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   Evening Prayer on Wednesday
     
     
   
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 Descending, or a suitable hymn, may be said or sung
 
   
1
  I love you, O Lord my strength.  •  
      The Lord is my crag, my fortress and my deliverer,
 
   
2
  In my distress I called upon the Lord  •  
      and cried out to my God for help.
                   
   
3
  He heard my voice in his temple  •  
      and my cry came to his ears.
 
   
4
  He parted the heavens and came down  •  
      and thick darkness was under his feet.
                   
   
5
  He rode upon the cherubim and flew;  •  
      he came flying on the wings of the wind.
                 
   
6
  He made darkness his covering round about him,  •  
      dark waters and thick clouds his pavilion. 
                   
   
7
  From the brightness of his presence, through the clouds  •  
      burst hailstones and coals of fire.
                 
   
8
  The Lord also thundered out of heaven;  •  
      the Most High uttered his voice
            with hailstones and coals of fire.
     
   
9
  For you will save a lowly people  •  
      and bring down the high looks of the proud.
       
   
10
  You also shall light my candle;  •  
      the Lord my God shall make my darkness to be bright. 
       
   
11
  As for God, his way is perfect;  
            the word of the Lord is tried in the fire;  •  
      he is a shield to all who trust in him.                              
     
 Psalm 18.1,6,7,10-14,28,29,31
 
      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 the Blessed, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 66 (page 561), may be said or sung
 
      Refrain:
   
All
  Rejoice and be glad
      for you are the light of the world,
      and great is your reward in heaven.
         
   
1
  Blessed are the poor in spirit,  •  
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
         
   
2
  Blessed are those who mourn,  •  
      for they shall be comforted.
         
   
3
  Blessed are the meek,  •  
      for they shall inherit the earth.
         
   
4
  Blessed are those who hunger
            and thirst after righteousness,  •  
      for they shall be satisfied.
         
   
5
  Blessed are the merciful,  •  
      for they shall obtain mercy.
         
   
6
  Blessed are the pure in heart,  •  
      for they shall see God.
         
   
7
   Blessed are the peacemakers,  •  
      for they shall be called children of God.
         
   
8
  Blessed are those who suffer persecution
            for righteousness' sake,  •  
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.                               
     
Matthew 5.3-10
      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
  Rejoice and be glad
      for you are the light of the world,
      and great is your reward in heaven.
 
     
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
 
      Lord, you will guide me by your counsel
      and afterwards receive me with glory.
   
All
  Lord, you will guide me by your counsel
      and afterwards receive me with glory.
      For I am always with you;
      you hold me by my right hand.
   
All
  And afterwards receive me with glory.
      Glory to the Father, and to the Son
      and to the Holy Spirit.
   
All
  Lord, you will guide me by your counsel
      and afterwards receive me with glory.
 
     
Gospel Canticle
 
     
    The Magnificat (The Song of Mary) is said or sung
 
  Refrain:
All
  Remember your promise of mercy,
    to Abraham and his children for ever.
 
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
Remember your promise of mercy,
  to Abraham and his children for ever.
 
 
   
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
 
    Loving God,
    from birth to death you hold us in your hand:
    make us strong to bear each other's burdens
    and humble to share our own,
    that, as one family,
    we may rest in your strength
    and trust in your love;
    through 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
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