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Sunday, November 29, 2026

Evening Prayer

Advent

1st Sunday of Advent

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Prayer Guidance

OFFICIANT

The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

Isaiah 40:5

OFFICIANT

The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

Isaiah 40:5

Confession of Sin

OFFICIANT

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

OFFICIANT

Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.

Silence may be kept.

Officiant and People together, all kneeling

ALL

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

ALL

Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep, we have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts, we have offended against thy holy laws, we have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, spare thou those who confess their faults, restore thou those who are penitent, according to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord; and grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.

Remain kneeling for the concluding prayer.

OFFICIANT

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen.

OFFICIANT

The Almighty and merciful Lord grant us absolution and remission of all our sins, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of his Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Invitatory and Psalter

All stand

OFFICIANT

O God, make speed to save us.

PEOPLE

O Lord, make haste to help us.

ALL

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

ALL

Alleluia.

OFFICIANT

O God, make speed to save us.

PEOPLE

O Lord, make haste to help us.

ALL

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

ALL

Alleluia

The following, or some other suitable hymn, or an Invitatory Psalm, may be sung or said.

O Gracious Light

O gracious light,

pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,

O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!

Now as we come to the setting of the sun,

and our eyes behold the vesper light,

we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,

O Son of God, O Giver of Life,

and to be glorified through all the worlds.

O gracious Light,

pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,

O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!

Now as we come to the setting of the sun,

and our eyes behold the vesper light,

we sing thy praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Thou art worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,

O Son of God, O Giver of life,

and to be glorified through all the worlds.

Psalms 111, 112, 113

Psalm 111Confitebor tibi

1

Hallelujah!

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, *

in the assembly of the upright, in the congregation.

2

Great are the deeds of the LORD! *

they are studied by all who delight in them.

3

His work is full of majesty and splendor, *

and his righteousness endures for ever.

4

He makes his marvelous works to be remembered; *

the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.

5

He gives food to those who fear him; *

he is ever mindful of his covenant.

6

He has shown his people the power of his works *

in giving them the lands of the nations.

7

The works of his hands are faithfulness and justice; *

all his commandments are sure.

8

They stand fast for ever and ever, *

because they are done in truth and equity.

9

He sent redemption to his people;

he commanded his covenant for ever; *

holy and awesome is his Name.

10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; *

those who act accordingly have a good understanding;

his praise endures for ever.

Psalm 112Beatus vir

1

Hallelujah!

Happy are they who fear the Lord *

and have great delight in his commandments!

2

Their descendants will be mighty in the land; *

the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3

Wealth and riches will be in their house, *

and their righteousness will last for ever.

4

Light shines in the darkness for the upright; *

the righteous are merciful and full of compassion.

5

It is good for them to be generous in lending *

and to manage their affairs with justice.

6

For they will never be shaken; *

the righteous will be kept in everlasting remembrance.

7

They will not be afraid of any evil rumors; *

their heart is right;

they put their trust in the Lord.

8

Their heart is established and will not shrink, *

until they see their desire upon their enemies.

9

They have given freely to the poor, *

and their righteousness stands fast for ever;

they will hold up their head with honor.

10

The wicked will see it and be angry;

they will gnash their teeth and pine away; *

the desires of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 113Laudate, pueri

1

Hallelujah!

Give praise, you servants of the LORD; *

praise the Name of the LORD.

2

Let the Name of the LORD be blessed, *

from this time forth for evermore.

3

From the rising of the sun to its going down *

let the Name of the LORD be praised.

4

The LORD is high above all nations, *

and his glory above the heavens.

5

Who is like the LORD our God, who sits enthroned on high, *

but stoops to behold the heavens and the earth?

6

He takes up the weak out of the dust *

and lifts up the poor from the ashes.

7

He sets them with the princes, *

with the princes of his people.

8

He makes the woman of a childless house *

to be a joyful mother of children.

ALL

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Lessons

The First Lesson

1These are the words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders of Tekoa— what he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, in the days when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel. 2He said:

“The LORD roars from Zion

and raises His voice from Jerusalem;

the pastures of the shepherds mourn,

and the summit of Carmel withers.”

3This is what the LORD says:

“For three transgressions of Damascus, even four,

I will not revoke My judgment,

because they threshed Gilead

with sledges of iron.

4So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael

to consume the citadels of Ben-hadad.

5I will break down the gates of Damascus;

I will cut off the ruler from the Valley of Aven

and the one who wields the scepter in Beth-eden.

The people of Aram will be exiled to Kir,”

says the LORD.

13This is what the LORD says:

“For three transgressions of the Ammonites, even four,

I will not revoke My judgment,

because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead

in order to enlarge their territory.

14So I will kindle a fire in the walls of Rabbah

to consume its citadels

amid war cries on the day of battle

and a violent wind on the day of tempest.

15Their king will go into exile —

he and his princes together,”

says the LORD.

1This is what the LORD says:

“For three transgressions of Moab, even four,

I will not revoke My judgment,

because he burned to lime

the bones of Edom’s king.

2So I will send fire against Moab

to consume the citadels of Kerioth.

Moab will die in tumult,

amid war cries and the sound of the ram’s horn.

3I will cut off the ruler of Moab

and kill all the officials with him,”

says the LORD.

4This is what the LORD says:

“For three transgressions of Judah, even four,

I will not revoke My judgment,

because they reject the Law of the LORD

and fail to keep His statutes;

they are led astray by the lies

in which their fathers walked.

5So I will send fire upon Judah

to consume the citadels of Jerusalem.”

6This is what the LORD says:

“For three transgressions of Israel, even four,

I will not revoke My judgment,

because they sell the righteous for silver

and the needy for a pair of sandals.

7They trample on the heads of the poor

as on the dust of the earth;

they push the needy out of their way.

A man and his father

have relations with the same girl

and so profane My holy name.

8They lie down beside every altar

on garments taken in pledge.

And in the house of their God,

they drink wine obtained through fines.

Silence may be kept after each Reading.

The Song of Mary

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed: *

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him *

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm, *

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, *

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

The promise he made to our fathers, *

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

My soul doth magnify the Lord, *

and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.

For he hath regarded *

the lowliness of his handmaiden.

For behold from henceforth *

all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath magnified me, *

and holy is his Name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him *

throughout all generations.

He hath showed strength with his arm; *

he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat, *

and hath exalted the humble and meek.

He hath filled the hungry with good things, *

and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel, *

as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Second Lesson

1“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil. 4But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9‘No,’ said the wise ones, ‘or there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.

11Later the other virgins arrived and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us!’

12But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’

13Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Silence may be kept after each Reading.

The Song of Simeon

Lord, you now have set your servant free *

to go in peace as you have promised;

For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *

whom you have prepared for all the world to see:

A Light to enlighten 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 will be for ever. Amen.

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 to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Apostles’ Creed

Officiant and People together, all standing

ALL

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth;

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

and born of the Virgin Mary.

He 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,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again 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.

ALL

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 catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Prayers

The People stand or kneel

OFFICIANT

The Lord be with you.

PEOPLE

And also with you.

OFFICIANT

Let us pray.

OFFICIANT

The Lord be with you.

PEOPLE

And with thy spirit.

OFFICIANT

Let us 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.

Save us from the time of trial,

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours,

now and for ever. Amen.

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, and the power, and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

OFFICIANT

That this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful,

PEOPLE

We entreat you, O Lord.

OFFICIANT

That your holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and goodwill,

PEOPLE

We entreat you, O Lord.

OFFICIANT

That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins and offenses,

PEOPLE

We entreat you, O Lord.

OFFICIANT

That there may be peace to your Church and to the whole world,

PEOPLE

We entreat you, O Lord.

OFFICIANT

That we may depart this life in your faith and fear, and not be condemned before the great judgment seat of Christ,

PEOPLE

We entreat you, O Lord.

OFFICIANT

That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit in the communion of all your saints, entrusting one another and all our life to Christ,

PEOPLE

We entreat you, O Lord.

OFFICIANT

That this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful,

PEOPLE

We entreat thee, O Lord.

OFFICIANT

That thy holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and goodwill,

PEOPLE

We entreat thee, O Lord.

OFFICIANT

That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins and offenses,

PEOPLE

We entreat thee, O Lord.

OFFICIANT

That there may be peace to thy Church and to the whole world,

PEOPLE

We entreat thee, O Lord.

OFFICIANT

That we may depart this life in thy faith and fear, and not be condemned before the great judgment seat of Christ,

PEOPLE

We entreat thee, O Lord.

OFFICIANT

That we may be bound together by thy Holy Spirit in the communion of all thy saints, entrusting one another and all our life to Christ,

PEOPLE

We entreat thee, O Lord.

The Collect of the Day

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A Collect for Sundays

OFFICIANT

Lord God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ triumphed over the powers of death and prepared for us our place in the new Jerusalem: Grant that we, who have this day given thanks for his resurrection, may praise you in that City of which he is the light, and where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

OFFICIANT

Lord God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ triumphed over the powers of death and prepared for us our place in the new Jerusalem: Grant that we, who have this day given thanks for his resurrection, may praise thee in that City of which he is the light; and where he liveth and reigneth for ever and ever. Amen.

A Prayer for Mission

OFFICIANT

O God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let the whole earth also worship you, all nations obey you, all tongues confess and bless you, and men and women everywhere love you and serve you in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

OFFICIANT

O God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let the whole earth also worship thee, all nations obey thee, all tongues confess and bless thee, and men and women every- where love thee and serve thee in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Here may be sung a hymn or anthem.

Authorized intercessions and thanksgivings may follow.

The General Thanksgiving

ALL

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

ALL

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all men. We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful; and that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen.

Dismissal

OFFICIANT

Let us bless the Lord.

PEOPLE

Thanks be to God.

OFFICIANT

Let us bless the Lord.

PEOPLE

Thanks be to God.

OFFICIANT

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.

OFFICIANT

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.

Text from the Book of Common Prayer (1979), The Episcopal Church.

The Psalter from the Book of Common Prayer (1979), The Episcopal Church.

Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain.

Why this Evening Prayer has these texts

The order is the same every day. Year One of the lectionary appoints the psalms and lessons; the season, the weekday, and the app’s defaults choose the rest.

This explains the Contemporary (Rite II) office. Traditional (Rite I) has the same psalms and lessons, with traditional-language canticles from those Rite I allows (pp. 47 and 65).

Today’s parts in order, each sized by its word count.
Words in the office by how often they change
The same every day30%761 words
Follows the season or feast7%168 words
Follows the weekday, or rotates15%373 words
Appointed for the day by the lectionary48%1,218 words
Opening sentence
Isaiah 40:5 A sentence for Advent, taken in turn.
O God, make speed to save us
With “Alleluia,” as in every season but Lent.
The Psalms
Psalms 111, 112, 113 Appointed for this day in Year One.
The First Lesson
Amos 1:1-5, 13–2:8 The Old Testament reading for this day in Year Two, so that both offices have two readings.
Canticle after the first lesson
The Song of Mary The table’s canticle for Sundays.
The Second Lesson
Matthew 25:1-13 The Gospel is read in the evening in Year One.
Canticle after the second lesson
The Song of Simeon The table’s canticle for Sundays.
The Collect of the Day
The Collect for First Sunday of Advent The Sunday’s collect.
A collect for the day
A Collect for Sundays The app’s collect for Sundays.
A prayer for mission
O God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let… One of the three, taken in turn.
Dismissal
Without Alleluias, which are added only in Easter Season.

Praying the Psalter by the month instead? Day 29 of the 30-day Psalter appoints Psalms 141, 142, 143.

Every part of Evening Prayer, and the choices it allows

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