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 unto Almighty God.
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your 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 shall be forever. Amen.
Alleluia!
Invitatory Psalm
Phos hilaron
O gracious 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
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be forever. 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
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
a.Show us your mercy, O Lord;
And grant us your salvation.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
Let your people sing with joy.
Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
For only in you can we live in safety.
Lord, keep this nation under your care;
And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
Let your way be known upon earth;
Your saving health among all nations.
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 sustain us with your Holy Spirit.
b.Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;
Govern and uphold them, now and always.
Day by day we bless you;
We praise your name for ever.
Lord, keep us from all sin today;
Have mercy upon us, Lord, have mercy.
Lord, show us your love and mercy;
For we put our trust in you.
In you, Lord, is our hope;
And we shall never hope in vain.
Collect of the Night
a.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, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
b.Almighty God, we give you thanks for surrounding us,
as daylight fades, with the brightness of the vesper light;
And we implore you of your great mercy that,
as you enfold us with the radiance of this light,
so you would shine into our hearts the brightness of your Holy Spirit;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
c.Grant us, Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails,
that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us,
and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that holy City,
where dwells the true and never-failing Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
d.Look down, O Lord, from your heavenly throne,
and illumine this night with your celestial brightness;
that by night, as by day your people may glorify your holy Name;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
e.O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels,
and all just works do proceed:
Give to your servants that peace which the world cannot give,
that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments,
and also that by you, we,
being delivered from the fear of all enemies,
may pass our time in rest and quietness;
Through the merits of Christ our Savior. 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.
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.
David Green 