The livestream may be found here.
EVENING PRAYER
Commemoration of Timothy, Titus, Silas; Companions of St Paul
Vespers
(Lutheran Book of Worship, page 142)
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
Those who dwelt in the land of deep darkness,
on them light has shined.
We have beheld Christ’s glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father.
For to us a child is born,
to us a Son is given.
In him was life,
and the life was the light of all people.
Joyous light of glory:
of the immortal Father;
heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ.
We have come to the setting of the sun,
and we look to the evening light.
We sing to God, the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit:
You are worthy of being praised
with pure voices forever.
O Son of God, O Giver of life:
The universe proclaims your glory.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
We praise and thank you, O God, for you are without beginning and without end. Through Christ you are the creator and preserver of the whole world; but, above all, you are his God and Father, the giver of the Spirit, and the ruler of all that is, seen and unseen. You made the day for the works of light and the night for the refreshment of our weakness. O loving Lord and source of all that is good, mercifully accept our evening sacrifice of praise. As you have conducted us through the day and brought us to night’s beginning, keep us now in Christ; grant us a peaceful evening and a night free from sin, and at the end, bring us to everlasting life through Christ our Lord. Through him we offer glory, honor, and worship to you in the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.
Amen
Let my prayer rise before you as incense;
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
O Lord, I call to you; come to me quickly;
hear my voice when I cry to you.
Let my prayer rise before you as incense;
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord,
and guard the door of my lips.
Let not my heart incline to any evil thing;
let me not be occupied in wickedness with evildoers.
But my eyes are turned to you, Lord God;
in you I take refuge. Strip me not of my life.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Let my prayer rise before you as incense;
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Silence for meditation.
Let the incense of our repentant prayer ascend before you, O Lord, and let your lovingkindness descend upon us, that with purified minds we may sing your praises with the Church on earth and the whole heavenly host, and may glorify you forever and ever.
Amen
Psalm 112
Come, you peoples of the earth:
drink from the wells of the Savior.
1 Hallelujah!
Happy are they who | fear the Lord*
and have great delight in | his commandments!
2 Their
descendants will be mighty | in the land;*
the generation of the upright | will be blessed.
3 Wealth and
riches will be | in their house,*
and their righteousness will | last forever.
4 Light
shines in the darkness | for the upright;*
the righteous are merciful and full | of compassion.
5 It is good
for them to be gener- | ous in lending*
and to manage their af- | fairs with justice.
6 For they
will nev- | er be shaken;*
the righteous will be kept in everlast- | ing
remembrance.
7 They will
not be afraid of any | evil rumors;*
their heart is right; they put their trust | in the Lord.
8 Their heart
is established and | will not shrink,*
until they see their desire up- | on their enemies.
9 They have
given freely | to the poor,*
and their righteousness stands fast forever;
they will hold up their | head with honor.
10 The wicked
will see it and be angry; they will gnash their teeth and | pine away;*
the desires of the wick- | ed will perish.
Come, you peoples of the earth:
drink from the wells of the Savior.
Lord Jesus, you are the light shining in darkness for the upright. Teach us to love one another as you love us, that we might bring peace and joy to the world and find the happiness of your home, where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Hymn Spread, Oh, Spread, Thou Mighty Word
(tr. Lutheran Hymnal 1941)
1 Spread, oh, spread, thou mighty Word,
Spread the kingdom of the Lord,Wheresoe'er His breath has giv'n
Life to beings meant for heav'n.
2 Tell them how the Father's will
Made the world and keeps it still,
How His only Son He gave,
Man from sin and death to save.
3 Tell of our Redeemer's love,
Who forever doth remove
By His holy sacrifice
All the guilt that on us lies.
4 Tell them of the Spirit giv'n
Now to guide us up to heav'n,
Strong and holy, just and true,
Working both to will and do.
5 Up! The rip'ning fields ye see,
Mighty shall the harvest be;
But the reapers still are few,
Great the work they have to do.
6 Lord of Harvest, let there be
Joy and strength to work for Thee
Till the nations far and near
See Thy light, and learn Thy fear.
READINGS
Following each reading:
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Response
In many and various ways
God spoke to this people of old by the prophets.
But now in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.
The GOSPEL CANTICLE is sung.
Antiphon:
Our Lord and Savior, begotten before all ages,
revealed himself to the world. Alleluia.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed.
The Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm;
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen
Antiphon:
Our Lord and Savior, begotten before all ages,
revealed himself to the world. Alleluia.
The LITANY is sung. (LBW p. 148)
C Lord, have mercy.
L For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
L For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
L For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
L For Dan, our bishop, for all pastors in Christ, for all servants of the Church, and for all the people, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
L For our public servants, for the government and those who protect us, that they may be upheld and strengthened in every good deed, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
L For those who work to bring peace, justice, health, and protection in this and every place, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
L For those who bring offerings, those who do good works in this congregation, those who toil, those who sing, and all the people here present who await from the Lord great and abundant mercy, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
L For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
L For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and need, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
L For the faithful who have gone before us and are at rest, let us give thanks to the Lord.
C Alleluia.
L Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Silence for meditation.
L Rejoicing in the fellowship of all the saints, let us commend ourselves, one another, and our whole life to Christ, our Lord.
C To you, O Lord.
L O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments; and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God forever. (255)
C Amen
Other collects are said with the response, Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Prayer and Benediction
Accept, O Lord, our praises and supplications, and look graciously on our households and our faith family, that we may abide this night in peace and safety under the shadow of your wings, and so assist us by your grace that we may be made fit for that kingdom where there shall be no more sin, nor sorrow, nor pain, but all shall be joy and peace in the Holy Spirit, to whom, with you, O Father, and you, O blessed Jesus, be all glory, both now and evermore.
Amen
The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve you. Amen
