Evening Prayer: Tuesday 28 February 2017

February 28, 2017

Tuesday after Sunday before Lent
Evening Prayer – Week D

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: As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord our God.

Opening (from Psalm 119)

1 Your faithfulness remains from one generation to another;*
you established the earth, and it abides.
2 By your decree these continue to this day,*
for all things are your servants.
3 I will never forget your commandments,*
because by them you give me life.
4 I see that all things come to an end,*
but your commandment has no bounds.

Glory to the Father…

or a suitable hymn

Psalm 79
1 O God, the heathen have come into your inheritance;
they have profaned your holy temple;*
they have made Jerusalem a heap of rubble.
2 They have given the bodies of your servants as food for
the birds of the air,*
and the flesh of your faithful ones to the beasts of the field.
3 They have shed their blood like water on every side
of Jerusalem,*and there was no one to bury them.
4 We have become a reproach to our neighbours,*
an object of scorn and derision to those around us.
5 How long will you be angry, O Lord?*
will your fury blaze like fire for ever?
6 Pour out your wrath upon the heathen who have not known you*
and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon your name.
7 For they have devoured Jacob*
and made his dwelling a ruin.
8 Remember not our past sins;
let your compassion be swift to meet us;*
for we have been brought very low.
9 Help us, O God our Saviour, for the glory of your name;*
deliver us and forgive us our sins, for your name’s sake.
10 Why should the heathen say, ‘Where is their God?’*
Let it be known among the heathen and in our sight
that you avenge the shedding of your servants’ blood.
11 Let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners come before you,*
and by your great might spare those who are condemned to die.
12 May the revilings with which they reviled you, O Lord,*
return seven-fold into their bosoms.
13 For we are your people and the sheep of your pasture;*
we will give you thanks for ever
and show forth your praise from age to age.

Gracious God, in times of sorrow and depression, when hope itself seems lost, help us to remember the transforming power of your steadfast love and to give thanks for that new life we cannot now imagine. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Conclusion (from Revelation 5 and 15)

1 Great and wonderful are your deeds, Lord God the Almighty;*
just and true are your ways, O King of the ages!
2 Who shall not revere and praise your name, O Lord?*
for you alone are holy.
3 All nations shall come and worship in your presence,*
for your just dealings have been revealed.
4 To God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb*
be praise and honour, glory and might, for ever and ever. Amen.

Glory to the Father…

Antiphon: As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord our God.

READING(S)

John 1.19-28

This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, ‘I am not the Messiah.’ And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ Then they said to him, ‘Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ He said,
‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
“Make straight the way of the Lord” ’,
as the prophet Isaiah said.

Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, ‘Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?’ John answered them, ‘I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.’ This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

Response (Ps.119.89)

Lord, your word is everlasting.
Lord, your word is everlasting
It stands firm in the heavens.
Your word is everlasting.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Lord, your word is everlasting.

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 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, whose Son, Jesus Christ, was wonderfully transfigured before chosen witnesses upon the holy mountain, and spoke of the exodus he would accomplish at Jerusalem: give us strength so to hear his voice and bear our cross, that, in the world to come, we may see him as he is; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. 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.