The Book of Common Prayer of the Church of Ireland: Alternative Forms of Eveining Prayer

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The Book of Common Prayer of the Church of Ireland: Alternative Forms of Evening Prayer

APPENDIX

CONTAINING

ALTERNATIVE FORMS

EVENING PRAYER

(MCMXXXIII)

The following alternative Forms of Evening Prayer are sanctioned for use in the Churches of the Church of Ireland upon Week-days and upon occasions approved by the Ordinary:

1. AN ALTERNATIVE FORM
OF EVENING PRAYER,

TO BE USED WITH THE CONSENT OF THE ORDINARY.

¶ The Service shall begin with the Hymn following:

Or some other Hymn of praise authorized by the Ordinary or other lawful authority of the Church.

¶ Then shall the Minister say,

Let us say together the Apostles’ Creed.

Then shall be said or sung the Apostles’ Creed by the Minister and the people, standing.

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 Catholick Church; The Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.

¶ Then likewise he shall say,

    Praise the Lord, O my soul;
    Answer. And all that is within me praise his holy Name.
    Praise the Lord, O my soul;
    Answer. And forget not all his benefits.
    Who forgiveth all thy sin;
    Answer. And healeth all thine infirmities.
    Who saveth thy life from destruction;
    Answer. And crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness.
    Praise the Lord, O my soul;
    Answer. Hallelujah, blessed be his holy Name.
    Let our mouth, O Lord, be filled with thy praise;
    Answer. That we may sing of thy glory and thy greatness all the day long.

Note that several of the Prayers were changed or added since 1949, when Ireland became a Republic and left the Commonwealth.
Items marked "R.I." are for use in the Republic of Ireland, and were added since 1949; items marked "N.I." are for use in Northern Ireland, and were always part of this book.

¶ Then all shall kneel down, and the Minister shall say,

Let us thank Almighty God for all his blessings.

FOR all thy blessings in creation; for the beauty of earth and sea and sky; for thy manifold works, and for the wisdom wherewith thou hast made them all,
We thank thee, O God.

For the happiness of our earthly life; for all our powers of mind and body; for faithful friends, and for the joy of loving and being loved,
We thank thee, O God.

For the great salvation given to us in Jesus Christ our Lord; for the gracious words spoken by him, and for the perfect example of his life on earth,
We thank thee, O God.

For his suffering and his dying; for his rising again and his ascending into heaven; and for the gift of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost,
We thank thee, O God.

For all the blessings brought to us in thy holy Church; for the preaching of thy Word, and the grace of the Sacraments; and for our fellowship in Christ with thee and with one another,
We thank thee, O God.

For thy long-suffering with our sin and our unbelief; for thy calls to repentance, and for thy gracious welcome to all who return to thee,
We thank thee, O God.

For all thy fatherly discipline; for our share in the Cross of Christ; for strength given according to our need, and for sorrow turned into joy,
We thank thee, O God.

For all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear; for the example they have left us, and for the blessed hope of reunion with them hereafter,
We thank thee, O God.

For the hope of a new heaven and a new earth; for the place that our Lord has gone to prepare for us, and for the promised vision of thy glory,
We thank thee, O God.

¶ Here may be offered Special Thanksgivings.

¶ Then, all standing up, the Minister shall say,

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

¶ Then shall follow the Psalms as they are appointed, or, instead thereof, there may be said or sung one or more Psalms, taken from the Psalter, at the discretion of the Minister.

¶ Then shall be read a Lesson or Lessons from the holy Scriptures, after each of which one of the following Canticles, or a Hymn, may be said or sung.
Note, that a brief homily or exposition may precede or follow a Lesson.

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS.

Or this:

Rev. 5. 12, 9, 10, and 13.

Or this:

Rev. 5. 13.

¶ Here may follow a Sermon; after which a Hymn may be sung, and, if there be a collection, it shall be made here.

¶ Then shall the Minister, at the Reading-desk, say,

Let us kneel down and confess our sins unto Almighty God.

WE confess to God Al mighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, That we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, Through our own grievous fault. Wherefore we pray God to have mercy upon us.
Almighty God, have mercy upon us, Forgive us all our sins, Deliver us from all evil, Confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, And bring us to life everlasting; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ The Absolution, or Remission of sins, to be pronounced by the Priest alone, standing; the people still kneeling.

MAY the Almighty and merciful Lord grant unto you pardon and remission of all your sins, time for amendment of life, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

¶ Then the Minister shall say one or more of the Prayers following, together with any other Prayer or Prayers authorized for use.

Or else he shall use the General Supplication that followeth in this Form, or a part thereof.

In either case he shall conclude with the Lord’s Prayer, preceded by the invitation, Let us sum up, etc.

Let us pray for the Church of this land.

HEAR us, most merciful God, for that part of the Church which thou hast planted in our land, that it may hold fast the faith which thou gayest unto the Saints, and in the end bear much fruit to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us pray for the extension of Christ’s kingdom throughout the world.

O GOD of all the nations of the earth, remember the multitudes of the heathen, who, though created in thine image, are ignorant of thy love; and grant that by the prayers and labours of thy holy Church they may be delivered from all superstition and unbelief, and brought to worship thee; through him whom thou bait sent to be our salvation, the same thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

^N.I.[Let us pray for the King, and all who are set in authority under him.

ALMIGHTY God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless our Sovereign Lord King GEORGE, the Parliaments in all his dominions, and all who are set in authority under him; that they may order all things in wisdom, righteousness, and peace, to the honour of thy holy Name and the good of thy Church and people through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.]

Let us pray for the peace of the world.

ALMIGHTY God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed Kindle, we pray thee, in the hearts of all men the true love of peace ; and guide with thy pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth; that in tranquility thy kin?dom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of thy love through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us pray for those in affliction or distress.

ALMIGHTY Father, be present this night we beseech thee, with those who are in sorrow, in suffering, or in distress; [especially . . . ;] and be thou their abiding stay and succour; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ If it is desired to pray for other needs, it shall be sufficient to say,

Let us pray for

and silence shall be kept for a space; and after each space of silence there shall follow:
V. Lord, hear our prayer
R. And let our cry come unto thee.

¶ Note, that, subject to any direction which the Ordinary may give, the Minister may here offer prayer in his own words.

¶ Then shall he say,

Let us sum up our worship and our petitions in the words which our Saviour Christ bath taught us, and say,

OUR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, The power, And the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

2 Cor. 13. 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.

GENERAL SUPPLICATION.

Minister. Let us pray.

    Lord, have mercy upon us.
    Christ, have mercy upon us.
    Lord, have mercy upon us.

FOR grace to love thee with all our heart, with all our mind, with all our soul, and with all our strength, we beseech thee.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.
    For the peace that is from on high, and for tranquility in our days, we beseech thee.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.
    For the holy Catholick Church, which is from one end of the earth unto the other, we beseech thee.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.
    For N., our Chief Pastor, the bishop of this diocese; and for all the Bishops of the Church of God, in their several stations, we beseech thee.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.
    For our pastor in this place; and for all ministers serving thee throughout the world,we beseech thee.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.
    For this parish, and all who dwell therein, we beseech thee.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.
    ^N.I.[For all chief rulers called to be stewards of thine authority in their several places; and especially for thy servant GEORGE our King, we beseech thee.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.]
^R.I.[For all chief rulers called to be stewards of thine authority in their several places; and especially The President of this State, we beseech thee.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.]

   ^N.I.[For Elizabeth the Queen, Mary the Queen Mother, the Princess Elizabeth, and all the Royal Family, we beseech thee.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.]
    For all others, also, upon whom thou hast laid the burden and care of high and responsible office, we beseech thee.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.
    For all who labour with heart and hand and brain, in the service of the common weal we beseech thee.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.
    For those who give liberally of their substance, and who remember the poor, we beseech thee.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.
    For those who defend us from wrong and oppression, at home and abroad, by sea and land and air, we beseech thee.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.
    For all fathers and mothers and children; and for the preservation of home life, we beseech thee.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.
    For widows and orphans; for the lonely and the desolate, we beseech thee.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.
    For all who seek after thee; for those under instruction for baptism or confirmation at home, and in heathen lands, we beseech thee.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.
    For the missionaries of thy Gospel, sent forth to labour in all the world for the baptizing and teaching of the nations, we beseech thee.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.
    For all who travel by land, air, or water ; and for our friends in other lands, now absent from us, we beseech thee.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.
    For the sick ; for those in old age and infirmity for the sorrowful; and for the oppressed, we beseech thee.
    R. O Lord, bear our Prayer.
    For all sinful men and women, needing repentance, we beseech thee.
    R. O Lord, bear our Prayer.
    For ourselves, that we may be mindful of the holy apostles and martyrs, and the great cloud of witnesses compassing us about, who by thy help, and the help of each other, have finished their course, and now rest in thy peace, we beseech thee.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.
    O Lord, God of hosts, graciously hear our supplications, we beseech thee.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.
    That we may lay aside every weight, and may run with patience the race that is set before us, let us beseech the Lord.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.
    That unto us may be granted, after this life’s pilgrimage, a peaceful and Christian end, let us entreat the Lord.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.
    That the divine and holy bond of love and fellowship may ever unite us, let us beseech the Lord.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.
    That we may be kept in holiness, righteousness, and sobriety, in the fulness of the Catholick Faith, let us entreat the Lord.
    R. O Lord, hear our Prayer.

¶ Note, that, subject to any direction which the Ordinary may give, the Minister may here offer prayer in his own words.

¶ Then shall he say,

Let us sum up our worship and our petitions in the words which our Saviour Christ hath taught us, and say,
OUR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, The power, And the glory, For ever and ever, Amen.

2 Cor. 13. 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.

In current Prayer Books, the names are omitted in the Prayer for the Royal Family, and the following note added:

* Here shall be said the names and the titles of members of the Royal Family, as directed.

2. AN ALTERNATIVE FORM
OF EVENING PRAYER,

TO BE USED WITH THE CONSENT OF THE ORDINARY.

¶ All standing up, the Reader shall say,

THE Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. Amen.

BRETHREN, be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist, stedfast in the faith.

1 St. Peter 5. 8, 9.

    V. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us;
    R. Thanks be to God.
    V. O God, make speed to save us;
    R. O Lord, make haste to help us.
    V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;
    R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.
    V. Praise ye the Lord;
    R. The Lord’s Name be praised.

¶ Then shall follow one or more Psalms, taken from the Psalter at discretion or from the selection following:

Cum invocarem.
Psalm 4.

HEAR me when I call, O God of my righteousness : thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble; have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer.

    O YE sons of men, how long will ye blaspheme mine honour : and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after lying?
    Know this also, that the LORD hath chosen to himself the man that is godly : when I call upon the LORD, he will hear me.
    Stand in awe, and sin not : commune with your own heart, and in your chamber, and be still.
    Offer the sacrifice of righteousness : and put your trust in the LORD.

    THERE be many that say : Who will shew us any good?
    LORD, lift thou up : the light of thy countenance upon us.
    Thou hast put gladness in my heart : more than men have, when corn and wine increase.
    I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest for it is thou, LORD, only, that makest me dwell in safety.

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 te, Domine, speravi.
Psalm 31. 1-6.

IN thee, O LORD, have I put my trust : let me never be put to confusion, deliver me in thy righteousness.
    Bow down thine ear to me : make haste to deliver me.
    And be thou my strong rock, and house of defence : that thou mayest save me.
    For thou art my strong rock, and my castle : be thou also my guide, and lead me for thy Name’s sake.
    Draw me out of the net, that they have laid privily for me : for thou art my strength.
    Into thy hands I commend my spirit : for thou hast redeemed me, O LORD, thou God of truth.

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.

Qui habitat.
Psalm 91.

WHOSO dwelleth under the defence of the Most High : shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say unto the LORD, Thou art my hope, and my strong hold : my God, in him will I trust.

    FOR he shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunter : and from the noisome pestilence.
    He shall defend thee under his wings, and thou shalt be safe under his feathers : his faithfulness and truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
    Thou shalt not be afraid for any terror by night : nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
    For the pestilence that walketh in darkness : nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noon-day.
    A thousand shall fall beside thee, and ten thousand at thy right hand : but it shall not come nigh thee.
    Yea, with thine eyes shalt thou behold : and see the reward of the ungodly.

FOR thou, LORD, art my hope : thou hast set thine house of defence very high.

    THERE shall no evil happen unto thee : neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
    For he shall give his angels charge over thee : to keep thee in all thy ways.
    They shall bear thee in their hands : that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone.
    Thou shalt go upon the lion and adder : the young lion and the dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet.

    BECAUSE he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him : I will set him up, because he hath known my Name.
    He shall call upon me, and I will hear him : yes, I am with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and bring him to honour.
    With long life will I satisfy him : and shew him my salvation.

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.

Ecce nunc.
Psalm 134.

BEHOLD now, praise the LORD : all ye servants of the LORD;
Ye that by night stand in the house of the LORD : even in the courts of the house of our God.
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary : and praise the LORD.

THE LORD that made heaven and earth : give thee blessing out of Sion.

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 be read a Lesson taken from any part of holy Scripture, but in place of such Lesson one or other of the following passages shall suffice:

THOU, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy Name; leave us not, O LORD our God.

Jeremiah 14. 9.

Or:

COME unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

St. Matthew 11. 28—30

Or:

NOW the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13. 20, 21.

¶ Here may follow a Sermon or an Address.

¶ Then may be said:

V. Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit;
R. For thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth.

¶ Here may follow this or some other Hymn:

BEFORE the ending of the day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That thou with wonted love wouldst keep
Thy watch around us while we sleep.

O let no evil dreams be near,
Or phantoms of the night appear;
Our ghostly enemy restrain,
Lest aught of sin our bodies stain.

Almighty Father, hear our cry
Through Jesus Christ our Lord most high,
Who with the Holy Ghost and thee
Doth live and reign eternally. Amen.

¶ Then the Reader shall say,

V. Keep me as the apple of an eye;
R. Hide me under the shadow of thy wings.

Reader and people:

SAVE us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping, that while we are awake we may watch with Christ, and when we sleep we may rest in peace.

NUNC DIMITTIS.

St. Luke 2. 29.

LORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace : according to thy word.
    For mine eyes have seen : thy salvation,
    Which thou hast prepared : before the face of all people;
    To be a light to lighten the Gentiles : and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

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.

Reader and people:

SAVE us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping, that while we are awake we may watch with Christ, and when we sleep we may rest in peace.

¶ Then shall be said the Apostles’ Creed by the Reader and people, standing:

Let us pray.

¶ And after that, these Prayers following, all devoutly kneeling:

    Lord, have mercy upon .us.
    Christ, have mercy upon us.
    Lord, have mercy upon us.

OUR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As ‘we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.

    V. Blessed art thou, Lord God of our fathers;
    R. To be praised and glorified above all for ever.
    V. Let us bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost;
    R. Let us praise him and magnify him for ever.
    V. Blessed art thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven;
    R. To be praised and glorified above all for ever.
    V. The Almighty and most merciful Lord guard us and give us his blessing.
    R. Amen.

¶ Then the Reader and people shall say together:

¶ Let the Priest, if he be present, stand up and say,

MAY the Almighty and merciful Lord grant unto you pardon and remission of all your sins, time for amendment of life, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

¶ Then shall the Reader say,

    V. Wilt thou not turn again and quicken us;
    R. That thy people may rejoice in thee?
    V. O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us;
    R. And grant us thy salvation.
    V. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this night without sin;
    R. O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.
    V. O Lord, hear our prayer;
    R. And let our cry come unto thee.

Let us pray.

LIGHTEN our dark ness, 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 Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

¶ Here may follow any special Prayers, at discretion.

    V. We will lay us down and take our rest;
    R. For it is thou, Lord, only, that makest us dwell in safety.
    V. The Lord be with you;
    R. And with thy spirit.
    V. Let us bless the Lord;
    R. Thanks be to God.

THE Almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, bless and preserve us this night and for evermore. Amen.

NOTE. This Office, or that part thereof which followeth the Apostles’ Creed, will be found suitable for use at Evening Worship in the Home.

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