Evening Prayer: Thursday 1 January 2026

Thursday 1 January 2026

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

THE NAMING OF JESUS
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 148
1. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord from the heavens; *
praise God in the heights.
2. Praise the Lord all you angels; *
sing praises, all you heavenly host.
3. Praise the Lord, sun and moon; *
sing praises, all you shining stars.
4. Praise the Lord, heaven of heavens, *
sing praises, you waters above the heavens.
5. Let them praise the name of the Lord; *
who gave the command and they were created,
6. who made them stand fast for ever and ever, *
who gave them a law which shall not pass away.
7. Praise the Lord from the earth, *
you sea-monsters and all deeps;
8. fire and hail, snow and fog, *
tempestuous wind, doing God’s will;
9. mountains and all hills, *
fruit trees and all cedars;
10. wild beasts and all cattle, *
creeping things and wingèd birds;
11. sovereigns of the earth and all peoples, *
princes and all rulers of the world;
12. young men and young women, *
old and young together.
13. Let them praise the name of the Lord, *
whose name only is exalted, whose splendour is
over earth and heaven.
14. The Lord has raised up strength for this people and praise for all loyal servants, *
the children of Israel, a people who are near to the
Lord. Hallelujah!

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)

Luke 2.41-52

Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travellers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, ‘Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.’ He said to them, ‘Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour.

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: The Lord swore to David,* the fruit of your body I will set upon your
throne.

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: The Lord swore to David,* the fruit of your body I will set upon your
throne.

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

Eternal Father,
who gave to your incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus
to be the sign of our salvation:
place in every heart, we pray,
the love of him who is the Lord of every year
and Saviour of the world;
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, in time and for eternity.
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.