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
O God, Creator of the world,
And King of heaven, sending light
Most beautiful to clothe the day,
And grace of sleep to come by night.
That so in rest our slackened limbs
Grow strong for work as dawns the day,
And wearied minds be fresh again,
As light drives anxious care away.
With bounden thanks, with offered vows,
With prayers and hymns our debt we pay,
Beseeching thee to keep us safe
As night draws nigh, as ends the day.
Psalm 124 (125)
The Lord guards his people
The Lord surrounds his people.
Those who trust in the Lord are like the mountain of Zion:
it cannot be shaken, it will stand firm for ever.
Jerusalem – the mountains stand guard over it,
and the Lord stands guard over his people,
both now and for ever.
The sceptre of the wicked shall not rest
upon the inheritance of the just;
lest the just themselves stretch out their hands
and turn to wickedness.
Be good, O Lord, to the good
and the upright of heart.
As for those who turn away to crooked paths,
the Lord shall treat them like the doers of evil.
Peace be on Israel!
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 Lord surrounds his people.
Psalm 130 (131)
Childlike trust in God
Unless you become like little children you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Lord, I do not puff myself up or stare about,
or walk among the great or seek wonders beyond me.
Truly calm and quiet I have made my spirit:
quiet as a weaned child in its mother’s arms –
like an infant is my soul.
Let Israel hope in the Lord, now and for all time.
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.
Unless you become like little children you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Canticle
Apocalypse 4,5
The song of the redeemed
Lord, you made us a kingdom and priests to serve our God.
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.
Lord, you made us a kingdom and priests to serve our God.
Short Reading
Romans 12:9-12
©
Do not let your love be a pretence, but sincerely prefer good to evil. Love each other as much as brothers should, and have a profound respect for each other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope, this will make you cheerful. Do not give up if trials come; and keep on praying.
Short Responsory
Your word, O Lord, will endure for ever.
– Your word, O Lord, will endure for ever.
Your truth will last from age to age.
– Your word, O Lord, will endure for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
– Your word, O Lord, will endure for ever.
Canticle
Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
My spirit exults in the Lord God, my saviour.
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.
My spirit exults in the Lord God, my saviour.
Prayers and intercessions
God has established his people in hope. Nothing can break the confidence of those who love him. Let us proclaim:
– Father, our trust is in you.
We give you thanks, Lord God,
for you have made man rich in all wisdom and insight.
– Father, our trust is in you.
Lord God, you know the hearts of all rulers:
May they work for the good of the people they govern.
– Father, our trust is in you.
Lord, you empower mankind to glorify this world with art:
make our work live with vision and true hope.
– Father, our trust is in you.
You do not allow us to be tempted beyond our limits:
strengthen the weak, raise up the fallen.
– Father, our trust is in you.
Father, you have promised men a share in your Son’s resurrection on the last day:
remember those who have gone before us on the path to eternal life.
– Father, our trust is in you.
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.
Let our evening prayer rise up before your throne of mercy, Lord,
and let your blessing come down upon us,
so that now and for ever
your grace may help and save us.
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.
