Evening Prayer

Good Friday

Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense, and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.

Psalm 141:2

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 40

I waited patiently for the Lord *
and he inclined unto me, and heard my calling.

He brought me also out of the horrible pit, out of the mire and clay *
and set my feet upon the rock, and ordered my goings.

And he hath put a new song in my mouth *
even a thanksgiving unto our God.

Many shall see it, and fear *
and shall put their trust in the Lord.

Blessed is the man that hath set his hope in the Lord *
and turned not unto the proud, and to such as go about with lies.

O Lord my God, great are the wondrous works which thou hast done, like as be also thy thoughts which are to us-ward *
and yet there is no man that ordereth them unto thee.

If I should declare them, and speak of them *
they should be more than I am able to express.

Sacrifice, and meat-offering, thou wouldest not *
but mine ears hast thou opened.

Burnt-offerings, and sacrifice for sin, hast thou not required *
then said I, Lo, I come,

In the volume of the book it is written of me, that I should fulfil thy will, O my God *
I am content to do it; yea, thy law is within my heart.

I have declared thy righteousness in the great congregation *
lo, I will not refrain my lips, O Lord, and that thou knowest.

I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart *
my talk hath been of thy truth, and of thy salvation.

I have not kept back thy loving mercy and truth *
from the great congregation.

Withdraw not thou thy mercy from me, O Lord *
let thy loving-kindness and thy truth alway preserve me.

For innumerable troubles are come about me; my sins have taken such hold upon me that I am not able to look up *
yea, they are more in number than the hairs of my head, and my heart hath failed me.

O Lord, let it be thy pleasure to deliver me *
make haste, O Lord, to help me.

[Let them be ashamed, and confounded together, that seek after my soul to destroy it *
let them be driven backward, and put to rebuke, that wish me evil.

Let them be desolate, and rewarded with shame *
that say unto me, Fie upon thee, fie upon thee.

Let all those that seek thee be joyful and glad in thee *
and let such as love thy salvation say alway, The Lord be praised.]

Psalm 54

Save me, O God, for thy Name’s sake *
and avenge me in thy strength.

Hear my prayer, O God *
and hearken unto the words of my mouth.

For strangers are risen up against me *
and tyrants, which have not God before their eyes, seek after my soul.

Behold, God is my helper *
the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

He shall reward evil unto mine enemies *
destroy thou them in thy truth.

An offering of a free heart will I give thee, and praise thy Name, O Lord *
because it is so comfortable.

For he hath delivered me out of all my trouble *
and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.

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 Peter 1:10-20

A Reading from the First Letter of Peter.

Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

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 Second Lesson John 19:38-42

A Reading from the Gospel According to John.

And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

5. The Song of Simeon Luke 2:29-32

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, *
according to thy word;

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, *
which thou hast prepared before the face of all people,

To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, *
and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

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.

Good Friday

Almighty God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now 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.

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Romans 15:13