Order of Worship - Evening Prayer for Advent IV - 7:00 pm

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EVENING PRAYER

for Wednesday in the Fourth Week of Advent

Vespers

(Lutheran Book of Worship, page 142)

 

The Spirit and the Church cry out:

Come, Lord Jesus.

All those who await his appearance pray:

Come, Lord Jesus.

The whole creation pleads:

Come, Lord Jesus.

 

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.

 

  We praise and thank you, O God, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom you have enlightened us by revealing to us the light that never fades.

  Night has fallen and day’s allotted span draws to a close.

  The daylight which you created for our pleasure has fully satisfied us, and yet, of your free gift, now the evening lights do not fail us.

  We praise and glorify you through you Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, through him be glory, honor, and power to you in the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.

  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 39

 

In that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine,

  and the hills shall flow with milk and honey. Alleluia.

 

¹ I said, "I will keep watch up- | on my ways,*

                so that I do not offend | with my tongue.

² I will put a muzzle | on my mouth*

                while the wicked are | in my presence."

³ So I held my tongue | and said nothing;*

                I refrained from rash words; but my pain be- | came unbearable.

⁴ My heart was hot within me; while I pondered, the fire burst | into flame;*

                I spoke out | with my tongue:

⁵ Lord, let me know my end and the number | of my days,*

                so that I may know how | short my life is.

⁶ You have given me a mere handful of days,

and my lifetime is as nothing | in your sight;*

                truly, even those who stand erect are but a | puff of wind.

⁷ We walk about like a shadow, and in vain we | are in turmoil;*

                we heap up riches and cannot tell who will | gather them.

⁸ And now, what | is my hope?*

                O Lord, my hope | is in you.

⁹ Deliver me from all | my transgressions*

                and do not make me the taunt | of the fool.

¹⁰ I fell silent and did not o- | pen my mouth,*

                for surely it was | you that did it.

¹¹ Take your af- | fliction from me;*

                I am worn down by the blows | of your hand.

¹² With rebukes for sin you punish us;

like a moth you eat away all that is | dear to us;*

                truly, everyone is but a | puff of wind.

¹³ Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear | to my cry;*

                hold not your peace | at my tears.

¹⁴ For I am but a so- | journer with you,*

                a wayfarer, as all my | forebears were.

¹⁵ Turn your gaze from me, that I may be | glad again,*

                before I go my way and | am no more.

 

In that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine,

  and the hills shall flow with milk and honey. Alleluia.

 

Heavenly Father, through your Son you taught us not to fear tomorrow but to commit our lives to your care. Withhold not your Spirit from us, but help us find a life of peace after these days of trouble; for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 

  Amen

 

Hymn                                                                                   LBW 30

 

1      Come, thou long-expected Jesus,

        born to set thy people free;

        from our fears and sins release us;

        let us find our rest in thee.

        Israel's strength and consolation,

        hope of all the earth thou art,

        dear desire of ev'ry nation,

        joy of ev'ry longing heart.

 

2      Born thy people to deliver,

        born a child, and yet a king;

        born to reign in us forever,

        now thy gracious kingdom bring.

        By thine own eternal Spirit

        rule in all our hearts alone;

        by thine all-sufficient merit

        raise us to thy glorious throne.

 

Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788

 

READING                                                                          Micah 5:2-5

 

² But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
   who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
   one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
   from ancient days.
³ Therefore he shall give them up until the time
   when she who is in labour has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return
   to the people of Israel.
⁴ And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord,
   in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great
   to the ends of the earth;
⁵ and he shall be the one of peace.

 

The Word of the Lord.                                        Thanks be to God.

Response

O Emmanuel, our king and lawgiver,

the anointed of the nations and their Savior:

  Come and save us, O Lord our God.

 

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

 

An ADVENT LITANY is said.

 

Lord, have mercy.                                          Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.                                      Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.                                          Lord, have mercy.

 

 

Jesus, name called Wonderful:             

                                                We praise and bless your Holy Name.

Jesus, our great Counselor:                                                    /R

Jesus, true and mighty God:                                                    /R

Jesus, everlasting Father:                                                          /R

Jesus, Prince of Peace:                                                                 /R

 

Jesus, Son of David:      Deliver us from our sins, we beseech you.

Jesus, Branch of Jesse:                                                                 /R

Jesus, Rose of Sharon:                                                                 /R

Jesus, Lily of the Valleys:                                                          /R

Jesus, Bright and Morning Star:                                            /R

 

Jesus, Scepter of Israel:                               Help us and bless us.

Jesus, Light of the Gentiles:                                                     /R

Jesus, Desire of all nations:                                                       /R

Jesus, Sun of Righteousness:                                                   /R

Jesus, Lawgiver, Priest, Judge, and King:                          /R

 

O Jesus, hear us:                             And prepare us for your coming.

 

Gather your ancient people unto yourself:

  Hear our prayer, O Lord, and let our cry come before you.

Bring all the nations to come to your light and your truth:

                                                                                                                /R

Convert all leaders of nations to fall down before you

   and to desire your beauty:                                                    /R

Help your messengers in every land to prepare the way before you:

                                                                                                                            /R

Let all the nations fear you as long as the sun and moon endure,

  throughout all generations:                                                                   /R

Give your ministers righteousness and knowledge:                   /R

Preserve all who put their trust in you:                                             /R

And give peace to all your people:                                                        /R

 

Prepare us for your coming:     And save us from our sins.

                               

 

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                                                                          LBW 34

 

1              Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,

                and ransom captive Israel,

                that mourns in lonely exile here

                until the Son of God appear.

 

Refrain

                Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

                shall come to you, O Israel.

2              Oh, come, oh, come, great Lord of might,

                who to your tribes on Sinai’s height

                in ancient times once gave the law

                in cloud, and majesty, and awe.  Refrain

 

3              Oh, come, strong Branch of Jesse, free

                your own from Satan’s tyranny;

                from depths of hell your people save

                and give them vict’ry o’er the grave.  Refrain

 

 

 

 

4             Oh, come, blest Dayspring, come and cheer

                our spirits by your advent here;

                disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

                and death’s dark shadows put to flight.  Refrain

 

5              Oh, come, O Key of David, come,

                and open wide our heav’nly home;

                make safe the way that leads on high,

                and close the path to misery.  Refrain

 

Text: Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, Köln, 1710; tr. John M. Neale, 1818-1866, alt.

 

Prayer and Benediction

Accept, O Lord, our praises and supplications, and look graciously on our households and our faith family, that we may abide this night in peace and safety under the shadow of your wings, and so assist us by your grace that we may be made fit for that kingdom where there shall be no more sin, nor sorrow, nor pain, but all shall be joy and peace in the Holy Spirit, to whom, with you, O Father, and you, O blessed Jesus, be all glory, both now and evermore.

Amen

 

The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve you.  Amen