Evening Prayer Lent Tuesday, 5 March 2024
Preparation
O God, make speed to save us.
AllO Lord, make haste to help us.
Hear our voice, O Lord, according to your faithful love,
Allaccording to your judgement give us life.
One or more of the following is said or sung:
this or another prayer of thanksgiving
Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,
to you be glory and praise for ever.
In the darkness of our sin you have shone in our hearts
to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ.
Open our eyes to acknowledge your presence,
that freed from the misery of sin and shame
we may grow into your likeness from glory to glory.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
AllBlessed be God for ever.
A Song of Entreaty (page 568), the following or another suitable hymn
Lord Jesus, think on me,
and purge away my sin;
from earthborn passions set me free,
and make me pure within.
Lord Jesus, think on me
with many a care opprest;
let me thy loving servant be,
and taste thy promised rest.
Lord Jesus, think on me,
nor let me go astray;
through darkness and perplexity
point thou the heavenly way.
Lord Jesus, think on me,
that, when the flood is past,
I may the eternal brightness see,
and share thy joy at last.
George the Sinner, tr: A W Chatfield
(Tune: SM)
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.
AllAmen.
The Word of God Psalmody
The appointed psalmody is said.
Psalm 61
Refrain:You are my refuge, O God,
a strong tower against the enemy.
1Hear my crying, O God, ♦
and listen to my prayer.
2From the end of the earth I call to you with fainting heart; ♦
O set me on the rock that is higher than I.
3For you are my refuge, ♦
a strong tower against the enemy.
4Let me dwell in your tent for ever ♦
and take refuge under the cover of your wings. R
5For you, O God, will hear my vows; ♦
you will grant the request of those who fear your name.
6You will add length of days to the life of the king, ♦
that his years may endure throughout all generations.
7May he sit enthroned before God for ever; ♦
may steadfast love and truth watch over him.
8So will I always sing praise to your name, ♦
and day by day fulfil my vows.
Refrain:You are my refuge, O God,
a strong tower against the enemy.
Risen Christ,
as you knew the discipline of suffering
and the victory that brings us salvation,
so grant us your presence in our weakness
and a place in your unending kingdom
now and for evermore.
Psalm 62
Refrain:Wait on God alone in stillness, O my soul.
1On God alone my soul in stillness waits; ♦
from him comes my salvation.
2He alone is my rock and my salvation, ♦
my stronghold, so that I shall never be shaken.
3How long will all of you assail me to destroy me, ♦
as you would a tottering wall or a leaning fence?
4They plot only to thrust me down from my place of honour;
lies are their chief delight; ♦
they bless with their mouth, but in their heart they curse.
5Wait on God alone in stillness, O my soul; ♦
for in him is my hope.
6He alone is my rock and my salvation, ♦
my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken. R
7In God is my strength and my glory; ♦
God is my strong rock; in him is my refuge.
8Put your trust in him always, my people; ♦
pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.
9The peoples are but a breath,
the whole human race a deceit; ♦
on the scales they are altogether lighter than air.
10Put no trust in oppression; in robbery take no empty pride; ♦
though wealth increase, set not your heart upon it.
11God spoke once, and twice have I heard the same, ♦
that power belongs to God.
12Steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord, ♦
for you repay everyone according to their deeds.
Refrain:Wait on God alone in stillness, O my soul.
O God, teach us to seek security,
not in money or theft,
not in human ambition or malice,
not in our own ability or power,
but in you, the only God,
our rock and our salvation.
Psalm 64
Refrain:The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord.
1Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; ♦
preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
2Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, ♦
from the gathering of evildoers.
3They sharpen their tongue like a sword ♦
and aim their bitter words like arrows,
4That they may shoot at the blameless from hiding places; ♦
suddenly they shoot, and are not seen.
5They hold fast to their evil course; ♦
they talk of laying snares, saying, ‘Who will see us?’
6They search out wickedness and lay a cunning trap, ♦
for deep are the inward thoughts of the heart. R
7But God will shoot at them with his swift arrow, ♦
and suddenly they shall be wounded.
8Their own tongues shall make them fall, ♦
and all who see them shall wag their heads in scorn.
9All peoples shall fear and tell what God has done, ♦
and they will ponder all his works.
10The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord
and put their trust in him, ♦
and all that are true of heart shall exult.
Refrain:The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord.
Cut through the malice of our hearts, redeeming God,
with the Spirit’s sword,
wound the pride of our rebellion
with the grace that makes righteous
and bring near the day of Christ,
when love shall reign in joy;
for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.
Each psalm or group of psalms may end with
AllGlory 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.
If there are two Scripture readings, the first may be read here, or both may be read after the canticle.
Jeremiah 11.18 – 12.6
It was the Lord who made it known to me, and I knew;
then you showed me their evil deeds.
But I was like a gentle lamb
led to the slaughter.
And I did not know it was against me
that they devised schemes, saying,
‘Let us destroy the tree with its fruit,
let us cut him off from the land of the living,
so that his name will no longer be remembered!’
But you, O Lord of hosts, who judge righteously,
who try the heart and the mind,
let me see your retribution upon them,
for to you I have committed my cause.
Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the people of Anathoth, who seek your life, and say, ‘You shall not prophesy in the name of the Lord, or you will die by our hand’—therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: I am going to punish them; the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine; and not even a remnant shall be left of them. For I will bring disaster upon the people of Anathoth, the year of their punishment.
You will be in the right, O Lord,
when I lay charges against you;
but let me put my case to you.
Why does the way of the guilty prosper?
Why do all who are treacherous thrive?
You plant them, and they take root;
they grow and bring forth fruit;
you are near in their mouths
yet far from their hearts.
But you, O Lord, know me;
You see me and test me—my heart is with you.
Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter,
and set them apart for the day of slaughter.
How long will the land mourn,
and the grass of every field wither?
For the wickedness of those who live in it
the animals and the birds are swept away,
and because people said, ‘He is blind to our ways.’
If you have raced with foot-runners and they have wearied you,
how will you compete with horses?
And if in a safe land you fall down,
how will you fare in the thickets of the Jordan?
For even your kinsfolk and your own family,
even they have dealt treacherously with you;
they are in full cry after you;
do not believe them,
though they speak friendly words to you.
Canticle
A Song of Christ the Servant, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 61 (page 619) or number 67 (page 625), may be said
Refrain:
AllChrist committed no sin,
no guile was found on his lips.
1Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, ♦
that you should follow in his steps.
2He committed no sin, no guile was found on his lips, ♦
when he was reviled, he did not revile in turn.
3When he suffered, he did not threaten, ♦
but he trusted himself to God who judges justly.
4Christ himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, ♦
that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.
5By his wounds, you have been healed,
for you were straying like sheep, ♦
but have now returned
to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
1 Peter 2.21b-25
AllGlory 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.
AllChrist committed no sin,
no guile was found on his lips.
Scripture Reading
One or more readings appointed for the day are read.
The reading(s) may be followed by a time of silence.
John 7.53 – 8.11
Then each of them went home,
while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, sir.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.’]]
A suitable song or chant, or a responsory in this or another form, may follow
Forsake me not, O Lord;
be not far from me, O my God.
AllForsake me not, O Lord;
be not far from me, O my God.
Make haste to help me,
O Lord of my salvation.
AllBe not far from me, O my God.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
AllForsake me not, O Lord;
be not far from me, O my God.
from Psalm 38
Gospel Canticle
The Magnificat (The Song of Mary) is normally said,
or A Song of Praise (page 627) may be said
Refrain:
AllCome, let us return to the Lord,
for our God will richly pardon.
1My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; ♦
he has looked with favour on his lowly servant.
2From this day all generations will call me blessed; ♦
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his name.
3He has mercy on those who fear him, ♦
from generation to generation.
4He has shown strength with his arm ♦
and has scattered the proud in their conceit,
5Casting down the mighty from their thrones ♦
and lifting up the lowly.
6He has filled the hungry with good things ♦
and sent the rich away empty.
7He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, ♦
to remember his promise of mercy,
8The promise made to our ancestors, ♦
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Luke 1.46-55
AllGlory 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.
Refrain:
AllCome, let us return to the Lord,
for our God will richly pardon.
Prayers
Thanksgiving may be made for the day.
Intercessions are offered
¶ for peace
¶ for individuals and their needs
Prayers may include the following concerns from the cycle on pages 364–365
¶ Those preparing for baptism and confirmation
¶ Those serving through leadership
¶ Those looking for forgiveness
¶ Those misled by the false gods of this present age
¶ All who are hungry
A form of prayer found on page 380 may be used.
The Litany on pages 400-403 may be said instead of the Prayers.
These responses may be used
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer
(or)
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
Silence may be kept.
The Collect of the day is said
Almighty God,
whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain,
and entered not into glory before he was crucified:
mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross,
may find it none other than the way of life and peace;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
AllAmen.
The Lord’s Prayer is said
Trusting in the compassion of God,
as our Saviour taught us, so we pray
AllOur Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
(or)
Trusting in the compassion of God,
let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
AllOur 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,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Conclusion
May God our Redeemer show us compassion and love.
AllAmen.
Let us bless the Lord.
AllThanks be to God.