Evening Prayer for Ember Friday after the First Sunday in Lent
Use 1943 LectionaryUse 1928 Lectionary
Opening Sentence
I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Psalm li. 3.
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
O LORD God of hosts † hear my prayer :hearken O God of Jacob
PSALM 84. Quam dilecta!
O HOW amiable are thy dwellings:
thou LORD of hosts!
2 My soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the LORD:
my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
3 Yea, the sparrow hath found her an house, and the swallow a nest, where she may lay her young:
even thy altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house:
they will be alway praising thee.
5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee:
in whose heart are thy ways.
6 Who going through the vale of misery use it for a well:
and the pools are filled with water.
7 They will go from strength to strength:
and unto the God of gods appeareth every one of them in Sion.
8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer:
hearken, O God of Jacob.
9 Behold, O God our defender:
and look upon the face of thine anointed.
10 For one day in thy courts:
is better than a thousand.
11 I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God:
than to dwell in the tents of ungodliness.
12 For the LORD God is a light and defence:
the LORD will give grace and worship, and no good thing shall he with hold from them that live a godly life.
13 O LORD God of hosts:
blessed is the man that putteth his trust in thee.
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.
O LORD God of hosts † hear my prayer :hearken O God of Jacob
In the time † of my trouble, I sought the LORD.
PSALM 77. Voce mea ad Dominum
1 I WILL cry unto God with my voice:
even unto God will I cry with my voice, and he shall hearken unto me.
2 In the time of my trouble I sought the Lord:
my sore ran, and ceased not in the night season; my soul refused comfort.
3 When I am in heaviness, I will think upon God:
when my heart is vexed, I will complain.
4 Thou holdest mine eyes waking:
I am so feeble that I cannot speak.
5 I have considered the days of old:
and the years that are past.
6 I call to remembrance my song:
and in the night I commune with mine own heart, and search out my spirit.
7 Will the Lord absent himself for ever:
and will he be no more intreated?
8 Is his mercy clean gone for ever:
and is his promise come utterly to an end for evermore?
9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious:
and will he shut up his loving-kindness in displeasure?
10 And I said, It is mine own infirmity:
but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most Highest.
11 I will remember the works of the LORD:
and call to mind thy wonders of old time.
12 I will think also of all thy works:
and my talking shall be of thy doings.
13 Thy way, O God, is holy:
who is so great a God as our God?
14 Thou art the God that doest wonders:
and hast declared thy power among the people.
15 Thou hast mightily delivered thy people:
even the sons of Jacob and Joseph.
16 The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee, and were afraid:
the depths also were troubled.
17 The clouds poured out water, the air thundered:
and thine arrows went abroad.
18 The voice of thy thunder was heard round about:
the lightnings shone upon the ground; the earth was moved, and shook withal.
19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy paths in the great waters:
and thy footsteps are not known.
20 Thou leddest thy people like sheep:
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
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.
In the time † of my trouble, I sought the LORD.
The Lessons
Here beginneth the 1st verse of the 7th Chapter of Amos
Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king's mowings. And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small. The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, saith the LORD. Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part. Then said I, O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small. The LORD repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord GOD. Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the LORD stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the LORD, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more: And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword. Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words. For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land. Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there: But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court. Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.
Here beginneth the 1st verse of the 37th Chapter of Ezekiel
The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
Here endeth the First Lesson.
Office Hymn
Hymn: Audi benigne conditor
O Merciful Creator, hear!
To us in pity bow Thine ear:
accept the tearful prayer we raise
in this our fast of forty days.
Our hearts are open, Lord, to Thee:
Thou knowest our infirmity;
pour out on all who seek Thy face
abundance of Thy pardoning grace.
Our sins are many, this we know;
spare us, good Lord, Thy mercy show;
and for the honor of Thy name
our fainting souls to life reclaim.
Give us the self-control that springs
from discipline of outward things,
that fasting inward secretly
the soul may purely dwell with Thee.
We pray Thee, Holy Trinity,
one God, unchanging Unity,
that we from this our abstinence
may reap the fruits of penitence. Amen.
Here beginneth the 1st verse of the 4th Chapter of 2 Corinthians
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
Here beginneth the 1st verse of the 4th Chapter of 1 Timothy
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Here endeth the Second Lesson.
Second Canticle
The Song of Mary Magnificat
Luke 1:46-55
Through the tender mercy † of our God, * the Day-Spring from on high hath visited us.
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.
Through the tender mercy † of our God, * the Day-Spring from on high hath visited us.
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
O ALMIGHTY God, who hast committed to the hands of men the ministry of reconciliation; We humbly beseech thee, by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, to put it into the hearts of many to offer themselves for this ministry; that thereby mankind may be drawn to thy blessed kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we,worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness. may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
¶ This Collect is to be said every day in Lent, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Palm Sunday.
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.