The Office of Evening Prayer
I N V I T A T O R Y
P R E C E S
In Shrovetide, Lent, and Passiontide, omit:
Alleluia!
H Y M N
T H E W O R D O F G O D
P S A L M O D Y
The Psalms appointed for the day are recited or sung.
After the Psalms are concluded, the following Doxology is sung.
S C R I P T U R E R E A D I N G
As appointed in the Daily Office Lectionary.
You will need to scroll down to access the Readings, which are provided after a selection of Psalms.
You may change the translation in the upper left hand corner of the Bible Gateway page.
If your selected translation does not include the Deuterocanonical Books,
you may miss Old Testament readings at times. Changing to one of the NRSV versions should solve this problem.
Currently, we recommend using the Old Testament for the Matins Reading,
the Gospels for the Diurnium Reading,
and the New Testament for the Vespers reading.
O P T I O N A L D E V O T I O N A L R E A D I N G
+ Lord, now let your servant de║part ▪ in ▪ peace *
for your word ║ has ▪ been ▪ful-filled.
2 My own eyes have ║seen ▪ the sal▪va-tion *
which you have prepared in the sight of ║ all ▪ the ▪ peo-ples:
3 A Light to en║light▪en the ▪ na-tions, *
and the glory of your ║ peo▪ple Is-ra▪el. LUKE 2: 29-32
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Ho║ly ▪ Spir-it; *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. ║A▪men.
A C T O F P E N I T E N C E
confessing our sins and failings to God with confidence in his mercy and his love.
When present, a bishop or presbyter stands and pronounces the Absolution.
P R A Y E R S
S A L U T A T I O N
Omitted in Solitary Recitation.
A bishop or priest says:
Let us pray.
OR
A deacon or layperson says:
Let us pray.
K Y R I E
T H E L O R D ’ S P R A Y E R
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Let your kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from the evil one.
S U F F R A G E S
S U N D A Y S - S O L E M N I T I E S - F E A S T S
M O N D A Y - W E D N E S D A Y - F R I D A Y
T H E C O L L E C T O F T H E D A Y
ADVENT CHRISTMAS & EPIPHANY EPIPHANYTIDE
EASTER & ASCENSIONTIDE PENTECOST & TRINITY
FEASTS
JANUARY - MARCH APRIL - JUNE JULY - SEPTEMBER OCTOBER - DECEMBER
S E A S O N A L C O L L E C T
A D V E N T
Father, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and to put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son came to visit us in great humility; that on the Last Day, when he shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to everlasting life. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
L E N T A N D P A S S I O N T I D E
Father, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our failings, may obtain of you, the source of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
T H E S E C O N D A N D T H I R D C O L L E C T S
S U N D A Y
Father, your beloved Son Jesus Christ triumphed over the powers of death and has ascended to your right hand to prepare for us our place in the new Jerusalem. Grant that we, who have this day given thanks for his resurrection, may come at the last to praise you in that City of which he is the light, and where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Grant, we beseech you, Almighty God, that the words which we have heard this day with our outward ears, may, by your grace, be so grafted inwardly in our hearts, that they may bring forth in us the fruit of good living, to the honor and praise of your Name. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
M O N D A Y
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.
O God, your unfailing providence sustains the world we live in and the life we live. Watch over those, both night and day, who work while others sleep, and grant that we may never forget that our common life depends upon each other's toil. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
T U E S D A Y
Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Look with mercy, O God our Father, on all whose increasing years bring them weakness, distress, or isolation. Provide for them homes of dignity and peace; give them understanding helpers, and the willingness to accept help; and, as their strength diminishes, increase their faith and their assurance of your love. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
W E D N E S D A Y
Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this life may rest in your eternal changelessness. We ask this through through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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.
T H U R S D A Y
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.
O God our Father, your blessed Son forgave his enemies in the midst of his suffering. Strengthen those in our own day who suffer for the sake of conscience. When they are accused, save them from speaking in hate; when they are rejected, save them from bitterness; when they are imprisoned, save them from despair; and to us your servants, give grace to respect their witness and to discern the truth, that our society may be cleansed and strengthened. This we ask for the sake of Jesus Christ, our merciful and righteous Judge. Amen.
F R I D A Y
Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at this life's end come to rest peacefully in you and, at the last day, to awake in your likeness. This we ask for your tender mercies' sake. Amen.
Look down, O Lord, from your heavenly throne, illumine this night with your celestial brightness; and grant that by night as by day your people may glorify your holy Name. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
S A T U R D A Y
O God, the source of eternal light: Shed forth your unending day upon us who watch for you, that our lips may praise you, our lives may bless you, and our worship tomorrow may give you glory. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty and everlasting God, you fashioned our universe in all its marvelous order. As our race probes the mysteries of your creation, we may come to know you more truly, and more surely fulfill our role in your eternal purpose. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
C O N C L U S I O N
C O M M E M O R A T I O N O F L E S S E R F E A S T S
Precious in the sight of the Lord
Is the death of his saints.
During one of the Offices of the day, a brief hagiographical sketch related to the day's commemoration is shared, or a short excerpt of their writings (or a writing concerning them) is read.
The Commemoration concludes:
You are the King of Glory, Christ, in faith whom we receive:
the Father’s everlasting Son you are, as we believe.
When you did take upon yourself to rescue those of earth,
the Virgin’s womb you did not shun, nor spurn a humble birth.
T H E G E N E R A L T H A N K S G I V I N G
This prayer may be omitted on weekdays.
This prayer may be said by the Officiant alone, or by all.
Father, accept our thanks and praise for all you have done for us.
We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love.
We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side.
We thank you for setting us at tasks which demand our best efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments which satisfy and delight us.
We thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone.
Above all, we thank you for Jesus Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which he overcame death; and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom.
And now, stir up within us your gift of the Spirit, that we may know Christ and make him known; and through him, always and in all places, may give thanks to you in and for all things. Amen.
A P R A Y E R O F S A I N T J O H N C H R Y S O S T O M
Omitted in Solitary Recitation.
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 in his name you will be in their midst. Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world the knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come everlasting life. Amen.
B E N E D I C T I O N
S U N D A Y S - S O L E M N I T I E S - F E A S T S
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore.
Amen. [Alleluia!]
M O N D A Y
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen. [Alleluia!]
T U E S D A Y
and to make us stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing,
to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord,
be glory, majesty, power, and dominion,
before all time and now and forever.
Amen. [Alleluia!]
W E D N E S D A Y
+ Now, unto the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
– three Persons, one God –
be ascribed, as is most justly due,
all might, majesty, power, and dominion, now and forever.
Amen. [Alleluia!]
T H U R S D A Y
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. [Alleluia!]
F R I D A Y
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
who alone is immortal, dwelling in unapproachable light,
be honor and eternal power.
Amen. [Alleluia!]
S A T U R D A Y
making us a Kingdom of priests unto God his Father:
to him be glory and power forever and ever.
Amen. [Alleluia!]
REVELATION 1:5-6