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
When anyone is united to Christ,
there is a new world;
the old order has gone,
and a new order has already begun.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Trusting in the mercy of God, let us confess our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Reconciling God,
we confess that we do not trust your abundance, and we deny your presence in our lives.
We place our hope in ourselves and rely on our own efforts.
We fail to believe that you provide enough for all.
We abuse your good creation for our own benefit.
We fear difference and do not welcome others as you have welcomed us.
We sin in thought, word, and deed.
By your grace, forgive us; through your love, renew us; and in your Spirit, lead us; so that we may live and serve you in newness of life. Amen.
Beloved of God, by the radical abundance of divine mercy we have peace with God through + Christ Jesus, through whom we have obtained grace upon grace.
Our sins are forgiven.
Let us live now in hope.
For hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Amen.
THANKSGIVING FOR LIGHT
Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.”
Let us pray. O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen.
O Gracious Light
O gracious light, pure brightness of the ever-living Father in heaven, O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun, and our eyes behold the vesper light, we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices, O Son of God, O Giver of Life, and to be glorified through all the worlds. Amen.
PSALM 8 (together)
1 O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.
2Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger.
3When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established;
4what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?
5Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor.
6You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet,
7all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,
8the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
9O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
PSALM 96 (together)
1O sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
3Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples.
4For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be revered above all gods.
5For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
6Honor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
8Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts.
9Worship the LORD in holy splendor;
tremble before him, all the earth.
10Say among the nations, "The LORD is king!
The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.
He will judge the peoples with equity."
11Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12let the field exult, and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13before the LORD; for he is coming,
for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with his truth.
READING AND REFLECTION
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness.
Ephesians 2:1-10
1You were dead through the trespasses and sins 2in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. 3All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us 5even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ -- by grace you have been saved -- 6and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God -- 9not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before-hand to be our way of life.
GOSPEL CANTICLE (together)
Refrain: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for you, Lord, have looked with favor on your lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me bless’d:
you, the Almighty, have done great things for me
and holy is your name.
You have mercy on those who fear you,
from generation to generation.
You have shown strength with your arm
and scattered the proud in their conceit,
casting down the mighty from their thrones
and lifting up the lowly.
You have filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
You have come to the aid of your servant Israel,
Refrain: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
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 all who are affected by natural disaster, those suffering and fearful because of the wild fires in Colorado and California, those in the track of Hurricane Laura, and all other victims of catastrophe around the world, that they may be protected, sustained, and preserved, 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, Beth, 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.
A brief silence for personal petitions.
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
Go forth to the world in peace; be of good courage, hold fast to that which is good.
Render to no one evil for evil.
Strengthen the fainthearted, support the weak,
Help the afflicted, honor all.
Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.
In the name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Let us go then in peace. Amen.
