Evening Prayer on Saturday

¶	Evening Prayer on Saturday


	Preparation

	O God, make speed to save us.
All	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 shall be for ever. Amen.
	Alleluia.

			A Song of God's Light, or a suitable hymn, may be said or sung

	1		The Lord is my light and my salvation;
			whom then shall I fear? •
			The Lord is the strength of my life;
			of whom then shall I be afraid?

	2		Though a host encamp against me,
			my heart shall not be afraid, •
			and though there rise up war against me,
			yet will I put my trust in him.

	3		One thing have I asked of the Lord
			and that alone I seek: •
			that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
			all the days of my life,

	4		To behold the fair beauty of the Lord •
			and to seek his will in his temple.

	5		For in the day of trouble
			he shall hide me in his shelter; •
			in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me
			and set me high upon a rock.

	6		Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation
			with great gladness; •
			I will sing and make music to the Lord.

			Psalm 27.1,3-6,8

			This opening prayer may be said

			That this evening may be holy, good and peaceful,
			let us pray with one heart and mind.

			Silence is kept.

			As our evening prayer rises before you, O God,
			so may your mercy come down upon us
			to cleanse our hearts
			and set us free to sing your praise
			for ever and ever.
	All		Amen.


			The Word of God

			Psalmody

	The appointed psalmody is said or sung.


			Each psalm or group of psalms may end with

			Glory to the Father and to the Son
			and to the Holy Spirit;
			as it was in the beginning is now
			and shall be for ever. Amen.

			New Testament Canticle

			If there are two Scripture readings, the first may be read here,
			or both may be read after the New Testament canticle.

			A Song of God's Love, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 50 (page 543), may be said or sung

			Refrain:
	All		God's love was revealed among us
			so that we might live through Jesus.

	1		Beloved, let us love one another,
			for love is of God; •
			everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

	2		Whoever does not love does not know God, •
			for God is love.

	3		In this the love of God was revealed among us, •
			that God sent his only Son into the world,
			so that we might live through him.

	4		In this is love,
			not that we loved God but that he loved us, •
			and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins.

	5		Beloved, since God loved us so much, •
			we ought also to love one another.

	6		For if we love one another, God abides in us, •
			and God's love will be perfected in us.
			1 John 4.7-11,12b

			Glory to the Father and to the Son
			and to the Holy Spirit;
			as it was in the beginning is now
			and shall be for ever. Amen.

	All		God's love was revealed among us
			so that we might live through Jesus.

			Scripture Reading

	One or more readings appointed for the day are read.
			The reading(s) may be followed by a time of silence.

			A suitable song or chant, or a responsory in this or another form, may follow

			Your salvation is near to those who fear you;
			that glory may dwell in our land.
	All		Your salvation is near to those who fear you;
			that glory may dwell in our land.
			Mercy and truth have met together;
			righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
	All		That glory may dwell in our land.
			Glory to the Father, and to the Son
			and to the Holy Spirit.
	All		Your salvation is near to those who fear you;
			that glory may dwell in our land.

			Gospel Canticle

	The Magnificat (The Song of Mary) is said or sung

	Refrain:
All	You have looked with favour on your lowly servant,
	from this day all generations will call her blessed.

1	My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
	my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; •
	he has looked with favour on his lowly servant.

2	From this day all generations will call me blessed; •
	the Almighty has done great things for me
	and holy is his name.

3	He has mercy on those who fear him, •
	from generation to generation.

4	He has shown strength with his arm •
	and has scattered the proud in their conceit,

5	Casting down the mighty from their thrones •
	and lifting up the lowly.

6	He has filled the hungry with good things •
	and sent the rich away empty.

7	He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, •
	to remember his promise of mercy,

8	The promise made to our ancestors, •
	to Abraham and his children for ever.
			Luke 1.46-55
	Glory to the Father and to the Son
	and to the Holy Spirit;
	as it was in the beginning is now
	and shall be for ever. Amen.

All	You have looked with favour on your lowly servant,
	from this day all generations will call her blessed.


			Prayers

			Thanksgiving may be made for the day.

	Intercessions are offered
	¶	for peace
	¶	for individuals and their needs

			These responses may be used

			Lord, in your mercy (or) Lord, hear us.
			hear our prayer. Lord, graciously hear us.

			The cycle on page 328 and the prayers on pages 332-333 may be used.

			Silence may be kept.

	The Collect of the day or the following Collect is said

	O God our protector,
	by whose mercy the world turns safely into darkness
	and returns again to light:
	we give into your hands our unfinished tasks,
	our unsolved problems,
	and our unfulfilled hopes;
	for you alone are our sure defence
	and bring us lasting peace
	in Jesus Christ our Lord.
All	Amen.

	The Lord's Prayer is said

	As our Saviour has taught us, so we pray

All	Our Father in heaven …

	(or)

	Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

All	Our Father, who art in heaven …


	The Conclusion

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

			Let us bless the Lord.
	All		Thanks be to God.

© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004
All of the official Common Worship publications are being published by Church House Publishing.