:
comfort them with your presence, lighten their burden.
– Your Kingdom come, O Lord.
Blessed are the gentle, those who show mercy, and forgive;
they shall know your forgiveness at the end of time.
– Your Kingdom come, O Lord.
Blessed are the peacemakers, those who reconcile conflict and hate:
they are indeed the sons of God.
– Your Kingdom come, O Lord.
Bring consolation to all who mourn the dead:
may they share the blessed hope of all who have died in the peace of Christ.
– Your Kingdom come, O Lord.
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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
As we pray before you, Lord,
we ask you, in your mercy, for the grace
always to ponder in our hearts
what we proclaim with our lips.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
