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
As John the Baptist leapt for joy
within his mother’s womb,
so Joy Himself at Eastertide
danced from the empty tomb.
The burning and the shining light
which all rejoiced to see
was but a pointer to the Son,
glad in his shade to be.
The friend who heard the Bridegroom’s voice
with water cleansed the bride
whom Christ espoused with blood that poured
red from his wounded side.
The fearless voice that preached the truth
resounded from the grave:
soon Truth Himself, as Word made flesh,
our sinful world would save.
Let all creation sing with joy
to God the Holy One,
in whom we pass from death to life,
joy ever new-begun.
Stanbrook Abbey Hymnal
Psalm 114 (116A)
Thanksgiving
Do not fear them, for I am with you, says the Lord.
I love the Lord, for he has heard
the cry of my appeal;
because he has turned his ear to me as I call on him,
day by day.
The ropes of death surrounded me,
Hell held me tight,
I had found pain and tribulation –
but I called on the Lord’s name:
“O Lord, free my soul.”
The Lord is compassionate and just;
our God takes pity on us.
The Lord cares for the simple –
I was brought low, but he saved me.
Return, my soul, to your rest,
for the Lord has looked after you;
he has rescued my spirit from death, my eyes from tears,
he has saved my feet from stumbling.
I shall walk in the presence of the Lord
in the land of the living.
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 not fear them, for I am with you, says the Lord.
Psalm 115 (116B)
Thanksgiving in the Temple
Herod sent one of his bodyguard to behead John, who was in prison.
Still I trusted, even when I said
“I am greatly afflicted,”
when I said in my terror,
“all men are liars.”
How shall I repay the Lord
for all he has done for me?
I will take up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord.
I will fulfil my vows to the Lord
before all his people.
Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his faithful.
O Lord, I am your servant,
your maidservant’s son.
You have torn apart my chains:
I will make you a sacrifice of praise,
I will call on the name of the Lord.
I will fulfil my vows to the Lord
before all his people,
in the courts of the house of the Lord,
within your walls, Jerusalem.
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.
Herod sent one of his bodyguard to behead John, who was in prison.
Canticle
Apocalypse 4,5
The song of the redeemed
The disciples of John came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.
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.
The disciples of John came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.
Short Reading
Acts 13:23-25
©
To keep his promise, God has raised up for Israel one of David’s descendants, Jesus, as Saviour, whose coming was heralded by John when he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the whole people of Israel. Before John ended his career he said, ‘I am not the one you imagine me to be; that one is coming after me and I am not fit to undo his sandal.’
Short Responsory
The friend of the bridegroom rejoices when he hears the bridegroom’s voice.
– The friend of the bridegroom rejoices when he hears the bridegroom’s voice.
Now my joy is complete.
– The friend of the bridegroom rejoices when he hears the bridegroom’s voice.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
– The friend of the bridegroom rejoices when he hears the bridegroom’s voice.
Canticle
Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. He must increase in importance, I must decrease.
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.
I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. He must increase in importance, I must decrease.
Prayers and intercessions
God our Father, you chose John the Baptist to announce the kingdom of Christ to all men. Joyfully we pray, therefore:
– Lord, guide us in the way of peace.
Even in his mother’s womb you chose John to prepare the way for your Son;
give us the faith to know Christ, and to make him known.
– Lord, guide us in the way of peace.
You inspired the Baptist to recognize the Lamb of God:
through us, let the world recognize your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
– Lord, guide us in the way of peace.
You disposed your prophet to give way before Christ;
give us the humility to let his light shine in the world.
– Lord, guide us in the way of peace.
You called John even to die for you;
grant that we may share his burning zeal for the truth.
– Lord, guide us in the way of peace.
Remember the dead who have walked in the path of life:
bring them to new life, cleansed from all stain of sin.
– Lord, guide us in the way of peace.
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.
God our Father,
you appointed St John the Baptist
to be the herald of the birth and death of Christ your Son.
Grant that as he died a martyr for justice and truth,
so we also may courageously bear witness to your word.
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.
