EVENING
PRAYER for Wednesday after 5 Pentecost
Vespers
(Lutheran
Book of Worship, page 142)
Jesus
Christ is the Light of the World,
The
light no darkness can overcome.
Stay with us, Lord, for it is evening,
And the day is
almost over.
Let your light scatter the darkness,
And illumine your
Church.
Joyous
light of glory:
of
the immortal Father;
heavenly, holy, blessed
Jesus Christ.
We have come to the setting of the
sun,
and we look to the
evening light.
We sing to God, the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit:
You are worthy of being praised
with pure voices
forever.
O Son of God, O Giver of life:
The universe proclaims
your glory.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give
him thanks and praise.
Blessed
are you, O Lord our God, king of the universe, who led your people Israel by a
pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night: Enlighten our darkness by
the light of your Christ; may his Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our
path; for you are merciful, and you love your whole creation, and we, your
creatures, glorify you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen
Let my prayer rise
before you as incense;
the lifting up of my hands as the
evening sacrifice.
O Lord, I call to
you; come to me quickly;
hear my voice when I cry to you.
Let my prayer rise
before you as incense;
the lifting up of my hands as the
evening sacrifice.
Set a watch before
my mouth, O Lord,
and guard the door of my lips.
Let not my heart
incline to any evil thing;
let me not be occupied in wickedness
with evildoers.
But my eyes are
turned to you, Lord God;
in you I take refuge. Strip me not
of my life.
Glory to the
Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it
was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Let my prayer rise
before you as incense;
the lifting up of my hands as the
evening sacrifice.
Silence
for meditation.
Let
the incense of our repentant prayer ascend before you, O Lord, and let your
lovingkindness descend upon us, that with purified minds we may sing your
praises with the Church on earth and the whole heavenly host, and may glorify
you forever and ever.
Amen
Psalm 48
1 Great is the Lord, and highly | to be praised;*
in the city of our God is his |
holy hill.
2 Beautiful and
lofty, the joy of all the earth, is the | hill of Zion,*
the very center of the world and
the city of | the great king.
3 God is in her
citadels;*
he is known to be | her sure
refuge.
4 Behold, the kings
of the | earth assembled*
and marched for- | ward
together.
5 They looked and |
were astounded;*
they retreated and | fled in
terror.
6 Trembling | seized
them there;*
they writhed like a woman in
childbirth,
like ships of the sea when the |
east wind shatters them.
7 As we have heard,
so have we seen,
in
the city of the Lord of hosts, in
the city | of our God;*
God has established | her
forever.
8 We have waited in
silence on your lovingkind- | ness, O God,*
in the midst | of your temple.
9 Your praise, like
your name, O God, reaches | to the world's end;*
your right hand is | full of
justice.
10 Let Mount Zion be
glad and the cities of Ju- | dah rejoice,*
because | of your judgments.
11 Make the circuit
of Zion; walk | round about her;*
count the number | of her
towers.
12 Consider well her
bulwarks; exam- | ine her strongholds;*
that you may tell those | who
come after.
13 This God is our
God forev- | er and ever;*
he shall be our guide for- |
evermore.
Father,
the body of your risen Son is the temple not made by human hands and the
bulwark of the new Jerusalem. Make this holy city, built of living stones, so
shine with spiritual radiance that it may show your greatness in the sight of
all nations; for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (326)
Hymn I Lay My Sins on Jesus
1 I
lay my sins on Jesus,
the
spotless Lamb of God;
he
bears them all and frees us
from
the accursed load.
I
bring my guilt to Jesus
to
wash my crimson stains
clean
in his blood most precious
till
not a spot remains.
2 I
lay my wants on Jesus;
all
fullness dwells in him;
he
heals all my diseases;
my
soul he does redeem.
I
lay my griefs on Jesus,
my
burdens and my cares;
he
from them all releases;
he
all my sorrows shares.
3 I
rest my soul on Jesus,
this
weary soul of mine;
his
right hand me embraces;
I
on his breast recline.
I
love the name of Jesus,
Immanuel,
Christ, the Lord;
like
fragrance on the breezes
his
name abroad is poured.
Text: Horatius Bonar, 1808-1889
Reading Romans 7:15-25a
15I do not understand my own
actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16Now
if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. 17But in
fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18For
I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will
what is right, but I cannot do it. 19For I do not do the good I
want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. 20Now if I do what I
do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.
21So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good,
evil lies close at hand. 22For I delight in the law of God in my
inmost self, 23but I see in my members another law at war with the
law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
24Wretched man that I am! Who will
rescue me from this body of death? 25aThanks be to God through Jesus
Christ our Lord!
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to
God.
Response
In
many and various ways
God
spoke to his people of old by the prophets.
But
now in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.
The
GOSPEL CANTICLE is sung.
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 forever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will
be forever. Amen
The
LITANY is sung.
In
peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For
the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For
the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for
the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For
all who offer today their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For
Dan, our bishop; for your unworthy servant; for all pastors in Christ, for all
servants of the Church, and for all the people, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For
our public servants, for the government and those who protect us, that they may
be upheld and strengthened in every good deed, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For
those who work to bring peace, justice, health, and protection in this and
every place, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For
those who bring offerings, those who do good works in this congregation, those
who toil, those who sing, and all the people here present who await from the
Lord great and abundant mercy, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For
favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for
peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For
our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and need, let us pray to
the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For
the faithful who have gone before us and are at rest, let us give thanks to the
Lord.
Alleluia.
Help,
save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Silence
for meditation.
Rejoicing
in the fellowship of all the saints, let us commend ourselves, one another, and
our whole life to Christ, our Lord.
To
you, O Lord.
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, by your gracious
will the mysteries of the kingdom are revealed to the childlike. Make us learn
from your Son humility of heart, that in shouldering his yoke we may find
refreshment and rest. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who
lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and
ever.
Amen
Almighty
God, you have given us this good land as our heritage. Make us always remember
your generosity and constantly do your will. Bless our land with honest
industry, truthful education, and an honorable way of life. Save us from
violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil
course of action. Make us who came from many nations with many different
languages a united people. Defend our liberties and give those whom we have
entrusted with the authority of government the spirit of wisdom, that there
might be justice and peace in our land. When times are prosperous, let our
hearts be thankful; and, in troubled times, do not let our trust in you fail.
We ask all this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Look
with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land who live with
injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy
upon us. Help us to eliminate cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal
opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion
of the abundance of this land; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
O
God, giver and sustainer of life, in this time of need send us the gentle rain,
so that we may receive the fruits of the earth for our benefit and for your
praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
We
pray to you, almighty God, in this time of pandemic. You are our refuge and our
strength, a very present help in time of trouble. Do not let us fail in the
face of these events. Uphold us with your love, and give us the strength we
need. Help us in our confusion, and guide our actions. Heal the sick, console
the bereaved and afflicted, protect the innocent and helpless, and deliver all
who are in peril; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
O
God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works:
Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our
hearts may be set to obey your commandments; and also that we, being defended
from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the
merits of Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, God forever. Amen
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,
forever and ever. Amen
Let
us bless the Lord.
Thanks
be to God.
Hymn God, Who Made the
Earth and Heaven
Lutheran Book of
Worship 281
1 God, who made the
earth and heaven,
darkness and light:
you the day for work
have given,
for rest the night.
May your angel guards
defend us,
slumber sweet your
mercy send us,
holy dreams and hopes
attend us
all through the
night.
2 And when morn again
shall call us
to run life's way,
may we still,
whate'er befall us,
your will obey.
From the pow'r of
evil hide us,
in the narrow pathway
guide us,
never be your smile
denied us
all through the day.
3 Guard us waking, guard
us sleeping,
and, when we die,
may we in your mighty
keeping
all peaceful lie.
When the last dread
call shall wake us,
then, O Lord, do not
forsake us,
but to reign in glory
take us
with you on high.
4 Holy Father, throned in
heaven,
all-holy Son,
Holy Spirit, freely
given,
blest Three in One:
grant us grace, we
now implore you,
till we lay our
crowns before you
and in worthier strains
adore you
while ages run.
Text: Reginald Heber, 1783-1826, st. 1, alt.; William Mercer,
1811-1873, sts. 2, 4, alt.; Richard Whately, 1787-1863, st. 3, alt.
Sermon
Prayer
and Benediction
Lord
God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the
ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go
out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is
leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
The
almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless
and preserve you.
Amen
