Evening Prayer for March 11, 2021

Thursday in the Third Week of Lent

Evening Prayer

March 11, 2021

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Evening Prayer

Enriching Our Worship 1 and Book of Common Prayer

Jesus said, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."

[Mark 8:34, NRSV; 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 85

[BCP, p. 708]

1 You have been gracious to your land, O LORD, *

you have restored the good fortune of Jacob.

2 You have forgiven the iniquity of your people *

and blotted out all their sins.

3 You have withdrawn all your fury *

and turned yourself from your wrathful indignation.

4 Restore us then, O God our Savior; *

let your anger depart from us.

5 Will you be displeased with us for ever? *

will you prolong your anger from age to age?

6 Will you not give us life again, *

that your people may rejoice in you?

7 Show us your mercy, O LORD, *

and grant us your salvation.

8 I will listen to what the LORD God is saying, *

for he is speaking peace to his faithful people and to those who turn their hearts to him.

9 Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, *

that his glory may dwell in our land.

10 Mercy and truth have met together; *

righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

11 Truth shall spring up from the earth, *

and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

12 The LORD will indeed grant prosperity, *

and our land will yield its increase.

13 Righteousness shall go before him, *

and peace shall be a pathway for his feet.

Psalm 86

[BCP, p. 709]

1 Bow down your ear, O LORD, and answer me, *

for I am poor and in misery.

2 Keep watch over my life, for I am faithful; *

save your servant who puts his trust in you.

3 Be merciful to me, O LORD, for you are my God; *

I call upon you all the day long.

4 Gladden the soul of your servant, *

for to you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.

5 For you, O LORD, are good and forgiving, *

and great is your love toward all who call upon you.

6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer, *

and attend to the voice of my supplications.

7 In the time of my trouble I will call upon you, *

for you will answer me.

8 Among the gods there is none like you, O LORD, *

nor anything like your works.

9 All the nations you have made will come and worship you, O LORD, *

and glorify your Name.

10 For you are great; you do wondrous things; *

and you alone are God.

11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; *

knit my heart to you that I may fear your Name.

12 I will thank you, O LORD my God, with all my heart, *

and glorify your Name for evermore.

13 For great is your love toward me; *

you have delivered me from the nethermost Pit.

14 The arrogant rise up against me, O God, and a band of violent men seeks my life; *

they have not set you before their eyes.

15 But you, O LORD, are gracious and full of compassion, *

slow to anger, and full of kindness and truth.

16 Turn to me and have mercy upon me; *

give your strength to your servant; and save the child of your handmaid.

17 Show me a sign of your favor, so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed; *

because you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

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 (8:21-32)

Again he said to them, "I am going away, and you will search for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come." Then the Jews said, "Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?" He said to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he." They said to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Why do I speak to you at all? I have much to say about you and much to condemn; but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him." They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him." As he was saying these things, many believed in him. Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

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

Thanks be to God.

Canticle J: A Song of Judith

[EOW1, p. 35; Judith 16:13-16]

I will sing a new song to my God, *

for you are great and glorious, wonderful in strength, invincible.

Let the whole creation serve you, *

for you spoke and all things came into being.

You sent your breath and it formed them, *

no one is able to resist your voice.

Mountains and seas are stirred to their depths, *

rocks melt like wax at your presence.

But to those who fear you, *

you continue to show mercy.

No sacrifice, however fragrant, can please you, *

but whoever fears the Lord shall stand in your sight for ever.

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 Thursday in Lent" by the Rev. Cynthia Taylor, Holy Comforter, Martinez, GA

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

Canticle S: A Song of Our True Nature

[EOW1, p. 40; St. Julian of Norwich]

Christ revealed our frailty and our falling, *

our trespasses and our humiliations.

Christ also revealed his blessed power, *

his blessed wisdom and love.

He protects us as tenderly and as sweetly when we are in greatest need; *

he raises us in spirit

and turns everything to glory and joy without ending.

God is the ground and the substance, the very essence of nature; *

God is the true father and mother of natures.

We are all bound to God by nature, *

and we are all bound to God by grace.

And this grace is for all the world, *

because it is our precious mother, Christ.

For this fair nature was prepared by Christ

for the honor and nobility of all, *

and for the joy and bliss of salvation.

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: Thursday in the Third Week of Lent

[Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2006, p. 47]

Keep watch over your Church, O Lord, with your unfailing love; and, since it is grounded in human weakness and cannot maintain itself without your aid, protect it from all danger, and keep it in the way of salvation; through Jesus Christ your Son 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 the Presence of Christ

[BCP, p. 124]

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. 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.