Jesus teaches us to come before God with humble hearts, boldly offering our thanksgivings and concerns to God or simply listening for God’s voice in our lives and in the world. Whether in thought, word, or deed, individually or corporately, when we pray, we invite and dwell in God’s loving presence.
Daily Evening Prayer: Rite Two
We begin this service with your silent prayers in the stillness of the evening. The people’s responses are in bold print.
All stand, and the Officiant greets the people with these words Light and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord. All Thanks be to God.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light around me turn to night,” darkness is not dark to you, O Lord; the night is as bright as the day; darkness and light to you are both alike. Psalm 139:10-11
Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32
The Prayer for Light
Let us pray.
O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen.
The Collect
Eternal God, who led your ancient people into freedom by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night: Grant that we who walk in the light of your presence may rejoice in the liberty of the children of God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O Gracious Light 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.
The Psalm: Psalm 46 Deus noster refugium
Read responsively by whole verse God is our refuge and strength, * a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved, * and though the mountains be toppled into the depths of the sea; Though its waters rage and foam, * and though the mountains tremble at its tumult.
The LORD of hosts is with us; * the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, * the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be overthrown; * God shall help her at the break of day.
The nations make much ado, and the kingdoms are shaken; * God has spoken, and the earth shall melt away.
The LORD of hosts is with us; * the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Come now and look upon the works of the LORD, * what awesome things he has done on earth.
It is he who makes war to cease in all the world; * he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, and burns the shields with fire. Continues on page 4
“Be still, then, and know that I am God; * I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.”
The LORD of hosts is with us; * the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
The First Lesson: Isaiah 58:6-10
A reading from the Prophet Isaiah Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh? The Word of the Lord. All Thanks be to God
The Song of Mary Magnificat Luke 1:46-55
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; * for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: * the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, * he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, * and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, * and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, * for he has remembered his promise of mercy, The promise he made to our fathers, * to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
The Second Lesson: Philippians 2:1-13
A reading from the letter to the Philippians
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. The Word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God
Canticle 11: The Third Song of Isaiah Surge, illuminare
Isaiah 60:1-3, 11a, 14c, 18-19
Arise, shine, for your light has come, * and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you. For behold, darkness covers the land; * deep gloom enshrouds the peoples. But over you the Lord will rise, * and his glory will appear upon you. Nations will stream to your light, * and kings to the brightness of your dawning. Your gates will always be open; * by day or night they will never be shut. They will call you, The City of the Lord, * The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. Violence will no more be heard in your land, * ruin or destruction within your borders. You will call your walls, Salvation, * and all your portals, Praise.
The sun will no more be your light by day; * by night you will not need the brightness of the moon. The Lord will be your everlasting light, * and your God will be your glory.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
The Third Lesson: Matthew 25:34-40
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”
A brief meditation may be offered.
The Apostles' Creed
Officiant and People together, all standing
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 power of 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 people stand or kneel The Lord be with you. All And also with you. Let us pray.
Officiant
and People
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, for ever and ever. Amen.
Let us bring our concerns and prayers to God, saying “hear our prayer.”
God of mercy, and God of unfailing love, you are the source of our being and all that is. Guide us to walk in your Truth and Love. Help our faith inform all that we do and undertake and guide us as we vote, reflecting the mercy and love you wish for us to show all the world. God of mercy, hear our prayer.
God of abundance, we thank you for the freedoms and blessings you have bestowed upon us. May our voting preserve and extend those blessings for all. Help us to remember the needs of all those who have not experienced these liberties. Guide those seeking office to work for the common good of all: our citizens, all peoples, and all creation. God of abundance, hear our prayer.
God of heaven and God of Earth, you taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Strengthen us to join you in building that kingdom on earth in caring for those who are poor, outcast, marginalized, unhoused, those who are immigrants, refugees, and all others who are displaced or in need of aid. May our voting be informed by justice and peace. God of all, hear our prayer.
God who raised Lazarus from the dead, inspire us with the importance of civic responsibility, especially those who are tempted by cynicism, despair, and indifference. May we share in your love for all creation and serve one another in all that we do and say. God of life, hear our prayer.
God who said, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” help us see everyone as our neighbor all those of any ethnicity, creed, orientation, gender, ability, and political leaning and help us treat one another with the love that reflects your omnipresent love. God of love, hear our prayer.
God of comfort, give succor to those who mourn and to those in distress. May your healing be known by those who grieve for whatever reason broken connections, political outcomes, loss of loved ones, or witness of injustice. Remind us of your mercy and your justice, and give peace in the knowledge that you make all things new. God of comfort, hear our prayer.
God who hears all our prayers, we lift up also the needs of the world and this community, the life and mission of the Church. We pray for those who are ill and those who care for them. We pray for all who have died and for those who mourn. God of hope, hear our prayer.
I invite any other prayers of intercession or thanksgiving, silently or aloud.
Silence
The Officiant offers a concluding Collect
Heavenly Father, in your Word you have given us a vision of that holy City to which the nations of the world bring their glory: Renew the ties of mutual regard which form our civic life. Send us honest and able leaders. Enable us to eliminate poverty, prejudice, and oppression, that peace may prevail with righteousness, and justice with order, and that men and women from different cultures and with differing talents may find with one another the fulfillment of their humanity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Collect for an Election
Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of the United States in the election of officials and representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
A Collect for Peace
Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.
A Collect for Mission
O God, you manifest in your servants the signs of your presence: Send forth upon us the Spirit of love, that in companionship with one another your abounding grace may increase among us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Before the close of the office, we pray together
Lord,
It is night.
The night is for stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God. It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done; what has not been done has not been done; let it be.
The night is dar k.
Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives rest in you.
The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us, all dear to us, and all who have no peace.
The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly to a new day, new joys, new possibilities.
In your name we pray. Amen. (from A New Zealand Prayer Book)
Then may be said
Let us bless the Lord. All Thanks be to God
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13
Go out into the world in peace; have courage; hold on to what is good; return no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak, and help the suffering; honor all people; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Beloved in the Lord, God has shown you what is good. What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
