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Evening Prayer

Holy Cross Day

Opening Sentence

Seek him who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning, and darkens the day into night; who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out upon the surface of the earth: The Lord is his name. Amen.Amos 5:8

Confession of Sin

BCP p. 79/116

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

ost merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.

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

Invitatory and Psalter

V:O God, make speed to save us.
R:O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

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

Alleluia.

O Gracious Light Phos Hilaron

BCP p. 118

gracious light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!

Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of Life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.

Psalm 118 Confitemini Domino

BCP p. 760

1

ive thanks to the Lord, for he is good; *
his mercy endures for ever.

2

Let Israel now proclaim, *
“His mercy endures for ever.”

3

Let the house of Aaron now proclaim, *
“His mercy endures for ever.”

4

Let those who fear the Lord now proclaim, *
“His mercy endures for ever.”

5

I called to the Lord in my distress; *
the Lord answered by setting me free.

6

The Lord is at my side, therefore I will not fear; *
what can anyone do to me?

7

The Lord is at my side to help me; *
I will triumph over those who hate me.

8

It is better to rely on the Lord *
than to put any trust in flesh.

9

It is better to rely on the Lord *
than to put any trust in rulers.

10

All the ungodly encompass me; *
in the Name of the Lord I will repel them.

11

They hem me in, they hem me in on every side; *
in the name of the Lord I will repel them.

12

They swarm about me like bees;
they blaze like a fire of thorns; *
in the name of the Lord I will repel them.

13

I was pressed so hard that I almost fell, *
but the Lord came to my help.

14

The Lord is my strength and my song, *
and he has become my salvation.

15

There is a sound of exultation and victory *
in the tents of the righteous:

16

“The right hand of the Lord has triumphed! *
the right hand of the Lord is exalted!
the right hand of the Lord has triumphed!”

17

I shall not die, but live, *
and declare the works of the Lord.

18

The Lord has punished me sorely, *
but he did not hand me over to death.

19

Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I will enter them;
I will offer thanks to the Lord.

20

“This is the gate of the Lord; *
he who is righteous may enter.”

21

I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
and have become my salvation.

22

The same stone which the builders rejected *
has become the chief cornerstone.

23

This is the Lord’s doing, *
and it is marvelous in our eyes.

24

On this day the Lord has acted; *
we will rejoice and be glad in it.

25

Hosanna, Lord, hosanna! *
Lord, send us now success.

26

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; *
we bless you from the house of the Lord.

27

God is the Lord; he has shined upon us; *
form a procession with branches up to the horns of the altar.

28

“You are my God, and I will thank you; *
you are my God, and I will exalt you.”

29

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; *
his mercy endures for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

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

The Lessons

The First Reading

Genesis 3:1-15 (NRSV)

A Reading from the Book of Genesis.

ow the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; 3but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’” 4But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die; 5for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. 7Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. 8They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” 13Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.”

The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

15. The Song of Mary Magnificat

BCP p. 91/119

Luke 1:46-55

y soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.


Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

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

The Second Reading

1 Peter 3:17-22 (NRSV)

A Reading from the First Letter of Peter.

or it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil.

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, 19in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.

And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

17. The Song of Simeon Nunc Dimittis

BCP p. 93/120/134

Luke 2:29-32

ord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as you have promised;

For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:

A Light to enlighten the nations, *
and the glory of your people Israel.


Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

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

The Apostles’ Creed

BCP p. 96/120

believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He 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,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
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

OfficiantThe Lord be with you.
PeopleAnd also with you.
OfficiantLet us pray.
The Lord’s Prayer

ur Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Suffrages
V.Show us your mercy, O Lord;
R.And grant us your salvation.
V.Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
R.Let your people sing with joy.
V.Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
R.For only in you can we live in safety.
V.Lord, keep this nation under your care;
R.And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
V.Let your way be known upon earth;
R.Your saving health among all nations.
V.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
R.Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
V.Create in us clean hearts, O God;
R.And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.
The Collect of the Day

lmighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ was lifted high upon the cross that he might draw the whole world to himself: Mercifully grant that we, who glory in the mystery of our redemption, may have grace to take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

A Collect for the Presence of Christ

ord 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.

A Prayer for Mission

God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let the whole earth also worship you, all nations obey you, all tongues confess and bless you, and men and women everywhere love you and serve you in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers and Thanksgivings
  • Prayers
    • Prayers for the World
    • Prayers for the Church
    • Prayers for National Life
    • Prayers for the Social Order
      • 27. For Social Justice
      • 28. In Times of Conflict
      • 29. For Agriculture
      • 30. For the Unemployed
      • 31. For Schools and Colleges
      • 32. For the Good Use of Leisure
      • 33. For Cities
      • 34. For Towns and Rural Areas
      • 35. For the Poor and Neglected
      • 36. For the Oppressed
      • 37. For Prisons and Correctional Institutions
      • 38. For the Right Use of God's Gifts
      • 39. For those who Influence Public Opinion

        39. For those who Influence Public Opinion

        Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in every age by many voices: Direct, in our time, we pray, those who speak where many listen and write what many read; that they may do their part in making the heart of this people wise, its mind sound, and its will righteous; to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    • Prayers for the Natural Order
      • 40. For Knowledge of God's Creation
      • 41. For the Conservation of Natural Resources
      • 42. For the Harvest of Lands and Waters
      • 43. For Rain
      • 44. For the Future of the Human Race
    • Prayers for Family and Personal Life
      • 45. For Families
      • 46. For the Care of Children
      • 47. For Young Persons

        47. For Young Persons

        God our Father, you see your children growing up in an unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you, and to keep alive their joy in your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

      • 48. For Those Who Live Alone
      • 49. For the Aged
      • 50. For a Birthday
      • 51. For a Birthday
      • 52. For the Absent
      • 53. For Travelers
      • 54. For those we Love
      • 55. For a Person in Trouble or Bereavement
      • 56. For the Victims of Addiction
      • 57. For Guidance
      • 58. For Guidance
      • 59. For Quiet Confidence
      • 60. For Protection
      • 61. A Prayer of Self-Dedication
      • 62. A Prayer attributed to St. Francis
    • Other Prayers
    • Prayers for the Sick
    • Prayers for use by a Sick Person
  • Thanksgivings
The General Thanksgiving

BCP p. 101/125

lmighty 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. 102/126

lmighty 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.

Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.Ephesians 3:20,21

Sponsored by Forward Movement.