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EVENING PRAYER (Vespers)
Erik, King of Sweden, Martyr, 1160
(Lutheran Book of Worship, page 142)
From 'Biographical Sketches of memorable Christians of the Past' by James Kiefer:
Erik IX Jedvardsson was ruler of much of Sweden from 1150 to 1160. He was the head of a Christian kingdom with nearby pagan kingdoms, all sharing an old tradition of fighting. Around 1155, he headed an expedition into Finland, then loosely under Swedish rule, to consolidate Swedish authority there and to establish a protected Christian mission, headed by Henry of Uppsala, now considered the founder of the Church in Finland (see 19 Jan). Erik is also known for undertaking to provide Sweden with fair laws and fair courts, and for measures designed to assist the poor and the infirm. As he was in church on 18 May 1160, the day after Ascension Day, he was told that a pagan Danish army was approaching to kill him. He replied, "Let us at least finish the sacrifice. The rest of the feast I shall keep elsewhere." As he was leaving the church, the pagans rushed upon him and killed him.
Erik was honored both as an upholder of the Christian faith and as a national hero, the ancestor of a long line of Swedish kings. Within thirty years after his death his name appeared on the Swedish Calendar, and he is accounted the principal patron of Sweden, as (for example) Patrick is of Irelend. The silver casket with his remains still rests in the cathedral at Uppsala.
L Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.
C Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
L We are illumined by the brightness of his rising.
C
L Death has no more dominion over us.
C
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.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, king of the universe, who led your people Israel by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night: Enlighten our darkness by the light of your Christ; may his Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path; for you are merciful, and you love your whole creation, and we, your creatures, glorify you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
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 9:1-10
Antiphon:
The glory of the Lord shines on the city. Alleluia.
Its lamp is the Lamb. Alleluia.
1 I will give
thanks to you, O Lord, with | my
whole heart;*
I will tell of all your mar- | velous works.
2 I will be
glad and re- | joice in you;*
I will sing to your name, | O Most High.
3 When my
enemies are | driven back,*
they will stumble and perish | at your presence.
4 For you
have maintained my right | and my cause;*
you sit upon your throne | judging right.
5 You have
rebuked the ungodly and de- | stroyed the wicked;*
you have blotted out their name forev- | er and ever.
6 As for the
enemy, they are finished, in per- | petual ruin,*
their cities plowed under, the memory | of them
perished;
7 but the Lord is en- | throned forever;*
he has set up his | throne for judgment.
8 It is he
who rules the | world with righteousness;*
he judges the peo- | ples with equity.
9 The Lord will be a refuge for | the
oppressed,*
a refuge in | time of trouble.
10 Those who
know your name will put their | trust in you,*
for you never forsake those who seek | you, O Lord.
Antiphon:
The glory of the Lord shines on the city. Alleluia.
Its lamp is the Lamb. Alleluia.
The psalm prayer is said.
R. Amen
Hymn At the Name of Jesus
to receive a name
from the lips of sinners
unto whom he came,
faithfully he bore it
spotless to the last;
brought it back victorious
when from death he passed.
4 In your hearts enthrone him;
there let him subdue
all that is not holy,
all that is not true.
Crown him as your captain
in temptation's hour;
let his will enfold you
in its light and pow'r.
5 Christians, this Lord Jesus
shall return again
with his angel train;
for all wreaths of empire
meet upon his brow,
king of glory now.
Text:
Caroline M. Noel, 1817-1877
READINGS
Micah 6:6-8
Mark 8:34-38
Following each biblical reading:
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
From The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis
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:
This is the day the LORD has made. Alleluia.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it. 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:
This is the day the LORD has made. Alleluia.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Alleluia.
LITANY OF THANKSGIVING
Herbert Lindemann, Daily Prayer, pp.
262-63
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
O Christ, hear us. O Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father in heaven, have
mercy on us.
God the Son, redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy
on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on
us.
O God, who hast employed Thy power, wisdom,
and love for our benefit; have mercy upon us.
Who every moment dost bestow new blessing
upon us; /R
Who hast not withdrawn Thy bounteous hand
from us though we have sinned against Thee; /R
We thank Thee, O Lord, because Thou hast
made us in Thine own image; We thank Thee, O Lord.
Because Thou hast raised us up to an aim and end beyond this life; /R
Because Thou hast given unto us life and
immortality; /R
Because Thou hast made us able to know
Thee, love Thee, and adore Thee; /R
Because Thou hast given so many creatures
for our service; /R
Because Thou hast kept and nourished us
hitherto in Thy fatherly goodness; /R
Because Thou hast redeemed us from the
captivity of hell by the Passion of Thy dear Son; /R
Because Thou hast made us members of Thy
holy church; /R
Because Thou hast given us the holy
sacraments for our salvation;
/R
Because Thou hast not rejected or condemned
us for so many past sins; /R
Because Thou hast saved us from innumerable
sins of soul and body; /R
For all thy Fatherly correction and
chastisement; /R
For all Thy gifts and blessings which we
have never yet fully known; /R
For all Thy gifts and blessings which we
have so often sinfully misused; /R
For all Thy gifts and blessings which Thou hast
bestowed on our relatives, benefactors, and friends; /R
For all Thy gifts and blessings which Thou hast
bestowed on all the family of mankind; /R
In union with the thanksgivings which the
Church on earth and the Church triumphant in heaven pays Thee; /R
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the
world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the
world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the
world; grant us peace. Amen
O Christ, hear us. O Christ, graciously hear us.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
COLLECTS
For the fifth week of Easter
For the feast day of Erik, King of Sweden, martyr
For peace among the nations
For our country
For our own needs and for the needs of others
For peace at the end of the day (Church of Sweden, 1614):
Watch over us, O Lord, our heavenly Father,
preserve us from all evil, and grant that we may this night rest secure beneath your care; bless your Church and our government; remember the sick and those who are in need or peril; have mercy on all your people; and when our last evening shall come, grant that we may fall asleep in your peace and wake in your glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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.
The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve us. Amen
