Tuesday in the Third Week of Lent
Evening Prayer
March 9, 2021
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Evening Prayer
Enriching Our Worship 1 and Book of Common Prayer
Rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the 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 78:40-72 (Part II)
[BCP, p. 698]
40 How often the people disobeyed him in the wilderness * and offended him in the desert! 41 Again and again they tempted God * and provoked the Holy One of Israel. 42 They did not remember his power * in the day when he ransomed them from the enemy; 43 How he wrought his signs in Egypt * and his omens in the field of Zoan. 44 He turned their rivers into blood, * so that they could not drink of their streams. 45 He sent swarms of flies among them, which ate them up, * and frogs, which destroyed them. 46 He gave their crops to the caterpillar, * the fruit of their toil to the locust. 47 He killed their vines with hail * and their sycamores with frost. 48 He delivered their cattle to hailstones * and their livestock to hot thunderbolts. 49 He poured out upon them his blazing anger: * fury, indignation, and distress, a troop of destroying angels. 50 He gave full rein to his anger; he did not spare their souls from death; * but delivered their lives to the plague. 51 He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, * the flower of manhood in the dwellings of Ham. 52 He led out his people like sheep * and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. 53 He led them to safety, and they were not afraid; * but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. 54 He brought them to his holy land, * the mountain his right hand had won. 55 He drove out the Canaanites before them and apportioned an inheritance to them by lot; * he made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents. 56 But they tested the Most High God, and defied him, * and did not keep his commandments. 57 They turned away and were disloyal like their fathers; * they were undependable like a warped bow. 58 They grieved him with their hill-altars * they provoked his displeasure with their idols. 59 When God heard this, he was angry * and utterly rejected Israel. 60 He forsook the shrine at Shiloh, * the tabernacle where he had lived among his people. 61 He delivered the ark into captivity, * his glory into the adversary's hand. 62 He gave his people to the sword * and was angered against his inheritance. 63 The fire consumed their young men; * there were no wedding songs for their maidens. 64 Their priests fell by the sword, * and their widows made no lamentation. 65 Then the LORD woke as though from sleep, * like a warrior refreshed with wine. 66 He struck his enemies on the backside * and put them to perpetual shame. 67 He rejected the tent of Joseph * and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim; 68 He chose instead the tribe of Judah * and Mount Zion, which he loved. 69 He built his sanctuary like the heights of heaven, * like the earth which he founded for ever. 70 He chose David his servant, * and took him away from the sheepfolds. 71 He brought him from following the ewes, * to be a shepherd over Jacob his people and over Israel his inheritance. 72 So he shepherded them with a faithful and true heart * and guided them with the skillfulness of his hands.
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 (7:37-52)
On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, 'Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water.'" Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified. When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, "This is really the prophet." Others said, "This is the Messiah." But some asked, "Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?" So there was a division in the crowd because of him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why did you not arrest him?" The police answered, "Never has anyone spoken like this!" Then the Pharisees replied, "Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law-- they are accursed." Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, "Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?" They replied, "Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee."
Hear what the Spirit is saying to God's people.
Thanks be to God.
Canticle D: A Song of the Wilderness
[EOW1, p. 32; Isaiah 35:1-7, 10]
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, *
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
It shall blossom abundantly, *
and rejoice with joy and singing.
They shall see the glory of the Lord, *
the majesty of our God.
Strengthen the weary hands, *
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to the anxious, “Be strong, do not fear! *
Here is your God, coming with judgment to save you.”
Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, *
and the ears of the deaf be unstopped.
Then shall the lame leap like a deer, *
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness *
and streams in the desert;
The burning sand shall become a pool *
and the thirsty ground, springs of water.
The ransomed of God shall return with singing, *
with everlasting joy upon their heads.
Joy and gladness shall be theirs, *
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
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 Tuesday in Lent" by the Rev. Ian Lasch, St. Francis of the Islands, Savannah, GA
Canticle P: A Song of the Spirit
[EOW1, p. 38; Revelation 22:12-17]
“Behold, I am coming soon,” says the Lord,
“and bringing my reward with me, *
to give to everyone according to their deeds.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, *
the beginning and the end.”
Blessed are those who do God’s commandments,
that they may have the right to the tree of life, *
and may enter the city through the gates.
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to you, *
with this testimony for all the churches.
“I am the root and the offspring of David, *
I am the bright morning star.”
“Come!” say the Spirit and the Bride; *
“Come!” let each hearer reply!
Come forward, you who are thirsty, *
let those who desire take the water of life as a gift.
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: Tuesday in the Third Week of Lent
[Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2006, p. 45]
O Lord, we beseech you mercifully to hear us; and grant that we, to whom you have given a fervent desire to pray, may, by your mighty aid, be defended and comforted in all dangers and adversities; 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 Aid Against Perils
[BCP, p. 123]
Be our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only 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.