Evening Prayer: Saturday 20 September 2025
This is the new revised order for Daily Prayer authorised for experimental use. You can find the 2006 Revised version here.
John Coleridge Patterson, Bishop and Martyr, 1897
Season of Creation
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: Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation All things have been created through Christ and for Christ.
(Colossians 1.15,16)
Opening (from Psalm 19.1-4)
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
2. Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
3. There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
4. Yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
Glory ...
or a suitable Hymn
do not hide yourself from my petition.
2. Listen to me and answer me; *
I have no peace, because of my cares.
3. I am shaken by the noise of the enemy *and by the pressure of the wicked;
for they have cast an evil spell upon me *and are set against me in fury.
4. My heart quakes within me, *
and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5. Fear and trembling have come over me, *
and horror overwhelms me.
6. And I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! *
I would fly away and be at rest.
7. I would flee to a far-off place *
and make my lodging in the wilderness.
8. I would hasten to escape *
from the stormy wind and tempest.”
9. Swallow them up, O Lord; confound their speech; *
for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10. Day and night the sentries make their rounds upon its walls, *
but trouble and misery are in the midst of it.
11. There is corruption at its heart; *
its streets are never free of oppression and deceit.
12. For had it been an adversary who taunted me, then I could have borne it; *
or had it been enemies who vaunted themselves against me, then I could have hidden from them.
13. But it was you, someone after my own heart, *
my companion, my own familiar friend.
14. We took sweet counsel together, *
and walked with the throng in the house of God.
15. Let death come upon them suddenly; let them go down alive into the grave; *
for wickedness is in their dwellings, in their very midst.
16. But I will call upon God, *
and the Lord will deliver me.
17. In the evening, in the morning, and at noonday, I will complain and lament, *
and the Lord will hear my voice.
18. God will bring me safely back from the battle waged against me; *
for there are many who fight me.
19. God, who is enthroned of old, will hear me and bring them down; *
they never change; they do not fear God.
20. My companions stretched forth their hand against their comrade; *
they have broken their covenant.
21. Their speech is softer than butter, but war is in their heart. *
Their words are smoother than oil, but they are drawn swords.
22. Cast your burden upon the Lord who will sustain you *
and will never let the righteous stumble.
23. For you will bring the bloodthirsty and deceitful down to the pit of destruction, O God. *
They shall not live out half their days, but I will put my trust in you.
Glory …
Conclusion
Benedicite
All you Works of the Lord, bless the Lord :
praise and magnify God for ever.
O Showers and Dew, bless the Lord :
praise and magnify God for ever.
O Winds of God, bless the Lord :
praise and magnify God for ever.
O Fire and Heat, bless the Lord :
praise and magnify God for ever.
O Winter and Summer, bless the Lord :
praise and magnify God for ever.
O Frost and Cold, bless the Lord:
praise and magnify God for ever.
Glory …
Antiphon: Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. All things have been created through Christ and for Christ.
READING(S)
Matthew 5:17-20
Silence
Response John 1
Through God’s Word all things were made.
Through God’s Word all things were made.
In the Word is life
And the life is the light of all people.
Glory to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word and Holy Spirit.
Through God’s Word all things were made.
SONG OF MARY
Song of Mary Antiphon: As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return until they have watered the earth; So shall my word not return to me empty, says the Lord. (Isaiah 50.10-11)
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: As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return until they have watered the earth; So shall my word not return to me empty, says the Lord. (Isaiah 50.10-11)
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
God the Creator,
in Christ you call all people
to the fullness of glory
for which you created us in your image:
heal our hardened hearts,
renew our obedience to your will,
and conform our lives to your gracious design,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives 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.
