Church of England home page Common Worship   Publications Site Map
  Evening Prayer on Sunday
     
     
   
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 Worship, or a suitable hymn, may be said or sung
 
   
1
  Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,   
      you that by night stand in the house of the Lord.
 
   
2
  Lift up your hands towards the sanctuary    
      and bless the Lord.
                   
   
3
  The Lord who made heaven and earth    
      give you blessing out of Zion.
     
  Psalm 134
 
      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 to 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 the Lamb, or another suitable canticle, for example number 59 (pages 553-554) or number 71 (page 565), may be said or sung
 
      Refrain:
   
All
  Let us rejoice and exult
      and give glory and homage to our God.
       
   
1
  Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,   
      whose judgements are true and just.
       
   
2
  Praise our God, all you his servants,   
      all who fear him, both small and great.
       
   
3
  The Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns:  
      let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory.
       
   
4
  For the marriage of the Lamb has come  
      and his bride has made herself ready.
       
   
5
  Blessed are those who are invited    
      to the wedding banquet of the Lamb.
     
Revelation 19.1b,5b,6b,7,9b
      To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb    
      be blessing and honour and glory and might,
      for ever and ever.  Amen.
         
   
All
  Let us rejoice and exult    
      and give glory and homage to our God.
 
     
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
 
      The Lord is my light and my salvation;
      the Lord is the strength of my life.
   
All
  The Lord is my light and my salvation;
      the Lord is the strength of my life.
      The light shines in the darkness
      and the darkness has not overcome it.
   
All
  The Lord is the strength of my life.
      Glory to the Father, and to the Son
      and to the Holy Spirit.
   
All
  The Lord is my light and my salvation;
      the Lord is the strength of my life.
 
     
Gospel Canticle
 
     
    The Magnificat (The Song of Mary) is said or sung
 
  Refrain:
All
  You have done great things, O God,
    and holy is your name.
 
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 done great things, O God,
  and holy is your name.
 
 
   
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
 
    Lighten our darkness,
    Lord, we pray,
    and in your great mercy
    defend us from all perils and dangers of this night,
    for the love of your only Son,
    our Saviour Jesus Christ.
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.