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Friday, March 26, 2027

Evening Prayer

Holy Week

Good Friday

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Prayer Guidance

OFFICIANT

Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow which was brought upon me, whom the Lord hath afflicted.

Lamentations 1:12

OFFICIANT

Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me.

Lamentations 1:12

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.

Psalms 40:1-14(15-19), 54

Psalm 40Expectans, expectavi

1

I waited patiently upon the LORD; *

he stooped to me and heard my cry.

2

He lifted me out of the desolate pit, out of the mire and clay; *

he set my feet upon a high cliff and made my footing sure.

3

He put a new song in my mouth,

a song of praise to our God; *

many shall see, and stand in awe,

and put their trust in the LORD.

4

Happy are they who trust in the LORD! *

they do not resort to evil spirits or turn to false gods.

5

Great things are they that you have done, O LORD my God!

how great your wonders and your plans for us! *

there is none who can be compared with you.

6

Oh, that I could make them known and tell them! *

but they are more than I can count.

7

In sacrifice and offering you take no pleasure *

(you have given me ears to hear you);

8

Burnt-offering and sin-offering you have not required, *

and so I said, "Behold, I come.

9

In the roll of the book it is written concerning me: *

'I love to do your will, O my God;

your law is deep in my heart.'"

10

I proclaimed righteousness in the great congregation; *

behold, I did not restrain my lips;

and that, O LORD, you know.

11

Your righteousness have I not hidden in my heart;

I have spoken of your faithfulness and your deliverance; *

I have not concealed your love and faithfulness from the great congregation.

12

You are the LORD;

do not withhold your compassion from me; *

let your love and your faithfulness keep me safe for ever,

13

For innumerable troubles have crowded upon me;

my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see; *

they are more in number than the hairs of my head,

and my heart fails me.

14

Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; *

O LORD, make haste to help me.

15

Let them be ashamed and altogether dismayed

who seek after my life to destroy it; *

let them draw back and be disgraced

who take pleasure in my misfortune.

16

Let those who say "Aha!" and gloat over me be confounded, *

because they are ashamed.

17

Let all who seek you rejoice in you and be glad; *

let those who love your salvation continually say,

Great is the LORD!"

18

Though I am poor and afflicted, *

the Lord will have regard for me.

19

You are my helper and my deliverer; *

do not tarry, O my God.

Psalm 54Deus, in nomine

1

Save me, O God, by your Name; *

in your might, defend my cause.

2

Hear my prayer, O God; *

give ear to the words of my mouth.

3

For the arrogant have risen up against me,

and the ruthless have sought my life, *

those who have no regard for God.

4

Behold, God is my helper; *

it is the Lord who sustains my life.

5

Render evil to those who spy on me; *

in your faithfulness, destroy them.

6

I will offer you a freewill sacrifice *

and praise your Name, O LORD, for it is good.

7

For you have rescued me from every trouble, *

and my eye has seen the ruin of my foes.

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

1I am the man who has seen affliction

under the rod of God’s wrath.

2He has driven me away and made me walk

in darkness instead of light.

3Indeed, He keeps turning His hand

against me all day long.

4He has worn away my flesh and skin;

He has shattered my bones.

5He has besieged me and surrounded me

with bitterness and hardship.

6He has made me dwell in darkness

like those dead for ages.

7He has walled me in so I cannot escape;

He has weighed me down with chains.

8Even when I cry out and plead for help,

He shuts out my prayer.

9He has barred my ways with cut stones;

He has made my paths crooked.

19Remember my affliction and wandering,

the wormwood and the gall.

20Surely my soul remembers

and is humbled within me.

21Yet I call this to mind,

and therefore I have hope:

22Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed,

for His mercies never fail.

23They are new every morning;

great is Your faithfulness!

24“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,

“therefore I will hope in Him.”

25The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,

to the soul who seeks Him.

26It is good to wait quietly

for the salvation of the LORD.

27It is good for a man to bear the yoke

while he is still young.

28Let him sit alone in silence,

for the LORD has laid it upon him.

29Let him bury his face in the dust—

perhaps there is still hope.

30Let him offer his cheek to the one who would strike him;

let him be filled with reproach.

31For the Lord will not

cast us off forever.

32Even if He causes grief, He will show compassion

according to His abundant loving devotion.

33For He does not willingly afflict

or grieve the sons of men.

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

38Afterward, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (but secretly for fear of the Jews), asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and removed His body. 39Nicodemus, who had previously come to Jesus at night, also brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40So they took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom.

41Now there was a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42And because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they placed Jesus there.

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, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Proper Liturgy for this day is on page 276. Almighty God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. 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

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 day34%761 words
Follows the season or feast7%149 words
Follows the weekday, or rotates13%302 words
Appointed for the day by the lectionary46%1,028 words
Opening sentence
Lamentations 1:12 A sentence for Holy Week, taken in turn.
O God, make speed to save us
Without “Alleluia,” as in Lent.
The Psalms
Psalms 40:1-14(15-19), 54 Appointed for this day in Year One.
The First Lesson
Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-33 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 19:38-42 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 Good Friday 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
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 26 of the 30-day Psalter appoints Psalm 119:145-176.

Every part of Evening Prayer, and the choices it allows

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