Evening Prayer

The Order for Evening Prayer.

The Minister shall begin the Evening Prayer by reading one or more of the following Sentences of Scripture; all standing.

From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the Lord’s name is to be praised.

Let our prayers be set forth in his sight as an incense: and the lifting up of our hands, as an evening sacrifice.

God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts: to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Then the Minister shall say:

Dearly beloved, we are assured that the Lord is nigh unto them that call upon him, unto all who call upon him in truth. I do therefore invite as many as are here present to unite with me in common prayer to our heavenly Father, that he, of his fulness and infinite good will, would graciously bestow upon us those needed mercies and comfortable gifts, which we are emboldened to ask in Christ, who is the Way; giving thanks unto God through him.

The Minister shall then say the following Prayer; all reverently bowing down or kneeling, and the People responding with Amen.

O God, who by thy dear Son hast consecrated unto us a new and living way into thy holy presence; Grant to us, we beseech thee, the assurance of thy mercy, and sanctify us by thy heavenly grace; that we, approaching thee with a pure heart and undefiled conscience, may offer unto thee a sacrifice in righteousness, and celebrate thy blessed name in the faith and spirit of thy Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

Then the Lord’s Prayer, to be said by Minister and 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: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Then the Minister shall say:

O Lord, open thou our lips;

People. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.

Here, all standing, the Minister shall say:

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God;

People. Be honor and glory through Jesus Christ, for ever and ever.

Minister. Praise ye the Lord.

People. The Lord’s name be praised.

Then shall be sung the following, or some other Anthem:

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills: from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the Lord: who hath made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Behold, he that keepeth his people: shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

The sun shall not smite thee by day: nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in: from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Then shall be read the First Lesson, taken out of the Old Testament; or instead, one of the Selections of Psalms.

¶ Then shall be sung the following Psalm.

Praise the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, O my soul: and forget not all his benefits;

Who forgiveth all thy sin: and healeth all thine infirmities;

Who saveth thy life from destruction: and crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness.

O praise the Lord, ye angels of his, ye that excel in strength: ye that fulfil his commandment, and hearken unto the voice of his word.

O praise the Lord, all ye his hosts: ye servants of his that do his pleasure.

O speak good of the Lord, all ye works of his, in all places of his dominion: praise thou the Lord, O my soul.

Then shall be read the Second Lesson, taken out of the New Testament.

After that, shall be sung the following Psalm; or instead, some other Song of Praise.

O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands: serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with a song.

Be ye sure that the Lord he is God; it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves: we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and speak good of his name.

For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting: and his truth endureth from generation to generation.

Then the Minister shall say:

The Lord be with you;

People. And with thy spirit.

Minister. Let us pray.

Here the Minister may offer Prayer in his own words, or read the Litany; or the Service may proceed as follows:

Minister. O Lord, show thy mercy upon us;

People. And grant us thy salvation.

Minister. O God, make clean our hearts within us;

People. And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

Then shall be said the Collects and Prayers following.

A Collect for Peace.

O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed; Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee we being defended in every hour of danger may pass our time in rest and quietness. Amen.

A Collect for Aid against all Peril.

Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night: for the love of thy only Son our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

The following Prayers and Intercessions

A Prayer for the President of the United States, and all in Civil Authority.

Almighty God, whose kingdom is everlasting and power infinite; Have mercy upon this whole land; and so rule the hearts of thy servants, The President of the United States, The Governor of this State, and all others in authority, that they, knowing whose ministers they are, may above all things seek thine honor and glory; and that we and all the people, duly considering whose authority they bear, may faithfully and obediently honor them, in thee and for thee, according to thy blessed Word and Ordinance; through Jesus Christ our Lord who, with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, world without end. Amen.

For the Christian Church.

Almighty and everlasting God, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift; Send down upon all ministers of the gospel, and upon all Congregations committed to their charge, the healthful spirit of thy grace; and that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O God, for thy great love in Jesus Christ. Amen.

For all Conditions of Men.

O God, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men: that thou wouldest be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for the good estate of the Church Universal: that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call 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. Finally, we commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are in any way afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or estate; that it may please thee 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. And this we beg for thy mercy’s sake in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A General Thanksgiving to be said by Minister and People.

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving kindness to us and to all men. We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life: but above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we may show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives; by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days, though Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then shall be sang a Hymn.

After the Sermon the offerings of the People may be made.

Then a Hymn shall be sang by Choir and Congregation; and after that, the Minister may say the following:

Concluding Prayer.

Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings, with thy most gracious favor, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy name; and finally by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of thè Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.