Tuesday
Evening
Prayer – St. Stephen
Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2
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 will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
O gracious
light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O
Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of
the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your
praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at
all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of
Life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.
118 Confitemini
Domino
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; *
his
mercy endures for ever.
2 Let Israel now proclaim, *
"His
mercy endures for ever."
3 Let the house of Aaron now
proclaim, *
"His mercy endures for ever."
4 Let
those who fear the Lord now proclaim, *
"His mercy endures
for ever."
5 I called to the Lord in my distress; *
the
Lord answered by setting me free.
6 The Lord is at my side,
therefore I will not fear; *
what can anyone do to me?
7
The Lord is at my side to help me; *
I will triumph over those who
hate me.
8 It is better to rely on the Lord *
than to put
any trust in flesh.
9 It is better to rely on the Lord *
than
to put any trust in rulers.
10 All the ungodly encompass me;
*
in the name of the Lord I will repel them.
11 They hem me
in, they hem me in on every side; *
in the name of the Lord I will
repel them.
12 They swarm about me like bees;
they blaze
like a fire of thorns; *
in the name of the Lord I will repel
them.
13 I was pressed so hard that I almost fell, *
but
the Lord came to my help.
14 The Lord is my strength
and my song, *
and he has become my salvation.
15 There is
a sound of exultation and victory *
in the tents of the righteous:
16 "The right hand of the Lord has
triumphed! *
the right hand of the Lord is exalted!
the right
hand of the Lord has triumphed!"
17 I shall not die, but
live, *
and declare the works of the Lord.
18 The Lord has
punished me sorely, *
but he did not hand me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I will enter
them;
I will offer thanks to the Lord.
20 "This is the
gate of the Lord; *
he who is righteous may enter."
21
I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
and have become
my salvation.
22 The same stone which the builders rejected
*
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord's
doing, *
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 On this day
the Lord has acted; *
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Hosannah, Lord, hosannah! *
Lord, send us now
success.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord;
*
we bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 God is the
Lord; he has shined upon us; *
form a procession with branches up
to the horns of the altar.
28 "You are my God, and I will thank you; *
you are my
God, and I will exalt you."
29 Give thanks to the Lord,
for he is good; *
his mercy endures for ever.
Glory to the
Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
as it was in the
beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Reading
But the righteous, though they die early, will be at rest.
For old age is not honoured for length of time,
or measured by
number of years;
but understanding is grey hair for anyone,
and
a blameless life is ripe old age.
There were some who pleased God and were loved by him,
and
while living among sinners were taken up.
They were caught up so
that evil might not change their understanding
or guile deceive
their souls.
For the fascination of wickedness obscures what is
good,
and roving desire perverts the innocent mind.
Being
perfected in a short time, they fulfilled long years;
for their
souls were pleasing to the Lord,
therefore he took them quickly
from the midst of wickedness.
Yet the peoples saw and did not
understand,
or take such a thing to heart,
that God’s
grace and mercy are with his elect,
and that he watches over his
holy ones.
The Word of the
Lord
Thanks be to God
My soul proclaims
the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
*
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this
day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done
great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on
those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the
strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their
conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and
has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good
things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to
the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his
promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to
Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the
Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
as it was in the
beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Reading
While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died.* And Saul approved of their killing him.
That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.
Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. Philip went down to the city* of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah* to them. The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralysed or lame were cured. So there was great joy in that city.
The Word of the
Lord
Thanks be to God
Canticle 17
Lord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as
you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have
prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten the nations, *
and the glory of your
people Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
as
it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in
Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the
power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was
buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose
again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right
hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the
dead.
I believe in the
Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of
saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the
body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
The
Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
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.
Save us from the
time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom,
the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Show us your mercy, O Lord;
And grant us your salvation.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
Let your people sing with joy.
Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
For only in you can we live in safety.
Lord, keep this nation under your care;
And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
Let your way be known upon earth;
Your saving health among all nations.
Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.
Collect of the Day: St. Stephen
We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at your right hand: where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
For Mission
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen.
Let us pray now for our own needs and those of others.
A Prayer of St. Chrysostom
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14