Evening Prayer: Wednesday 22 October 2025

Wednesday 22 October 2025

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

Wednesday after Pentecost 19
Week D

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: As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, and the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,* so our eyes look to you, O Lord our God.
Psalm 123.2f

Opening (from Psalm 119)

1. Your faithfulness remains from one generation to another;*
you established the earth, and it abides.

2. By your decree these continue to this day,*
for all things are your servants.

3. I will never forget your commandments,*
because by them you give me life.

4. I see that all things come to an end,*
but your commandment has no bounds.

Glory ...
or a suitable Hymn

Psalm 124

1. If the Lord had not been on our side, *
let Israel now say;

2. if the Lord had not been on our side, *
when enemies rose up against us;

3. then would they have swallowed us up alive *
in their fierce anger toward us;

4. then would the waters have overwhelmed us *
and the torrent gone over us;

5. then would the raging waters *
have gone right over us.

6. Blessed be the Lord *
who has not given us over to be a prey for their teeth.

7. We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler; *
the snare is broken, and we have escaped.

8. Our help is in the name of the Lord, *
the maker of heaven and earth.

Glory …

Psalm 125

1. Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, *
which cannot be moved, but stands fast for ever.

2. The hills stand about Jerusalem; *
so does the Lord stand round about this people,
from this time forth for evermore.

3. The sceptre of the wicked shall not hold sway over the land allotted to the just, *
so that the just shall not put their hands to evil.

4. Show your goodness, O Lord, to those who are good *
and to those who are true of heart.

5. As for those who turn aside to crooked ways, the Lord will lead them away with the evildoers; *
but peace be upon Israel.

Psalm 126

1. When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, *
then were we like those who dream.

2. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, *and our tongue with shouts of joy.
Then they said among the nations, *”The Lord has done great things for them.”

3. The Lord has done great things for us, *
and we are glad indeed.

4. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, *
like the watercourses of the Negev.

5. Those who sowed with tears *
will reap with songs of joy.

6. Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, *
will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.

Conclusion

Revelation 5 and 15

1. Great and wonderful are your deeds, Lord God the Almighty;*
just and true are your ways, O King of the ages!

2. Who shall not revere and praise your name, O Lord?*
for you alone are holy.

3. All nations shall come and worship in your presence,*
for your just dealings have been revealed.

4. 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: As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, and the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,* so our eyes look to you, O Lord our God.

READING(S)

Matthew 12:1-14

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath.” He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests. Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests in the temple break the sabbath and yet are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.” He left that place and entered their synagogue; a man was there with a withered hand, and they asked him, “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?” so that they might accuse him. He said to them, “Suppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

Silence

Response Psalm 119.89

O Lord, your word is everlasting.
O Lord, your word is everlasting.
It stands firm in the heavens.
Your word is everlasting.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
Lord, your word is everlasting.

SONG OF MARY

Song of Mary Antiphon: God looks with favour * on those who are faithful in service.

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: God looks with favour * on those who are faithful in service.

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

Almighty and merciful God:
in your goodness keep from us all that is harmful;
that, being ready both in body and soul,
we may freely accomplish your will;
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.