Topic: Evening Prayer
Time: Jan 6, 2021 07:30 PM London
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WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY. EVENING PRAYER.
GREETING
Welcome in the name of Christ. God’s grace, mercy, and peace be with you.
And also with you.
PREPARATION
When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among the people,
to make music in the heart.
Howard Thurman.
PENITENCE
The divisions brought about by human sin and pride are matters of great sorrow for us all. Therefore let us confess our sins, and ask for God’s forgiveness and guidance
Silence is kept
God be merciful and bless us, and make his face to shine upon us.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
May your ways be known on earth, your saving power to all nations.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
You, Lord, have made known your salvation, and reveal your justice in the sight of the nations.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
The almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon and forgiveness of all our sins, time for amendment of life, and the grace and strength of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
VERSICLES AND RESPONSES
Be with us, Spirit of God;
nothing can separate us from your love.
Breathe on us, breath of God;
fill us with your saving power.
Speak in us, wisdom of God;
bring strength, healing, and peace.
The Lord is here!
The Spirit is with us!
THE WORD OF GOD
A READING
St. John 2:1-11
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
ADDRESS
ANTHEM
The Three Kings
Three Kings from Persian lands afar
To Jordan follow the pointing star:
And this the quest of the travellers three,
Where the new-born King of the Jews may be.
Full royal gifts they bear for the King;
Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.
The star shines out with a steadfast ray
The kings to Bethlehem make their way,
And there in worship they bend the knee,
As Mary’s child in her lap they see;
Their royal gifts they show to the King;
Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.
Thou Child of man, lo, to Bethlehem
The Kings are travelling, travel with them!
The star of mercy, the star of grace,
Shall lead thy heart to its resting place.
Gold, incense, myrrh thou canst not bring;
Offer thy heart to the infant King.
PRAISE
God is light.
In God there is no darkness.
If we live in the light,
as God is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another
and the fellowship of Christ, who redeems us from sin.
PRAYERS
We pray to the Lord: in faith we pray.
We pray to you our God.
Silence is kept
That the rest of this day may be holy, peace full and full of your presence; in faith we pray.
We pray to you our God.
That we may hear and respond to your call to peace and justice; in faith we pray
We pray to you our God.
That you will sustain the faith and hope of those who are lonely, oppressed and anxious; in faith we pray
We pray to you our God.
That you will strengthen us in your service, and fill our hearts with longing for your kingdom; in faith we pray
We pray to you our God.
God of mercy, you know us and love us and hear our prayer: keep us in the eternal fellowship of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
COLLECT
O God, who by the leading of a star manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Mercifully grant that we, who know you now by faith, may at last behold your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SENDING OUT
Heavenly Father, we share together the blessing of your presence.
Give us in this life knowledge of your truth, and in the world to come life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.