Evening Prayer - August 20, 2025

Today's Readings

Psalm 119:145-176

2 Samuel 18:19-33

Acts 23:23-35

Mark 12:13-27

Ordinary Time
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

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 119

⁽¹⁴⁵⁾ I cry out with my whole heart; Hear me, O LORD! I will keep Your statutes.⁽¹⁴⁶⁾ I cry out to You; Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies.⁽¹⁴⁷⁾ I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word.⁽¹⁴⁸⁾ My eyes are awake through the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word.

⁽¹⁴⁹⁾ Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O LORD, revive me according to Your justice.⁽¹⁵⁰⁾ They draw near who follow after wickedness; They are far from Your law.⁽¹⁵¹⁾ You are near, O LORD, And all Your commandments are truth.⁽¹⁵²⁾ Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever.

⁽¹⁵³⁾ Consider my affliction and deliver me, For I do not forget Your law.⁽¹⁵⁴⁾ Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word.⁽¹⁵⁵⁾ Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes.⁽¹⁵⁶⁾ Great are Your tender mercies, O LORD; Revive me according to Your judgments.

⁽¹⁵⁷⁾ Many are my persecutors and my enemies, Yet I do not turn from Your testimonies.⁽¹⁵⁸⁾ I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, Because they do not keep Your word.⁽¹⁵⁹⁾ Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness.⁽¹⁶⁰⁾ The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

⁽¹⁶¹⁾ Princes persecute me without a cause, But my heart stands in awe of Your word.⁽¹⁶²⁾ I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure.⁽¹⁶³⁾ I hate and abhor lying, But I love Your law.⁽¹⁶⁴⁾ Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous judgments.

⁽¹⁶⁵⁾ Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.⁽¹⁶⁶⁾ LORD, I hope for Your salvation, And I do Your commandments.⁽¹⁶⁷⁾ My soul keeps Your testimonies, And I love them exceedingly.⁽¹⁶⁸⁾ I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, For all my ways are before You.

⁽¹⁶⁹⁾ Let my cry come before You, O LORD; Give me understanding according to Your word.⁽¹⁷⁰⁾ Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your word.⁽¹⁷¹⁾ My lips shall utter praise, For You teach me Your statutes.⁽¹⁷²⁾ My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness.

⁽¹⁷³⁾ Let Your hand become my help, For I have chosen Your precepts.⁽¹⁷⁴⁾ I long for Your salvation, O LORD, And Your law is my delight.⁽¹⁷⁵⁾ Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; And let Your judgments help me.⁽¹⁷⁶⁾ I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek Your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments.

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.

2 Samuel Chapter 18

⁽¹⁹⁾ Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, 'Let me run now and take the news to the king, how the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.'⁽²⁰⁾ And Joab said to him, 'You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news, because the king's son is dead.'⁽²¹⁾ Then Joab said to the Cushite, 'Go, tell the king what you have seen.' So the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran.⁽²²⁾ And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, 'But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.' So Joab said, 'Why will you run, my son, since you have no news ready?'

⁽²³⁾ But whatever happens,' he said, 'let me run.' So he said to him, 'Run.' Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.⁽²⁴⁾ Now David was sitting between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate, to the wall, lifted his eyes and looked, and there was a man, running alone.⁽²⁵⁾ Then the watchman cried out and told the king. And the king said, 'If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.' And he came rapidly and drew near.⁽²⁶⁾ Then the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, 'There is another man, running alone!' And the king said, 'He also brings news.'

⁽²⁷⁾ So the watchman said, 'I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.' And the king said, 'He is a good man, and comes with good news.'⁽²⁸⁾ And Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, 'All is well!' Then he bowed down with his face to the earth before the king, and said, 'Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king!'⁽²⁹⁾ The king said, 'Is the young man Absalom safe?' Ahimaaz answered, 'When Joab sent the king's servant and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was about.'⁽³⁰⁾ And the king said, 'Turn aside and stand here.' So he turned aside and stood still.

⁽³¹⁾ Just then the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, 'There is good news, my lord the king! For the LORD has avenged you this day of all those who rose against you.'⁽³²⁾ And the king said to the Cushite, 'Is the young man Absalom safe?' So the Cushite answered, 'May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do harm, be like that young man!'⁽³³⁾ Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: 'O my son Absalom -- my son, my son Absalom -- if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son!'

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Acts Chapter 23

⁽²³⁾ And he called for two centurions, saying, 'Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night;⁽²⁴⁾ and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.'⁽²⁵⁾ He wrote a letter in the following manner:⁽²⁶⁾ Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

⁽²⁷⁾ This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.⁽²⁸⁾ And when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council.⁽²⁹⁾ I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains.⁽³⁰⁾ And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him. Farewell.

⁽³¹⁾ Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.⁽³²⁾ The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the barracks.⁽³³⁾ When they came to Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.⁽³⁴⁾ And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia,

⁽³⁵⁾ he said, 'I will hear you when your accusers also have come.' And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's Praetorium.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Mark Chapter 12

⁽¹³⁾ Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words.⁽¹⁴⁾ When they had come, they said to Him, 'Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?⁽¹⁵⁾ Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?' But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, 'Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.'⁽¹⁶⁾ So they brought it. And He said to them, 'Whose image and inscription is this?' They said to Him, 'Caesar's.'

⁽¹⁷⁾ And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.' And they marveled at Him.⁽¹⁸⁾ Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him; and they asked Him, saying:⁽¹⁹⁾ Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.⁽²⁰⁾ Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring.

⁽²¹⁾ And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise.⁽²²⁾ So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also.⁽²³⁾ Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife.'⁽²⁴⁾ Jesus answered and said to them, 'Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?

⁽²⁵⁾ For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.⁽²⁶⁾ But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?⁽²⁷⁾ He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken.'

The Gospel of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Glory to God
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. 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

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 15 The Sunday closest to August 17
Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Collect of the Day: Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for Mission: Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. 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

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21