Vespers (Evening Prayer)

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
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.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 10 (11)
The Lord, support of the just
I trust in the Lord, so why do you say to me: “Fly up to the mountain like a sparrow”? “For the wicked have drawn their bows, fitted the arrow to the string, to shoot in darkness at the upright of heart. When the foundations are being overthrown, what are the just to do?” The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes look down on the poor, he examines the children of men. The Lord scrutinises the just and the unjust, and his heart hates those who do evil. He rains down coals upon the wicked, fire and brimstone and a scorching wind: this is what he gives them to drink. For the Lord is just and loves just deeds, and the upright shall see his face. 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.

Psalm 10 (11)

The Lord, support of the just

I trust in the Lord, so why do you say to me:
“Fly up to the mountain like a sparrow”?

“For the wicked have drawn their bows, fitted the arrow to the string, to shoot in darkness at the upright of heart.
When the foundations are being overthrown, what are the just to do?”

The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven.
His eyes look down on the poor, he examines the children of men.
The Lord scrutinises the just and the unjust, and his heart hates those who do evil.
He rains down coals upon the wicked, fire and brimstone and a scorching wind: this is what he gives them to drink.

For the Lord is just and loves just deeds, and the upright shall see his face.

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.

Psalm 14 (15)
Who is worthy to face the Lord?
Lord, who will live in your tent? Who will dwell on your holy mountain? Whoever comes there without stain, acts rightly, speaks truth in his heart. Whoever does not speak deceitfully, – or do harm to his neighbour, – or slander him. Whoever despises the evil-doer, but he reveres those who fear the Lord. Whoever swears and keeps his word, come what may – lends his money without usury – takes no bribe to condemn the innocent. Whoever lives like this will stand firm 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.

Psalm 14 (15)

Who is worthy to face the Lord?

Lord, who will live in your tent? Who will dwell on your holy mountain?

Whoever comes there without stain, acts rightly, speaks truth in his heart.
Whoever does not speak deceitfully, – or do harm to his neighbour, – or slander him.

Whoever despises the evil-doer, but he reveres those who fear the Lord.
Whoever swears and keeps his word, come what may – lends his money without usury – takes no bribe to condemn the innocent.

Whoever lives like this will stand firm 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.

Canticle	Ephesians 1
God the Saviour
Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ. Before the world was made, he chose us, chose us in Christ, to be holy and spotless, and to live through love in his presence, determining that we should become his adopted sons, through Jesus Christ for his own kind purposes, to make us praise the glory of his grace, his free gift to us in the Beloved, in whom, through his blood, we gain our freedom, the forgiveness of our sins. Such is the richness of the grace which he has showered on us in all wisdom and insight. He has let us know the mystery of his purpose, the hidden plan he so kindly made in Christ from the beginning to act upon when the times had run their course to the end: that he would bring everything together under Christ, as head, everything in the heavens and everything on earth. 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.

Canticle

Ephesians 1

God the Saviour

Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ.
Before the world was made, he chose us, chose us in Christ,
to be holy and spotless, and to live through love in his presence,
determining that we should become his adopted sons, through Jesus Christ
for his own kind purposes,
to make us praise the glory of his grace,
his free gift to us in the Beloved,
in whom, through his blood, we gain our freedom, the forgiveness of our sins.
Such is the richness of the grace
which he has showered on us
in all wisdom and insight.
He has let us know the mystery of his purpose,
the hidden plan he so kindly made in Christ from the beginning
to act upon when the times had run their course to the end:
that he would bring everything together under Christ, as head,
everything in the heavens and everything on earth.

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.

Short reading	Philippians 3:20-21 ©
We are waiting for our saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body. He will do that by the same power with which he can subdue the whole universe.

Canticle	Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
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.

Canticle

Magnificat

My soul rejoices in the Lord

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.

Prayers and Intercessions

The Lord will come and bring us salvation. Let us cry out to him, asking - Come and save us.
Lord Jesus, God’s Anointed, saviour of all,: come quickly and save us.
You came into this world:: free us from the sin of the world.
You came from the Father:: teach us the way of salvation that leads to the Father.
You were conceived by the Holy Spirit:: give us new hearts through your word and the Holy Spirit.
You became flesh through the Virgin Mary:: free us from the corruption of the flesh.
Lord, keep all people in mind: through all ages they have put their trust in you.

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 that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

O Lord our God, make us look forward anxiously to the coming of Christ your Son.
When he knocks on our door may he find us awake and praying
and joyfully proclaiming his praises.

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.

May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

A M E N

November 2008
Sun 30	Advent Sunday
December 2008
Mon 1	Monday of the 1st week of Advent
Tue 2
Wed 3	Saint Francis Xavier, Priest
Thu 4	Thursday of the 1st week of Advent or Saint John Damascene, Priest, Doctor
Fri 5
Sat 6	Saturday of the 1st week of Advent or Saint Nicholas, Bishop
Sun 7	2nd Sunday of Advent

Calendar used:

Scripture readings taken from the Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc, and used by permission of the publishers. For on-line information about other Random House, Inc. books and authors, see the Internet web site at http://www.randomhouse.com.

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