A Western Rite Orthodox Daily Office for 12/2/2021

(1928 BCP, 1892 Psalter, elements from Anglican Breviary)010150x

Evening Prayer for Thursday after the First Sunday in Advent

Use 1943 Lectionary Use 1928 Lectionary

Opening Sentence

Watch ye, for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. St. Mark xiii, 35, 36.

Opening Versicles & Invitatory

℣. O Lord, open thou our lips.
℟. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.
℣. O God, make speed to save us.
℟. O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

℣. Praise ye the Lord.
℟. The Lord's Name be praised.

The Psalm or Psalms Appointed

Help me, † LORD.

PSALM 12. Salvum me fac

¹  HELP me, LORD, for there is not one godly man left:
for the faithful are minished from among the children of men.
²   They talk of vanity every one with his neighbour:
they do but flatter with their lips, and dissemble in their double heart.
³   The LORD shall root out all deceitful lips:
and the tongue that speaketh proud things;
⁴   Which have said, With our tongue will we prevail:
we are they that ought to speak, who is lord over us?
⁵   Now, for the comfortless troubles' sake of the needy:
and because of the deep sighing of the poor,
⁶   I will up, saith the LORD:
and will help every one from him that swelleth against him, and will set him at rest.
⁷   The words of the LORD are pure words:
even as the silver which from the earth is tried, and purified seven times in the fire.
⁸   Thou shalt keep them, O LORD:
thou shalt preserve him from this generation for ever.
⁹   The ungodly walk on every side:
when they are exalted, the children of men are put to rebuke.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Ghost:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, *
world without end. Amen.

Help me, † LORD.

Consider and hear me † O LORD my God; lighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death.

PSALM 13. Usquequo, Domine?

¹  HOW long wilt thou forget me, O LORD; for ever:
how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
²   How long shall I seek counsel in my soul, and be so vexed in my heart:
how long shall mine enemies triumph over me?
³   Consider, and hear me, O LORD my God:
lighten mine eyes, that I sleep not in death;
⁴   Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him:
for if I be cast down, they that trouble me will rejoice at it.
⁵   But my trust is in thy mercy:
and my heart is joyful in thy salvation.
⁶   I will sing of the LORD, because he hath dealt so lovingly with me:
yea, I will praise the Name of the Lord most highest.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Ghost:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, *
world without end. Amen.

Consider and hear me † O LORD my God; lighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death.

Then shall Jacob rejoice † and Israel shall be glad.

PSALM 14. Dixit insipiens

¹  THE fool hath said in his heart:
There is no God.
²   They are corrupt, and become abominable in their doings:
there is none that doeth good, no not one.
³   The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men:
to see if there were any that would understand, and seek after God.
⁴   But they are all gone out of the way, they are altogether become abominable:
there is none that doeth good, no not one.
⁵   Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues have they deceived:
the poison of asps is under their lips.
⁶   Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
their feet are swift to shed blood.
⁷   Destruction and unhappiness is in their ways, and the way of peace have they not known:
there is no fear of God before their eyes.
⁸   Have they no knowledge, that they are all such workers of mischief:
eating up my people as it were bread, and call not upon the LORD?
⁹   There were they brought in great fear, even where no fear was:
for God is in the generation of the righteous.
¹⁰   As for you, ye have made a mock at the counsel of the poor:
because he putteth his trust in the LORD.
¹¹   Who shall give salvation unto Israel out of Sion? When the LORD turneth the captivity of his people:
then shall Jacob rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Ghost:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, *
world without end. Amen.

Then shall Jacob rejoice † and Israel shall be glad.

I shall receive † the blessing from the LORD.

PSALM 24. Domini est terra

¹  THE earth is the LORD'S, and all that therein is:
the compass of the world, and they that dwell there in.
²   For he hath founded it upon the seas:
and prepared it upon the floods.
³   Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD:
or who shall rise up in his holy place?
⁴   Even he that hath clean hands, and a pure heart:
and that hath not lift up his mind unto vanity, nor sworn to deceive his neighbour.
⁵   He shall receive the blessing from the LORD:
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
⁶   This is the generation of them that seek him:
even of them that seek thy face, O Jacob.
⁷   Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors:
and the King of glory shall come in.
⁸   Who is this King of glory:
It is the LORD strong and mighty, even the LORD mighty in battle.
⁹   Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors:
and the King of glory shall come in.
¹⁰   Who is this King of glory:
Even the LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Ghost:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, *
world without end. Amen.

I shall receive † the blessing from the LORD.

I shall sing of thy praise without ceasing; O my God I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

PSALM 30. Exaltabo te, Domine

¹  I WILL magnify thee, O LORD; for thou hast set me up:
and not made my foes to triumph over me.
²   O LORD my God, I cried unto thee:
and thou hast healed me.
³   Thou, LORD, hast brought my soul out of hell:
thou hast kept my life from them that go down to the pit.
⁴   Sing praises unto the LORD, O ye saints of his:
and give thanks unto him, for a remembrance of his holiness.
⁵   For his wrath endureth but the twinkling of an eye, and in his pleasure is life:
heaviness may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
⁶   And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be removed:
thou, LORD, of thy goodness, hast made my hill so strong.
⁷   Thou didst turn thy face from me:
and I was troubled.
⁸   Then cried I unto thee, O LORD:
and gat me to my LORD right humbly.
⁹   What profit is there in my blood:
when I go down to the pit?
¹⁰   Shall the dust give thanks unto thee:
or shall it declare thy truth?
¹¹   Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me:
LORD, be thou my helper.
¹²   Thou hast tinned my heaviness into joy:
thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness:
¹³   Therefore shall every good man sing of thy praise without ceasing:
O my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Ghost:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, *
world without end. Amen.

I shall sing of thy praise without ceasing; O my God I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

The Lessons

Here beginneth the 1st verse of the 12th Chapter of 1 Kings

And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee. And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed. And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever. But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him: And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter? And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day. And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

Here beginneth the 1st verse of the 5th Chapter of Isaiah

Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

Here endeth the First Lesson.

Office Hymn

Hymn: Conditor Alme Siderum

Creator of the stars of night,
Thy people's everlasting Light,
Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,
And hear thy servants when they call.

Thou, grieving that the ancient curse
Should doom to death an universe,
Hast found the med'cine, full of grace,
To save and heal a ruin'd race.

Thou cam'st, the Bridegroom of the bride.
As drew the world to even-tide :
Proceeding from a Virgin shrine,
The spotless Victim all divine.

At whose dread Name, majestick now,
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow
And things celestial thee shall own,
And things terrestrial, Lord alone.

O thou, whose coming is with dread
To judge and doom the quick and dead,
Preserve us, while we dwell below,
From ev'ry insult of the foe.

To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Laud, honour, might, and glory be
From age to age eternally. Amen.

Here beginneth the 1st verse of the 7th Chapter of Revelation

And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Here beginneth the 1st verse of the 6th Chapter of Revelation

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Here endeth the Second Lesson.

Second Canticle

The Song of Mary Magnificat
Luke 1:46-55

Let us serve the Lord † in holiness, * and he will deliver us out of the hand of our enemies.

MY soul doth magnify the Lord, * and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
For he hath regarded * the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me, * and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him * throughout all generations.
He hath showed strength with his arm; * he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, * and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things, * and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel, * as he promised to our forefathers,
Abraham and his seed for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Let us serve the Lord † in holiness, * and he will deliver us out of the hand of our enemies.

The Apostles' Creed

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
Born of the Virgin Mary:
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried:
He descended into hell;
The third day he rose again from the dead:
He ascended into heaven,
And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost:
The holy Catholic Church;
The Communion of Saints:
The Forgiveness of sins:
The Resurrection of the body:
And the Life everlasting. Amen.

The Prayers

℣. The Lord be with you.
℟. And with thy spirit.
℣. Let us pray.

℣. Lord, have mercy upon us.		℣. Kyrie eleison
℟. Christ, have mercy upon us.	or	℟. Christe eleison
℣. Lord, have mercy upon us.		℣. Kyrie eleison

Our 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.

℣. O Lord, show thy mercy upon us.
℟. And grant us thy salvation.
℣. O Lord, save the State.
℟. And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.
℣. Endue thy Ministers with righteousness.
℟. And make thy chosen people joyful.
℣. O Lord, save thy people.
℟. And bless thine inheritance.
℣. Give peace in our time, O Lord.
℟. For it is thou, Lord, only, that makest us dwell in safety.
℣. O God, make clean our hearts within us.
℟. And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

The Collect of the Day

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

¶ This Collect is to be repeated every day, with the other Collects in Advent, until Christmas-day.

A Collect for Peace

O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed: Give unto thy servants the peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee, we, being defended from the fear of all enemies, may pass our time in
rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our
Savior. Amen.

A Collect for Aid against Perils

Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

The General Thanksgiving

ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, we, thine unworthy servants, do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all men; We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable 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 beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may he unfeignedly thankful; and that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

2 Cor. xiii. 14.

THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

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