A SERVICE OF EVENING PRAYER
January 20, 2021
Prelude
Opening
Almighty God grant us a quiet night and peace at the last.
Amen.
By day, O God,
you grant your steadfast love,
and at night your song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
Hymn All Praise to Thee My God, This Night
ELW 565
All praise to thee, my God, this night
for all the blessings of the light.
Keep me, oh, keep me, King of kings,
beneath thine own almighty wings.
Forgive me, Lord, for thy dear Son,
the ill that I this day have done;
that with the world, myself, and thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.
Teach me to live, that I may dread
the grave as little as my bed.
Teach me to die, that so I may
rise glorious at the awesome day.
Oh, may my soul in thee repose,
and may sweet sleep mine eyelids close,
sleep that shall me more vig'rous make
to serve my God when I awake!
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise God, all creatures here below;
praise God above, ye heav'nly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Confession and Forgiveness
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Holy and gracious God,
I confess that I have sinned against you this day.
Some of my sin I know – the thoughts and words and deeds
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 now in the peace of Christ
and rise in the morning to serve.
Psalms and Reading
Psalm 19
1The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
2Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
3There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
4yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
5which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and nothing is hid from its heat.
7The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the LORD are sure,
making wise the simple;
8the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eyes;
9the fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true
and righteous altogether.
10More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
13Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 119:33-48, 105-112
33Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes,
and I will observe it to the end.
34Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.
35Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.
36Turn my heart to your decrees,
and not to selfish gain.
37Turn my eyes from looking at vanities;
give me life in your ways.
38Confirm to your servant your promise,
which is for those who fear you.
39Turn away the disgrace that I dread,
for your ordinances are good.
40See, I have longed for your precepts;
in your righteousness give me life.
41Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD,
your salvation according to your promise.
42Then I shall have an answer for those who taunt me,
for I trust in your word.
43Do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
for my hope is in your ordinances.
44I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever.
45I shall walk at liberty,
for I have sought your precepts.
46I will also speak of your decrees before kings,
and shall not be put to shame;
47I find my delight in your commandments,
because I love them.
48I revere your commandments, which I love,
and I will meditate on your statutes.
105Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
106I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
to observe your righteous ordinances.
107I am severely afflicted;
give me life, O LORD, according to your word.
108Accept my offerings of praise, O LORD,
and teach me your ordinances.
109I hold my life in my hand continually,
but I do not forget your law.
110The wicked have laid a snare for me,
but I do not stray from your precepts.
111Your decrees are my heritage forever;
they are the joy of my heart.
112I incline my heart to perform your statutes
forever, to the end.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be. Amen.
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
1all the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had given to Israel. 2Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. 3He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 5And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 8So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
9And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. 10Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our LORD; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Reflection
It is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.
Dialogue
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Into your hands I commend my spirit.
You have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth.
Into your hands I commend my spirit.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Into your hands I commend my spirit.
Gospel Canticle
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,
to remember the promise of mercy,
the promise made to our forebears,
to Abraham and his children forever.
Refrain
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Prayers
Hear my prayer, O Lord;
listen to my cry.
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings.
In righteousness I shall see you;
when I awake, your presence will give me joy.
Be present, merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night,
so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of life may
find our rest in you, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Gathered together across the miles, we as a community of faith offer our prayers this evening
for the peace of the whole world…
for this holy assembly and all the faithful everywhere who worship and pray
for God’s good creation …
for those who are suffering or grieving…
for those in need of deliverance from hardship and oppression
Eternal God, the hours both of day and night are yours, and to you the darkness is no threat. Be present, we pray, with those who labor in these hours of night, especially those who watch and work on behalf of others. Grant them diligence in their watching, faithfulness in their service, courage in danger, and competence in emergencies. Help them to meet the needs of others with confidence and compassion; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Gospel Canticle
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.
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.
Benediction
May the God of justice be your path,
the Lord of mercy be your guide,
and the Spirit of love be your light.
And may the blessing of God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
be upon you now and forever.
Amen.
Postlude Word of God, Come Down on Earth
ELW 510 (v. 1&3)
Word of God, come down on earth,
living rain from heav'n descending;
touch our hearts and bring to birth
faith and hope and love unending.
Word almighty, we revere you;
Word made flesh, we long to hear you.
Word that speaks God's tender love,
one with God beyond all telling,
Word that sends us from above
God the Spirit, with us dwelling,
Word of truth, to all truth lead us;
Word of life, with one bread feed us.
Liturgical Text and Music, from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, © 2006 and 2020 Augsburg Fortress, Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies License #SAS016761. All rights reserved.
All Praise to Thee My God, This Night, Text: Thomas Ken, 1637-1711, alt.. Music: Thomas Tallis, 1505-1585.. Public domain.
Word of God, Come Down on Earth, Text: James Quinn, SJ, b. 1919. Text © James Quinn, SJ, Selah Publishing Co., Inc. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved. Music: Johann R. Ahle, 1625-1673. Public domain.
