Wednesday 13 May – A Late Evening Office

WEDNESDAY 13 MAY 2020: A LATE EVENING OFFICE

PREPARATION
OPENING PRAYER
Blessed be our God for all time, now and for evermore. Amen.

Glory to you, our God, glory be to you,  Holy Spirit, Comforter,  treasure of all goodness and giver of life,  come and dwell in us,  cleanse us from all sin,  and in your love bring us to salvation.
RESPONSORY
Holy God, holy and strong,  holy and immortal,  have mercy on us.

THE WORD OF GOD
PSALM
Psalm 30

Refrain: You brought me up, O Lord, from the dead. 1 I will exalt you, O Lord, because you have | raised me | up ■  and have not let my | foes | triumph | over me. 2 O | Lord my | God, ■ I cried out to | you and | you have | healed me. 3. You brought me up, O Lord, | from the | dead; ■ you restored me to life from among | those that go | down •to the | Pit. 4 Sing to the Lord, you | servants of | his; ■ give | thanks to his | holy | name. 5. For his wrath endures but the twinkling of an eye, his favour | for a | lifetime. ■ Heaviness may endure for a night, but | joy comes | in the | morning.  Refrain: You brought me up, O Lord, from the dead.

6 In my prosperity I said, ‘I shall | never be | moved. ■  You, Lord, of your goodness, have | made my | hill so | strong.’ 7 Then you | hid your | face from me ■  and | I was | utterly dis|mayed. 8. To you, O | Lord, I | cried; ■  to the Lord I | made my | suppli|cation: 9 ‘What profit is there in my blood, if I go | down •to the | Pit? ■  Will the dust praise you | or de|clare your | faithfulness? 10. ‘Hear, O Lord, and have | mercy up|on me; ■  O | Lord, | be my | helper.’  Refrain: You brought me up, O Lord, from the dead.

11 You have turned my mourning | into | dancing; ■  you have put off my sackcloth and | girded | me with | gladness; 12 Therefore my heart sings to | you without | ceasing; ■  O Lord my God, I will | give you | thanks for | ever. Refrain: You brought me up, O Lord, from the dead.

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.

Psalm-Prayer Lord, you hide your face when we trust in ourselves; strip us of false security and re-clothe us in your praise, that we may know you as the one who raises us from death, as you raised your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.

A READING
John 8: 31-38 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ They answered him, ‘We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, “You will be made free”?’

Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there for ever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you look for an opportunity to kill me, because there is no place in you for my word. I declare what I have seen in the Father’s presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.’

MEDITATION
A period of meditation on the reading follows.

THE GOSPEL CANTICLE
NUNC DIMITTIS  The Song of Simeon  Luke 2: 29-32 1 Now, Lord, you let your servant | go in | peace: ■ your | word has | been ful|filled. 2 My own eyes have | seen the · sal|vation ■ which you have prepared in the | sight of | every | people. 3 A light to re|veal you · to the | nations ■ and the | glory · of 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 shall be for ever. Amen.

PRAYER
INTERCESSIONS
Let us pray to the Lord with all our heart and with all our soul.  Lord, have mercy.

Let us pray for all Christian people, that they may live in love and truth.  Lord, have mercy.

Let us pray for all ministers of the Church, and for our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Lord, have mercy.

Let us pray for peace throughout the world, and for all governments.  Lord, have mercy.

 Let us pray for our neighbours and for all our friends.  Lord, have mercy.

Let us pray for those who hate us as we pray for those who love us.  Lord, have mercy.

Let us pray for refugees and prisoners, and for all who are exposed to the dangers of travel.  Lord, have mercy.

Let us pray for all sick people, for the sorrowful and the dying.  Lord, have mercy.

Let us pray for the abundance of the fruits of the earth, and that the poor and hungry may receive a just share.  Lord, have mercy.

Let us remember our brothers and sisters who have entered into eternal rest.  Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.

SILENT OR OPEN PRAYER
Let us continue praying in a time of open prayer.  A period of open prayer follows.

Lord, in your mercy  hear our prayer.

THE COLLECTS
Almighty God, by triumphing over the powers of darkness Christ has prepared a place for us in the new Jerusalem: may we, who give thanks for his resurrection, praise him in the eternal city of which he is the light; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, you give us the joy of celebrating our Lord’s resurrection. Give us also the joys of life in your service, and bring us at last to the full joy of eternal life, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,  one God, now and for ever. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
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. Amen.

COMMON COLLECT
Lord Almighty,  come and scatter the darkness of our hearts  by the light of your presence;  that we may know you the Light of the world  and the one true God,  blessed this night and for evermore. Amen.

THE ENDING
DISMISSAL
Let us bless the Lord.  Thanks be to God.

BLESSING
May the risen Lord Jesus bless us. May he watch over us and renew us as he renews the whole of creation. May our hearts and lives echo his love. Amen.