Evening Prayer: Friday 25 July 2025

Friday 25 July 2025

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

James, Apostle
Festivals

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: Sing to the Lord a new song;* sing the praises of God in the congregation of the faithful.
(Psalm 149.1)

Opening (from Psalm 149)

1. Let Israel rejoice in their maker;*
let the children of Zion be joyful in their sovereign.

2. For the Lord takes pleasure in this people*
and adorns the poor with victory.

3. Let the faithful rejoice in triumph;*
let them be joyful on their beds.

4. Let the praises of God be in their throat*
and a two-edged sword in their hand.

Glory ...
or a suitable Hymn

Psalm 69.1-18
1. Save me, O God, *
for the waters have risen up to my neck.

2. I am sinking in deep mire, and there is no firm ground for my feet.*
I have come into deep waters, and the torrent washes over me.

3. I have grown weary with my crying; my throat is inflamed; *
my eyes have failed from looking for my God.

4. Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; *
my lying foes who would destroy me are mighty. Must I then give back what I never stole?

5. O God, you know my foolishness, *
and my faults are not hidden from you.

6. Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, Lord God of hosts; *
let not those who seek you be disgraced because of me, O God of Israel.

7. Surely, for your sake have I suffered reproach, *
and shame has covered my face.

8. I have become a stranger to my own kindred, *
an alien to my mother’s children.

9. Zeal for your house has eaten me up; *
the scorn of those who scorn you has fallen upon me.

10. I humbled myself with fasting, *
but that was turned to my reproach.

11. I put on sack-cloth also, *
and became a byword among them.

12. Those who sit at the gate murmur against me, *
and the drunkards make songs about me.

13. But as for me, this is my prayer to you, *at the time you have set, O Lord:
“In your great mercy, O God, *answer me with your unfailing help.

14. Save me from the mire; *do not let me sink;
let me be rescued from those who hate me *and out of the deep waters.

15. Let not the torrent of waters wash over me, neither let the deep swallow me up; *
do not let the Pit shut its mouth upon me.

16. Answer me, O Lord, for your love is kind; *
in your great compassion, turn to me.”

17. “Hide not your face from your servant; *
be swift and answer me, for I am in distress.

18. Draw near to me and redeem me; *
because of my enemies deliver me.

Glory …

Conclusion


Revelation 4 and 5

1. Glory and honour and power*
are yours by right, O Lord our God;

2. For you created all things*
and by your will they have their being.

3. Glory and honour and power*
are yours by right, O Lamb who was slain;

4. For by your blood you ransomed us for God,*
from every race and language, from every people and nation.

5. To make us a kingdom of priests*
to stand and serve before our God.

6. To God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb*
be praise and honour, glory and might, for ever and ever. Amen.

Glory …

Antiphon: Sing to the Lord a new song;* sing the praises of God in the congregation of the faithful.

READING(S)

Jeremiah 26.1-15

"At the beginning of the reign of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah, this word came from the Lord: Thus says the Lord: Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the Lord; speak to them all the words that I command you; do not hold back a word. It may be that they will listen, all of them, and will turn from their evil way, that I may change my mind about the disaster that I intend to bring on them because of their evil doings. You shall say to them: Thus says the Lord: If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I have set before you, and to heed the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently—though you have not heeded— then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth. The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord. And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, ‘You shall die! Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, “This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant”?’ And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord. When the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the house of the Lord and took their seat in the entry of the New Gate of the house of the Lord. Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, ‘This man deserves the sentence of death because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.’ Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, ‘It is the Lord who sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard. Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God, and the Lord will change his mind about the disaster that he has pronounced against you. But as for me, here I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you. Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will be bringing innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the Lord sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.’"

Matthew 10.16-32

"‘See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. ‘A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household! ‘So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. ‘Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven;"

Silence

Response Psalm 147.12

You delight, Lord, in those who fear you.
You delight, Lord, in those who fear you.
Who wait in hope for your mercy.
Those who fear you.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
You delight, Lord, in those who fear you.

SONG OF MARY

Song of Mary Antiphon: Those that sow in tears* shall reap with songs of joy.

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: Those that sow in tears* shall reap with songs of joy.

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

O God of mercy:
grant that, as your holy Apostle James,
leaving his father and all that he had,
was obedient to the calling of your Son Jesus Christ,
and followed him even to death;
so we, forsaking all selfish desires,
may ever be ready to obey your call;
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.