Friday, 19 December Evening Prayer The Third Sunday of Advent The Opening O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem Gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare. [O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples; before you kings will shut their mouths, to you the nations will make their prayer: Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.] Opening Sentence Yours is the day, O God, yours also the night; you established the moon and the sun. You fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter. Psalm 74:15,16 Hymn: Come we that love the Lord Come, we that love the Lord, And let our joys be known; Join in a song with sweet accord, Join in a song with sweet accord, And thus surround the throne, And thus surround the throne. Let those refuse to sing Who never knew our God; But children of the heavenly King, But children of the heavenly King May speak their joys abroad, May speak their joys abroad. The hill of Zion yields A thousand sacred sweets Before we reach the heavnly fields, Before we reach the heavnly fields Or walk the golden streets, Or walk the golden streets. Then let our songs abound, And evry tear be dry; Were marching through Immanuels ground, Were marching through Immanuels ground To fairer worlds on high, To fairer worlds on high. Cause were marching on to Zion, Beautiful, beautiful Zion; Were marching upward to Zion, The beautiful city of God. The beautiful city of God. The beautiful city. Yes, were marching on to Zion, Beautiful, beautiful Zion; Were marching upward to Zion, The beautiful city of God. Yes, were marching on to Zion, Beautiful, beautiful Zion; Were marching upward to Zion, The beautiful city of God. Choir: Sharon Mennonite Bible Institute Singers | Words: Issac Watts | Tune: St. Thomas | Composer: Robert Lowry Confession Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. Versicle and Response O God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Phos hilaron (O Gracious Light) O gracious light, pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven, O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed! Now as we come to the setting of the sun, and our eyes behold the vesper light, we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices, O Son of God, O Giver of Life, and to be glorified through all the worlds. The Psalms Psalm 51 or Coverdale 1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving-kindness;* in your great compassion blot out my offenses. 2 Wash me through and through from my wickedness* and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions,* and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you only have I sinned* and done what is evil in your sight. 5 And so you are justified when you speak* and upright in your judgment. 6 Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth,* a sinner from my mothers womb. 7 For behold, you look for truth deep within me,* and will make me understand wisdom secretly. 8 Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure;* wash me, and I shall be clean indeed. 9 Make me hear of joy and gladness,* that the body you have broken may rejoice. 10 Hide your face from my sins* and blot out all my iniquities. 11 Create in me a clean heart, O God,* and renew a right spirit within me. 12 Cast me not away from your presence* and take not your holy Spirit from me. 13 Give me the joy of your saving help again* and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. 14 I shall teach your ways to the wicked,* and sinners shall return to you. 15 Deliver me from death, O God,* and my tongue shall sing of your righteousness, O God of my salvation. 16 Open my lips, O Lord,* and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. 17 Had you desired it, I would have offered sacrifice,* but you take no delight in burnt-offerings. 18 The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit;* a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 19 Be favorable and gracious to Zion,* and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. 20 Then you will be pleased with the appointed sacrifices, with burnt-offerings and oblations;* then shall they offer young bullocks upon your altar. Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen. Amen. The Lesson The Gospel Matthew 11:2-15 2When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’ 4Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.’ 7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way beforeyou.” 11Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came; 14and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15Let anyone with ears listen! The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Canticle 17 The Song of Simeon Luke 2:29-32 Nunc Dimittis Lord, you now have set your servant free * to go in peace as you have promised; For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, * whom you have prepared for all the world to see: A Light to enlighten the nations, * and the glory of your people Israel. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Creed The Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The Prayers The Lords Prayer Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen. Suffrages Show us your mercy, O Lord; And grant us your salvation. Clothe your ministers with righteousness; Let your people sing with joy. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; For only in you can we live in safety. Lord, keep this nation under your care; And guide us in the way of justice and truth. Let your way be known upon earth; Your saving health among all nations. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. Create in us clean hearts, O God; And sustain us with your Holy Spirit. Collect of the Day: Advent 3 Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. For Mission O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. World Cycle of Prayer We pray for the people of Mauritius. Ecumenical Cycle of Prayer We pray for our sisters and brothers members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. A Collect for Fridays Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen. Hymn: To my humble supplication To my humble supplication Lord, give ear and acceptation Save thy servant, that hath none Help nor hope but Thee alone. Amen. Prayers and Intercessions Let us pray now for our own needs and those of others. Birthdays Anniversaries For Recovery from Sickness For Travelers For a Person in Trouble or Bereavement For Those to be Baptized For the Departed Full list of prayers For Clergy and People Almighty and everlasting God, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift: Send down upon our bishops, and other clergy, and upon the 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 Lord, for the honor of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen. For the Unity of the Church O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Monastic Orders and Vocations O Lord Jesus Christ, you became poor for our sake, that we might be made rich through your poverty: Guide and sanctify, we pray, those whom you call to follow you under the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, that by their prayer and service they may enrich your Church, and by their life and worship may glorify your Name; for you reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Hymn: As the deer As the deer panteth for the water So my soul longeth after you You alone are my hearts desire And I long to worship you You alone are my strength, my shield To you alone may my spirit yield You alone are my hearts desire And I long to worship you Youre my friend and you are my brother Even though you are a king I love you more than any other So much more than anything I want you more than gold or silver Only you can satisfy You alone are the real joygiver And the apple of my eye. A Prayer Attributed to St. Francis Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. General Thanksgiving Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable 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 pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. Chrysostom Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. The Ending Benediction Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God. May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13 Hymn: God Be With You God be with you till we meet again; By his counsels guide, uphold you; With his sheep securely fold you. God be with you till we meet again. Till we meet, till we meet, Till we meet at Jesus feet, Till we meet, till we meet, God be with you till we meet again.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 03:00:39 +0000
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