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EVENING PRAYER Vespers
for The Solemnity of the Holy Cross
(Lutheran Book of Worship, page 142)
Jesus Christ is the light of the world,
the light no darkness can overcome.
Stay with us, Lord, for it is evening,
and the day is almost over.
Let your light scatter the darkness,
and illumine your church.
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
The psalmody begins with this prayer for forgiveness and protection:
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. Ps. 141:1-7
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 98
1 Sing to the
Lord | a new song,*
for he has done | marvelous things.
2 With his
right hand and his | holy arm*
has he won for him- | self the victory.
3 The Lord has made | known his victory;*
his righteousness has he openly shown in the sight |
of the nations.
4 He
remembers his mercy and faithfulness to the | house of Israel,*
and all the ends of the earth have seen the victory |
of our God.
5 Shout with
joy to the Lord, | all you lands;*
lift up your voice, re- | joice, and sing.
6 Sing to the
Lord | with the harp,*
with the harp and the | voice of song.
7 With
trumpets and the sound | of the horn*
shout with joy before the | king, the Lord.
8 Let the sea
make a noise and all | that is in it,*
the lands and those who | dwell therein.
9 Let the
rivers | clap their hands,*
and let the hills ring out with joy before the Lord,
when he comes to | judge the earth.
10 In
righteousness shall he | judge the world*
and the peo- | ples with equity.
Lord, we sing to you a
new song, for your victory is ever new. In the empty tomb you have given us a
glimpse of your future, and in your victory over death you have shown us how we
shall overcome the last enemy. As the seas roar and the hills sing together, we
too will praise you for your great triumph, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now
and forever. AMEN
Hymn The Head that once was crowned with thorns LBW 173
1 The head that once was
crowned with thorns
is crowned with glory
now;
a royal diadem adorns
the mighty victor's
brow.
2 The highest place that
heav'n affords
is his by sov'reign
right,
the King of kings,
and Lord of lords,
and heav'n's eternal
light.
3 The joy of all who
dwell above,
the joy of all below
to whom he manifests
his love,
and grants his name
to know;
4 To them the cross, with
all its shame,
with all its grace,
is giv'n;
their name, an
everlasting name,
their joy, the joy of
heav'n.
5 They suffer with their
Lord below;
they reign with him
above;
their profit and
their joy to know
the myst'ry of his
love.
6 The cross he bore is
life and health,
though shame and
death to him;
his people's hope,
his people's wealth,
their everlasting
theme!
Text: Thomas Kelly, 1769-1855
READINGS
Philippians 2:5-11
John 12:31-36
After each reading:
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Silence for reflection.
A reading from Centuries by Thomas Traherne
Silence for reflection.
Response
In many and various ways
God spoke to his 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.
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
L Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal,
C have mercy and hear us.
C 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
C 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 into hell.
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
L Show us your mercy, O Lord,
C and grant us your salvation.
L Clothe your ministers with righteousness.
C Let your people sing with joy.
L Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
C for only in you can we live in safety.
L Lord, keep this nation under your care,
C and guide us in the way of justice and truth.
L Let your way be known upon earth;
C your saving health among all nations.
L Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten,
C nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
L Create in us clean hearts, O God,
C and sustain us with your Holy Spirit.
L The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
L Let us pray. . . .
C Amen
6. The final prayer is that appropriate to the time of day:
EVENING
L We give thanks to you, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have this day so graciously protected us. We beg you to forgive us all our sins and the wrong which we have done. By your great mercy defend us from all the perils and dangers of this night. Into your hands we commend our bodies and souls, and all that is ours. Let your holy angels have charge of us, that the wicked one have no power over us.
L Let us bless the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
L The Lord bless us, defend us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
C Amen
