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 109 (110)
The Messiah, king and priest
Christ the Lord is a priest for ever, a priest of the order of Melchisedech. Alleluia.
The Lord has said to my lord: “Sit at my right hand while I make your enemies your footstool.” From Zion the Lord will give you a sceptre, and you will rule in the midst of your foes. Royal power is yours in the day of your strength, among the sacred splendours. Before the dawn, I begot you from the womb. The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: “You are a priest for ever, a priest of the priesthood of Melchisedech.” The Lord is at your right hand, and on the day of his anger he will shatter kings. He will drink from the stream as he goes – he will hold his head high. 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.
Christ the Lord is a priest for ever, a priest of the order of Melchisedech. Alleluia.

Psalm 113B (115)
Praise of the true God
Our God is in the heavens; and what he wills, he does. Alleluia.
Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your own name give the glory, because of your kindness and faithfulness. Why should the nations say: “Where is their God?” Our God is in the heavens, and what he wills, he does. The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths but do not speak, they have eyes but do not see. They have ears but do not hear, they have nostrils but do not smell. They have hands but they do not feel, they have feet but they do not walk; no voice comes from their throats. Their makers will be like them, and all who put their trust in them. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord; he is their help and their shield. The house of Aaron trusts in the Lord; he is their help and their shield. All who fear the Lord trust in the Lord; he is their help and their shield. The Lord has remembered us and he will bless us. He will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron – he will bless all who fear the Lord. May the Lord add to your numbers and to those of your children. May the Lord bless you, the Lord who made heaven and earth. The heavens are the Lord’s, but the earth he has given to men. It is not the dead who will praise you, O Lord, nor those who go down into the silence; but we, who live, will bless the Lord, now and 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.
Our God is in the heavens; and what he wills, he does. Alleluia.

Canticle	(Apocalypse 19)
The wedding of the Lamb
Praise God, all his servants, small and great. Alleluia.
Alleluia. Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, because his judgements are true and just. Alleluia. Alleluia. Praise our God, all his servants, and you who fear him, small and great. Alleluia. Alleluia. For the Lord reigns, our God, the Almighty: let us rejoice and exult and give him glory. Alleluia. Alleluia. The marriage of the Lamb has come, and his spouse has made herself ready. Alleluia. 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 God, all his servants, small and great. Alleluia.

Short reading	2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 ©
We feel that we must be continually thanking God for you, brothers whom the Lord loves, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctifying Spirit and by faith in the truth. Through the Good News that we brought he called you to this so that you should share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Canticle	Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
Leaving his home town, Jesus made a tour round the villages, teaching.
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.
Leaving his home town, Jesus made a tour round the villages, teaching.

Prayers and Intercessions	?
Christ gives eternal salvation to those who come to God through him: he lives and intercedes for us for ever. Filled with this belief we give him praise and honour and humbly beg him: – Lord, remember your people. As the sun is setting we call on you, the Sun of righteousness that never sets: may all mankind be bathed in your light for ever. – Lord, remember your people. Uphold the Covenant that you sealed with your holy blood: sanctify your Church and make her pure. – Lord, remember your people. Remember, Lord, your people: your people, in whom you dwell. – Lord, remember your people. Guide travellers on straight and peaceful paths: may they arrive safely where they are going. – Lord, remember your people. Accept, Lord, the souls of the deceased: give them forgiveness and everlasting glory. – Lord, remember your people.

Prayers and Intercessions

Christ gives eternal salvation to those who come to God through him: he lives and intercedes for us for ever. Filled with this belief we give him praise and honour and humbly beg him: