Leader: I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel; my heart teaches me, night after
night. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I
shall not fall. Psalm 16:7,8
THE CONFESSION OF SIN
Leader: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Silence may be kept.
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.
Leader: 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.
All: Amen.
THE INVITATORY AND PSALTER
Leader: O God, make speed to save us.
All: O Lord, make haste to help us.
Welcome
to
St. John’s Episcopal Church
EVENING PRAYER
7:00 PM
Conference Call Dial-in (978) 990-5000
Access Code: 893082
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. Alleluia.
Please recite together.
O GRACIOUS LIGHT: PHOS HILARON
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
behld 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.
PSALM 105: Part II Et intravit Israel
23 Israel came into Egypt, *
and Jacob became a sojourner in the land of Ham.
24 The Lord made his people exceedingly fruitful; *
he made them stronger than their enemies;
25 Whose heart he turned, so that they hated his people, *
and dealt unjustly with his servants.
26 He sent Moses his servant, *
and Aaron whom he had chosen.
27 They worked his signs among them, *
and portents in the land of Ham.
28 He sent darkness, and it grew dark; *
but the Egyptians rebelled against his words.
29 He turned their waters into blood *
and caused their fish to die.
30 Their land was overrun by frogs, *
in the very chambers of their kings.
31 He spoke, and there came swarms of insects *
and gnats within all their borders.
32 He gave them hailstones instead of rain, *
and flames of fire throughout their land.
33 He blasted their vines and their fig trees *
and shattered every tree in their country.
34 He spoke, and the locust came, *
and young locusts without number,
35 Which ate up all the green plants in their land *
and devoured the fruit of their soil.
36 He struck down the firstborn of their land, *
the firstfruits of all their strength.
37 He led out his people with silver and gold; *
in all their tribes there was not one that stumbled.
38 Egypt was glad of their going, *
because they were afraid of them.
39 He spread out a cloud for a covering *
and a fire to give light in the night season.
40 They asked, and quails appeared, *
and he satisfied them with bread from heaven.
41 He opened the rock, and water flowed, *
so the river ran in the dry places.
42 For God remembered his holy word *
and Abraham his servant.
43 So he led forth his people with gladness, *
his chosen with shouts of joy.
44 He gave his people the lands of the nations, *
and they took the fruit of others' toil,
45 That they might keep his statutes *
and observe his laws.
Hallelujah!
THE FIRST LESSON: A READING FROM THE BOOK OF 1 SAMUEL 8:1-22
8 When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2The name of his
firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. 3Yet his sons did not follow in his ways, but turned aside after gain; they took
bribes and perverted justice.
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5and
said to him, ‘You are old and your sons do not follow in your ways; appoint for us, then,
a king to govern us, like other nations.’ 6But the thing displeased Samuel when they
said, ‘Give us a king to govern us.’ Samuel prayed to the LORD,
7and the LORD said to
Samuel, ‘Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not
rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8Just as they have
done to me,*
from the day I brought them up out of Egypt to this day, forsaking me and
serving other gods, so also they are doing to you. 9Now then, listen to their voice; only—
you shall solemnly warn them, and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over
them.’
10 So Samuel reported all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for
a king. 11He said, ‘These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take
your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before
his chariots; 12and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and
commanders of fifties, and some to plough his ground and to reap his harvest, and to
make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. 13He will take your
daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14He will take the best of your fields
and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his courtiers. 15He will take one-tenth
of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and his courtiers. 16He will
take your male and female slaves, and the best of your cattle* and donkeys, and put
them to his work. 17He will take one-tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his
slaves. 18And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen
for yourselves; but the LORD will not answer you in that day.’
19 But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; they said, ‘No! but we are
determined to have a king over us, 20so that we also may be like other nations, and that
our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles.’ 21When Samuel had
heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. The Lord
said to Samuel, ‘Listen to their voice and set a king over them.’ Samuel then said to the
people of Israel, ‘Each of you return home.’
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Please recite together
THE SONG OF SIMEON: NUNC DIMITTIS
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.
THE SECOND LESSON: A READING FROM THE BOOK OF ACTS 6:15-7:16
15And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like
the face of an angel.
7Then the high priest asked him, ‘Are these things so?’ 2And Stephen replied:
‘Brothers* and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our ancestor Abraham
when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3and said to him, “Leave your
country and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you.” 4Then he left the country
of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God had him move from there
to this country in which you are now living. 5He did not give him any of it as a heritage,
not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as his possession and to his
descendants after him, even though he had no child. 6And God spoke in these terms, that
his descendants would be resident aliens in a country belonging to others, who would
enslave them and maltreat them for four hundred years. 7
“But I will judge the nation that
they serve,” said God, “and after that they shall come out and worship me in this
place.” 8Then he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham* became the
father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac became the father of
Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
9 ‘The patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him, 10and
rescued him from all his afflictions, and enabled him to win favour and to show wisdom
when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and
over all his household. 11Now there came a famine throughout Egypt and Canaan, and
great suffering, and our ancestors could find no food. 12But when Jacob heard that there
was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors there on their first visit. 13On the second visit
Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to
Pharaoh. 14Then Joseph sent and invited his father Jacob and all his relatives to come to
him, seventy-five in all; 15so Jacob went down to Egypt. He himself died there as well as
our ancestors, 16and their bodies* were brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb
that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
A READING FROM THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 22:24-30
24 A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the
greatest. 25But he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in
authority over them are called benefactors. 26But not so with you; rather the greatest
among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. 27For
who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the
table? But I am among you as one who serves.
28 ‘You are those who have stood by me in my trials; 29and I confer on you, just as my
Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, 30so that you may eat and drink at my table in
my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
** REFLECTIONS ON THE READINGS **
Please recite together.
THE APOSTLES' CREED
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.
THE PRAYERS
Leader: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Leader: Let us pray.
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.
SUFFRAGE A
V. Show us your mercy, O Lord;
R. And grant us your salvation.
V. Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
R. Let your people sing with joy.
V. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
R. For only in you can we live in safety.
V. Lord, keep this nation under your care;
R. And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
V. Let your way be known upon earth;
R. Your saving health among all nations.
V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
V. Create in us clean hearts, O God;
R. And sustain us by your Holy Spirit.
A PRAYER FOR PROTECTION:
Leader: O God, the life of all who live, the light of the faithful, the strength of those who
labor, and the repose of the dead: We thank you for the blessings of the day
that is past, and humbly ask for your protection through the coming night. Bring
us in safety to the morning hours; through him who died and rose again for us,
your Son our Savior Jesus Christ.
All: Amen.
A PRAYER FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE:
Leader: Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us grace fearlessly to
contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may
reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice
in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
All: Amen.
A PRAYER FOR THE HUMAN FAMILY:
All: O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus
your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away
the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls
that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle
and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good
time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your
heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Leader: Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and
give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give
rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield
the joyous; and all for your love's sake.
All: Amen.
** Friends, who can we pray for tonight? Let us offer up our intercessions &
thanksgivings **
• Prayers for the repose of the souls of all who have died from Covid-19. We pray
for their grieving families, and for all those who may be suffering in mind, body
and spirit Dr. John Abraham, Harold Carrington, Gweneth Chase, Trevor
Chase, Carole Cramer, George Cramer, Pat Deasey, Paul DeFelice, Michael
DeLuca, Jr., Francine Densieski, Arthur Elwell, Anthony Esposito, Henrietta
Gowac, Dillon Gonzalez, Dice Grigg, Christopher Guarente, Dan Italiano,
Pauline Johnson, Chris Kilpert, Robert Lane
• Prayers for all those who may feel alone, hopeless or in despair
• Prayers for all school students, teachers, principals, school staff and parents
during these challenging times.
• Prayers for all who are without a job, source of income or food insecurity
• Prayers for our St. John’s and Canterbury House family
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.
A PRAYER OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM:
Leader: Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make
our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your wellbeloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will
be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may
be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age
to come life everlasting.
All: Amen.
Leader: Let us bless the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Leader: Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can
ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and
in Christ Jesus for ever and ever.
Ephesians 3:20, 21
All: Amen.
Have a restful night!
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