Evening Prayer - September 20, 2026

Today's Readings

Psalm 24:1-10

Psalm 29:1-11

Job 38:1,18-41

Revelation 18:1-8

Matthew 5:21-26

Ordinary Time
Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, and bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling. Psalm 43:3

Confession of Sin
Most merciful God,
I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbors as myself. I am truly sorry and I humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me; that I may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen

The Invitatory and Psalter
Lord, open our lips. And our mouth shall proclaim your praise
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen Alleluia

Venite

ⓘ 'Venite' is Latin for 'O Come,' the opening word of Psalm 95: Venite exultemus Domino ('O Come, let us sing to the LORD').

Psalm 95:1 to 7
Come, let us sing to the Lord;
   let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving
   and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God,
   and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the caverns of the earth,
   and the heights of the hills are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it,
   and his hands have molded the dry land.

Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee,
   and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.
    Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

The Antiphon:

ⓘ A short, reflective sentence recited alongside a psalm to deepen our understanding of the readings.

The earth is the Lord's for he made it: Come let us adore him.

The Lessons

Psalm 24

⁽¹⁾ The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.⁽²⁾ For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters.⁽³⁾ Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place?⁽⁴⁾ He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully.

⁽⁵⁾ He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.⁽⁶⁾ This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah⁽⁷⁾ Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.⁽⁸⁾ Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle.

⁽⁹⁾ Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.⁽¹⁰⁾ Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Psalm 29

⁽¹⁾ Give unto the LORD, O you mighty ones, Give unto the LORD glory and strength.⁽²⁾ Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.⁽³⁾ The voice of the LORD is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The LORD is over many waters.⁽⁴⁾ The voice of the LORD is powerful; The voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

⁽⁵⁾ The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars, Yes, the LORD splinters the cedars of Lebanon.⁽⁶⁾ He makes them also skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.⁽⁷⁾ The voice of the LORD divides the flames of fire.⁽⁸⁾ The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; The LORD shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh.

⁽⁹⁾ The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth, And strips the forests bare; And in His temple everyone says, 'Glory!'⁽¹⁰⁾ The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood, And the LORD sits as King forever.⁽¹¹⁾ The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Job Chapter 38

⁽¹⁾ Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:⁽¹⁸⁾ Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this.⁽¹⁹⁾ Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place,⁽²⁰⁾ That you may take it to its territory, That you may know the paths to its home?⁽²¹⁾ Do you know it, because you were born then, Or because the number of your days is great?

⁽²²⁾ Have you entered the treasury of snow, Or have you seen the treasury of hail,⁽²³⁾ Which I have reserved for the time of trouble, For the day of battle and war?⁽²⁴⁾ By what way is light diffused, Or the east wind scattered over the earth?⁽²⁵⁾ Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, Or a path for the thunderbolt,

⁽²⁶⁾ To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one, A wilderness in which there is no man;⁽²⁷⁾ To satisfy the desolate waste, And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass?⁽²⁸⁾ Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew?⁽²⁹⁾ From whose womb comes the ice? And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth?

⁽³⁰⁾ The waters harden like stone, And the surface of the deep is frozen.⁽³¹⁾ Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the belt of Orion?⁽³²⁾ Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season? Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs?⁽³³⁾ Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?

⁽³⁴⁾ Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That an abundance of water may cover you?⁽³⁵⁾ Can you send out lightnings, that they may go, And say to you, 'Here we are!'?⁽³⁶⁾ Who has put wisdom in the mind? Or who has given understanding to the heart?⁽³⁷⁾ Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,

⁽³⁸⁾ When the dust hardens in clumps, And the clods cling together?⁽³⁹⁾ Can you hunt the prey for the lion, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,⁽⁴⁰⁾ When they crouch in their dens, Or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait?⁽⁴¹⁾ Who provides food for the raven, When its young ones cry to God, And wander about for lack of food?

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Revelation Chapter 18

⁽¹⁾ After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory.⁽²⁾ And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, 'Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!⁽³⁾ For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.'⁽⁴⁾ And I heard another voice from heaven saying, 'Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.

⁽⁵⁾ For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.⁽⁶⁾ Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her.⁽⁷⁾ In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, 'I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.'⁽⁸⁾ Therefore her plagues will come in one day -- death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Matthew Chapter 5

⁽²¹⁾ You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.'⁽²²⁾ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.⁽²³⁾ Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,⁽²⁴⁾ leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

⁽²⁵⁾ Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.⁽²⁶⁾ Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

The Gospel of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The Song of Zechariah Luke 1: 68 to 79
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old,
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham,
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

You are God
You are God: we praise you;
You are the Lord; we acclaim you;
You are the eternal Father:
All creation worships you.
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;
Father, of majesty unbounded,
your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,
and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the king of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.
When you became man to set us free
you did not shun the Virgin's womb.
You overcame the sting of death
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God's right hand in glory.
We believe that you will come and be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.

The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord.
He 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 to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again 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.

The Prayers

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 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,
forever and ever. Amen.

Suffrages

ⓘ A simple prayer to God for help, mercy, or intercession, rooted in the Latin word for support.

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 by your Holy Spirit.

Seasonal Collect: Proper 19 The Sunday closest to September 14
O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Collect of the Day: O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord: Give us this day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for Mission: Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Personal Prayers and Reflection

This is a time to pause, consider and listen. Pray for yourself and others.

Closing Prayers

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 ourselves 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.

Conclude with the following
Let Us Bless the Lord, Thanks be to God

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14