Vespers (Evening Prayer)
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
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. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted here.
Psalm 124 (125)
The Lord guards his people |
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The Lord stands guard over his people.
Those who trust in the Lord are like the mountain of Zion:
it cannot be shaken, it will stand firm for ever.
Jerusalem – the mountains stand guard over it,
and the Lord stands guard over his people,
both now and for ever.
The sceptre of the wicked shall not rest
upon the inheritance of the just;
lest the just themselves stretch out their hands
and turn to wickedness.
Be good, O Lord, to the good
and the upright of heart.
As for those who turn away to crooked paths,
the Lord shall treat them like the doers of evil.
Peace be on Israel!
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 stands guard over his people.
Psalm 130 (131)
Childlike trust in God |
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Unless you become like little children you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Lord, I do not puff myself up or stare about,
or walk among the great or seek wonders beyond me.
Truly calm and quiet I have made my spirit:
quiet as a weaned child in its mother’s arms –
like an infant is my soul.
Let Israel hope in the Lord, now and for all time.
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.
Unless you become like little children you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Lord, you have made us a kingdom and a priesthood for 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 have made us a kingdom and a priesthood for our God.
| Short reading | Romans 12:9-12 © |
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Do not let your love be a pretence, but sincerely prefer good to evil. Love each other as much as brothers should, and have a profound respect for each other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope, this will make you cheerful. Do not give up if trials come; and keep on praying.
Your word, O Lord, will last for ever.
– Your word, O Lord, will last for ever.
Your truth endures from age to age.
– Your word, O Lord, will last for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
– Your word, O Lord, will last for ever.
| My soul rejoices in the Lord |
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My soul rejoices in God my saviour.
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.
My soul rejoices in God my saviour.
| Prayers and Intercessions | |
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God has established his people in hope, and so with joy we acclaim him:
– Lord, you are the hope of your people.
We give you thanks, Lord, that in Christ we have been made rich
in word and in knowledge.
– Lord, you are the hope of your people.
O God, you know the hearts of rulers: in your wisdom guide those who guide the state.
Let them draw from your well of good counsel and be pleasing to you in what they plan and what they do.
– Lord, you are the hope of your people.
You give artists the gift of reflecting your splendour in their work:
through the things they make, make the world bright with hope and joy.
– Lord, you are the hope of your people.
You do not send us trials greater than we can bear:
strengthen the weak and raise the fallen.
– Lord, you are the hope of your people.
Through your Son you have promised mankind resurrection on the last day:
remember those who have already left behind their mortal bodies.
– Lord, you are the hope of your people.
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.
Most gentle Lord, may our evening prayer rise up to you and may your blessing come down upon us,
so that with your help here and in the next life
we may deserve salvation.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
Amen.
May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.
A M E N
