Evening Prayer: Friday 21 February 2025

Friday 21 February 2025

This is the new revised order for Daily Prayer authorised for experimental use. You can find the 2006 Revised version here.

Friday Sixth Sunday after Epiphany
Week B

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

Glory to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word, and 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 139.7)

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 ...
or a suitable Hymn

Psalm 120

1. When I was in trouble, I called to the Lord; *
I called to the Lord who answered me.

2. Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips *
and from the deceitful tongue.

3. What shall be done to you, and what more besides, *
O you deceitful tongue?

4. The sharpened arrows of a warrior, *
along with hot glowing coals.

5. How hateful it is that I must lodge in Meshech *
and dwell among the tents of Kedar!

6. Too long have I had to live *
among the enemies of peace.

7. I am on the side of peace, *
but when I speak of it, they are for war.

Glory …

Psalm 121

1. I lift up my eyes to the hills; *
from where is my help to come?

2. My help comes from the Lord, *
the maker of heaven and earth.

3. The Lord will not let your foot be moved *
and the One who watches over you will not fall asleep.

4. Behold, the One who keeps watch over Israel *
shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5. The Lord, the Lord, watches over you; *
the Lord is your shade at your side,

6. so that the sun shall not strike you by day, *
nor the moon by night.

7. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil *
and shall keep you safe.

8. The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in, *
from this time forth for evermore.

Conclusion

1 Timothy 3

1. Great indeed, we confess,*
is the mystery of our religion.

2. Christ 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 …

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

READING(S)

Mark 12.28-34

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbour as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question.

Silence

Response Psalm 105.5

Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
The wonders and the judgements of the mouth of the Lord.
What wonders God has done!
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
Remember the marvels the Lord has done.

SONG OF MARY

Song of Mary Antiphon: God has cast down the mighty * and lifted up the lowly.

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)

Song of Mary Antiphon: God has cast down the mighty * and lifted up the lowly.

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,
grant that with our minds set always on your wisdom and love,
we may pursue both in word and deed
those things that are pleasing in your sight;
through 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.