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

PRELUDE 

    Day by Day    ELW 790

Day by day, your mercies, Lord, attend me,
Bringing comfort to my anxious soul. 
Day by day, the blessings, Lord, you send me
Draw me nearer to my heav'nly goal. 
Love divine, beyond all mortal measure,
Brings to naught the burdens of my quest;
Savior, lead me to the home I treasure,
Where at last I'll find eternal rest.

Oh, what joy to know that you are near me
When my burdens row too great to bear,
Oh, what joy to know that you will hear me
When I come, O Lord, to you in prayer. 
Day by day, no matter what betide me,
You will hold me ever in your hand.   
Savior, with your presence here to guide me,
I will reach at last the promised land.

    Spirit of Gentleness  ELW 396

Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,
Blow through the wilderness calling and free;
Spirit, Spirit of restlessness,
Stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea.

You moved on the waters, you called to the deep,
Then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep;
And over the eons you called to each thing: 
"Awake from your slumbers and rise on your wings."

Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,
Blow through the wilderness calling and free;
Spirit, Spirit of restlessness,
Stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea.

You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes. 
From the bondage of sorrow all the captives dream dreams;
Our women see visions, our men clear their eyes. 
With bold new decisions your people arise.

Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,
Blow through the wilderness calling and free;
Spirit, Spirit of restlessness,
Stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea.

DIALOGUE
Jesus Christ is the light of the world
The light no darkness can overcome.
Stay with us Lord, for it is evening,
And the day is almost over.
Let your light scatter the darkness
And illumine your church.

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
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.

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 lights 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 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.

COLLECT 
Let us pray. Grant us O Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that Holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing Light, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

PSALM 3  (together) 
O LORD, how many are my foes!  Many are rising against me;  any are saying to me,  "There is no help for you in God."
Selah 
But you, O LORD, are a shield around me,  my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.  I cry aloud to the LORD, and he answers me  from his holy hill.
Selah 
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.  I am not afraid of ten thousands of people  who have set themselves against me all around.  Rise up, O LORD!  Deliver me, O my God!  For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;  you break the teeth of the wicked.  Deliverance belongs to the LORD;  may your blessing be on your people!
Selah 

Psalm 27 (together)
The LORD is my light and my salvation;  whom shall I fear?  The LORD is the stronghold of my life;  of whom shall I be afraid?  When evildoers assail me  to devour my flesh —  my adversaries and foes —  they shall stumble and fall.  Though an army encamp against me,  my heart shall not fear;  though war rise up against me,  yet I will be confident.  One thing I asked of the LORD,  that will I seek after:  to live in the house of the LORD  all the days of my life,  to behold the beauty of the LORD,  and to inquire in his temple.  For he will hide me in his shelter  in the day of trouble;  he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;  he will set me high on a rock.  Now my head is lifted up  above my enemies all around me,  and I will offer in his tent  sacrifices with shouts of joy;  I will sing and make melody to the LORD.  Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud,  be gracious to me and answer me!  "Come," my heart says, "seek his face!"  Your face, LORD, do I seek.  Do not hide your face from me.  Do not turn your servant away in anger,  you who have been my help.  Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,  O God of my salvation!  If my father and mother forsake me,  the LORD will take me up.  Teach me your way, O LORD,  and lead me on a level path  because of my enemies.  Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,  for false witnesses have risen against me,  and they are breathing out violence.  I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD  in the land of the living.  Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

READING AND REFLECTION
     Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.
     Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness.

Philippians 4:1-9 
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.  I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Word of God.  Word of Life.

GOSPEL CANTICLE   (together)  

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,
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  

Let us pray.  

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 health of the creation, for abundant harvests that all may share, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For public servants, the government, and those who protect us; for those who work to bring peace, justice, healing, and protection in this and every place, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

 For those who are sick and suffering,  particularly Alena, Jenna, Louis, Julie, Jean, John, Marcella, Michael, Philip, JoAnn, Sandy, Beth, Johnny, Betty, Ron, Dione, Maria, Theresa, Margaret, Susan, Don, Tim, Mary, Ann Joyce, Greg, & Shelby, and for those who are in captivity, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For deliverance in the time of affliction, wrath, danger, and need, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For all servants of the church, for this assembly, and for all people who await from the Lord great and abundant mercy, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

A brief silence for additional petitions.

Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Giving thanks for all who have gone before us and are at rest, rejoicing in the communion of all the saints, we commend ourselves, one another, and our whole life to you, through Christ our Lord.
To you, O Lord.

O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; 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 in peace
    for you cannot go where God is not.
Go in love
     for only love endures.
Go with conviction
     and God will honor your dedication. 

The blessing of God Almighty,
     the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit
           be with us and remain with us forever. 

Let us go then in peace
Amen

POSTLUDE

     Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing    ELW 545

Lord, dismiss us with your blessing,
Fill our hearts with joy and peace,
Let us each, your love possessing,
Triumph in redeeming grace. 
Oh, refresh us; oh, refresh us,
Trav'ling through this wilderness.

Savior, when your love shall call us
From our struggling pilgrim way,
Let no fear of death appall us,
Glad your summons to obey. 
May we ever, may we ever
Reign with you in endless day.