Evening Prayer: Wednesday 22 June 2022

Wednesday 22 June 2022

Alban, Martyr, c 303
Week C

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: Search me out, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my restless thoughts.

Opening (from Psalm 139)

1 You trace my journeys and my resting-places*
and are acquainted with all my ways.
2 Indeed there is not a word on my lips,*
but you, O Lord, know it altogether.
3 If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will cover me,*
and the light around me turn to night’,
4 Darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day;*
darkness and light to you are both alike.

Glory to the Father
or a suitable Hymn

Psalm 142
1 I cry to the Lord with my voice;*
to the Lord I make loud supplication.

2 I pour out my complaint before him*
and tell him all my trouble.

3 When my spirit languishes within me, you know my path;*
in the way wherein I walk they have hidden a trap for me.

4 I look to my right hand and find no one who knows me;*
I have no place to flee to, and no one cares for me.

5 I cry out to you, O Lord;*
I say, ‘You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.’

6 Listen to my cry for help, for I have been brought very low;*
save me from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong for me.

7 Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name;*
when you have dealt bountifully with me,
the righteous will gather around me.

Glory to the Father…

God our consoler and redeemer, save your people coerced
and made captive by the powers of evil, and bring us
into the way of freedom and liberty prepared by the
sacrifice of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ.

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 enemy has sought my life;
he has crushed me to the ground;*
he has 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.

God of our hope, when we are distracted by care and sickness, help us to recognize your image in ourselves and others, that we may be made whole and the world become the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Conclusion


A song of Pilgrimage

1 While I was still young, before I began my travels,*
I sought for wisdom openly in my prayers.
2 I asked for her outside the temple sanctuary,*
and I will seek her to the end.
3 She has been the delight of my heart.*
from first blossom to early fruit.
4 I have kept firmly to the true path;*
I have followed her steps since my youth.
5 I bowed my ear a little and received her;*
I found wisdom and was well instructed.
6 Glory to the One who gives me wisdom!*
I will live according to her way.
7 From the beginning I gained understanding from her;*
therefore I will never be deserted.
8 Because I longed to find her with all my heart,*
I have gained a good possession.
9 As my reward the Lord has given me a tongue*
with which I shall sing his praises.

Glory to the Father…

Antiphon: Search me out, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my restless thoughts.

READING(S)

Matthew 20.1-16

‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the labourers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place; and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?” They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard.” When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, “Call the labourers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.” When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’

Silence

Response Psalm Sirach 51.26

Buy wisdom without money, take her yoke upon you.
Buy wisdom without money, take her yoke upon you.
Let your souls receive instruction.
Take her yoke upon you
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Buy wisdom without money, take her yoke upon you.

MAGNIFICAT

Magnificat Antiphon: God looks with favour on his lowly servant.

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: God looks with favour on his lowly servant.

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,
in your mercy hear our prayers:
and as you give us the desire to pray,
grant us your help and protection;
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.