Evening Prayer Passiontide

¶	Evening Prayer
	Passiontide


	Preparation

	O God, make speed to save us.
All	O Lord, make haste to help us.

	Let your ways be known upon earth
All	your saving power among the nations.

	Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,
	to you be praise and glory for ever.
	In the darkness of our sin
	you have shone in our hearts
	to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
	in the face of Jesus Christ.
	As we behold your Son, enthroned on the cross,
	stir up in us the fire of your love
	that we may be cleansed from all our sins
	and walk with you as children of light,
	to the praise of your holy name.
	Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
All	Blessed be God for ever.


			This, or another suitable hymn, or Saviour of the World (canticle number 79, page 573), may be said or sung

			The royal banners forward go,
			the cross shines forth in mystic glow;
			where he in flesh, our flesh who made,
			our sentence bore, our ransom paid.

			There whilst he hung, his sacred side
			by soldier's spear was opened wide,
			to cleanse us in the precious flood
			of water mingled with his blood.

			Fulfilled is now what David told
			in true prophetic song of old,
			how God the nations' King should be;
			for God is reigning from the tree.

			O tree of glory, tree most fair,
			ordained those holy limbs to bear,
			how bright in purple robe it stood,
			the purple of a Saviour's blood!

			Upon its arms, like balance true,
			he weighed the price for sinners due,
			the price which none but he could pay,
			and spoiled the spoiler of his prey.

			To thee, eternal Three in One,
			let homage meet by all be done:
			as by the cross thou dost restore,
			so rule and guide us evermore.
			Latin, Venantius Fortunatus, tr: J M Neale
			(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.

			The Song of Christ's Glory, or another suitable canticle (for example, number 63 (page 558) or number 79 (page 573), may be said or sung

			Refrain:
	All		At the name of Jesus
			every knee shall bow.

	1		Christ Jesus was in the form of God, •
			but he did not cling to equality with God.

	2		He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, •
			and was born in our human likeness.

	3		Being found in human form he humbled himself, •
			and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

	4		Therefore God has highly exalted him, •
			and bestowed on him the name above every name,

	5		That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, •
			in heaven and on earth and under the earth;

	6		And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, •
			to the glory of God the Father.
			Philippians 2.5-11
			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		At the name of Jesus
			every knee shall bow.

			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

			We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you;
	All		by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
			Christ committed no sin, no guile was found on his lips.
	All		We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
			He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree
			that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.
	All		By your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
			By his wounds you have been healed.
	All		We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you;
			by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

			Gospel Canticle

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

	Refrain:
All	God's love for us is revealed
	in that, while we were yet sinners,
	Christ died for us.

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	God's love for us is revealed
	in that, while we were yet sinners,
	Christ died for us.

			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 339-340 may be used.

			Silence may be kept.

	The Collect of the day or the following Collect is said

	(from the Fifth Sunday of Lent)

	Most merciful God, who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ delivered and saved the world: grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross we may triumph in the power of his victory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All	Amen.

	(or, from Palm Sunday)

	Almighty and everlasting God, who in your tender love towards the human race sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross: grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All	Amen.

	The Lord's Prayer is said

	Standing at the foot of the cross,
	as our Saviour has taught us, so we pray

All	Our Father in heaven …

	(or)

	Standing at the foot of the cross,
	let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

All	Our Father, who art in heaven …


	The Conclusion

	May Christ, who bore our sins on the cross,
	set us free to serve him with joy.
All	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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