Evening Prayer

Friday after the Fourth Sunday in Lent

I will bless the Lord, who giveth me counsel; my heart teacheth me, night after night. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not fall.

Psalm 16:7, 8

BCP p. 63

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

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: *

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

O Gracious Light

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 thy praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Thou art 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.

Psalm 107: Part I

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious *
and his mercy endureth for ever.

Let them give thanks whom the Lord hath redeemed *
and delivered from the hand of the enemy;

And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west *
from the north, and from the south.

They went astray in the wilderness out of the way *
and found no city to dwell in;

Hungry and thirsty *
their soul fainted in them.

So they cried unto the Lord in their trouble *
and he delivered them from their distress.

He led them forth by the right way *
that they might go to the city where they dwelt.

O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness *
and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men!

For he satisfieth the empty soul *
and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

Such as sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death *
being fast bound in misery and iron;

Because they rebelled against the words of the Lord *
and lightly regarded the counsel of the most Highest;

He also brought down their heart through heaviness *
they fell down, and there was none to help them.

So when they cried unto the Lord in their trouble *
he delivered them out of their distress.

For he brought them out of darkness, and out of the shadow of death *
and brake their bonds in sunder.

O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness *
and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men !

For he hath broken the gates of brass *
and smitten the bars of iron in sunder.

Foolish men are plagued for their offence *
and because of their wickedness.

Their soul abhorred all manner of meat *
and they were even hard at death’s door.

So when they cried unto the Lord in their trouble *
he delivered them out of their distress.

He sent his word, and healed them *
and they were saved from their destruction.

O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness *
and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men!

That they would offer unto him the sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and tell out his works with gladness!

They that go down to the sea in ships *
and occupy their business in great waters;

These men see the works of the Lord *
and his wonders in the deep.

For at his word the stormy wind ariseth *
which lifteth up the waves thereof.

They are carried up to the heaven, and down again to the deep *
their soul melteth away because of the trouble.

They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man *
and are at their wit’s end.

So when they cry unto the Lord in their trouble *
he delivereth them out of their distress.

For he maketh the storm to cease *
so that the waves thereof are still.

Then are they glad, because they are at rest *
and so he bringeth them unto the haven where they would be.

O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness *
and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men!

That they would exalt him also in the congregation of the people *
and praise him in the seat of the elders!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: *

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Lessons

The First Lesson 1 Cor. 12:27-13:3

A Reading from the First Letter to the Corinthians.

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

3. The Song of Mary Luke 1:46-55

My soul doth magnify the Lord, *
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.

For he hath regarded *
the lowliness of his handmaiden.

For behold from henceforth *
all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath magnified me, *
and holy is his Name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him *
throughout all generations.

He hath showed strength with his arm; *
he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat, *
and hath exalted the humble and meek.

He hath filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel, *
as he promised to our forefathers,
Abraham and his seed for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: *

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Apostles’ Creed BCP p. 66

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Prayers

Officiant The Lord be with you.
People
And with thy spirit.
Officiant
Let us pray.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Suffrages A

V. O Lord, show thy mercy upon us;
R.
And grant us thy salvation.
V.
Endue thy ministers with righteousness;
R.
And make thy chosen people joyful.
V.
Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
R.
For only in thee can we live in safety.
V.
Lord, keep this nation under thy care;
R.
And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
V.
Let thy way be known upon earth;
R.
Thy saving health among all nations.
V.
Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
R.
Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
V.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
R.
And sustain us with thy Holy Spirit.

The Collect of the Day

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which giveth life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Collect of the Day

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Fridays

O Lord Jesus Christ, who by thy death didst take away the sting of death: Grant unto us thy servants so to follow in faith where thou hast led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in thee, and awake up after thy likeness; for thy tender mercies’ sake. Amen.

A Prayer for Mission

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give thine 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 thy love’s sake. Amen.

Let us pray now for our own needs and those of others.





A Prayer of St. Chrysostom BCP p. 72

Almighty God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication unto thee; and hast promised through thy well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name thou wilt be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world 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 Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

2 Corinthians 13:14