The Minister shall begin the Evening Prayer by reading one or more of the following Sentences of Scripture; and then he shall say that which is written after them in a voice audible to all. But he may, at his discretion, pass at once from the Sentences to the Lord’s Prayer.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Psalm 51:17
DEARLY beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us, in sundry places, to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness; and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before the face of Almighty God our heavenly Father; but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient heart; to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same, by his infinite goodness and mercy. And although we ought, at all times, humbly to acknowledge our sins before God; yet ought we chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet together to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy Word, and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore I pray and beseech you, as many as are here present, to accompany me with a pure heart, and humble voice, unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying—
A General Confession. To be said by the whole congregation, with the Minister, all kneeling.
ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father; We have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare thou those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore thou those who are penitent; According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake; That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.
The Declaration of Absolution, or Remission of Sins. To be pronounced by the Presbyter alone, or by the Bishop if he be present, standing; the people still kneeling.
ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live, hath given power, and commandment, to his Ministers, to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the Absolution and Remission of their sins. He pardoneth and absolveth all those who truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel. Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance, and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do at this present; and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy; so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Then the Minister shall kneel, and say the Lord’s Prayer; the People still kneeling, and repeating it with him.
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, for ever and ever. Amen.
Then likewise he shall say,
O Lord, open thou our lips.
And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.
Here, all standing up, the Minister shall say,
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Praise ye the Lord.
The Lord’s Name be praised.
73:1-20; 21-end
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Then shall be read the First Lesson, according to the Table or Calendar.
1Then Job answered and said:
2“Keep listening to my words, and let this be your comfort.
3Bear with me, and I will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.
4As for me, is my complaint against man? Why should I not be impatient?
5Look at me and be appalled, and lay your hand over your mouth.
6When I remember, I am dismayed, and shuddering seizes my flesh.
7Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?
8Their offspring are established in their presence, and their descendants before their eyes.
9Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them.
10Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and does not miscarry.
11They send out their little boys like a flock, and their children dance.
12They sing to the tambourine and the lyre and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.
13They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.
14They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.
15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?’
16Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17“How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity comes upon them? That God distributes pains in his anger?
18That they are like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away?
19You say, ‘God stores up their iniquity for their children.’ Let him pay it out to them, that they may know it.
20Let their own eyes see their destruction, and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21For what do they care for their houses after them, when the number of their months is cut off?
22Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those who are on high?
23One dies in his full vigor, being wholly at ease and secure,
24his pails full of milk and the marrow of his bones moist.
25Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of prosperity.
26They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them.
27“Behold, I know your thoughts and your schemes to wrong me.
28For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’
29Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony
30that the evil man is spared in the day of calamity, that he is rescued in the day of wrath?
31Who declares his way to his face, and who repays him for what he has done?
32When he is carried to the grave, watch is kept over his tomb.
33The clods of the valley are sweet to him; all mankind follows after him, and those who go before him are innumerable.
34How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood.”
Cantate Domino
O SING unto the LORD a new song; * for he hath done marvellous things. With his own right hand, and with his holy arm, * hath he gotten himself the victory. The LORD declared his salvation; * his righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered his mercy and truth toward the house of Israel; * and all the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God. Show yourselves joyful unto the LORD, all ye lands; * sing, rejoice, and give thanks. Praise the LORD upon the harp; * sing to the harp with a psalm of thanksgiving. With trumpets also and shawms, * O show yourselves joyful before the LORD, the King. Let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is * the round world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands, and let the hills be joyful together before the LORD * for he cometh to judge the earth. With righteousness shall he judge the world * and the people with equity.
Then a Lesson of the New Testament, as it is appointed.
21And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea.
22Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet
23and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.”
24And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.
25And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years,
26and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.
27She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment.
28For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.”
29And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.
30And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?”
31And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’”
32And he looked around to see who had done it.
33But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth.
34And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
Deus misereatur
GOD be merciful unto us, and bless us, * and show us the light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us; That thy way may be known upon earth, * thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God; * yea, let all the people praise thee. O let the nations rejoice and be glad; * for thou shalt judge the folk righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Let the people praise thee, O God; * yea, let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth bring forth her increase; * and God, even our own God, shall give us his blessing. God shall bless us; * and all the ends of the world shall fear him.
Then shall be said the Apostles’ Creed by the Minister and the People, standing. And any Churches may, instead of the words, He descended into hell, use the words, He went into the place of departed spirits, which are considered as words of the same meaning in the Creed.
I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary: Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty: From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost: The holy Catholic Church; The Communion of Saints: The Forgiveness of sins: The Resurrection of the body: And the Life everlasting. Amen.
And after that, these Prayers following, the people devoutly kneeling; the minister first pronouncing,
The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Then shall be said the following Suffrages.
O Lord, show thy mercy upon us.
And grant us thy salvation.
O Lord, save the State.
And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.
Endue thy Ministers with righteousness.
And make thy chosen people joyful.
O Lord, save thy people.
And bless thine inheritance.
Give peace in our time, O Lord.
For it is thou, Lord, only, that makest us dwell in safety.
O God, make clean our hearts within us.
And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.
Collect of the Day
Then shall be said the Collect of the Day, and after that the Collects and Prayers following.
Collect of the Day
Monday after the 14th Sunday after Trinity
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Collect for Peace
O GOD, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed; Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee, we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
A Collect for Aid against Perils
LIGHTEN our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Additional Prayers
The Minister may here end the Evening Prayer with such Prayer, or Prayers, taken out of this Book, as he shall think fit.
A Prayer for The President of the United States, and all in Civil Authority
ALMIGHTY God, whose kingdom is everlasting and power infinite; Have mercy upon this whole land; and so rule the hearts of thy servants THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, The Governor of this State, and all others in authority, that they, knowing whose ministers they are, may above all things seek thy honour and glory; and that we and all the People, duly considering whose authority they bear, may faithfully and obediently honour them, according to thy blessed Word and ordinance; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
A Prayer for the Clergy and People
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift; Send down upon our Bishops, and other Clergy, and upon the Congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy grace; and, that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.
A Prayer for all Conditions of Men
O GOD, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men; that thou wouldest be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for thy holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are any ways afflicted, or distressed, in mind, body, or estate; [*especially those for whom our prayers are desired;] that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them, according to their several necessities; giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
A General Thanksgiving
ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, we, thine unworthy servants, do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us, and to all men; [*particularly to those who desire now to offer up their praises and thanksgivings for thy late mercies vouchsafed unto them.] We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful; and that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.
A Prayer of St. Chrysostom
ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee; and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their requests; Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.
The Grace
THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.