Friday
Evening Prayer – Proper 8 in Year 1

Opening Sentence

I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel; my heart teaches me, night after night. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not fall. Psalm 16:7,8

Versicle and Response

O God, make speed to save us.

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 will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

Invitatory

O gracious light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of Life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.

Psalms

Psalm 141

1 O LORD, I call to you; come to me quickly;*

hear my voice when I cry to you.

2 Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, *

the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

3 Set a watch before my mouth, O LORD,

and guard the door of my lips;*

let not my heart incline to any evil thing.

4 Let me not be occupied in wickedness with evildoers, *

nor eat of their choice foods.

5 Let the righteous smite me in friendly rebuke;

let not the oil of the unrighteous anoint my head;*

for my prayer is continually against their wicked deeds.

6 Let their rulers be overthrown in stony places,*

that they may know my words are true.

7 As when a plowman turns over the earth in furrows,*

let their bones be scattered at the mouth of the grave.

8 But my eyes are turned to you, Lord GOD;*

in you I take refuge;

do not strip me of my life.

9 Protect me from the snare which they have laid for me *

and from the traps of the evildoers.

10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,*

while I myself escape.

Psalm 143

1 LORD, hear my prayer,

and in your faithfulness heed my supplications;*

answer me in your righteousness.

2 Enter not into judgment with your servant,*

for in your sight shall no one living be justified.

3 For my enemy has sought my life;

he has crushed me to the ground;*

he has made me live in dark places like those who are long dead.

4 My spirit faints within me;*

my heart within me is desolate.

5 I remember the time past;

I muse upon all your deeds;*

I consider the works of your hands.

6 I spread out my hands to you;*

my soul gasps to you like a thirsty land.

7 O LORD, make haste to answer me; my spirit fails me; *

do not hide your face from me

or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.

8 Let me hear of your loving-kindness in the morning,

for I put my trust in you;*

show me the road that I must walk,

for I lift up my soul to you.

9 Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD,*

for I flee to you for refuge.

10 Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God; *

let your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

11 Revive me, O LORD, for your Name's sake;*

for your righteousness' sake, bring me out of trouble.

12 Of your goodness, destroy my enemies

and bring all my foes to naught,*

for truly I am your servant.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Reading

Luke 23:26-31

As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.” Then they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us”; and to the hills, “Cover us.” For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?’

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Canticle 17

Lord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as you have promised;

For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:

A Light to enlighten the nations, *
and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Apostle's Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.

Suffrages

That this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful,

We entreat you, O Lord.

That your holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and goodwill,

We entreat you, O Lord.

That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins and offenses,

We entreat you, O Lord.

That there may be peace to your Church and to the whole world,

We entreat you, O Lord.

That we may depart this life in your faith and fear,
and not be condemned before the great judgment seat of Christ,

We entreat you, O Lord.

That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit in
the communion of all your saints,
entrusting one another and all our life to Christ,

We entreat you, O Lord.

Collect of the Day: Proper 8

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Fridays

Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake up in your likeness; for your tender mercies' sake. Amen.

For Mission

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers and Intercessions

Let us pray now for our own needs and those of others.



A Prayer of St. Chrysostom

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.

Benediction

Let us bless the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20,21