Evening Prayer

The leader says the lines in italics.
The lines marked by | may be omitted when used as an individual devotion.

O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me!
Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!Psalm 114:1-2

Confession

|Let us humbly confess our sins to Almighty God.

Almighty and most merciful Father,
we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.
We have offended against your 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 apart from your grace, there is no health in us.
O Lord, have mercy upon us.
Spare all those who confess their faults.
Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises
declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,
that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life,
to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.

|Hear what Christ says: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
|and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just
|to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Psalm

O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory 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.

Invitatory Psalm

Phos hilaron

O gladsome Light, pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun, and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.

Psalter ESV

Glory 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.

Lesson

Prayer for Illumination

Almighty, gracious Father, forasmuch as our whole salvation depends upon our true understanding of your holy Word, grant to all of us that our hearts, being freed from worldly affairs, may hear and apprehend your holy Word with all diligence and faith, that we may rightly understand your gracious will, cherish it, and live by it with all earnestness, to your praise and honor; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Strasbourg Psalter

|The scripture lesson is __________.
|Hear the word of God!
|Our ears are open!
Here read the scripture chosen for this service.
|Praise God for His holy word!
|To You, O Lord, be glory and praise!

Canticle

Here sing the canticle or hymn.

Creed

|Christian, what do you believe?

I believe in God the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God
the Father Almighty.
From there he shall come to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers

|The Lord be with you.
|And also with you.
|Let us pray.

The Lord’s Prayer

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 debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.

Suffrages

O Lord, show your mercy upon us;
And grant us your salvation.
O Lord, guide those who govern us;
And lead us in the way of justice and truth.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
And let your people sing with joy.
O lord, save your people;
And bless your inheritance.
Give peace in our time, O Lord;
And defend us by your mighty power.
Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
And take not your Holy Spirit from us.

Collect of the Evening

Sunday

Lord God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ
triumphed over the powers of death
and prepared for us our place in the new Jerusalem:
Grant that we, who have this day given thanks for his resurrection,
may praise you in that City of which he is the light,
and where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Monday

O God, the source of all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works:
Give to your servants that peace which the world cannot give,
that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments,
and that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies,
may pass our time in rest and quietness;
Through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Tuesday

Lighten our darkness, we beseech you, O Lord;
and by your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers
of this night;
For the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Wednesday

O God, the life of all who live, the light of the faithful,
the strength of those who labor, and the repose of the dead:
We thank you for the blessings of the day that is past,
and humbly ask for your protection through the coming night.
Bring us in safety to the morning hours;
Through him who died and rose again for us,
your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Thursday

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past;
be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope,
that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture
and the breaking of bread.
Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen.

Friday

Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death:
Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way,
that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you
and wake up in your likeness;
For your tender mercies’ sake. Amen.

Saturday

O God, the source of eternal light:
Shed forth your unending day upon us who watch for you,
that our lips may praise you, our lives may bless you,
and our worship on the morrow give you glory;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

General Intercession

O God, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind,
We humbly beseech you for all sorts and conditions of men;
that you would be pleased to make your ways known unto them,
your saving health to all nations.
We pray for your watchful care and gracious guidance
of all those in authority,
that we may live quiet and peaceful lives,
and that our nation may receive your blessing.
Especially we pray for your holy church universal;
that it may be so guided and governed by your 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 your fatherly goodness all those
who are in any way afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or estate;
that it may please you 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’ sake. Amen.

Extemporaneous Prayers

Individuals may offer prayers for general and personal needs: for events
of the day, for family, for church and community, for nation and world.

General Thanksgiving

Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness
to us and to all whom you have made.
We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable 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 pray,
give us such an awareness of your mercies,
that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,
not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by giving up our selves to your service,
and by walking before you
in holiness and righteousness all our days;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

|Let us bless the Lord.
|Thanks be to God.

Closing Collect

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
creator of the changes of the day and night,
giving rest to the weary,
renewing the strength of those who are spent,
bestowing upon us occasions of song in the evening.
As you have protected us in the day that is past,
so be with us in the coming night;
keep us from every sin, every evil, and every fear;
for you are our light and salvation, and the strength of our life.
To you be glory for endless ages. Amen.