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   Evening Prayer
    Advent
     
     
   
Preparation
 
     
    O God, make speed to save us.
All
  O Lord, make haste to help us.
     
    Reveal among us the light of your presence
All
  that we may behold your power and glory.
     
    Blessed are you, Sovereign God,
    creator of light and darkness,
    to you be glory and praise for ever.
    As evening falls, you renew your promise
    to reveal among us the light of your presence.
    May your word be a lantern to our feet
    and a light upon our path
    that we might behold your coming among us.
    Strengthen us in our stumbling weakness
    and free our tongues to sing your praise.
    Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
All
  Blessed be God for ever.
     
     
      The following, or another suitable hymn, or A Song of Mercy and Truth (canticle number 9, page 504), may be said or sung
 
      Creator of the stars of night,                             
        the people's everlasting light,
        redeemer, saviour of us all,
        O hear your servants when they call.
     
        As once through Mary's flesh you came
        to save us from our sin and shame,
        so now, redeemer, by your grace,
        come heal again our fallen race.
     
        And when on that last judgement day
        we rise to glory from decay,
        then come again, O saviour blest,
        and bring us to eternal rest.
     
        to God the Father, God the Son,
        and God the Spirit, Three in One,
        praise, honour, might and glory be
        from age to age eternally.
       
Latin, tr: Irwin Udulutsch OFM Cap.
       
(Tune: LM)
 
 
     
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 Spirit, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 54 (page 507) or number 69(page 563), may be said or sung
 
        Refrain:
   
All
  Surely I am coming soon.
        Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
         
   
1
  'Behold, I am coming soon', says the Lord,
              and bringing my reward with me,  •
        to give to everyone according to their deeds.
         
   
2
  'I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last,  •
        the beginning and the end.'
         
   
3
  Blessed are those who do God's commandments,
              that they may have the right to the tree of life,  •
        and may enter into the city through the gates.
         
   
4
  'I, Jesus, have sent my angel to you,  •
        with this testimony for all the churches.
         
   
5
  'I am the root and the offspring of David,  •
        I am the bright morning star.'
         
   
6
  'Come!' say the Spirit and the Bride;  •
        'Come!' let each hearer reply!
         
   
7
  Come forward, you who are thirsty,  •
        let those who desire take the water of life as a gift.                    
       
 Revelation 22.12-14,16,17
   
All
  Surely I am coming soon.
        Amen. Come, Lord 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
 
      My soul is waiting for you, O Lord:
      in your word is my hope.
   
All
  My soul is waiting for you, O Lord:
      in your word is my hope.
      There is forgiveness with you,
      therefore you shall be feared.
   
All
  In your word is my hope.
      Glory to the Father, and to the Son
      and to the Holy Spirit.
   
All
  My soul is waiting for you, O Lord:
      in your word is my hope.
 
     
Gospel Canticle
 
     
    The Magnificat (The Song of Mary) is said or sung
 
    From Advent Sunday until 16 December:
     
  Refrain:
All
  Lord Jesus, you are the one who is to come,
    the one whom we await with longing hearts.
     
    From 17 December until 23 December, see page 362.
 
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.
   
    From Advent Sunday until 16 December:
     
All
  Lord Jesus, you are the one who is to come,
    the one whom we await with longing hearts.
     
    From 17 December until 23 December, see page 362.
 
   
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 329 and the prayers on pages 334-335 may be used.
 
      Silence may be kept.
 
    The Collect of the day or the following Collect is said
 
    Almighty God,
give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life,
in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
that on the last day,
when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
      to judge the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
All
  Amen.
 
    The Lord's Prayer is said
 
    Awaiting his coming in glory,
    as our Saviour has taught us, so we pray
     
All
  Our Father in heaven …
       
    (or)
 
    Awaiting his coming in glory,
    let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
     
All
  Our Father, who art in heaven …
     
     
   
The Conclusion
 
     
  May the Lord, when he comes,
    find us watching and waiting
All
  Amen.
 
      Let us bless the Lord.
   
All
  Thanks be to God.
 
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