Evening Prayer: Tuesday 25 August 2015

August 25, 2015

Ebba of Coldingham, Abbess, 683
Evening Prayer – Week B

O God, make speed to save us;
O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.

PSALMODY

Antiphon: Where can I go from your Spirit?* where can I flee from your presence? (Psalm 139.6)

Opening (from Psalm 139)

1 I will thank you because I am marvellously made;*
your works are wonderful, and I know it well.
2 My body was not hidden from you,*
while I was being made in secret
and woven in the depths of the earth.
3 How deep I find your thoughts, O God!*
how great is the sum of them!
4 If I were to count them, they would be more in number than the sand;* to count them all, my life span would need to be like yours.

Glory to the Father…

or a suitable hymn

Psalm 68.19-36
19 Blessed be the Lord day by day,*
the God of our salvation, who bears our burdens.
20 He is our God, the God of our salvation;*
God is the Lord, by whom we escape death.
21 God shall crush the heads of his enemies,*
and the hairy scalp of those who go on still in their wickedness.
22 The Lord has said, ‘I will bring them back from Bashan;*
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea;
23 That your foot may be dipped in blood,*
the tongues of your dogs in the blood of your enemies.’
24 They see your procession, O God,*
your procession into the sanctuary, my God and my King.
25 The singers go before, musicians follow after,*
in the midst of maidens playing upon the hand-drums.
26 Bless God in the congregation;*
bless the Lord, you that are of the fountain of Israel.
27 There is Benjamin, least of the tribes, at the head;
the princes of Judah in a company;*
and the princes of Zebulon and Naphtali.
28 Send forth your strength, O God;*
establish, O God, what you have wrought for us.
29 Kings shall bring gifts to you,*
for your temple’s sake at Jerusalem.
30 Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds,*
and the peoples, a herd of wild bulls with its calves.
31 Trample down those who lust after silver;*
scatter the peoples that delight in war.
32 Let tribute be brought out of Egypt;*
let Ethiopia stretch out her hands to God.
33 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth;*
sing praises to the Lord.
34 He rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;*
he sends forth his voice, his mighty voice.
35 Ascribe power to God;*
his majesty is over Israel;
his strength is in the skies.
36 How wonderful is God in his holy places!*
the God of Israel giving strength and power to his people!
Blessed be God!

Conclusion (from 1 Timothy 3)

1 Great indeed, we confess,*
is the mystery of our religion.
2 He was manifested in the flesh,*
vindicated in the Spirit,
3 Seen by angels,*
preached among the nations,
4 Believed on in the world;*
taken up in glory.

Glory to the Father…

Antiphon: Where can I go from your Spirit?
where can I flee from your presence?

READING(S)

Mark 13:28-37
‘From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

‘But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.’

Response (Ps. 105.5)

Call to mind what wonders he has done!
Call to mind what wonders he has done!
His marvellous acts and the judgements of his mouth.
What wonders he has done!
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Call to mind what wonders he has done!

MAGNIFICAT

Magnificat Antiphon: Our spirits rejoice* in God our Saviour.

1 My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,*
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;
2 for he has looked with favour on his lowly servant;*
from this day all generations will call me blessed.
3 The Almighty has done great things for me*
and holy is his name.
4 He has mercy on those who fear him*
in every generation.
5 He has shown the strength of his arm;*
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
6 He has cast down the mighty from their thrones*
and has lifted up the lowly.
7 He has filled the hungry with good things,*
and the rich he has sent away empty.
8 He has come to the help of his servant Israel,*
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
9 the promise he made to our forebears,*
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father… (may be said by all)

Magnificat Antiphon: Our spirits rejoice* in God our Saviour.

PRAYERS

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Do not bring us to to the time of trial,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.
Amen.

Collect of the Day

Almighty God, we are taught by your word that all our doings without love are worth nothing. Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Lord God almighty, come and dispel the darkness from our hearts, that in the radiance of your brightness we may know you, the only unfading light, glorious in all eternity. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord:
Thanks be to God!

The God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing:
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.