Evening Prayer for March 10, 2021

Wednesday in the Third Week of Lent

Evening Prayer

March 10, 2021

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Evening Prayer

Enriching Our Worship 1 and Book of Common Prayer

Rend your hearts and not your garments. Return tot he Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil.

[Joel 2:13; BCP, p. 76]

Confession of Sin

[Enriching Our Worship 1, p. 19]

Let us confess our sins to God.

God of all mercy,

we confess that we have sinned against you,

opposing your will in our lives.

We have denied your goodness in each other,

in ourselves, and in the world you have created.

We repent of the evil that enslaves us,

the evil we have done,

and the evil done on our behalf.

Forgive, restore, and strengthen us

through our Savior Jesus Christ,

that we may abide in your love

and serve only your will. Amen.

The Officiant says the following (a Priest substitutes "you" for "us" and "your" for "our")

Almighty God have mercy on [us], forgive [us] all [our] sins through the grace of Jesus Christ, strengthen [us] in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep [us] in eternal life.

Amen.

The Invitatory and Psalter

[EOW1, p. 20]

V: O God, be not far from us. R: Come quickly to help us, O God.

Praise to the holy and undivided Trinity, one God:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Light of the World (Phos hilaron)

[EOW1, p. 23]

Light of the world, in grace and beauty,

Mirror of God’s eternal face,

Transparent flame of love’s free duty,

You bring salvation to our race.

Now, as we see the lights of evening,

We raise our voice in hymns of praise;

Worthy are you of endless blessing,

Sun of our night, lamp of our days.

The Psalm or Psalms Appointed

Psalm 81

[BCP, p. 704]

1 Sing with joy to God our strength *

and raise a loud shout to the God of Jacob.

2 Raise a song and sound the timbrel, *

the merry harp, and the lyre.

3 Blow the ram's-horn at the new moon, *

and at the full moon, the day of our feast.

4 For this is a statute for Israel, *

a law of the God of Jacob.

5 He laid it as a solemn charge upon Joseph, *

when he came out of the land of Egypt.

6 I heard an unfamiliar voice saying, *

"I eased his shoulder from the burden; his hands were set free from bearing the load."

7 You called on me in trouble, and I saved you; *

I answered you from the secret place of thunder and tested you at the waters of Meribah.

8 Hear, O my people, and I will admonish you: *

O Israel, if you would but listen to me!

9 There shall be no strange god among you; *

you shall not worship a foreign god.

10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and said, *

"Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it."

11 And yet my people did not hear my voice, *

and Israel would not obey me.

12 So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their hearts, *

to follow their own devices.

13 Oh, that my people would listen to me! *

that Israel would walk in my ways!

14 I should soon subdue their enemies *

and turn my hand against their foes.

15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, *

and their punishment would last for ever.

16 But Israel would I feed with the finest wheat *

and satisfy him with honey from the rock.

Psalm 82

[BCP, p. 705]

1 God takes his stand in the council of heaven; *

he gives judgment in the midst of the gods:

2 How long will you judge unjustly, *

and show favor to the wicked?

3 Save the weak and the orphan; *

defend the humble and needy;

4 Rescue the weak and the poor; *

deliver them from the power of the wicked.

5 They do not know, neither do they understand; they go about in darkness; *

all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6 Now I say to you, 'You are gods, *

and all of you children of the Most High;

7 Nevertheless, you shall die like mortals, *

and fall like any prince.'"

8 Arise, O God, and rule the earth, *

for you shall take all nations for your own.

Praise to the holy and undivided Trinity, one God:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Lessons

A reading from John (8:12-20)

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." Then the Pharisees said to him, "You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid." Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf." Then they said to him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also." He spoke these words while he was teaching in the treasury of the temple, but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to God's people.

Thanks be to God.

Canticle C: The Song of Hannah

[EOW1, p. 31; 1 Samuel 2:1-8]

My heart exults in you, O God; *

my triumph song is lifted in you.

My mouth derides my enemies, *

for I rejoice in your salvation.

There is none holy like you, *

nor any rock to be compared to you, our God.

Do not heap up prideful words or speak in arrogance; *

Only God is knowing and weighs all actions.

The bows of the mighty are broken, *

but the weak are clothed in strength.

Those once full now labor for bread, *

those who hungered now are well fed.

The childless woman has borne sevenfold, *

while the mother of many is forlorn.

God destroys and brings to life, casts down and raises up; *

gives wealth or takes it away, humbles and dignifies.

God raises the poor from the dust; *

and lifts the needy from the ash heap

To make them sit with the rulers *

and inherit a place of honor.

For the pillars of the earth are God’s *

on which the whole earth is founded.

Praise to the holy and undivided Trinity, one God:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Thriving in the Vine: Lenten Devotional of the Day

"Third Wednesday in Lent" by Zibi Davidson, St. John's & St. Mark's, Albany, GA

[https://gaepiscopal.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Lent-2021-Book.pdf]

Canticle L: A Song of Christ's Humility

[EOW1, p. 36; Philippians 2:6-11]

Though in the form of God, *

Christ Jesus did not cling to equality with God,

But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, *

and was born in human likeness.

Being found in human form, he humbled himself *

and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.

Therefore, God has highly exalted him *

and given him the name above every name,

That at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, *

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, *

to the glory of God the Father.

Praise to the holy and undivided Trinity, one God:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Apostles' Creed

[EOW1, p. 41]

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 again 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.

The Prayers

[EOW1, p. 42; BCP, p. 121]

V: God be with you. R: And also with you. Let us pray.

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 for ever. Amen.

Suffrages B

[BCP, p. 122]

That this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful,

We entreat you, O Lord.

That your holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and goodwill,

We entreat you, O Lord.

That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins and offenses,

We entreat you, O Lord.

That there may be peace to your Church and to the whole world,

We entreat you, O Lord.

That we may depart this life in your faith and fear, and not be condemned before the great judgment seat of Christ,

We entreat you, O Lord.

That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit in the communion of Blessed Mary the Bearer of God, Blessed Matthew our patron, and all your saints, entrusting one another and all our life to Christ,

We entreat you, O Lord.

Collect of the Day: Wednesday in the Third Week of Lent

[Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2006, p. 40]

Give ear to our prayers, O Lord, and direct the way of your servants in safety under your protection, that, amid all the changes of our earthly pilgrimage, we may be guarded by your mighty aid; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Collect of the Day: Third Sunday in Lent

[BCP, p. 218]

Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Protection

[BCP, p. 124]

O God, the life of all who live, the light of the faithful, the strength of those who labor, and the repose of the dead: We thank you for the blessings of the day that is past, and humbly ask for your protection through the coming night. Bring us in safety to the morning hours; through him who died and rose again for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayer for Mission

[BCP, p. 124]

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen.

Offer your own intercessions and thanksgivings.

The General Thanksgiving

[BCP, p. 125]

Almighty God, Father of all mercies,

we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks

for all your goodness and loving-kindness

to us and to all whom you have made.

We bless you for our creation, preservation,

and all the blessings of this life;

but above all for your immeasurable 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 pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,

that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,

not only with our lips, but in our lives,

by giving up our selves to your service,

and by walking before you

in holiness and righteousness all our days;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,

be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom

[BCP, p. 126]

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.

The Dismissal

[BCP, p. 126]

Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. [Romans 15:13]

Credits: This service is drawn from The Book of Common Prayer (1979), Enriching Our Worship 1 (1997), and other liturgical resources of The Episcopal Church and the scriptures are reprinted from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.