Vespers (Evening Prayer)
O God, come to our aid.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
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. Alleluia.
Who are these like stars appearing,
these, before God’s throne who stand?
Each a golden crown is wearing;
who are all this glorious band?
Alleluia! Hark, they sing,
praising loud their heavenly King.
Who are these of dazzling brightness,
clothed in God’s own righteousness?
These, whose robes of purest whiteness,
shall their lustre still possess,
still untouched by time’s rude hand?
Whence came all this glorious band?
These are they who have contended
for their Saviour’s honour long,
wrestling on till life was ended,
following not the sinful throng;
these who well the fight sustained,
triumph through the Lamb have gained.
These are they whose hearts were riven,
sore with woe and anguish tried,
who in prayer full oft have striven
with the God they glorified;
now, their painful conflict o’er,
God has bid them weep no more.
These, the Almighty contemplating,
did as priests before him stand,
soul and body always waiting
day and night at his command:
now in God’s most holy place
blest they stand before his face.
Psalm 138 (139)
The Lord knows all things
Night will be as clear as the day. Alleluia.
Lord, you have examined me, you know me:
you know when I sit down and when I rise.
From far away you know my thoughts:
you know every step I take,
when I walk, when I lie down:
you have seen all that I do.
Before a word even reaches my lips,
you know, Lord, all that I will say.
You are close in front of me and close behind me:
you have laid your hand upon me.
Your knowledge is beyond my understanding:
it is too high, I cannot reach it.
Where shall I go, to escape your spirit?
Where shall I go, to flee your face?
If I rise to the heavens, you are there.
If I sink to the depths, you are there.
If I put on the wings of the dawn itself –
if I make my abode beyond the farthest sea –
it is still your hand that will lead me there,
it is still your right hand that will hold me.
If I say “May the shadows cover me:
let there be no light around me” –
the shadows will not hide me from you,
and the night will shine like the day:
for shadows and light are the same to you.
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.
Night will be as clear as the day. Alleluia.
Psalm 138 (139)
I know my sheep, and they know me. Alleluia.
For you created my innermost being
as you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I will praise you, for you made me so wonderfully:
so wonderful are your works,
so perfect your knowledge.
Even my bones were not hidden from you
as I was being created in secret,
put together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw me before ever I was completed.
All my days were written in your book
before any of them came into being.
Your thoughts, O God, are precious to me:
precious above all things and too many to count.
If I try to count them, they are more than the sand:
if I come to an end, still I am with you.
Look into me, God, and know my heart:
examine me and know my paths.
See if I am wandering on ways that lead nowhere,
and set my feet on the path to eternity.
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.
I know my sheep, and they know me. Alleluia.
Christ, firstborn of all creatures and firstborn from the dead
His majesty covers the heavens, the earth is filled with his praise. Alleluia.
Let us give thanks to God the Father,
who has made us worthy to share in the light that is the saints’ inheritance.
He has rescued us from the power of the shadows
and brought us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption
and the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God,
the first-born of all creation,
for in him all things were created,
in heaven and on earth,
visible and invisible,
thrones and dominations,
principalities and powers.
All things were created through him and for him:
he is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
And he is the head of the body, the Church.
He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead,
and so he is pre-eminent above all.
For it was the Father’s will that the fullness of God should dwell in him,
and that through him all things should be reconciled to himself.
Through the blood of the Cross he brought peace to all things,
both on Earth and in the heavens.
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.
His majesty covers the heavens, the earth is filled with his praise. Alleluia.
| Scripture Reading | 1 Peter 5:1-4 © |
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Now I have something to tell your elders: I am an elder myself, and a witness to the sufferings of Christ, and with you I have a share in the glory that is to be revealed. Be the shepherds of the flock of God that is entrusted to you: watch over it, not simply as a duty but gladly, because God wants it; not for sordid money, but because you are eager to do it. Never be a dictator over any group that is put in your charge, but be an example that the whole flock can follow. When the chief shepherd appears, you will be given the crown of unfading glory.
This is a man who loves his brothers and intercedes for the people. Alleluia, alleluia.
– This is a man who loves his brothers and intercedes for the people. Alleluia, alleluia.
He laid down his life for his brothers.
– This is a man who loves his brothers and intercedes for the people. Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
– This is a man who loves his brothers and intercedes for the people. Alleluia, alleluia.
My soul rejoices in the Lord
This is the faithful and wise steward whom the Master placed over his household to give them their measure of food at the proper time. Alleluia.
Or: I thank you, Christ, for honouring me by leading me to this glory. You are the good shepherd; I pray that the sheep which you have placed in my charge will share with me in your glory for ever. Alleluia.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.
For he has shown me such favour –
me, his lowly handmaiden.
Now all generations will call me blessed,
because the mighty one has done great things for me.
His name is holy,
his mercy lasts for generation after generation
for those who revere him.
He has put forth his strength:
he has scattered the proud and conceited,
torn princes from their thrones;
but lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.
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.
This is the faithful and wise steward whom the Master placed over his household to give them their measure of food at the proper time. Alleluia.
Or: I thank you, Christ, for honouring me by leading me to this glory. You are the good shepherd; I pray that the sheep which you have placed in my charge will share with me in your glory for ever. Alleluia.
| Prayers and intercessions | |
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Let us pray to Christ, the high priest, who was appointed to represent men in their relations with God.
– Lord, save your people.
Lord Jesus, in times past you have lighted the way for your people through wise and holy leaders;
may Christians always enjoy this sign of your loving kindness.
– Lord, save your people.
You forgave the sins of your people when holy pastors prayed;
continually cleanse your Church through their powerful intercession.
– Lord, save your people.
In the presence of their brothers, you anointed your holy ones and poured on them your Spirit;
fill with your Holy Spirit all the leaders of your people.
– Lord, save your people.
Nothing could ever separate the holy pastors from your love;
do not lose even one of those whom you redeemed by your passion.
– Lord, save your people.
Through the pastors of your Church you give your sheep eternal life, and no one can steal them from you;
save the faithful departed, for whom you laid down your life.
– Lord, save your 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.
Listen, we pray, Lord, to the prayers offered by us on this festival of your blessed confessors and bishops, Erkenwald and Mellitus,
and since they were found worthy to give you fitting service,
let their merits persuade you to free us from all sin.
We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
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