Duthac, Bishop, 1068
Evening Prayer – Returning to God
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: Show me your ways, O Lord,* and teach me your paths. (Ps. 25.3)
Opening (from Psalm 25)
1 You are the God of my salvation;*
in you have I trusted all the day long.
2 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love,*
for they are from everlasting.
3 Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions;*
remember me according to your love.
4 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,*
for my hope has been in you.
Glory to the Father…
or a suitable hymn
Psalm 78.1-39
1 Hear my teaching, O my people;*
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;*
I will declare the mysteries of ancient times.
3 That which we have heard and known,
and what our forefathers have told us,*
we will not hide from their children.
4 We will recount to generations to come
the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the Lord,*
and the wonderful works he has done.
5 He gave his decrees to Jacob and established a law for Israel,*
which he commanded them to teach their children;
6 That the generations to come might know,
and the children yet unborn;*
that they in their turn might tell it to their children;
7 So that they might put their trust in God,*
and not forget the deeds of God,
but keep his commandments;
8 And not be like their forefathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,*
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
and whose spirit was not faithful to God.
9 he people of Ephraim, armed with the bow,*
turned back in the day of battle;
10 They did not keep the covenant of God,*
and refused to walk in his law;
11 They forgot what he had done,*
and the wonders he had shown them.
12 He worked marvels in the sight of their forefathers,*
in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
13 He split open the sea and let them pass through;*
he made the waters stand up like walls.
14 He led them with a cloud by day,*
and all the night through with a glow of fire.
15 He split the hard rocks in the wilderness*
and gave them drink as from the great deep.
16 He brought streams out of the cliff,*
and the waters gushed out like rivers.
17 But they went on sinning against him,*
rebelling in the desert against the Most High.
18 They tested God in their hearts,*
demanding food for their craving.
19 They railed against God and said,*
‘Can God set a table in the wilderness?
20 True, he struck the rock, the waters gushed out, and the
gullies overflowed;*
but is he able to give bread
or to provide meat for his people?’
21 When the Lord heard this, he was full of wrath;*
a fire was kindled against Jacob,
and his anger mounted against Israel;
22 For they had no faith in God,*
nor did they put their trust in his saving power.
23 So he commanded the clouds above*
and opened the doors of heaven.
24 He rained down manna upon them to eat*
and gave them grain from heaven.
25 So mortals ate the bread of angels;*
he provided for them food enough.
26 He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens*
and led out the south wind by his might.
27 He rained down flesh upon them like dust*
and wingèd birds like the sand of the sea.
28 He let it fall in the midst of their camp*
and round about their dwellings.
29 So they ate and were well filled,*
for he gave them what they craved.
30 But they did not stop their craving,*
though the food was still in their mouths.
31 So God’s anger mounted against them;*
he slew their strongest men
and laid low the youth of Israel.
32 In spite of all this, they went on sinning*
and had no faith in his wonderful works.
33 So he brought their days to an end like a breath*
and their years in sudden terror.
34 Whenever he slew them, they would seek him,*
and repent, and diligently search for God.
35 They would remember that God was their rock,*
and the Most High God their redeemer.
36 But they flattered him with their mouths*
and lied to him with their tongues.
37 Their heart was not steadfast toward him,*
and they were not faithful to his covenant.
38 But he was so merciful that he forgave their sins
and did not destroy them;*
many times he held back his anger
and did not permit his wrath to be roused.
39 For he remembered that they were but flesh,*
a breath that goes forth and does not return.
God of pilgrims, strengthen our faith, we pray. Guide us through the uncertainties of our journey, and hold before us the vision of your eternal kingdom, made known to us in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Conclusion (from Matthew 5)
1 Blessed are the poor in spirit,*
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2 Blessed are those who mourn,*
for they shall be comforted.
3 Blessed are the meek,*
for they shall inherit the earth.
4 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,*
for they shall be satisfied.
5 Blessed are the merciful,*
for they shall obtain mercy.
6 Blessed are the pure in heart,*
for they shall see God.
7 Blessed are the peacemakers,*
for they shall be called the children of God.
8 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,*
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Glory to the Father…
Antiphon: Show me your ways, O Lord,
and teach me your paths.
READING(S)
John 2.23-3.15
When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all peopleand needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The windblows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
Response (Ps. 86.15)
You, Lord, are gracious and full of compassion.
You, Lord, are gracious and full of compassion.
Slow to anger, full of kindness and truth.
Full of compassion.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
You, Lord, are gracious and full of compassion.
MAGNIFICAT
Magnificat Antiphon: If you hear his voice,* harden not your hearts (Ps. 95.7)
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: If you hear his voice,* harden not your hearts (Ps. 95.7)
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 fasted forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are, yet did not sin: give us grace to discipline ourselves in submission to your Spirit, that, as you know our weakness, so we may know your power to save; 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.
