EVENING PRAYER FOR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2021

(Anskar, Archbishop of Hamburg, Missionary to Denmark and Sweden, 865)

The Invitatory and Psalter

V: O God, make speed to save us.
R: 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 for ever. Amen.

Alleluia

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 behold 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.

The Psalm or Psalms Appointed

Psalm 119: Yodh Manus tuæ fecerunt me
⁷³   Your hands have made me and fashioned me; *
give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments.
⁷⁴   Those who fear you will be glad when they see me, *
because I trust in your word.
⁷⁵   I know, O LORD, that your judgments are right *
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
⁷⁶   Let your loving-kindness be my comfort, *
as you have promised to your servant.
⁷⁷   Let your compassion come to me, that I may live, *
for your law is my delight.
⁷⁸   Let the arrogant be put to shame, for they wrong me with lies; *
but I will meditate on your commandments.
⁷⁹   Let those who fear you turn to me, *
and also those who know your decrees.
⁸⁰   Let my heart be sound in your statutes, *
that I may not be put to shame.

Psalm 119: Kaph Defecit in salutare
⁸¹   My soul has longed for your salvation; *
I have put my hope in your word.
⁸²   My eyes have failed from watching for your promise, *
and I say, “When will you comfort me?”
⁸³   I have become like a leather flask in the smoke, *
but I have not forgotten your statutes.
⁸⁴   How much longer must I wait? *
when will you give judgment against those who persecute me?
⁸⁵   The proud have dug pits for me; *
they do not keep your law.
⁸⁶   All your commandments are true; *
help me, for they persecute me with lies.
⁸⁷   They had almost made an end of me on earth, *
but I have not forsaken your commandments.
⁸⁸   In your loving-kindness, revive me, *
that I may keep the decrees of your mouth.

Psalm 119: Lamedh In æternum, Domine
⁸⁹   O LORD, your word is everlasting; *
it stands firm in the heavens.
⁹⁰   Your faithfulness remains from one generation to another; *
you established the earth, and it abides.
⁹¹   By your decree these continue to this day, *
for all things are your servants.
⁹²   If my delight had not been in your law, *
I should have perished in my affliction.
⁹³   I will never forget your commandments, *
because by them you give me life.
⁹⁴   I am yours; oh, that you would save me! *
for I study your commandments.
⁹⁵   Though the wicked lie in wait for me to destroy me, *
I will apply my mind to your decrees.
⁹⁶   I see that all things come to an end, *
but your commandment has no bounds.

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 Lessons

A reading from Mark 8:11-26

The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.” And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side. Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out– beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” They said to one another, “It is because we have no bread.” And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?” And they said to him, “Seven.” Then he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Can you see anything?” And the man looked up and said, “I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Then he sent him away to his home, saying, “Do not even go into the village.”

Here ends the Reading.

The Song of Mary Magnificat
Luke 1:46-55

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
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 will be for ever. Amen.

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

V: The Lord be with you.
R: And also with you.
Let us pray.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by 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.

Suffrages B

That this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful,
We entreat you, O Lord.

That your holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and goodwill,
We entreat you, O Lord.

That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins and offenses,
We entreat you, O Lord.

That there may be peace to your Church and to the whole world,
We entreat you, O Lord.

That we may depart this life in your faith and fear,
and not be condemned before the great judgment seat of Christ,
We entreat you, O Lord.

That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit in
the communion of [________ and] all your saints,
entrusting one another and all our life to Christ,
We entreat you, O Lord.

Collect of the Day

Almighty and everlasting God, you sent your servant Anskar as an apostle to the people of Scandinavia, and enabled him to lay a firm foundation for their conversion, though he did not see the results of his labors: Keep your Church from discouragement in the day of small things, knowing that when you have begun a good work, you will bring it to a fruitful conclusion; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Protection

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. Amen.

Prayer for Mission

O God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let the whole earth also worship you, all nations obey you, all tongues confess and bless you, and men and women everywhere love you and serve you in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Here you are invited to add your own prayers of intercession and thanksgiving.

Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13

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