Vespers (Evening Prayer)

Introduction

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.

Hymn

O God, Creator of the world,

And King of heaven, sending light

Most beautiful to clothe the day,

And grace of sleep to come by night.

That so in rest our slackened limbs

Grow strong for work as dawns the day,

And wearied minds be fresh again,

As light drives anxious care away.

With bounden thanks, with offered vows,

With prayers and hymns our debt we pay,

Beseeching thee to keep us safe

As night draws nigh, as ends the day.

Psalm 19 (20) Prayer for victory

The Lord will grant victory to his Anointed One.

May the Lord hear your prayer in the day of tribulation,

may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

May he send you help from his holy place;

from Zion, may he extend his protection.

May he remember every one of your sacrifices

and find merit in your burnt-offerings.

May he deal with you as your heart desires

and bring all your plans to fulfilment.

We will rejoice in your salvation,

we will raise our banners in the name of God;

may the Lord grant all your prayers.

Now I know that the Lord keeps his anointed one safe:

in his sanctuary in heaven he hears his prayer,

and lends the support of his strong right hand.

Some put their faith in chariots

and some in horses,

but we invoked the name of the Lord our God.

They stumbled and fell,

but we rose and we stand upright.

Lord, keep the king safe,

and hear our prayer whenever we call upon 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.

The Lord will grant victory to his Anointed One.

Psalm 20 (21) Thanksgiving for victory

We shall sing of your power.

Lord, the king will rejoice in your strength,

he will triumph in your saving power.

You have granted him his heart’s desire,

you have not denied the wish that he spoke.

For you showered him with blessings

even before he asked for them.

You have placed a crown of purest gold upon his head.

He asked you for life,

and you granted it to him,

length of days for ever and for ever.

Great is his glory through your help:

you cover him with splendour and majesty.

You lay a blessing upon him that will last for ever,

you make him rejoice in joy before you.

For the king hopes in the Lord,

and through the kindness of the Most High he will not be shaken.

Stand high above us, Lord, in your power;

and we will sing and celebrate your might.

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.

We shall sing of your power.

Canticle	Apocalypse 4,5

The song of the redeemed

Lord, you have made us a kingdom and a priesthood for our God.

You are worthy, our Lord and our God,

to receive glory and honour and power;

for you made all things,

and it is by your will that they exist and were created.

You are worthy, Lord,

to receive the book and open its seals,

for you were killed,

and with your blood you have ransomed people

from every tribe and language and people and nation,

and made them rulers and priests for God;

and they will rule over the earth.

The Lamb is worthy, who was killed,

to receive power and riches and wisdom,

strength and honour, glory and blessing.

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.

Lord, you have made us a kingdom and a priesthood for our God.

Short reading	1 John 3:1,2 ©

Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us,

by letting us be called God’s children;

and that is what we are.

My dear people, we are already the children of God

but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed;

all we know is, that when it is revealed

we shall be like him

because we shall see him as he really is.

Short Responsory

Your word, O Lord, will last for ever.

– Your word, O Lord, will last for ever.

Your truth endures from age to age.

– Your word, O Lord, will last for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

– Your word, O Lord, will last for ever.

Canticle	Magnificat

My soul rejoices in the Lord

My soul rejoices in God my saviour.

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.

My soul rejoices in God my saviour.

Prayers and Intercessions

Christ the Lord lives among us and we are his adopted people. Let us praise him and offer him our prayers: