Evening Prayer: Wednesday 8 September 2021

Wednesday 8 September 2021

The Birth of Mary, Mother of the Lord
Creation Week 1. Authorised by the College of Bishops for Experimental Use

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: Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation All things have been created through Christ and for Christ. (Colossians 1.15,16)

Opening (from Genesis 1)

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,
the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep.
God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.
God said, ‘Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters,
and let it separate the waters from the waters.’ And it was so.
God said, ‘Let the waters under the sky be gathered together
into one place, and let the dry land appear.’ And it was so.
God said, ‘Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day
from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days
and years, and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light
upon the earth.’ And it was so.
God said, ‘Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures,
and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.’ And it was so.
God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle
and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.’
And it was so.
God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness.
and it was so, and God blessed them.
God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.

Glory to the Father
or a suitable Hymn

Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength,*
a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved,*
and though the mountains be toppled into the
depths of the sea;

3 Though its waters rage and foam,*
and though the mountains tremble at its tumult.

4 The Lord of hosts is with us;*
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

5 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,*
the holy habitation of the Most High.

6 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be overthrown;*
God shall help her at the break of day.

7 The nations make much ado, and the kingdoms are shaken;*
God has spoken, and the earth shall melt away.

8 The Lord of hosts is with us;*
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

9 Come now and look upon the works of the Lord,*
what awesome things he has done on earth.

10 It is he who makes war to cease in all the world;*
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear,
and burns the shields with fire.

11 ‘Be still, then, and know that I am God;*
I will be exalted among the nations;
I will be exalted in the earth.’

12 The Lord of hosts is with us;*
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Glory to the Father…

God our strength, your power is for peace, and the pride of your mighty acts secures the city of the humble. Teach us to put our trust in your salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Conclusion


Benedicite

All you Works of the Lord, bless the Lord :
praise and magnify God for ever.
O Waters above the Firmament, bless the Lord :
praise and magnify God for ever.
O Sun and Moon, bless the Lord :
praise and magnify God for ever.
O Stars of Heaven, bless the Lord :
praise and magnify God for ever.
Glory to God, Source of All Being, Eternal Word and Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning is now, and shall be forever, Amen.

Glory to the Father…

Antiphon: Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation All things have been created through Christ and for Christ.

READING(S)

Matthew 2.1-12

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: "And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel." " Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Silence

Response Psalm John 1

Through God all things were made.
Through God all things were made.
What has come into being in God was life
All things were made.
Glory to God, Source of all Being, Eternal Word and Holy Spirit.
Through God all things were made.

MAGNIFICAT

Magnificat Antiphon: The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims God’s handiwork. Psalm 19.1

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 heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims God’s handiwork. Psalm 19.1

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

Holy God,
Creator of the world and fount of all life,
you never abandon the creatures formed by your wisdom:
remain with us always, we pray,
working for our good,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

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.