Evening Prayer from All Saints' Day until the day before the First Sunday of Advent

¶	Evening Prayer
	from All Saints' Day until
	the Friday before the First Sunday of Advent

	Preparation

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

	Your faithful servants bless you.
All	They make known the glory of your kingdom.

	Blessed are you, Sovereign God,
	our light and our salvation,
	eternal Creator of day and night,
	to you be glory and praise for ever.
	Now, as darkness is falling,
	hear the prayer of your faithful people.
	As we look for your coming in glory,
	wash away our transgressions,
	cleanse us by your refining fire
	and make us temples of your Holy Spirit.
	By the light of Christ,
	dispel the darkness of our hearts
	and make us ready to enter your kingdom,
	where songs of praise for ever sound.
	Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
All	Blessed be God for ever.


			This, or another suitable hymn, or A Song of Tobit (canticle number 41, page 533) may be said or sung

			Give me the wings of faith to rise
			within the veil, and see
			the saints above, how great their joys,
			how bright their glories be.

			Once they were mourning here below,
			their couch was wet with tears;
			they wrestled hard, as we do now,
			with sins and doubts and fears.

			We ask them whence their victory came:
			they, with united breath,
			ascribe their conquest to the Lamb,
			their triumph to his death.

			They marked the footsteps that he trod,
			his zeal inspired their breast,
			and, following their incarnate God,
			possess the promised rest.

			Our glorious Leader claims our praise
			for his own pattern given;
			while the long cloud of witnesses
			show the same path to heaven.
			Isaac Watts
			(Tune: CM)


			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 God's Assembled, or another suitable canticle (for example, number 67 (page 562) or number 70 (page 564), may be said or sung

			Refrain:
	All		We have come before the throne of God
			to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

	1		We have come before God's holy mountain, •
			to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God.

	2		We have come before countless angels making festival, •
			before the assembly of the firstborn citizens of heaven.

	3		We have come before God, who is judge of all, •
			before the spirits of the just made perfect.

	4		We have come before Jesus, •
			the mediator of the new covenant.

	5		We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken: •
			so let us give thanks and offer to God acceptable worship,

	6		full of reverence and awe; •
			for our God is a consuming fire.
			Hebrews 12.22-24a,28,29
			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		We have come before the throne of God
			to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

			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	The righteous will shine like the sun
	in the kingdom of their Father.

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	The righteous will shine like the sun
	in the kingdom of their Father.

			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 344-345 may be used.

			Silence may be kept.

	The Collect of the day or the following Collect is said

	Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that we may come to those inexpressible joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All	Amen.

	The Lord's Prayer is said

	Uniting our prayers with the whole company of heaven,
	as our Saviour has taught us, so we pray

All	Our Father in heaven …

	(or)

	Uniting our prayers with the whole company of heaven,
	let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

All	Our Father, who art in heaven …


	The Conclusion

	May Christ, who has opened the kingdom of heaven,
	bring us to reign with him in glory.
All	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.