Evening Prayer: Saturday 13 December 2025

Saturday 13 December 2025

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

Saturday after Second Sunday of Advent
Advent

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: My eyes are turned to you, Lord God; * in you I take refuge; do not strip me of my life.
(Psalm 141.8)

Opening (from Psalms 140 and 141)

1. I have said to the Lord, ”You are my God;
listen, O Lord, to my supplication.”

2. Lord, I call to you; come to me quickly; *
hear my voice when I cry to you

3. I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the poor *
and render justice to the needy.

4. Surely, the righteous will give thanks to your name,*
and the upright shall continue in your sight.

Glory ...
or a suitable Hymn

Psalm 107.23-43

23. Some went down to the sea in ships *
and plied their trade in deep waters;

24. They beheld your works, O Lord, *
and your wonders in the deep.

25. Then you spoke, and a stormy wind arose, *
which tossed high the waves of the sea.

26. They mounted up to the heavens and fell back to the depths; *
their hearts melted because of their peril.

27. They reeled and staggered like drunkards *
and were at their wits’ end.

28. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, *
and you delivered them from their distress.

29. You stilled the storm to a whisper *
and quieted the waves of the sea.

30. Then were they glad because of the calm, *
and you brought them to the harbour they were bound for.

31. Let them give thanks to you, O Lord, for your mercy *
and the wonders you do for your children.

32. Let them exalt you in the congregation of the people *
and praise you in the council of the elders.

33. The Lord changed rivers into deserts, *
and water-springs into thirsty ground,

34. a fruitful land into salt flats, *
because of the wickedness of those who dwell there.

35. The Lord changed deserts into pools of water *
and dry land into water-springs,

36. settling the hungry there, *
and they founded a city to dwell in.

37. They sowed fields, and planted vineyards, *
and brought in a fruitful harvest.

38. The Lord blessed them, so that they increased greatly; *
and did not let their herds decrease.

39. Yet when they were diminished and brought low, *
through stress of adversity and sorrow,

40. (You pour contempt on princes *
and make them wander in trackless wastes)

41. The Lord lifted up the poor out of misery *
and multiplied their families like flocks of sheep.

42. The upright will see this and rejoice, *
but all wickedness will shut its mouth.

43. Whoever is wise will ponder these things, *
and consider well the mercies of the Lord.

Glory …

Conclusion

Revelation 22

1. I am the Alpha and the Omega, *
says the Lord.

2. The first and the last,*
the beginning and the end.

3. I am the root and offspring of David,*
the bright morning star.

4. The Spirit and the Bride say, Come;*
let anyone who hears, say, Come,

5 Let anyone who is thirsty come;*
let anyone who desires take the water of life without price.

6. The Lord says, Surely I am coming soon.*
Amen; come, Lord Jesus!

Glory …

Antiphon: My eyes are turned to you, Lord God; * in you I take refuge; do not strip me of my life.

READING(S)

Matthew 24:1-14

As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. Then he asked them, ‘You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’ When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Messiah!” and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs. ‘Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. But anyone who endures to the end will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.

Silence

Response (Psalm 28.9)

Save your people and bless your inheritance.
Save your people and bless your inheritance.
Shepherd them and carry them for ever.
Bless your inheritance.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
Save your people and bless your inheritance.

SONG OF MARY

Song of Mary Antiphon: Prepare the way of the Lord,* make his paths straight. All flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Luke 3.4,6)

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: Prepare the way of the Lord,* make his paths straight. All flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Luke 3.4,6)

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

Stir up our hearts, Lord,
to prepare the way of your only-begotten Son:
that, in his coming,
we might serve you with our hearts made pure;
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.