Come join us as we close the day and welcome the evening in this devotional time.
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A SERVICE OF EVENING PRAYER
DIALOGUE
God is our light and our salvation,
our refuge and our stronghold.
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
we praise your name, O God.
For with you is the fountain of life,
and in your light we see light.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Holy and gracious God,
I confess that I have sinned against you this day.
Some of my sin I know – of which I am ashamed – but some is known only to you. In the name of Jesus Christ I ask forgiveness.
Deliver and restore me, that I may rest in peace.
By the mercy of God we are united with Jesus Christ, in whom we are forgiven. We rest this evening in the peace of Christ and rise tomorrow to serve. Amen.
THANKSGIVING FOR LIGHT
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
We give you thanks, O God,
for in the beginning you called light into being,
and you set light in the sky to govern night and day.
In a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night you led your people into freedom.
Enlighten our darkness by the light of your Christ:
may your Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path;
for you are merciful, and you love your whole creation,
and with all your creatures we give you glory,
through your Son Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Amen.
PSALM 119:129-136 (together) (The Message version)
Every word you give me is a miracle word—
how could I help but obey?
Break open your words, let the light shine out,
let ordinary people see the meaning.
Mouth open and panting,
I wanted your commands more than anything.
Turn my way, look kindly on me,
as you always do to those who personally love you.
Steady my steps with your Word of promise
so nothing malign gets the better of me.
Rescue me from the grip of bad men and women
so I can live life your way.
Smile on me, your servant;
teach me the right way to live.
I cry rivers of tears
because nobody’s living by your book!
PSALM 130 (together)
1Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.
2LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplications!
3If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
LORD, who could stand?
4But there is forgiveness with you,
so that you may be revered.
5I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6my soul waits for the LORD
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
7O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
and with him is great power to redeem.
8It is he who will redeem Israel
from all its iniquities.
READING AND REFLECTION
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets,
but in these last days God has spoken to us by the Son.
Matthew 13:31-35, 44-50
31He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 323t is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."33He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened."34Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing. 35This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth to speak in parables; I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world." 44The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. 47Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
GOSPEL CANTICLE (together)
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping;
that awake we may watch with Christ and asleep we may rest in peace.
Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace: your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people: a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ and asleep we may rest in peace.
APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come 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.
PRAYERS
For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
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. Lord, have mercy.
For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the healing of creation damaged by our misuse of your gifts, for harvests by which all may be fed, for a commitment to be a faithful steward of your creation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For public servants, for first responders, for all who work to protect us; for the leaders of the nations that they may work for the good of all to bring peace and justice in every place, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those who are sick or suffering in any way, particularly Alena, Jenna, Louis, Catharine, Julie, Jean, Michael, Philip, JoAnn, Sandy, Johnny, Betty, Ron, Dione, Theresa, Margaret, Don, Tim, Mary, Ann Joyce, Greg, & Shelby; let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those who travel, that they may do so in safety; for those in captivity, that they may be saved from injustice; for teachers and all working in our schools and colleges, that they may be protected from the coronavirus, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For our elected leaders, that they may govern justly seeking the common good rather than personal gain, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For all servants of your church, for Presiding Bishop Elizabeth, for our Bishop Pedro, for all on our synod staff, and all ministers of the gospel, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
We give you thanks for all who have gone before us and are now at rest, we rejoice in the communion of all the saints and we commend ourselves, one another, and our whole life to you through Christ our Lord.
Gracious God, we give you thanks for the day, especially for the good we were permitted to give and to receive; the day is now past and we commit it to you. We entrust to you the night; we rest securely, for you are our help, and you neither slumber nor sleep; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.
BLESSING
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever he may send you;
may he guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm;
may he bring you home rejoicing,
at the wonders he has shown you;
may he bring you home rejoicing,
into our times together.
The blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit
be with us and remain with us forever. Amen
