Evening Prayer: Wednesday 23 September 2015

September 23, 2015

Adamnan of Iona, Abbot, 704
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 25
1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
my God, I put my trust in you;*
let me not be humiliated,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
2 Let none who look to you be put to shame;*
let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes.
3 Show me your ways, O Lord,*
and teach me your paths.
4 Lead me in your truth and teach me,*
for you are the God of my salvation;
in you have I trusted all the day long.
5 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love,*
for they are from everlasting.
6 Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions;*
remember me according to your love
and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.
7 Gracious and upright is the Lord;*
therefore he teaches sinners in his way.
8 He guides the humble in doing right*
and teaches his way to the lowly.
9 All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness*
to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
10 For your name’s sake, O Lord,*
forgive my sin, for it is great.
11 Who are they who fear the Lord?*
he will teach them the way that they should choose.
12 They shall dwell in prosperity,*
and their offspring shall inherit the land.
13 The Lord is a friend to those who fear him*
and will show them his covenant.
14 My eyes are ever looking to the Lord,*
for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
15 Turn to me and have pity on me,*
for I am left alone and in misery.
16 The sorrows of my heart have increased;*
bring me out of my troubles.
17 Look upon my adversity and misery*
and forgive me all my sin.
18 Look upon my enemies, for they are many,*
and they bear a violent hatred against me.
19 Protect my life and deliver me;*
let me not be put to shame, for I have trusted in you.
20 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,*
for my hope has been in you.
21 Deliver Israel, O God,*
out of all his troubles.

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)

Matthew 5:38-48
‘You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

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: God looks with favour* on his lowly servant.

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: God looks with favour* on his lowly servant.

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, you have created the heavens and the earth, and ourselves in your image. Teach us to discern your hand in all your works and to serve you with reverence and thanksgiving; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive 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.