Summer Vespers 2018. revised for 2019 copy
Author: Kenson
Date: 2019-07-12T00:00:00+00:00

AN ORDER FOR VESPERS (Evening Prayer)

Introduction

We encourage people to pray at Evening time during the summer
wherever they may be.

Here is a simple form evening prayer, which is designed to help
attentive prayer, either by groups or by individuals.

The words are few, and are meant to be read slowly, quietly and
reflectively, so that they may become part of us and may give voice to
our own prayer.

Our prayer becomes the prayer of Christ’s people: Christ’s people’s
prayer becomes our prayer.

Ample opportunity should be taken for silence. Silence allows Christ’s
words to touch and to mingle with the thoughts of our hearts.

The structure is a very ancient one and has therefore been tested
through long Christian experience. It is offered here in simple form in
the hope that it may encourage all who use it to ‘keep on praying and
not to lose heart’.

✠ indicates where it is customary to make the sign of the cross

There are three sections

1. Opening (page 3)

2. Psalmody and Scripture with 4 options

3. Canticle and prayers (pages 7-8)

2

I OPENING

O God, ✠ make speed to save us;

O Lord, make haste to help us.

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

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

Amen.

II. PSALMODY AND SCRIPTURE

Choose one of the following 4 options

Option 1 — Psalm 103 — pg. 4

Option 2 — Psalm 111 — pg. 5

Option 3 — Psalm 139 — pg. 6

Option 4 — Psalm 147 — pg. 7

Or
choose from the lectionary on page 10—12

3

Option 1 Psalm 103

1. Praise the Lord O my soul:

and all that is within me praise his holy name.

2. Praise the Lord O my soul:

and forget not all his benefits,

3. Who forgives all your sin:

and heals all your infirmities,

4. Who redeems your life from the Pit:

and crowns you with mercy and compassion;

5. Who satisfies your being with good things:

so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.

6. Praise the Lord all his works in all places of his dominion:

praise the Lord O my soul!

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

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

Amen.

Come to me, all whose work is hard, whose load is heavy; and I will give
you relief. Bend your necks to my yoke, and learn from me, for I am
gentle and humble-hearted, and your souls will find relief. For my yoke
is good to bear, my load is light. (Matthew 11.28–30)

Now go to Canticle and Prayer on page 8

4

Or

Option 2 Psalm 111

1. O praise the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart:

in the company of the upright and among the congregation.

2. The works of the Lord are great:

and studied by all who delight in them.

3. His marvellous acts have won him a name to be remembered:

the Lord is gracious and merciful.

4. He gives food to those who fear him:

he remembers his covenant for ever.

5. He sent redemption to his people, he ordained his covenant for

ever: holy is his name and worthy to be feared.

6. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and of good

understanding are those that keep his commandments: his
praise shall endure for ever.

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

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

O the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How
unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways! ‘For
who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counsellor?

Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?’ For from him
and to him are all things. To him be glory for ever. (Romans 11.33–36)

Now go to Canticle and Prayer on page 8

5

Or

Option 3 Psalm 139

1. Lord you have searched me out and known me:

you know when I sit or when I stand, you comprehend my
thoughts long before.

2. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me: so high that I cannot

endure it.

3. If I spread out my wings towards the morning: or dwell in the

uttermost parts of the sea,

4. even there your hand shall lead me:

and your right hand shall hold me.

5. If I say ‘Surely the darkness will cover me:

and the night will enclose me’,

6. the darkness is no darkness with you but the night is as clear as

the day: the darkness and the light are both alike.

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

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

Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where it grows rusty
and moth-eaten, and thieves break in to steal it. Store up treasure in
heaven, where there is no moth and no rust to spoil it, no thieves to
break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be
also. (Matthew 6.19–21)

Now go to Canticle and Prayer on page 8

6

Or

Option 4 Psalm 147

1. O praise the Lord for it is a good thing to sing praises to our

God: and to praise him is joyful and right.

2. The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem: he is gathering together the

scattered outcasts of Israel.

3. He heats the broken in spirit:

and binds up their wounds.

4. Great is our Lord and great is his power:

there is no measuring his understanding.

5. Praise the Lord O Jerusalem:

sing praises to your God O Zion.

6. For he has strengthened the bars of your gates:

and blessed your children within you.

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

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

The kingdom of God is like the mustard-seed, which is smaller than any
seed in the ground at its sowing. But once sown, it springs up and
grows taller than any other plant, and forms branches so large that the
birds can settle in its shade. (Mark 4.31f)

7

III. CANTICLE AND PRAYER

Magnificat (Song of Mary)

1. My ✠ soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord:

my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;

2. for he has looked with favour on his lowly servant:

from this day all generations will call me blessed;

3. the Almighty has done great things for me:

and holy is his name.

4. He has mercy on those who fear him:

in every generation.

5. He has shown the strength of his arm:

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

6. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones:

and has lifted up the lowly.

7. He has filled the hungry with good things:

and the rich he has sent away empty.

8. He has come to the help of his servant Israel:

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

9. 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 shall be for ever. Amen.

8

In silence or in words we pray for
othe World
othe Church
othe sick and all in need
othe departed

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Lord’s Prayer

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,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.

Amen.

Collect

Lord, God almighty, come and dispel the darkness from our hearts, that
in the radiance of your brightness we may know you, the only unfading
light, glorious in all eternity.

Amen.

Conclusion

The Lord bless ✠ us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to life

everlasting. Amen.

￼

10

Lectionary

￼

11

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12

Key: Ap — Apostle; BVM — Blessed Virgin Mary

Note: For feast days in bold, gospel reading is of the feast day Mass.

1. AN ORDER FOR VESPERS (Evening Prayer)
2. Introduction
3. I OPENING

4. Option 1 Psalm 103

1. Option 3 Psalm 139

2. Option 4 Psalm 147

5. III. CANTICLE AND PRAYER

1. Magnificat (Song of Mary)

2. Collect

1. 2
2. 3
3. 4
4. 5
5. 6
6. 7
7. 8
8. 9
9. 10
10. 11
11. 12

1. Cover Page

2. Page 1