Evening Prayer - January 31, 2027

Today's Readings

Psalm 24:1-10

Psalm 29:1-11

Isaiah 51:9-16

Hebrews 11:8-16

John 7:14-31

Epiphany
I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. Isaiah 49:6b

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 Lord has shown forth his glory: 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.

Isaiah Chapter 51

⁽⁹⁾ Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD! Awake as in the ancient days, In the generations of old. Are You not the arm that cut Rahab apart, And wounded the serpent?⁽¹⁰⁾ Are You not the One who dried up the sea, The waters of the great deep; That made the depths of the sea a road For the redeemed to cross over?⁽¹¹⁾ So the ransomed of the LORD shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness; Sorrow and sighing shall flee away.⁽¹²⁾ I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you should be afraid Of a man who will die, And of the son of a man who will be made like grass?

⁽¹³⁾ And you forget the LORD your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens And laid the foundations of the earth; You have feared continually every day Because of the fury of the oppressor, When he has prepared to destroy. And where is the fury of the oppressor?⁽¹⁴⁾ The captive exile hastens, that he may be loosed, That he should not die in the pit, And that his bread should not fail.⁽¹⁵⁾ But I am the LORD your God, Who divided the sea whose waves roared -- The LORD of hosts is His name.⁽¹⁶⁾ And I have put My words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, That I may plant the heavens, Lay the foundations of the earth, And say to Zion, 'You are My people.' '

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Hebrews Chapter 11

⁽⁸⁾ By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.⁽⁹⁾ By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;⁽¹⁰⁾ for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.⁽¹¹⁾ By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.

⁽¹²⁾ Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude -- innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.⁽¹³⁾ These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.⁽¹⁴⁾ For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.⁽¹⁵⁾ And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.

⁽¹⁶⁾ But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

John Chapter 7

⁽¹⁴⁾ Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught.⁽¹⁵⁾ And the Jews marveled, saying, 'How does this Man know letters, having never studied?'⁽¹⁶⁾ Jesus answered them and said, 'My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.⁽¹⁷⁾ If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.

⁽¹⁸⁾ He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.⁽¹⁹⁾ Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?'⁽²⁰⁾ The people answered and said, 'You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?'⁽²¹⁾ Jesus answered and said to them, 'I did one work, and you all marvel.

⁽²²⁾ Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.⁽²³⁾ If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?⁽²⁴⁾ Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.'⁽²⁵⁾ Now some of them from Jerusalem said, 'Is this not He whom they seek to kill?

⁽²⁶⁾ But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ?⁽²⁷⁾ However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.'⁽²⁸⁾ Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, 'You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.⁽²⁹⁾ But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.'

⁽³⁰⁾ Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.⁽³¹⁾ And many of the people believed in Him, and said, 'When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?'

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: Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. 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