Evening Prayers

MORNING AND EVENING PRAYERS

Morning and Evening Prayers are part of a long standing spiritual disciplinary tradition. To the end of continuing that tradition in the contemporary setting, please find here an adaptation of these disciplines from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.

Morning and Evening Prayers: in .doc single page format

Morning and Evening Prayers: a .doc file in booklet form; the file should be printed in portrait two pages per sheet every other page back to back, folded, and stapled in the middle. In Microsoft Word, go to File, Page Setup. Chose "2 pages per sheet" at the Pages option)

This is a link to An Order for Morning Prayer

An Order for Evening Prayer is below

An Order for Evening Prayer
(Where two or more celebrate Evening Prayer, asterisks indicate antiphonal response.)

The LORD is in His holy temple.
Let all the earth keep silence before Him.
(Habakkuk 2:20)

LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house,
And the place where Your glory dwells.
(Psalm 26:8)

Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
(Psalm 141:2)

Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!
Tremble before Him, all the earth.
(Psalm 96:9)

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, 15)

(The following readings shall be used in their seasons.)

Advent:
Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming--in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning--lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.
(Matthew 13:35, 36)

Christmas:
"Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God."
(Revelation 21:3)

Epiphany:
The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.
(Isaiah 60:3)

Lent:
For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
(Psalm 51:3)

To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him. 10We have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets.
(Daniel 9:9-10)

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(1 John 1:8, 9)

Good Friday:
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
(Isaiah 53:6)

Easter:
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1 Corinthians 15:57)

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Colossians 3:1)

Ascension:
For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
(Hebrews 9:24)

Pentecost:
There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
(Psalm 46:4)

And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
(Revelation 22:17)

Trinity Sunday:
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
The whole earth is full of His glory!"
(Isaiah 6:3)

(The following prayers shall be used for the Confession of Sin.)

Almighty God, our Maker and Redeemer, we poor sinners confess unto You that we are by nature sinful and unclean, and that we have sinned against You by thought, word, and deed. Whereupon we come for refuge to Your infinite mercy, seeking and imploring Your grace, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.
O most merciful God, who has given Your only-begotten Son to die for us, have mercy upon us, and for His sake grant us forgiveness of all our sins; and by Your Holy Spirit, increase in us true knowledge of You and of Your will, and true obedience to Your word, that by Your grace we may come to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(The Absolution shall thus be declared after which shall be prayed The Lord's Prayer.)

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, has had mercy upon us, and has given His only Son to die for us, and for His sake forgives us all our sins. To them that believe on His name, He gives the power to become the sons of God, and bestows on them His Holy Spirit. He that believes, and is baptized shall be saved. Grant this, O Lord, unto us all.
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.

O Lord, open our lips
* And our mouths shall declare your praise.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
* As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Praise the Lord.
* The Lord's name be praised.

(A Psalm as appointed shall be read followed by the Gloria in Excelsis.)

Gloria in Excelsis
GLORY be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will towards men. We praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we give thanks to You for Your great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. You who take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. You who sit at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For You only are holy; You only are the Lord; You only, O Christ, with the Holy Spirit, are most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

(The First Lesson and one of the following responses)

Magnificat.
"My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his seed forever."
(Luke 1:46-55)

(or)

Cantate Domino
Oh, sing to the LORD a new song!
For He has done marvelous things;
His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.
The LORD has made known His salvation;
His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth;
Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.
Sing to the LORD with the harp,
With the harp and the sound of a psalm,
With trumpets and the sound of a horn;
Shout joyfully before the LORD, the King.
Let the sea roar, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap their hands;
Let the hills be joyful together before the LORD,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
With righteousness He shall judge the world,
And the peoples with equity.
(Psalm 98)

(or)

Bonum Est Confiteri
It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,
And Your faithfulness every night,
On an instrument of ten strings,
On the lute,
And on the harp,
With harmonious sound.
For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work;
I will triumph in the works of Your hands.
(Psalm 92:1-4)

(The Second Lesson and one of the following.)

Nunc Dimittis
"Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation
Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel."
(Luke 2:29-32)

(or)

Deus Misereatur
God be merciful to us and bless us,
And cause His face to shine upon us,
That Your way may be known on earth,
Your salvation among all nations.
Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy!
For You shall judge the people righteously,
And govern the nations on earth.
Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
Then the earth shall yield her increase;
God, our own God, shall bless us.
God shall bless us,
And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.
(Psalm 67)

(or)

Benedic, Anima Mea
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
* And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
* And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
* Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
* Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies...
Bless the LORD, you His angels,
Who excel in strength,
* who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word.
Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
* You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
Bless the LORD, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.
* Bless the LORD, O my soul!
(Psalm 103:1-4, 20-22)

(Then shall be said one of the following Creeds.)

The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary: Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, And is seated on the right hand of God the Father Almighty: From where he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit; The holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the Life everlasting. Amen.

(or)

The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible:
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God; Begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of very God; Begotten, not made; Being of one substance with the Father; By whom all things were made: Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, And was made man: And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried: And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures: And ascended into heaven, And is seated on the right hand of the Father: And He shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, The Lord, and Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father and the Son; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spoke by the Prophets: And I believe one Christian and apostolic Church: I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins: And I look for the Resurrection of the dead: And the Life of the world to come. Amen.

(Then shall be said the following prayers.)

O Lord, show Your mercy upon us.
* And grant us Your salvation.
O Lord, save the State.
* And mercifully hear us when we call upon You.
Endue Your Ministers with righteousness.
* And make your chosen people joyful.
O Lord, save Your people.
* And bless Your inheritance.
Give peace in our time, O Lord.
* For it is You, Lord, only, that makes us dwell in safety.
O God, make clean our hearts within us.
* And take not Your Holy Spirit from us.

(Then shall be said the Collect as appointed for the week and the collects and prayers that follow.)

A Collect for Grace to do God's Will
ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which Your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when He shall come again in His glorious Majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

A Collect for Aid against Perils
LIGHTEN our darkness, we ask You, O Lord; and by Your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of Your Only Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

For the President, and Those in Authority
ALMIGHTY and Everlasting God, we humbly implore You graciously to regard the President of the United States, his counsellors, and all others in authority over us, that, guided by Your Holy Spirit, they may be high in purpose, wise in counsel, unwavering in duty, and in the administration of their solemn charge may wholly serve Your will, uphold the honor of our Nation, secure the protection of our people, and bring victory to our righteous cause; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

A Collect for the Protection and Peace of the Church
ALMIGHTY and Everlasting God, Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth: We ask Your glorious Majesty, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, impart the grace and help of Your Holy Spirit to all ministers of Your Word, that they may purely teach it to the saving of men; bring to naught by Your Almighty power and unsearchable wisdom, all the counsels of those who hate Your Word, and who, by corrupt teaching or with violent hands, would destroy it, and enlighten them with the knowledge of Your glory; that we, leading a quiet and peaceable life, may, by a pure faith, learn the riches of Your heavenly grace, and in holiness and righteousness serve You, the only true God; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

A Collect for the Heathen
ALMIGHTY and Everlasting God, Who desires not the death of a sinner, but would have all men repent and live: Hear our prayers for the heathen; take away iniquity from their hearts, and turn them from their idols unto the living and true God, and to Your Only Son; and gather them into Your holy Church, to the glory of Your Name; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

A Collect for the Church
MERCIFUL Lord, we ask You to cast the bright beams of Your light upon Your Church, that it being instructed by the doctrine of the blessed Apostles, may so walk in the light of Your truth, that it may at length attain to the light of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

A Collect for Steadfastness in Affliction
ALMIGHTY and most Merciful God, Who has appointed us to endure sufferings and death with our Lord Jesus Christ, before we enter with Him into eternal glory: Grant us grace at all times to subject ourselves to Your holy will, and to continue steadfast in the true faith unto the end of our lives, and at all times to find peace and joy in the blessed hope of the resurrection of the dead, and of the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

A Collect for the Blessings of Redemption
O LORD God, Heavenly Father, we give You thanks, that of Your great goodness and mercy, You suffered Your Only-begotten Son to become Incarnate, and to redeem us from sin and everlasting death; and we ask You, enlighten our hearts by Your Holy Spirit, that we may evermore yield You unfeigned thanks for this Your grace, and may comfort ourselves with the same in all time of tribulation and temptation; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Benediction
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)

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