Proper Offices for: The Lamp Lighting

Proper Offices for:

The Lamp Lighting

For use before another service: evensong, mass, compline, in the evening and in no wise in substitution for them.

The church is dark, or partially so, when the service is to begin. The ministers prosess in All stand, and the Officiant greets the people with these words.

 The light shineth in darkness, the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

People: Thanks be to God.

One of the following, or some other Short Lesson of Scripture appropriate to the occasion or to the season, may then be read

Jesus said, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For 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. 2 Corinthians 4:5-6

If I say, "If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.” Psalm 139:11-12

The Officiant then says the Prayer for Light, using any one of the following for some other suitable prayer, first saying

Let us pray.

Almighty God, we give thee thanks for surrounding us, as daylight fades, with the brightness of the vesper light; and we implore thee of thy great mercy that, as thou enfold us with the radiance of this light, so thou wouldst shine into our hearts the brightness of thy Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord who with thee and the Holy Ghost Livest and reigneth one God unto the ages or ages. Amen.

Grant us, Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Lord God Almighty, as thou hast taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and hast madeth the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by thy brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen.

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 love of thy only Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

In Advent use the collect for the First Sunday of Advent

In Christmas, Epiphany, and other Feasts of the Incarnation use the collect for the First Sunday after Christmas

In Lent and other times of penitence

Almighty and most merciful God, kindle within us the fire of love, that by its cleansing flame we may be purged of all our sins and made worthy to worship thee in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

In Easter Season

Eternal God, who led your ancient people into freedom by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night: Grant that we who walk in the light of thy presence may rejoice in the liberty of the children of God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

On Festivals of Saints

Lord Christ, thy saints who have been the lights of the world in their generation: Grant that we who follow in their footsteps may be made worthy to enter with them into that heavenly country where thou livest and reigneth for ever and ever. Amen.

The candles at the Altar are now lighted, as are other candles and lamps as may be convenient. During the candle-lighting, an appropriate anthem or psalm may be sung, or silence kept. The following hymn, or a metrical version of it, is then sung

O Gladdening Light - Phos hilaron

O Gladdening Light of the Holy Glory of the Immortal Father, Heavenly, Holy, Blessed Jesus Christ! Now that we have come to the setting of the sun and behold the vesper light, we sing thy praises God Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Meet it is for Thee at all times to be hymned with undefiled voices, O Son of God, Giver of life. Therefore the whole creation doth glorify Thee!

The service may then continue in any of the following ways:

With Evening Prayer, beginning with the Psalms; or with some other Office or Devotion;

With the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, beginning with the Salutation and Collect of the Day;