Evening Prayer: Friday 25 March 2022

Friday 25 March 2022

THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD
Festivals

O God, make speed to save us;
O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the 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 his praise in the congregation of the faithful.

Opening (from Psalm 149)

1 Let Israel rejoice in his maker;*
let the children of Zion be joyful in their king.
2 For the Lord takes pleasure in his 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 to the Father
or a suitable Hymn

Psalm 132
1 Lord, remember David,*
and all the hardships he endured;

2 How he swore an oath to the Lord*
and vowed a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:

3 ‘I will not come under the roof of my house,*
nor climb up into my bed;

4 I will not allow my eyes to sleep,*
nor let my eyelids slumber;

5 Until I find a place for the Lord,*
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.’

6 ‘The Ark! We heard it was in Ephratah;*
we found it in the fields of Jearim.

7 Let us go to God's dwelling place;*
let us fall upon our knees before his footstool.’

8 Arise, O Lord, into your resting-place,*
you and the ark of your strength.

9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness;*
let your faithful people sing with joy.

10 For your servant David's sake,*
do not turn away the face of your anointed.

11 The Lord has sworn an oath to David;*
in truth, he will not break it:

12 ‘A son, the fruit of your body*
will I set upon your throne.

13 If your children keep my covenant
and my testimonies that I shall teach them,*
their children will sit upon your throne for evermore.’

14 For the Lord has chosen Zion,*
he has desired her for his habitation:

15 ‘This shall be my resting-place for ever;*
here will I dwell, for I delight in her.

16 I will surely bless her provisions,*
and satisfy her poor with bread.

17 I will clothe her priests with salvation,*
and her faithful people will rejoice and sing.

18 There will I make the horn of David flourish;*
I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.

19 As for his enemies, I will clothe them with shame;*
but as for him, his crown will shine.’

Glory to the Father…

Gracious God, you have taught us in our Saviour Jesus Christ that you are present wherever there is love, and that two or three who gather in his name are citizens of your eternal city. Feed us with the bread of life, that we may grow to recognize in every human heart a sign of your presence and an opportunity to serve you. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

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 to the Father…

Antiphon: Sing to the Lord a new song; sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.

READING(S)

Wisdom of Solomon 9.1-12

‘O God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy, who have made all things by your word, and by your wisdom have formed humankind to have dominion over the creatures you have made, and rule the world in holiness and righteousness, and pronounce judgement in uprightness of soul, give me the wisdom that sits by your throne, and do not reject me from among your servants. For I am your servant, the son of your servant-girl, a man who is weak and short-lived, with little understanding of judgement and laws; for even one who is perfect among human beings will be regarded as nothing without the wisdom that comes from you. You have chosen me to be king of your people and to be judge over your sons and daughters. You have given command to build a temple on your holy mountain, and an altar in the city of your habitation, a copy of the holy tent that you prepared from the beginning. With you is wisdom, she who knows your works and was present when you made the world; she understands what is pleasing in your sight and what is right according to your commandments. Send her forth from the holy heavens, and from the throne of your glory send her, that she may labour at my side, and that I may learn what is pleasing to you. For she knows and understands all things, and she will guide me wisely in my actions and guard me with her glory. Then my works will be acceptable, and I shall judge your people justly, and shall be worthy of the throne of my father.

John 1.9-14

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

Silence

Response Psalm 132.15

Zion shall be your resting place for ever.
Zion shall be your resting place for ever.
Here will you dwell for you delight in her.
Your resting place for ever.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Zion shall be your resting place for ever.

MAGNIFICAT

Magnificat 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)

Magnificat 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

Pour your grace into our hearts, O Lord:
that, as we have known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ
by the message of an angel to the Blessed Virgin Mary;
so by his cross and passion
we may be brought to the glory of his resurrection;
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.

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.