Vespers

VESPERS

(adapted from The Lutheran Hymnary. Norwegian Synods, 1913 with General Prayers from Common Service Book fo the Lutheran Church, the Board of Publications of The United Lutheran Church in America, Philadelphia, 1918)

THE VERSICLE

O Lord, open my lips
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
Make haste, God, to deliver me.
Make haste to help me, Lord.
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. Hallelujah!
(During the Passion Season the Hallelujah shall be omitted.)

THE PSALM

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.

THE FIRST LESSON

But You, Lord, have mercy upon us.
Thanks be to God.

Or:

Hallelujah. Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers: praise Him, and highly exalt Him for ever. Hallelujah.

But on Festival days, a special Versicle may be used.

Advent
Hallelujah. Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies: for they have been ever of old. Hallelujah.

Christmas
Hallelujah. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad before the Lord: for He has made known His salvation. Hallelujah.

Epiphany
Hallelujah. O praise the Lord, all you nations: and laud Him, all you people. For His merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endurs for ever. Hallelujah.

Easter
Hallelujah. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. Hallelujah.

Whitsuntide
Hallelujah. You send forth Your Spirit, they are created: and You renew the face of the earth. Hallelujah.

Trinity
Hallelujah. Lord, deal with Your servant according unto Your mercy: and teach me Your statutes. I am Your servant, give me understanding: that I may know Your testimonies. Hallelujah.

THE SECOND LESSON

Let my prayers be set forth before You as incense:
And the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

THE CANTICLE

Magnificat (St. Luke 1)
My soul magnifies the Lord: and my spirit has rejoiced in God, my Savior.
For He has regarded: the low estate of His handmaiden.
For, behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed.
For He that is mighty has done to me great things: and holy is His name.
And His mercy is on them that fear Him: from generation to generation.
He has showed strength with His arm: He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their seats: and exalted them of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things: and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel in remembrance of His mercy: as He spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed, forever.
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.

Or the

Nunc Dimittis (St. Luke 2)
Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace: according to Your word:
For mine eyes nave seen Your salvation: which You have prepared before the face of all people;
A light to lighten the Gentiles: and the glory of Your people Israel.
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.

THE CONFESSION OF FAITH

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, 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 holy 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.

THE PRAYER

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

Collect

The Collect for the Sunday is said throughout the week following until Friday, but on Saturday the Collect for the following Sunday is said.

ALMIGHTY God, our Heavenly Father, we, Your unworthy servants, do give You most humble and hearty thanks for all Your goodness and loving-kindness to us. We bless You for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for Your inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech You, give us that due sense of all Your mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we may show forth Your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives: that walking before You in holiness and righteousness all our days, we may enjoy the testimony of a good conscience and the hope of Your favor, be sustained and comforted under the troubles of this life, and finally be received into Your everlasting kingdom, through Your infinite mercy in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

We offer unto You our common supplications for the good estate of Your Church throughout the world; that it may be so guided and governed by Your good Spirit, that all who profess themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Send down upon all ministers of the Gospel, and upon all congregations committed to their charge, the healthful spirit of Your grace, and that they may truly please You, pour upon them the continual dew of Your blessing.

Most heartily we beseech You, with Your favor to behold the President and Congress of the United States, and all others in authority; and so replenish them with Your grace, that they may always incline to Your will, and walk in Your way. Prosper all good counsels and all just works, that peace and happiness, truth and righteousness, religion and piety, may be established among us throughout all generations.

We humbly entreat You also for all sorts and conditions of all peoples; that You would be pleased to make Your ways known unto them, Your saving health unto all nations.

May it please You to preserve all that travel by water, land, or air; to succor all that are in peril or need; and to satisfy the wants of all Your creatures.

We also commend to Your fatherly goodness all those who are in any way afflicted or distressed, in mind. body, or estate; that it may please You to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions.

Hear us, most Merciful God, in these our humble requests, which we offer up unto You in the Name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, to Whom, with You and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen.

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.

O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed: give unto Your servants that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments, and also that by You, we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

THE BENEDICAMUS

Bless we the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Amen.

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