Evening Prayer

Ordinary Time
The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. John 4:23

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
The Antiphon:

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

The mercy of the Lord is everlasting: Come let us adore him.

The Lessons

Psalm 56

⁽¹⁾ Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up; Fighting all day he oppresses me. ⁽²⁾ My enemies would hound me all day, For there are many who fight against me, O Most High. ⁽³⁾ Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. ⁽⁴⁾ In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?

⁽⁵⁾ All day they twist my words; All their thoughts are against me for evil. ⁽⁶⁾ They gather together, They hide, they mark my steps, When they lie in wait for my life. ⁽⁷⁾ Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, O God! ⁽⁸⁾ You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?

⁽⁹⁾ When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me. ⁽¹⁰⁾ In God (I will praise His word), In the LORD (I will praise His word), ⁽¹¹⁾ In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? ⁽¹²⁾ Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God; I will render praises to You,

⁽¹³⁾ For You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, That I may walk before God In the light of the living?

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 57

⁽¹⁾ Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. ⁽²⁾ I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me. ⁽³⁾ He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah God shall send forth His mercy and His truth. ⁽⁴⁾ My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.

⁽⁵⁾ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth. ⁽⁶⁾ They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah ⁽⁷⁾ My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise. ⁽⁸⁾ Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn.

⁽⁹⁾ I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. ⁽¹⁰⁾ For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds. ⁽¹¹⁾ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth.

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 58

⁽¹⁾ Do you indeed speak righteousness, you silent ones? Do you judge uprightly, you sons of men? ⁽²⁾ No, in heart you work wickedness; You weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth. ⁽³⁾ The wicked are estranged from the womb; They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies. ⁽⁴⁾ Their poison is like the poison of a serpent; They are like the deaf cobra that stops its ear,

⁽⁵⁾ Which will not heed the voice of charmers, Charming ever so skillfully. ⁽⁶⁾ Break their teeth in their mouth, O God! Break out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD! ⁽⁷⁾ Let them flow away as waters which run continually; When he bends his bow, Let his arrows be as if cut in pieces. ⁽⁸⁾ Let them be like a snail which melts away as it goes, Like a stillborn child of a woman, that they may not see the sun.

⁽⁹⁾ Before your pots can feel the burning thorns, He shall take them away as with a whirlwind, As in His living and burning wrath. ⁽¹⁰⁾ The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance; He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked, ⁽¹¹⁾ So that men will say, 'Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely He is God who judges in the earth.'

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.

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 38

⁽²⁴⁾ Scholars must have time to study if they are going to be wise; they must be relieved of other responsibilities. ⁽²⁵⁾ How can a farm hand gain knowledge, when his only ambition is to drive the oxen and make them work, when all he knows to talk about is livestock? ⁽²⁶⁾ He takes great pains to plow a straight furrow and will work far into the night to feed the animals. ⁽²⁷⁾ It is the same with the artist and the craftsman, who work night and day engraving precious stones, carefully working out new designs. They take great pains to produce a lifelike image, and will work far into the night to finish the work.

⁽²⁸⁾ It is the same with the blacksmith at his anvil, planning what he will make from a piece of iron. The heat from the fire sears his skin as he sweats away at the forge. The clanging of the hammer deafens him as he carefully watches the object he is working take shape. He takes great pains to complete his task, and will work far into the night to bring it to perfection. ⁽²⁹⁾ It is the same with the potter, sitting at his wheel and turning it with his feet, always concentrating on his work, concerned with how many objects he can produce. ⁽³⁰⁾ He works the clay with his feet until he can shape it with his hands; then he takes great pains to glaze it properly, and will work far into the night to clean out the kiln. ⁽³¹⁾ All of these people are skilled with their hands, each of them an expert at his own craft.

⁽³²⁾ Without such people there could be no cities; no one would live or visit where these services were not available. ⁽³³⁾ These people are not sought out to serve on the public councils, and they never attain positions of great importance. They do not serve as judges, and they do not understand legal matters. They have no education and are not known for their wisdom. You never hear them quoting proverbs. ⁽³⁴⁾ But the work they do holds this world together. When they do their work, it is the same as offering prayer.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Revelation Chapter 14

⁽¹⁾ Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads. ⁽²⁾ And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. ⁽³⁾ They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. ⁽⁴⁾ These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

⁽⁵⁾ And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God. ⁽⁶⁾ Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth -- to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people -- ⁽⁷⁾ saying with a loud voice, 'Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.' ⁽⁸⁾ And another angel followed, saying, 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.'

⁽⁹⁾ Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, 'If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, ⁽¹⁰⁾ he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. ⁽¹¹⁾ And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.' ⁽¹²⁾ Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

⁽¹³⁾ Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, 'Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' ' 'Yes,' says the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.'

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Luke Chapter 12

⁽⁴⁹⁾ I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! ⁽⁵⁰⁾ But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! ⁽⁵¹⁾ Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. ⁽⁵²⁾ For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three.

⁽⁵³⁾ Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.' ⁽⁵⁴⁾ Then He also said to the multitudes, 'Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, 'A shower is coming'; and so it is. ⁽⁵⁵⁾ And when you see the south wind blow, you say, 'There will be hot weather'; and there is. ⁽⁵⁶⁾ Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?

The Gospel of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The Song of the Redeemed       Revelation 15:3 to 4  
O ruler of the universe, Lord God,
great deeds are they that you have done,
  surpassing human understanding.
Your ways are ways of righteousness and truth,
 O King of all the ages.

Who can fail to do you homage, Lord,
and sing the praises of your Name?
  for you only are the Holy One.
All nations will draw near
and fall down before you,
  because your just and holy works have been revealed.
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.

The First Song of Isaiah       Isaiah 12:2 to 6
 
Surely, it is God who saves me;
  I will trust in him and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my stronghold
and my sure defense,
  and he will be my Savior.
Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing
  from the springs of salvation.
And on that day you shall say,
  Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;
Make his deeds known among the peoples;
  see that they remember that his Name is exalted.
Sing the praises of the Lord,
for he has done great things,
  and this is known in all the world.
Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy,
  for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.
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.


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   Traditional
Suffrages A

Seasonal Collect:  Proper 26 The Sunday closest to November 2
Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect of the Day: O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; 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. When you lack the words


Closing Prayers   Thanksgiving

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