Evening Prayer: Saturday 27 December 2025

Saturday 27 December 2025

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

John, Apostle and Evangelist
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 143
1. Lord, hear my prayer, and in your faithfulness heed my supplications; *
answer me in your righteousness.

2. Enter not into judgement with your servant, *
for in your sight shall no one living be justified.

3. For my enemies have sought my life; they have crushed me to the ground; *
they have made me live in dark places like those who are long dead.

4. My spirit faints within me; *
my heart within me is desolate.

5. I remember the time past; I muse upon all your deeds; *
I consider the works of your hands.

6. I spread out my hands to you; *
my soul gasps to you like a thirsty land.

7. O Lord, make haste to answer me; my spirit fails
me; *
do not hide your face from me or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.

8. Let me hear of your loving-kindness in the morning,
for I put my trust in you; *
show me the road that I must walk, for I lift up my soul to you.

9. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, *
for I flee to you for refuge.

10. Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God; *
let your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

11. Revive me, O Lord, for your name’s sake; *
for your righteousness’ sake, bring me out of trouble.

12. Of your goodness, destroy my enemies and bring all my foes to naught, *
for truly I am your servant.

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)

Isaiah 44:1-8

But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen! Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you in the womb and will help you: Do not fear, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my spirit upon your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring. They shall spring up like a green tamarisk, like willows by flowing streams. This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’, another will be called by the name of Jacob, yet another will write on the hand, ‘The Lord’s’, and adopt the name of Israel. Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. Who is like me? Let them proclaim it, let them declare and set it forth before me. Who has announced from of old the things to come? Let them tell us what is yet to be. Do not fear, or be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? You are my witnesses! Is there any god besides me? There is no other rock; I know not one.

1 John 5:1-12

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. There are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree. If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

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

Merciful Lord,
shed upon your people
the bright beams of your light:
that enlightened by the teaching of Saint John,
your apostle and evangelist,
we may live in the light of your truth,
and come at length to the fullness of eternal life;
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.