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Friday, March 12, 2027

Evening Prayer

Lent

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Prayer Guidance

OFFICIANT

Jesus said, "If anyone will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

Mark 8:34

OFFICIANT

Jesus said, "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

Mark 8:34

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.

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.

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.

Psalm 107:1-32

Psalm 107

1

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, *

and his mercy endures for ever.

2

Let all those whom the LORD has redeemed proclaim *

that he redeemed them from the hand of the foe.

3

He gathered them out of the lands; *

from the east and from the west,

from the north and from the south.

4

Some wandered in desert wastes; *

they found no way to a city where they might dwell.

5

They were hungry and thirsty; *

their spirits languished within them.

6

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, *

and he delivered them from their distress.

7

He put their feet on a straight path *

to go to a city where they might dwell.

8

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy *

and the wonders he does for his children.

9

For he satisfies the thirsty *

and fills the hungry with good things.

10

Some sat in darkness and deep gloom, *

bound fast in misery and iron;

11

Because they rebelled against the words of God *

and despised the counsel of the Most High.

12

So he humbled their spirits with hard labor; *

they stumbled, and there was none to help.

13

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, *

and he delivered them from their distress.

14

He led them out of darkness and deep gloom *

and broke their bonds asunder.

15

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy *

and the wonders he does for his children.

16

For he shatters the doors of bronze *

and breaks in two the iron bars.

17

Some were fools and took to rebellious ways; *

they were afflicted because of their sins.

18

They abhorred all manner of food *

and drew near to death's door.

19

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, *

and he delivered them from their distress.

20

He sent forth his word and healed them *

and saved them from the grave.

21

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy *

and the wonders he does for his children.

22

Let them offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving *

and tell of his acts with shouts of joy.

23

Some went down to the sea in ships *

and plied their trade in deep waters;

24

They beheld the works of the LORD *

and his wonders in the deep.

25

Then he spoke, and a stormy wind arose, *

which tossed high the waves of the sea.

26

They mounted up to the heavens and fell back to the depths; *

their hearts melted because of their peril.

27

They reeled and staggered like drunkards *

and were at their wits' end.

28

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, *

and he delivered them from their distress.

29

He stilled the storm to a whisper *

and quieted the waves of the sea.

30

Then were they glad because of the calm, *

and he brought them to the harbor they were bound for.

31

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy *

and the wonders he does for his children.

32

Let them exalt him in the congregation of the people *

and praise him in the council of the elders.

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

1Now a man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman, 2and she conceived and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him for three months.

3But when she could no longer hide him, she got him a papyrus basket and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in the basket and set it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4And his sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.

5Soon the daughter of Pharaoh went down to bathe in the Nile, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. And when she saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maidservant to retrieve it. 6When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the little boy was crying. So she had compassion on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrew children.”

7Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call one of the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?”

8“Go ahead,” Pharaoh’s daughter told her. And the girl went and called the boy’s mother.

9Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse him for me, and I will pay your wages.” So the woman took the boy and nursed him.

10When the child had grown older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses and explained, “I drew him out of the water.”

11One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to his own people and observed their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. 12After looking this way and that and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand.

13The next day Moses went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you attacking your companion?”

14But the man replied, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?”

Then Moses was afraid and thought, “This thing I have done has surely become known.”

15When Pharaoh heard about this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, where he sat down beside a well.

16Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17And when some shepherds came along and drove them away, Moses rose up to help them and watered their flock.

18When the daughters returned to their father Reuel, he asked them, “Why have you returned so early today?”

19“An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds,” they replied. “He even drew water for us and watered the flock.”

20“So where is he?” their father asked. “Why did you leave the man behind? Invite him to have something to eat.”

21Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage. 22And she gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, saying, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land.”

Silence may be kept after each Reading.

A Song of Praise

The Song of Mary

Glory to you, Lord God of our fathers; *

you are worthy of praise; glory to you.

Glory to you for the radiance of your holy Name; *

we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.

Glory to you in the splendor of your temple; *

on the throne of your majesty, glory to you.

Glory to you, seated between the Cherubim; *

we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.

Glory to you, beholding the depths; *

in the high vault of heaven, glory to you.

Glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; *

we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.

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

52At this, the Jews began to argue among themselves, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”

53So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, you have no life in you. 54Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For My flesh is real food, and My blood is real drink.

56Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him. 57Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your fathers, who ate the manna and died, the one who eats this bread will live forever.”

59Jesus said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

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

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which giveth life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A Collect for Fridays

OFFICIANT

Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake up in your likeness; for your tender mercies' sake. Amen.

OFFICIANT

O Lord Jesus Christ, who by thy death didst take away the sting of death: Grant unto us thy servants so to follow in faith where thou hast led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in thee, and awake up after thy likeness; for thy tender mercies' sake. Amen.

A Prayer for Mission

OFFICIANT

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen.

OFFICIANT

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give thine angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for thy love's sake. 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 day31%761 words
Follows the season or feast6%138 words
Follows the weekday, or rotates12%308 words
Appointed for the day by the lectionary52%1,284 words
Opening sentence
Mark 8:34 A sentence for Lent, taken in turn.
O God, make speed to save us
Without “Alleluia,” as in Lent.
The Psalms
Psalm 107:1-32 Appointed for this day in Year One.
The First Lesson
Exodus 2:1-22 The Old Testament reading for this day in Year Two, so that both offices have two readings.
Canticle after the first lesson
A Song of Praise The table’s canticle for Fridays.
The Second Lesson
John 6:52-59 The Gospel is read in the evening in Year One.
Canticle after the second lesson
The Song of Simeon The table’s canticle for Fridays.
The Collect of the Day
The Collect for Fourth Sunday in Lent The collect of the Sunday before, said through the week.
A collect for the day
A Collect for Fridays The app’s collect for Fridays.
A prayer for mission
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or… 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 12 of the 30-day Psalter appoints Psalms 65, 66, 67.

Every part of Evening Prayer, and the choices it allows

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