Evening Prayer is wonderful for use in a private devotional setting, but we encourage you to gather with others as often as you can and enjoy this time of prayer in community. Whenever possible, start with a short time of worship in song before beginning the Evening Prayer. The pastor or leader should stand to begin Evening Prayer, while those gathered may be seated.
The pastor or leader will read aloud the opening sentence of Scripture
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. John 4:23
The pastor or leader says
Let us humbly confess our sins to Almighty God.
This general Confession is said by all those gathered along with the pastor or leader
Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from Your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the evil inclinations and desires of our own hearts. We have broken Your holy laws. We have left undone what we ought to have done, and we have done what we ought not to have done, and there is no wholeness in us. Lord, have mercy on us broken sinners. Spare those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore those who truly repent, as You have promised through Jesus Christ our Lord. And grant, merciful Father, for His sake, that we may live a godly, righteous and abundant life, to the praise of Your holy name. AMEN.
A short period of silence may be kept. Then the pastor or leader says
Merciful God, grant to Your faithful people pardon and peace; that we may be cleansed from all our sins and serve You with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
All those gathered stand and everyone says the Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. AMEN.
The pastor or leader along with all those gathered, remain standing and say or sing
Open our lips, O Lord.
And our mouths shall declare Your praise. (2x)
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us. (2x)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Let us praise the Lord.
The Lord’s Name be praised.
The Phos Hilaron may be said or sung
O joyful light,
from the pure glory of the eternal heavenly Father,
O holy, blessed Jesus Christ.
As we come to the setting of the sun
and see the evening light,
we praise God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Worthy are You at all times
to be praised with holy voices,
O Son of God, O giver of life,
and to be glorified in all the world
All those gathered may be seated, the pastor or leader may sit or stand
The Psalm or Psalms of the day are said or sung. At the end of each Psalm is said
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Click here for the Psalms of the day
The chapter of Proverbs of the day is said. At the end of the chapter of Proverbs is said
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Click here for the chapter of Proverbs of the day
The First Reading from the Old Testament
The readings are introduced by saying, the _____ verse of the _____ chapter of the Book of ______. After the reading, the reader says, Here ends the first reading.
Click here for the First Reading
The Song of Mary (Luke 1:46-55), is said after the first reading
46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me– holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
The Second Reading from the New Testament or Psalms
The readings are introduced by saying, the _____ verse of the _____ chapter of the Book of ______. After the reading, the reader says, Here ends the second reading.
Click here for the Second Reading
The Song of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32), is said after the second reading
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to 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 ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
The Nicene Creed is said by all standing
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages, God from God, Light of Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through Him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, He came down from heaven, and was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered death and was buried. On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, universal, and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. AMEN.
The Prayers follow
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Our Father, in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. AMEN.
Lord show us Your mercy.
And grant us Your salvation.
Create in us clean hearts, O God.
And renew us by Your Holy Spirit.
Three Collects are said. The pastor or leader reads the Collect of the day which changes every week. The Collect for Peace and the Collect for Aid against all Perils stay the same and are said by all those gathered
Click here for the Collect of the Day
The Second Collect, for Peace
O God, the author of all holy desires, all good purposes, and all just works: grant to us Your servants the peace which passes understanding, so that we, living by trying to do the next right thing, and being delivered from the fear of our enemies, may live in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior. AMEN.
The Third Collect, for Aid against all Perils
Lighten our darkness, Lord, we pray: and in Your great mercy defend us from all peril and danger this night; for the love of Your only Son our Savior Jesus Christ. AMEN.
This General Thanksgiving may be said by all those gathered along with the pastor or leader
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we Your unworthy servants give You humble and hearty thanks for all Your goodness and loving kindness to us, and to all people. We bless You for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for Your boundless love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and the hope of glory. Give us, we pray, such a sense of all Your mercies that with truly thankful hearts we may declare Your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to Your service, by walking before You in holiness and righteousness all our days, and in living by trying to do the next right thing; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with You and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, for ever and ever. AMEN.
The Examen Of Consciousness may be used here (click here for the Examen Of Consciousness).
The pastor or leader may include a time of spontaneous prayers here.
A Prayer of St. Chrysostom is said by all those gathered along with the pastor or leader
Almighty God, You have given us grace in our time of need to bring before You our common requests; and promise that when two or three are gathered together in Your name You will grant their requests; fulfill now, Lord, the desires and petitions of Your servants in ways that are most suitable for them; granting us in this world knowledge of Your truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. AMEN.
The Doxology may be sung by all those gathered along with the pastor or leader
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. AMEN.
The Grace is said by the pastor or leader
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. AMEN. 2 Corinthians 13:14.