EVENING PRAYER Vespers
for the Eve of the Commemoration of Kaj Munk, Martyr
(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 has light shined.
We have beheld Christ's glory, glory as of the only Son of 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 man.
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, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom you have enlightened us by revealing to us the light that never fades.
Night has fallen and day’s allotted span draws to a close.
The daylight which you created for our pleasure has fully satisfied us, and yet, of your free gift, now the evening lights do not fail us.
We praise and glorify you through you Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
through him be glory, honor, and power to you in the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.
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 5
Come, you peoples of the earth:
drink from the wells of the Savior.
1 Give ear to my | words, O Lord;*
consider my | meditation.
2 Hearken to my cry for help, my King | and my God,*
for I make my | prayer to you.
3 In the morning, Lord, you | hear my voice;*
early in the morning I make my appeal and | watch for you.
4 For you are not a God who takes pleas- | ure in wickedness,*
and evil cannot | dwell with you.
5 Braggarts cannot stand | in your sight;*
you hate all those | who work wickedness.
6 You destroy those | who speak lies;*
the bloodthirsty and deceitful, O Lord, | you abhor.
7 But as for me, through the greatness of your mercy I will go in- | to your house;*
I will bow down toward your holy temple in | awe of you.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness, because of those who lie in | wait for me;*
make your way | straight before me.
9 For there is no truth | in their mouth;*
there is destruction | in their heart;
10 their throat is an | open grave;*
they flatter | with their tongue.
11 Declare them guilt- | y, O God;*
let them fall, because | of their schemes.
12 Because of their many transgressions | cast them out,*
for they have re- | belled against you.
13 But all who take refuge in you | will be glad;*
they will sing out their | joy forever.
14 You will | shelter them,*
so that those who love your name may ex- | ult in you.
15 For you, O Lord, will | bless the righteous;*
you will defend them with your favor as | with a shield.
Come, you peoples of the earth:
drink from the wells of the Savior.
Holy Lord, all justice and all goodness come from you; you hate evil and abhor lies. Lead us in the path of justice, so that all who hope in you may with the Church rejoice in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Hymn LBW 230 Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word
READINGS
Ezekiel 20:40-42
Mark 8:34-38
Following each reading:
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
From a sermon for New Year's Day by Kaj Munk
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 [names], for our pastor/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
