EVENING PRAYER OF THE CHURCH (Vespers)

INTRODUCTION     

O God, come to our aid.

O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Hymn

God, of thy pity, unto us thy children

Bend down thine ear in thine own loving kindness,

And all thy people’s prayers and vows ascending

Hear, we beseech thee.

Look down in mercy from thy seat of glory,

Pour on our souls the radiance of thy presence,

Drive from our weary hearts the shades of darkness,

Lightening our footsteps.

Free us from sin by might of thy great loving,

Cleanse thou the sordid, loose the fettered spirit,

Spare every sinner, raise with thine own right hand

All who are fallen.

Glory to God the Father everlasting, Glory for ever to the Sole-begotten,

With whom thy Holy Spirit through the ages

Reigneth co-equal.

 

 

 

*(Psalm 19 (20)  Prayer for victory)

The Lord will give victory to his Anointed One.

May the Lord hear your prayer in the day of tribulation,

may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

 

May he send you help from his holy place;

  from Zion, may he extend his protection.

May he remember every one of your sacrifices

  and find merit in your burnt-offerings.

 

May he deal with you as your heart desires

and bring all your plans to fulfilment.

We will rejoice in your salvation,

we will raise our banners in the name of God;

may the Lord grant all your prayers.

 

Now I know that the Lord keeps his anointed one safe:

  in his sanctuary in heaven he hears his prayer,

  and lends the support of his strong right hand.

 

Some put their faith in chariots

and some in horses,

but we invoked the name of the Lord our God.

They stumbled and fell,

but we rose and we stand upright.

 

Lord, keep the king safe,

  and hear our prayer whenever we call upon you.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son  and to the Holy Spirit,

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

The Lord will give victory to his Anointed One

 

(Psalm 20 (21) Thanksgiving for victory)

We shall sing and praise your power.

Lord, the king will rejoice in your strength,

he will triumph in your saving power.

You have granted him his heart’s desire,

you have not denied the wish that he spoke.

 

For you showered him with blessings

  even before he asked for them.

  You have placed a crown of purest gold upon his head.

He asked you for life,

  and you granted it to him,

  length of days for ever and for ever.

 

Great is his glory through your help:

you cover him with splendour and majesty.

You lay a blessing upon him that will last for ever,

you make him rejoice in joy before you.

 

For the king hopes in the Lord,

  and through the kindness of the Most High he will not be shaken.

Stand high above us, Lord, in your power;

  and we will sing and celebrate your might.

 

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit,

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

Amen.

We shall sing and praise your power.

 

 

(Canticle        Apocalypse 4,5 The song of the redeemed)

Lord, you made us a kingdom and priests to serve our God.

 

You are worthy, our Lord and our God,

to receive glory and honour and power;

for you made all things,

and it is by your will that they exist and were created.

 

You are worthy, Lord,

  to receive the book and open its seals,

for you were killed,

  and with your blood you have ransomed people

  from every tribe and language and people and nation,

and made them rulers and priests for God;

  and they will rule over the earth.

 

The Lamb is worthy, who was killed,

to receive power and riches and wisdom,

strength and honour, glory and blessing.

 

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

  and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Lord, you made us a kingdom and priests to serve our God.

 

 

 

Short Reading  from St James 2:14,17,18 ©

Take the case, my brothers, of someone who has never done a single good act but claims that he has faith. Will that faith save him? Faith is like that: if good works do not go with it, it is quite dead. I will prove to you that I have faith by showing you my good deeds – now you prove to me that you have faith without any good deeds to show.

The Word of the Lord  —- Thanks be to God

 

 

Short Responsory

I said: ‘Lord, have mercy on me.’

– I said: ‘Lord, have mercy on me.’

‘Heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.’

– I said: ‘Lord, have mercy on me.’

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

– I said: ‘Lord, have mercy on me.’

 

Canticle         Magnificat

When you pray, go to your room and shut the door and pray to your Father there.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.

For he has shown me such favour –

me, his lowly handmaiden.

Now all generations will call me blessed,

because the mighty one has done great things for me.

His name is holy,

his mercy lasts for generation after generation

for those who revere him.

He has put forth his strength:

he has scattered the proud and conceited,

torn princes from their thrones;

but lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things;

the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel,

he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

When you pray, go to your room and shut the door and pray to your Father there.

 

Prayers and intercessions

Let us pray earnestly to Christ the Lord. He tells us to watch and pray that we may not fall into temptation.

– Hear us, Lord, and have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you promised to be with those who are gathered in your name;

keep us united with you as we pray to the Father in the Holy Spirit.

– Hear us, Lord, and have mercy.

Cleanse your Church from every stain of sin;

make her alive with hope and the power of the Spirit.

– Hear us, Lord, and have mercy.

Help us to care for our neighbour and show your love for men;

through us let the light of your salvation shine in the world.

– Hear us, Lord, and have mercy.

Let your peace spread to the ends of the earth;

let men see in every place the signs of your presence.

– Hear us, Lord, and have mercy.

Bring the dead to everlasting happiness;

let glory and immortal life be theirs.

– Hear us, Lord, and have mercy.

 

 

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.

Look with favour on your family, Lord,

and as at this time we restrain the desires of the body,

may our hearts burn with love of you.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

(one) God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.

  Amen.