.FIRST ORDER OF EVENING PRAYER. FOR AFTERNOON SERVICE, OR WHEN VESPERS ARE NOT HELD. I. Voluntary on the Organ. II. Sentences: Minister. (Congregation standing.) III. Chanted Psalm. In the order of the Month-1. First Sunday, "O sing unto the Lord;" 2. "It is a good thing;" 3. "God be merciful;" 4. "Praise the Lord;" 5. "The Lord is my Shepherd." Or the corresponding Hymns, as printed in the order of the Month, in the Vesper Service. (Standing.) IV. Prayer. V. Voluntary by the Choir. This may be taken from the New Testament Hymns of the Vesper Service. VI. Reading of Scriptures. VII. Hymn-Selected. (Standing.) VIII. Sermon. IX. Prayer. X. Hymn-Selected. (Standing.) XI. Benediction. XII. Amen: Choir and Congregation. EVENING PRAYER. FOR AFTERNOON, OR WHEN VESPERS ARE NOT HELD. At the beginning of Evening Prayer, the Minister shall read one or more of these Sentences of Scripture; and then say, with the People responsively, the words that follow them: FROM ROM the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the Lord's name is to be praised. Let our prayers be set forth in his sight as incense, and the lifting up of our hands, as an evening sacrifice. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Behold! God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call to all that call upon him in truth. upon him, Oh, send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth give I unto you. God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Then, the People standing, the Minister shall say : Ans. And our mouths shall show forth thy praise. Ans. O Lord, make haste to help us. Min. O Lord, let thy mercy be shown upon us; Ans. As we do put our trust in thee. Min. Praise ye the Lord. Ans. The Lord's name be praised. Then shall be sung one of the following Psalms, on the proper Sunday of the month, as they are printed in the Vespers, unless otherwise ordered. EVENING PSALMS. 1. First Sunday, Cantate Domino; 2. Second Sunday, Bonum est confiteri; 3. Third Sunday, Deus misereatur; 4. Fourth Sunday, Benedic, anima mea; 5. Fifth Sunday, Dominus regit me. Or the corresponding Hymns, as printed in the order of the month, in the Vesper Service. EVENING PRAYERS. The Minister may offer prayer in his own words, or read one of the Scripture Litanies, or the Service may proceed as follows: Min. The Lord be with you; Ans. And with thy spirit. Min. Let us pray. O Lord, show thy mercy upon us; Min. O God, make clean our hearts within us; Then may be said the Collect for the Day, and then these Collects: THE COLLECT FOR PEACE. GOD, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed; give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that, being defended by thee from the fear of our enemies, we may pass our time in rest and quietness, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. THE COLLECT FOR AID AGAINST ALL PERILS. LIGHTEN our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord, and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night, for the honor of thy name, through Jesus Christ our Mediator and Advocate. Amen. A COLLECT FOR PURITY. LMIGHTY God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee and worthily magnify thy holy Name, through Christ our Lord. Amen. PRAYER FOR THE GRACES OF FAITH, HOPE, AND CHARITY. LORD God of infinite mercy, of infinite excellency, who hast sent thy holy Son into the world to redeem us from a fearful woe, to teach us a holy religion, to forgive us a boundless debt. and to give us an unspeakable gift; grant us thy Holy Spirit, that in mind, and will, and all our faculties, we may be so resigned to the doctrine and discipline of our Lord, as to suffer any affliction or calamity rather than forsake our duty, or yield to sin or shame. Graciously increase our faith; and may our faith be the parent of a good life, and the author of a holy hope, of modest desires, of godly confidence, and of a never-failing love to thee, our God, and to all the world. May we be supported by the strength of a firm faith in all temptations, refreshed with the comforts of a holy hope in all sorrows, and bear the burden of the Lord and the infirmities of our neighbor by the stay of a blessed charity. May the yoke of Jesus become easy to us, that our love may do all the miracles of grace, till from grace it swell to glory from earth to heaven, from duty to reward, |