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   Evening Prayer
    Epiphany Season
     
     
   
Preparation
 
     
    O God, make speed to save us.
All
  O Lord, make haste to help us.
     
    From the rising of the sun to its setting
All
  your glory is proclaimed in all the world.
     
    Blessed are you, Sovereign God,
    our light and our salvation,
    to you be glory and praise for ever.
    Your light springs up for the righteous
    and all the peoples have seen your glory.
    You gave the Christ as a light to the nations,
    and through the anointing of the Spirit
    you established us as a royal priesthood.
    As you call us into your marvellous light,
    may our lives bear witness to your truth
    and our lips never cease to proclaim your praise.
    Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
All
  Blessed be God for ever.
     
     
      This, or another suitable hymn, or A Song of God's Splendour (canticle number 11, page 506), may be said or sung
 
      O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness;                          
        bow down before him, his glory proclaim;
        with gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness
        kneel and adore him: the Lord is his name.
     
        Low at his feet lay thy burden of carefulness:
        high on his heart he will bear it for thee,
        comfort thy sorrows, and answer thy prayerfulness,
        guiding thy steps as may best for thee be.
     
        Fear not to enter his courts in the slenderness
        of the poor wealth thou wouldst reckon as thine:
        truth in its beauty, and love in its tenderness,
        these are the offerings to lay on his shrine.
     
        These, though we bring them in trembling and fearfulness,
        he will accept for the name that is dear;
        mornings of joy give for evenings of tearfulness,
        trust for our trembling and hope for our fear. 
       
        O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness;
        bow down before him, his glory proclaim;
        with gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness
        kneel and adore him: the Lord is his name.
       
J S B Monsell
       
(Tune:  13 10 13 10)
 
 
     
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 Praise, or another suitable canticle (for example, number 60( page 555) or number 68(page 563), may be said or sung
 
        Refrain:
   
All
  You created all things, O God,
        and are worthy of our praise for ever.
         
   
1
  You are worthy, our Lord and God,  •
        to receive glory and honour and power.
         
   
2
  For you have created all things,  •
        and by your will they have their being.
         
   
3
  You are worthy, O Lamb, for you were slain,  •
        and by your blood you ransomed for God
              saints from every tribe and language and nation.
         
   
4
  You have made them to be a kingdom and priests
              serving our God,  •
        and they will reign with you on earth.          
       
Revelation 4.11; 5.9b,10
         
        To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb  •
        be blessing and honour, glory and might,
              for ever and ever. Amen.
         
   
All
  You created all things, O God,
        and are worthy of our praise for ever.
 
     
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
 
      Arise, shine, for your light has come;
      the glory of the Lord is rising upon you.
   
All
  Arise, shine, for your light has come;
      the glory of the Lord is rising upon you.
      God's salvation has been openly shown to all people.
   
All
  The glory of the Lord is rising upon you.
      Glory to the Father, and to the Son
      and to the Holy Spirit.
   
All
  Arise, shine, for your light has come;
      the glory of the Lord is rising upon you.
 
     
Gospel Canticle
 
     
    The Magnificat (The Song of Mary) is said or sung
 
  Refrain:
All
  Behold, my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
    the anointed one on whom my Spirit rests.
 
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
  Behold, my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
    the anointed one on whom my Spirit rests.
 
   
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 336-337 may be used.
 
      Silence may be kept.
 
    The Collect of the day or the following Collect is said
 
    Lord our God,
who anointed your only Son
with the Spirit at the river Jordan,
and so hallowed the waters of new birth
to bring us forth to salvation:
keep us strong in the life of grace,
direct the ways of your people,
and open the door of your kingdom
to all who stand upon the threshold of faith;
through Jesus our Messiah and Saviour.
All
  Amen.
 
    The Lord's Prayer is said
 
    Seeking the salvation of the world,
    as our Saviour has taught us, so we pray
     
All
  Our Father in heaven …
       
    (or)
 
    Seeking the salvation of the world,
    let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
     
All
  Our Father, who art in heaven …
     
     
   
The Conclusion
 
     
  May Christ, who sends us to the nations,
    give us the power of his Spirit.
All
  Amen.
 
      Let us bless the Lord.
   
All
  Thanks be to God.
 
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