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.
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 59 Eripe me de inimicis
1 Rescue me from my enemies, O God; * protect me from those who rise up against me.
2 Rescue me from evildoers * and save me from those who thirst for my blood.
3 See how they lie in wait for my life, how the mighty gather together against me; * not for any offense or fault of mine, O Lord.
4 Not because of any guilt of mine * they run and prepare themselves for battle.
5 Rouse yourself, come to my side, and see; * for you, Lord God of hosts, are Israel's God.
6 Awake, and punish all the ungodly; * show no mercy to those who are faithless and evil.
7 They go to and fro in the evening; * they snarl like dogs and run about the city.
8 Behold, they boast with their mouths, and taunts are on their lips; * "For who," they say, "will hear us?"
9 But you, O Lord, you laugh at them; * you laugh all the ungodly to scorn.
10 My eyes are fixed on you, O my Strength; * for you, O God, are my stronghold.
11 My merciful God comes to meet me; * God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.
12 Slay them, O God, lest my people forget; * send them reeling by your might and put them down, O Lord our shield.
13 For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips, for the cursing and lies that they utter, * let them be caught in their pride.
14 Make an end of them in your wrath; * make an end of them, and they shall be no more.
15 Let everyone know that God rules in Jacob, * and to the ends of the earth.
16 They go to and fro in the evening; * they snarl like dogs and run about the city.
17 They forage for food, * and if they are not filled, they howl.
18 For my part, I will sing of your strength; * I will celebrate your love in the morning;
19 For you have become my stronghold, * a refuge in the day of my trouble.
20 To you, O my Strength, will I sing; * for you, O God, are my stronghold and my merciful God.
60 Deus, repulisti nos
1 O God, you have cast us off and broken us; * you have been angry; oh, take us back to you again.
2 You have shaken the earth and split it open; * repair the cracks in it, for it totters.
3 You have made your people know hardship; * you have given us wine that makes us stagger.
4 You have set up a banner for those who fear you, * to be a refuge from the power of the bow.
5 Save us by your right hand and answer us, * that those who are dear to you may be delivered.
6 God spoke from his holy place and said: * "I will exult and parcel out Shechem; I will divide the valley of Succoth.
7 Gilead is mine and Manasseh is mine; * Ephraim is my helmet and Judah my scepter.
8 Moab is my wash-basin, on Edom I throw down my sandal to claim it, * and over Philistia will I shout in triumph."
9 Who will lead me into the strong city? * who will bring me into Edom?
10 Have you not cast us off, O God? * you no longer go out, O God, with our armies.
11 Grant us your help against the enemy, * for vain is the help of man.
12 With God we will do valiant deeds, * and he shall tread our enemies under foot.
THE FIRST LESSON: A READING FROM THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH 1:1-11
1The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year,
while I was in Susa the capital, 2one of my brothers, Hanani, came with certain men
from Judah; and I asked them about the Jews that survived, those who had escaped the
captivity, and about Jerusalem. 3They replied, ‘The survivors there in the province who
escaped captivity are in great trouble and shame; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down,
and its gates have been destroyed by fire.’
4 When I heard these words I sat down and wept, and mourned for days, fasting and
praying before the God of heaven. 5
I said, ‘O LORD God of heaven, the great and
awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and
keep his commandments; 6
let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the
prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for your servants the
people of Israel, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned
against you. Both I and my family have sinned. 7We have offended you deeply, failing to
keep the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances that you commanded your
servant Moses. 8Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, “If you
are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples; 9but if you return to me and keep my
commandments and do them, though your outcasts are under the farthest skies, I will
gather them from there and bring them to the place at which I have chosen to establish
my name.” 10They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your
great power and your strong hand. 11O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of
your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give
success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man!’
At the time, I was cupbearer to the king.
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 REVELATION 5:11-6:11
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12singing with full voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!’ 13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, ‘To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might for ever and ever!’ 14And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the elders fell down and worshipped. 6Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures call out, as with a voice of thunder, ‘Come!’* 2 I looked, and there was a white horse! Its rider had a bow; a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering and to conquer. 3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature call out, ‘Come!’* 4And out came* another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another; and he was given a great sword. 5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature call out, ‘Come!’* I looked, and there was a black horse! Its rider held a pair of scales in his hand, 6and I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a day’s pay,* and three quarts of barley for a day’s pay,* but do not damage the olive oil and the wine!’ 7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature call out, ‘Come!’* 8 I looked and there was a pale green horse! Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed with him; they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, and pestilence, and by the wild animals of the earth. 9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered for the word of God and for the testimony they had given; 10they cried out with a loud voice, ‘Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge and avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth?’ 11They were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number would be complete both of their fellow-servants* and of their brothers and sisters,* who were soon to be killed as they themselves had been killed.
A READING FROM THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 12:15-21
18 ‘Hear then the parable of the sower. 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.* 22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.’
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 Nancy Larsen, Jonathan Larsen, Madeleine Marchetti, Brian
Orlick, Joan Paravati, Joseph Pignatelli, Kimberly Phillips, Lynn Phimister,
Michael Polito, Diane Ritching, Robert Ross, Angelina Sacristan, Lindsay
Scarangello, Marilyn Shields, Jennifer Sprosty, Christopher Still, James
Sutler, Elisse Torchio, Darleene Vesci, Rose Wakie-Couchon, and all those
on our prayer list.
• 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 well-
beloved 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!