Evening Prayer: Wednesday 17 February 2021

Wednesday 17 February 2021

Ash Wednesday
Returning to God

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: Show me your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths.

Opening (from Psalm 25)

1 You are the God of my salvation;*
in you have I trusted all the day long.
2 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love,*
for they are from everlasting.
3 Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions;*
remember me according to your love.
4 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,*
for my hope has been in you.

Glory to the Father
or a suitable Hymn

Psalm 38
1 O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger;*
do not punish me in your wrath.


2 For your arrows have already pierced me,*
and your hand presses hard upon me.

3 There is no health in my flesh, because of your indignation;*
there is no soundness in my body, because of my sin.

4 For my iniquities overwhelm me;*
like a heavy burden they are too much for me to bear.
5 My wounds stink and fester*
by reason of my foolishness.

6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;*
I go about in mourning all the day long.

7 My loins are filled with searing pain;*
there is no health in my body.

8 I am utterly numb and crushed;*
I wail, because of the groaning of my heart.

9 O Lord, you know all my desires,*
and my sighing is not hidden from you.

10 My heart is pounding, my strength has failed me,*
and the brightness of my eyes is gone from me.

11 My friends and companions draw back from my affliction;*
my neighbours stand afar off.

12 Those who seek after my life lay snares for me;*
those who strive to hurt me speak of my ruin
and plot treachery all the day long.

13 But I am like the deaf who do not hear,*
like those who are mute and do not open their mouth.

14 I have become like one who does not hear*
and from whose mouth comes no defence.
15 For in you, O Lord, have I fixed my hope;*
you will answer me, O Lord my God.

16 For I said, "Do not let them rejoice at my expense,*
those who gloat over me when my foot slips."

17 Truly, I am on the verge of falling,*
and my pain is always with me.

18 I will confess my iniquity*
and be sorry for my sin.

19 Those who are my enemies without cause are mighty,*
and many in number are those who wrongfully hate me.

20 Those who repay evil for good slander me,*
because I follow the course that is right.

21 O Lord, do not forsake me;*
be not far from me, O my God.

22 Make haste to help me,*
O Lord of my salvation.

Glory to the Father…

God of compassion, when we are weighed down by the burden of our sins, help us to remember that you do not forsake us, but show mercy through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Conclusion


Matthew 5

1 Blessed are the poor in spirit,*
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2 Blessed are those who mourn,*
for they shall be comforted.
3 Blessed are the meek,*
for they shall inherit the earth.
4 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,*
for they shall be satisfied.
5 Blessed are the merciful,*
for they shall obtain mercy.
6 Blessed are the pure in heart,*
for they shall see God.
7 Blessed are the peacemakers,*
for they shall be called the children of God.
8 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,*
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Glory to the Father…

Antiphon: Show me your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths.

READING(S)

Luke 18.9-14

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income." But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."

Silence

Response Psalm Psalm 86.15

You, Lord, are gracious and full of compassion.
You, Lord, are gracious and full of compassion.
Slow to anger, full of kindness and truth.
Full of compassion.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
You, Lord, are gracious and full of compassion.

MAGNIFICAT

Magnificat Antiphon: Create in me a clean heart, O God. (Psalm 51.11)

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)

Magnificat Antiphon: Create in me a clean heart, O God. (Psalm 51.11)

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

O Lord,
grant that your faithful people
may enter this season of penitence with faithfulness,
and complete it with steadfast devotion;
through 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.