Opening Sentences
My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
Out of the depths I have cried to You.
O Lord, hear my voice.
If you, Lord, should mark what we do wrong:
Who could stand, O Lord? who could stand?
I will wait for you O Lord, my soul waits for you;
in your word is my hope.
HYMN (all hymns can be said or sung)
Glory to thee, my God, this night for all the blessings of the light;
keep me, O keep me, King of kings, beneath thy own almighty wings.
Forgive me, Lord, for thy dear Son, the ill that I this day have done,
that with the world, myself, and thee, I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.
Teach me to live, that I may dread the grave as little as my bed;
teach me to die, that so I may rise glorious at the awful day.
O may my soul on thee repose, and may sweet sleep mine eyelids close,
sleep that may me more vigorous make to serve my God when I awake.
When in the night I sleepless lie, my soul with heavenly thoughts supply;
let no ill dreams disturb my rest, no powers of darkness me molest.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow, praise him all creatures here below,
praise him above, angelic host, praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
PENITENCE
God invites us to reconciliation and holiness. Let us turn our minds, hearts and bodies to him, to receive his grace and forgiveness.
Silence
Lord, you created us in your own image.
Forgive us when we do not honour your image in us and in the world that you gave us.
Lord have mercy
Jesus, you invite us to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect.
Forgive us when we fail to be holy, to be people of integrity.
Christ have mercy
Spirit of God, you are Lord of life not of death, of peace not of war
of light not of darkness,
forgive us when we fail to build a community of love.
Lord have mercy
Merciful God, meet us and call us in this evening hour
as you met and called Andrew on the lake shore,
fill us with your grace and holiness, make us apostles of love wherever we go.
This we pray through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Psalm 30
I will exalt you, O Lord, because you have raised me up:
and have not let my foes triumph over me.
O Lord my God, I cried out to you: and you have healed me.
You brought me up, O Lord, from death:
you restored me to life from among those that go down to the Pit.
Sing to the Lord, you servants of his: give thanks to his holy name.
For his wrath endures but the twinkling of an eye, his favour for a lifetime:
Heaviness may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
In my prosperity I said: ‘I shall never be moved.
You, Lord, of your goodness: have made my hill so strong.’
Then you hid your face from me and I was utterly dismayed:
To you, O Lord, I cried; to the Lord I made my supplication:
‘What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the Pit?
Will the dust praise you or declare your faithfulness?
‘Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: O Lord, be my helper.’
You have turned my mourning into dancing:
you have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness;
Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing:
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks for ever.
1st Reading Zechariah 8.20-23
The Lord Almighty says, “The time is coming when people from many cities will come to Jerusalem. Those from one city will say to those from another, ‘We are going to worship the Lord Almighty and pray for his blessing. Come with us!’ Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to worship the Lord Almighty and to pray for his blessing. In those days ten foreigners will take hold of the garment of one of my people and say, ‘We will follow you, because we have heard that God is with you.’”
The Song of Mary
My soul proclaims your greatness, O Lord,
my spirit rejoices in you, my God and Saviour
for you have looked with favour on your lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
You, the Almighty One, have done great things for me, and holy is your Name.
You have mercy on those who fear you in every generation.
You have shown the strength of your arm,
You have scattered the proud in their conceit.
You have cast down the mighty from their thrones, and have lifted up the lowly.
You have filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich you have sent away empty.
You have come to the help of your servant Israel
for you remembered your promise of mercy,
the promise you made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.
2nd Reading John 1.35-40
The next day John was standing there again with two of his disciples, when he saw Jesus walking by. “There is the Lamb of God!” he said. The two disciples heard him say this and went with Jesus. Jesus turned, saw them following him, and asked, “What are you looking for?” They answered, “Where do you live, Rabbi?” (This word means “Teacher.”) “Come and see,” he answered. (It was then about four o’clock in the afternoon.) So they went with him and saw where he lived, and spent the rest of that day with him.
One of them was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. At once he found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah.” (This word means “Christ.”) Then he took Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “Your name is Simon son of John, but you will be called Cephas.” (This is the same as Peter and means “a rock.”)
HYMN
Christ be beside me, Christ be before me,
Christ be behind me, King of my heart.
Christ be within me, Christ be below me,
Christ be above me, never to part.
Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand,
Christ all around me, shield in the strife.
Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting,
Christ in my rising, light of my heart.
Christ be in all hearts thinking about me,
Christ be on all tongues telling of me.
Christ be the vision in eyes that see me,
In ears that hear me Christ ever be.
Prayers
Holy Spirit, gift of the Father through his Son, Jesus Christ,
dwell in us all, open our hearts to listen to your voice.
Holy Spirit, come upon us.
Holy Spirit, source of unity and holiness,
show us the love of God.
Holy Spirit, come upon us.
Holy Spirit, Fire of Love,
purify us, removing all divisions
in our hearts, in our communities and in the world,
and so make us one in Jesus’ name.
Holy Spirit, come upon us.
Holy Spirit, strengthen our faith in Jesus,
truly divine and truly human,
who carried our sins of division to the Cross.
and brought us to share in his Resurrection.
Holy Spirit, come upon us.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, dwell in us
that we may become a communion of love and holiness.
Make us one in you, who live and reign for ever and ever.
Amen.
A time of silence
The Lord’s Prayer
HYMN
All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and with us sing
alleluia, alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam thou silver moon with softer gleam,
O praise him, O praise him, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Thou rushing wind that art so strong, ye clouds that sail in heaven along,
O praise him, alleluia!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice, ye lights of evening, find a voice;
O praise him…
Thou flowing water, pure and clear, make music for thy Lord to hear,
alleluia, alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright, that givest man both warmth and light,
O praise him…
Dear mother earth, who day by day unfoldest blessings on our way,
O praise him, alleluia!
The flowers and fruits that in thee grow, Let them his glory also show;
O praise him…
And come all ye of tender heart, forgiving others, take your part,
O sing ye alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear, praise God and on him cast your care;
O praise him…
And thou, most kind and gentle death, waiting to hush our latest breath,
O praise him, alleluia!
Thou leadest home the child of God, and Christ our Lord the way hath trod;
O praise him…
Let all things their creator bless, and worship him in humbleness;
O praise him, alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son, and praise the Spirit, three in One;
O praise him…
CLOSING PRAYER
The Lord is my light, my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the refuge of my life; of whom, then, shall I be afraid?
One thing I ask of the Lord, one thing I seek;
to dwell in the presence of my God, to gaze on Your holy place.
O wait for the Lord! Have courage and wait,
wait for the Lord.
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore.