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  An Order for Evening Prayer
on Sunday
   
  Preparation  
   
  The light and peace of Jesus Christ be with you
All
  and also with you.
   
  The glory of the Lord has risen upon us.
All
  Let us rejoice and sing God's praise for ever.
   
  (or)
   
  O God, make speed to save us.
All
  O Lord, make haste to help us.
   
  Lead your people to freedom, O God.
All
  And banish all darkness from our hearts and minds.
   
   
  The minister may say
   
  We have come together in the name of Christ
to offer our praise and thanksgiving,
to hear and receive God's holy word,
to pray for the needs of the world,
and to seek the forgiveness of our sins,
that by the power of the Holy Spirit
we may give ourselves to the service of God.
   
  Prayers of Penitence are used when Evening Prayer is the principal service and may be used on other occasions (see Note 3).
   
  The following or another authorized confession and absolution is used
   
  Jesus says, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.'
So let us turn away from our sin and turn to Christ,
confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
   
All
  Most merciful God,
 Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
 we confess that we have sinned
 in thought, word and deed.
 We have not loved you with our whole heart.
 We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
 In your mercy
 forgive what we have been,
 help us to amend what we are,
 and direct what we shall be;
 that we may do justly,
 love mercy,
 and walk humbly with you, our God.
Amen.
   
  May the God of love and power
forgive you and free you from your sins,
heal and strengthen you by his Spirit,
and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord.
All
  Amen.
   
  One or more of the following may conclude the Preparation or they may be omitted.
 
  This prayer of thanksgiving may be said
   
  Blessed are you, sovereign God,
our light and our salvation;
to you be glory and praise for ever.
You led your people to freedom
by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
May we who walk in the light of your presence
acclaim your Christ, rising victorious,
as he banishes all darkness from our hearts and minds.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
All
  Blessed be God for ever.
   
  An opening hymn may be sung.
   
  Verses from Psalm 141 or from Psalm 104 may be said.
   
  This opening prayer may be said
   
  The day is almost over, and the evening has come;
let us pray with one heart and mind.
   
  Silence is kept.
   
  As our evening prayer rises before you, O God,
so may your Spirit come down upon us
to set us free to sing your praise
for ever and ever.
All
  Amen.
   
  The Word of God  
   
  Psalmody  
     
  The appointed psalmody is said or sung.
   
  Each psalm or group of psalms may end with
   
  Glory to the Father and to the Son
  and to the Holy Spirit;
  as it was in the beginning is now
  and shall be for ever.  Amen.
   
   
  New Testament Canticle  
   
  If there are two Scripture readings, the first may be read here, or both may be read after the New Testament canticle.
   
  A suitable canticle is said or sung (see Note 5).
   
   
   
  Scripture Reading  
   
  One or more readings appointed for the day are read.
  The reading(s) may be followed by a time of silence.
     
  The reader may say
     
  This is the word of the Lord.
All
  Thanks be to God.
     
  A suitable song or chant, or a responsory in this or another form, may follow
     
  The Lord is my light and my salvation;
       the Lord is the strength of my life.
All
  The Lord is my light and my salvation;
       the Lord is the strength of my life.
     
  The light shines in the darkness
       and the darkness has not overcome it.
All
  The Lord is the strength of my life.
  Glory to the Father, and to the Son
       and to the Holy Spirit.
All
  The Lord is my light and my salvation;
       the Lord is the strength of my life.
     
  Gospel Canticle  
     
  The Magnificat (The Song of Mary) is said or sung
     
1
  My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
       my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; ¨
  he has looked with favour on his lowly servant.
     
2
  From this day all generations will call me blessed; ¨
  the Almighty has done great things for me
       and holy is his name.
     
3
  He has mercy on those who fear him, ¨
  from generation to generation.
     
4
  He has shown strength with his arm ¨
  and has scattered the proud in their conceit,
     
5
  Casting down the mighty from their thrones ¨
  and lifting up the lowly.
     
6
  He has filled the hungry with good things ¨
  and sent the rich away empty.
     
7
  He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, ¨
  to remember his promise of mercy,
     
8
  The promise made to our ancestors, ¨
  to Abraham and his children for ever.      
   
Luke 1.46-55
  Glory to the Father and to the Son
  and to the Holy Spirit;
  as it was in the beginning is now
  and shall be for ever.  Amen.
     
  A sermon is preached when Evening Prayer is the principal service (see Note 3).
     
  Evening Prayer may conclude with one of the Thanksgivings.
   
  The Creed  
     
  When Evening Prayer is the principal service, the Apostles' Creed or an authorized Affirmation of Faith is said. It may be omitted on other occasions.  (see Note 3).
     
All
  I believe in God, the Father almighty,
  creator of heaven and earth.
   
  I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
  who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
  born of the Virgin Mary,
  suffered under Pontius Pilate,
  was crucified, died, and was buried;
  he descended to the dead.
  On the third day he rose again;
  he ascended into heaven,
  he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
  and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
   
  I believe in the Holy Spirit,
  the holy catholic Church,
  the communion of saints,
  the forgiveness of sins,
  the resurrection of the body,
  and the life everlasting. 
  Amen.
     
    Prayers  
     
  Intercessions are offered.
     
  The Collect is said.
     
  The Lord's Prayer is said
     
  Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
  as our Saviour has taught us, so we pray
                                 
All
  Our Father in heaven,
  hallowed be your name,
  your kingdom come,
  your will be done,
  on earth as in heaven.
  Give us today our daily bread.
  Forgive us our sins    
  as we forgive those who sin against us.
  Lead us not into temptation
  but deliver us from evil.
  For the kingdom, the power,
  and the glory are yours
  now and for ever. 
  Amen.
     
  (or)
     
  Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
  let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
     
All
  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,
  the power, and the glory
  for ever and ever. 
  Amen.
     
  The Conclusion  
     
  The service ends with one of the following, or another blessing or ending.
     
  The Blessing  
     
  The Lord bless us, and preserve us from all evil,
  and keep us in eternal life.
All
  Amen.
     
  [Let us bless the Lord.
All
  Thanks be to God.]
     
  (or)
       
  The Grace  
All
  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
  and the love of God,
  and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
  be with us all evermore. 
Amen.
     
  (or)
       
  The Peace  
     
  May the peace of God, which passes all understanding,
  keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
All
  Amen.
     
  The peace of the Lord be always with you
All
  and also with you.
     
  These words may be added
     
  Let us offer one another a sign of peace, God's seal on our prayers.
   
© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004
All of the official Common Worship publications are being published by Church House Publishing.