Evening Worship
A short service for the early evening.
O God, make speed to save us.
All O Lord, make haste to help us.
Together we say:
1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! ♦
My soul has a desire and longing to enter the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
2 The sparrow has found her a house and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young: ♦ at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
3 Blessed are they who dwell in your house: ♦ they will always be praising you. [R]
4 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, ♦ in whose heart are the highways to Zion,
5 Who going through the barren valley find there a spring, ♦and the early rains will clothe it with blessing.
6 They will go from strength to strength ♦ and appear before God in Zion. [R]
7 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; ♦ listen, O God of Jacob.
8 Behold our defender, O God, ♦ and look upon the face of your anointed.
9 For one day in your courts ♦ is better than a thousand. [R]
10 I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God ♦than dwell in the tents of ungodliness.
11 For the Lord God is both sun and shield; he will give grace and glory; ♦no good thing shall the Lord withhold from those who walk with integrity.
12 O Lord God of hosts, ♦ blessed are those who put their trust in you.
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.
This opening prayer may be said
That this evening may be holy, good and peaceful, let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence is kept.
As our evening prayer rises before you, O God, so may your mercy come down upon us to cleanse our hearts and set us free to sing your praise now and for ever. All Amen.
The appointed psalmody is said. Each psalm ends with
All 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.
Canticle
A Song of the Blessed
All Rejoice and be glad for you are the light of the world, and great is your reward in heaven.
- Blessed are the poor in spirit, ♦ for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are those who mourn, ♦ for they shall be comforted.
- Blessed are the meek, ♦ for they shall inherit the earth.
- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, ♦ for they shall be satisfied
- Blessed are the merciful, ♦ for they shall obtain mercy.
- Blessed are the pure in heart, ♦ for they shall see God.
- Blessed are the peacemakers, ♦ for they shall be called children of God.
- Blessed are those who suffer persecution for righteousness’ sake, ♦for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5.3-10)
All 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.
All Rejoice and be glad for you are the light of the world, and great is your reward in heaven.
Scripture Reading
Responsory
Lord, you will guide me with your counsel and afterwards receive me with glory.
All Lord, you will guide me with your counsel and afterwards receive me with glory.
For I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
All And afterwards receive me with glory.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
All Lord, you will guide me with your counsel and afterwards receive me with glory.
The Magnificat (The Song of Mary) is normally said, or the Nunc dimittis (The Song of Simeon) (here) may be said.
All Remember your promise of mercy, to Abraham and his children for ever.
1 My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; ♦ he has looked with favour on his lowly servant.
2 From this day all generations will call me blessed; ♦ the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his name.
3 He has mercy on those who fear him, ♦ from generation to generation.
4 He has shown strength with his arm ♦ and has scattered the proud in their conceit,
5 Casting down the mighty from their thrones ♦ and lifting up the lowly.
6 He has filled the hungry with good things ♦ and sent the rich away empty.
7 He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, ♦ to remember his promise of mercy,
8 The promise made to our ancestors, ♦ to Abraham and his children for ever. (Luke 1.46-55)
All 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.
All Remember your promise of mercy, to Abraham and his children for ever.
Intercessions are offered: Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
Silence may be kept. A mediation or reading may be offered.
The Collect of the day (here) or the following is said
Eternal Lord, our beginning and our end: bring us with the whole creation to your glory, hidden through past ages and made known in Jesus Christ our Lord. All Amen.
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
All Our Father, who art in heaven …
All 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.
Let us bless the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.
