The Minister shall begin the Evening Prayer by reading one or more of
the following Sentences of Scripture; and then he shall say that which is
written after them. But he may, at his discretion, pass at once from the
Sentences to the Lord's Prayer.
And NOTE, that when the Confession and Absolution are omitted, the
Minister may, after the Sentences, pass to the
Versicles, O Lord,
open thou our lips, etc., in which case the Lord's Prayer shall be said with
the other prayers, immediately after The Lord be with you, etc.,
and before the Versicles and Responses which follow.
THE LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before
him. Hab. ii. 20.
LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine
honour dwelleth. Psalm xxvi. 8.
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 cxli. 2.
O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth stand
in awe of him. Psalm xcvi. 9.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be alway
acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength and my redeemer.
Psalm xix. 14.
Advent.
Watch ye, for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even,
or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning: lest coming
suddenly he find you sleeping. St. Mark xiii. 35, 36.
Christmas.
Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them,
and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be
their God. Rev. xxi. 3.
Epiphany.
The Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy
rising. Isaiah lx. 3.
Lent
I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Psalm li. 3.
To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have
rebelled against him; neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our
God, to walk in his laws which he set before us.
Dan. ix. 9, 10.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not
in us; but if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 St. John i. 8, 9.
Good Friday.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own
way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah liii. 6.
Easter.
Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ. 1 Cor. xv. 57.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where
Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Col. iii. 1.
Ascension.
Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the
figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the
presence of God for us. Heb. ix. 24.
Whitsunday.
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,
the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.
Psalm xlvi. 4.
The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come.
And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the
water of life freely. Rev. xxii. 17.
Trinity Sunday.
Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the
whole earth is full of his glory. Isaiah vi. 3.
LET us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.
Or else he shall say as followeth.
DEARLY beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us, in sundry places, to
acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness; and that we
should not dissemble nor cloak them before the face of Almighty God our
heavenly Father; but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent, and
obedient heart; to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same, by
his infinite goodness and mercy. And although we ought, at all times,
humbly to acknowledge our sins before God; yet ought we chiefly so to do,
when we assemble and meet together to render thanks for the great
benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy
praise, to hear his most holy Word, and to ask those things which are
requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore I
pray and beseech you, as many as are here present, to accompany me with a
pure heart, and humble voice, unto the throne of the heavenly grace,
saying --
A General Confession
To be said by the whole Congregation, after the Minister,
all kneeling.
ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father; We have erred, and strayed from thy
ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires
of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left
undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those
things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us.
But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare thou
those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore thou those who are
penitent; According to thy promises declared unto mankind In Christ Jesus
our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake; That we may
hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy
holy Name. Amen.
The Declaration of Absolution, or Remission of Sins.
To be made by the Priest alone, standing; the People still
kneeling.
ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the
death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and
live, hath given power, and commandment, to his Ministers, to declare and
pronounce to his people, being penitent, the Absolution and Remission of
their sins. He pardoneth and absolveth all those who truly repent, and
unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel.
Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance, and his Holy
Spirit, that those things may please him which we do at this present; and
that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy; so that at the
last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Or this.
THE Almighty and merciful Lord grant you Absolution and Remission of all
your sins, true repentance; amendment of life, and the grace and
consolation of his Holy Spirit. Amen.
Then the Minister shall kneel, and say the Lord's Prayer;
the People still kneeling, and repeating it with him.
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.
Then likewise he shall say,
O Lord, open thou our lips.
Answer. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.
Here, all standing up, the Minister shall say,
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
Answer. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
Minister. Praise ye the Lord.
Answer. The Lord's Name be praised.
Then shall follow a Portion of the Psalms, according to the Use of this
Church. And at the end of every Psalm, and likewise at the end of the
Magnificat, Cantate Domino, Bonum est confiteri, Nunc dimittis, Deus
misereatur, Benedic, anima mea, may be sung or said the Gloria Patri; and
at the end of the whole Portion or Selection of the Psalms for the day,
shall be sung or said the Gloria Patri, or else the Gloria in excelsis,
as followeth.
Today's Psalms from the Daily Psalter
The Psalter
Psalm 116
The One Hundred Sixteenth Psalm
Dilexi, quoniam.
MY delight is in the LORD;
* because he hath heard the voice of my prayer;
Because he hath inclined his ear unto me;
* therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
The snares of death compassed me round about,
* and the pains of hell gat hold upon me.
I found trouble and heaviness; then called I upon the Name of the LORD;
* O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
* yea, our God is merciful.
The LORD preserveth the simple:
* I was in misery, and he helped me.
Turn again then unto thy rest, O my soul;
* for the LORD hath rewarded thee.
And why? thou hast delivered my soul from death,
* mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
I will walk before the LORD
* in the land of the living.
I believed, and therefore will I speak; but I was sore troubled:
* I said in my haste, All men are liars.
What reward shall I give unto the LORD
* for all the benefits that he hath done unto me?
I will receive the cup of salvation,
* and call upon the Name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows now in the presence of all his people:
* right dear in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Behold, O LORD, how that I am thy servant;
* I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid; thou hast broken my bonds in sunder.
I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
* and will call upon the Name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows unto the LORD, in the sight of all his people,
* in the courts of the LORD'S house; even in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD.
Psalm 117
The One Hundred Seventeenth Psalm
Laudate Dominum.
O PRAISE the LORD, all ye nations;
* praise him, all ye peoples.
For his merciful kindness is ever more and more toward us;
* and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever.
Praise the LORD.
Gloria in excelsis.
GLORY be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will towards men. We
praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give
thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the
Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son
of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon
us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.
Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon
us. For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ,
with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Then shall be read the First Lesson, according to the Table or
Calendar.
The First Lesson
II Samuel 22:32-34, 44-51
For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God? God is my strength and power: and
he maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places.
Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen:
a people which I knew not shall serve me. Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they
hear, they shall be obedient unto me. Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close
places. The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. It is
God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me, And that bringeth me forth from
mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered
me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will
sing praises unto thy name. He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed,
unto David, and to his seed for evermore.
Go to Cantate Domino
Go to Bonum est
After which shall be sung or said the Hymn called Magnificat, as
followeth.
But NOTE, That the Minister, at his discretion, may omit one of the
Lessons in Evening Prayer, the Lesson being followed by one of the
Evening Canticles.
Magnificat. St. Luke i. 46.
MY soul doth magnify the Lord, * and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my
Saviour.
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.
Or this Psalm.
Cantate Domino. Psalm xcviii.
O SING unto the LORD a new song; * for he hath done marvellous things.
With his own right hand, and with his holy arm, * hath he gotten himself
the victory.
The LORD declared his salvation; * his righteousness hath he openly
showed in the sight of the heathen.
He hath remembered his mercy and truth toward the house of Israel; * and
all the ends of the world
have seen the salvation of our God.
Show yourselves joyful unto the LORD, all ye lands; * sing, rejoice, and
give thanks.
Praise the LORD upon the harp; * sing to the harp with a psalm of
thanksgiving.
With trumpets also and shawms, * O show yourselves joyful before the
LORD, the King.
Let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is; * the round world, and
they that dwell therein.
Let the floods clap their hands, and let the hills be joyful together
before the LORD; * for he cometh
to judge the earth.
With righteousness shall he judge the world, * and the peoples with
equity.
Or this.
Bonum est confiteri. Psalm xcii.
IT is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, * and to sing praises
unto thy Name, O Most Highest;
To tell of thy loving-kindness early in the morning, * and of thy truth in
the night season;
Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the lute; * upon a loud
instrument, and upon the harp.
For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy works; * and I will
rejoice in giving praise
for the operations of thy hands.
Then a Lesson of the New Testament, as it is appointed.
And after that shall be sung or said the Hymn called Nunc dimittis, as
followeth.
The Second Lesson
Acts 4:1-12
And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came
upon them, Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from
the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five
thousand. And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, And Annas the
high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high
priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By
what power, or by what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them,
Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the
impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel,
that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by
him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders,
which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other
name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Go to Deus misereatur
Go to Benedic, anima mea
Nunc Dimittis. St. Luke ii. 29.
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.
Go to the Creed
Or else this Psalm.
Deus misereatur. Psalm lxvii.
GOD be merciful unto us, and bless us, * and show us the light of his
countenance, and be merciful unto us;
That thy way may be known upon earth, * thy saving health among all
nations.
Let the peoples praise thee, O God; * yea, let all the peoples praise
thee.
O let the nations rejoice and be glad; * for thou shalt judge the folk
righteously, and govern the nations upon earth.
Let the peoples praise thee, O God; * yea, let all the peoples praise
thee.
Then shall the earth bring forth her increase; * and God, even our own
God, shall give us his blessing.
God shall bless us; * and all the ends of the world shall fear him.
Go to the Creed
Or this.
Benedic, anima mea. Psalm ciii.
PRAISE the LORD, O my soul; * and all that is within me, praise his holy
Name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul, * and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thy sin, * and healeth all thine infirmities;
Who saveth thy life from destruction, * and crowneth thee with mercy and
loving-kindness.
O praise the LORD, ye angels of his, ye that excel in strength; * ye that
fulfil his commandment, and hearken unto the voice of his word.
O praise the LORD, all ye his hosts; * ye servants of his that do his
pleasure.
O speak good of the LORD, all ye works of his, in all places of his
dominion: * praise thou
the LORD, O my soul.
Then shall be said the Apostles' Creed by the Minister and the People,
standing. And any churches may, instead of the words He descended into
hell, use the words He went into the place of departed spirits, which are
considered as words of the same meaning in the Creed.
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.
Go to Prayers
Or the Creed commonly called the Nicene.
I BELIEVE in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And
of all things visible and invisible:
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God; Begotten of
his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of
very God; Begotten, not made; Being of one substance with the Father; By
whom all things were made: Who for us men and for our salvation came down
from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And
was made man: And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He
suffered and was buried: And the third day he rose again according to the
Scriptures: And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of
the Father: And he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick
and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy
Ghost, The Lord, and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father and
the Son; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and
glorified; Who spake by the Prophets: And I believe one Catholic and
Apostolic Church: I acknowledge one
Baptism for the remission of sins: And I look for the Resurrection of the
dead: And the Life of the world to come. Amen.
And after that, these Prayers following, the People devoutly kneeling;
the Minister first pronouncing,
The Lord be with you.
Answer. And with thy spirit.
Minister. Let us pray.
Here, if it hath not already been said, shall follow
the Lord's Prayer.
Minister. O Lord, show thy mercy upon us.
Answer. And grant us thy salvation.
Minister. O Lord, save the State.
Answer. And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.
Minister. Endue thy Ministers with righteousness.
Answer. And make thy chosen people joyful.
Minister. O Lord, save thy people.
Answer. And bless thine inheritance.
Minister. Give peace in our time, O Lord.
Answer. For it is thou, Lord, only, that makest us dwell in safety.
Minister. O God, make clean our hearts within us.
Answer. And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.
Then shall be said the Collect for the Day, and after that the Collects
and Prayers following.
The Collect for the Day
Sunday After Ascension
O GOD, the King of glory, who hast exalted thine only
Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto thy kingdom
in heaven; We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless;
but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and
exalt us unto the same place whither our Saviour Christ
is gone before, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the
same Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.
A Collect for Peace.
O GOD, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works
do proceed; Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot
give; that our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that
by thee, we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may pass our
time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our
Saviour. Amen.
A Collect for Aid against Perils.
LIGHTEN our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy
defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy
only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
In places where it may be convenient, here followeth the Anthem.
The Minister may here end the Evening Prayer with such
Prayer, or Prayers,
taken out of this Book, as he shall think fit.
A Prayer for The President of the United States,
and all in Civil Authority.
Almighty God, whose kingdom is everlasting and power infinite; Have mercy
upon this whole land; and so rule the hearts of thy servants THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, The Governor of this State, and all
others in authority, that they, knowing whose ministers they are, may
above all things seek thy honour and glory; and that we and all the
People, duly considering whose authority they bear, may faithfully and
obediently honour them, according to thy blessed Word and ordinance;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth
and reigneth ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
A Prayer for the Clergy and People.
Almighty and everlasting God, from whom cometh every good and perfect
gift; Send down upon our Bishops, and other Clergy, and upon the
Congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy
grace; and, that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual
dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our Advocate
and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.
A Prayer for All Conditions of Men.
O God, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee
for all sorts and conditions of men; that thou wouldest be pleased to
make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More
especially we pray for thy holy Church universal; that it may be so
guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call
themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the
faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of
life. Finally, we commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are any
ways afflicted, or distressed, in mind, body, or estate; [* especially
those for whom our prayers are desired;] that it may please thee to
comfort and relieve them, according to their several necessities; giving
them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their
afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
* This may be said when any desire the prayers of the Congregation.
A General Thanksgiving.
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we, thine unworthy servants, do give
thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and
lovingkindness to us, and to all men; [* particularly to those who desire
now to offer up their praises and thanksgivings for thy late mercies
vouchsafed unto them.] We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and
all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of
grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us that due
sense of all thy mercies that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful; and
that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by giving up our selves to thy service, and by walking before thee in
holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world
without end. Amen.
* This may be said when any desire to return thanks for mercies
vouchsafed to them.
NOTE, That the General Thanksgiving may be said by the Congregation with
the Minister.
A Prayer of St. Chrysostom
Almighty God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to
make our common supplications unto thee; and dost promise that when two
or three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their
requests; Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants,
as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of
thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.
2 Cor. xiii. 14.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the
fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.
Here endeth the Order of Evening Prayer.