Using Noonday Prayer for Public Worship

Using Noonday Prayer for Public Worship

            The purpose of this essay is to guide parishes in the use of the noon office in the 1979 Book of Common Payer for public worship. This office is a very flexible one and can be used for a number of different purposes. It could be used by a group of parishioners in your town’s central business district gathering for lunch and a prayer or for the parish staff to pray together in the middle of the work day.  In those instances it might make sense to just read or chant the office straight out of the BCP without any of the additions mentioned in the text or that can be deduced from it.

            However if you are hoping to use the service to draw worshipers to your church for public worship at noon, it is a bit short. That is, it could easily be read in less than 10 minutes.  But for public worship you should like to have it take 15 to 20 minutes, otherwise people may think it a lot of effort to attend for not much return. First I will discuss how to flesh out noon prayer using only resources in the BCP itself. Then turn to additional resources.

Resources from the Prayer Book

           

So before turning to page 103 with the order of service we should consider an opening psalm, canticle, hymn or other liturgical chant.  The Great Litany is one of the under used treasures of the Prayer Book in the modern Episcopal Church and was used historically in cathedrals at noon since there was no noon office in the original Prayer Books. I recommend the following to begin the office.

            Feral Days                                          The Great Litany       page 148

            Feast Days                                         The Te Deum             page 52

            Feral Days in Advent                                    Magnificat                  page 65

            Feral Days in Easter                         Pascha nostrum        page 46

            Turning to the order for noon, while it will not lengthen the noon office, after a while you may find the three psalms printed in the Order for Noon Prayer to be a bit repetitive, if you pray it more than once a week. The traditional Psalms for Sext are sections of Psalm 119.

 

XI or  Kaph                                                                            page 770

XII or Lamedh                                                                       page 770

XIII or Mem                                                                            page 771

XIV or             Nun                                                                             page 772

XV or Samekh                                                                                    page 772

XVI or Ayin                                                                            page 773

The rubrics in the BCP are more flexible and in essence allow any psalms to be said at noon.

Again while it will not lengthen the office, for but variation and seasonality, the opening sentences for Morning Prayer can be used as readings in place of those in the Order for Noon Prayer.

Advent                                                                                    page 37

Christmas                                                                               page 37

Epiphany                                                                                page 38

Lent                                                                                        page 38

Holy Week                                                                             page 39

Easter                                                                                     page 39

Trinity                                                                                    page 39

All Saints and Ss. Days                                                          page 40

            Prayer, along with praise, is central to the office. Thus prayers are a good place to expand the service. The Collects are one such place were additions can be made to extend the order and reflect seasonality. The tradition is that one can use any odd number of collects up to seven. The Order for Noon prayers has four collects that you can use along with the Collect of the Day.

            The Collect of the day is the Collect for the feast on that day if there is one or if it is a Sunday the Collect for that Sunday. Otherwise it is the collect for the previous Sunday.

            Further the Prayer Book traditionally appointed the following collects to be used for the whole of the season indicated.

Advent                        First Sunday in Advent                     page 159

Christmas                   3^rd Collect of Xmas                            page 161

Lent                            Ash Wednesday                                page 166

Easter                         3^rd Collect of Easter                          page 170

                                   

In addition it is consistent with the tradition of the prayer book to use the collect of any black letter (bolded) feast days in the previous eight days and on weekdays, the previous Sunday even if it is not the collect of the day.

            Further, one can use the collect for the votive mass that would traditionally be said on that day. They are as follows.

Sunday                       of the Holy Trinity                            page 199

Monday                      of the Angels                                                  page 200 

Tuesday                      of the Holy Ghost                                          page 200

Wednesday                for any necessity /

                                                For all Baptized Christians               page 201                   

Thursday                   of the Blessed Sacriment                  page 201

Friday                                     of the Holy Cross                                                      page 201

Saturday                                 of the BVM                             pages 188. 189 or 192

Any day                                  for the Faithful Departed                             page 202              

            Collects are not the only prayers that can be used to expand the daily office and all of the additional prayers from page 810-841 in the BCP can be used. If the litany is not said at the beginning of the service, then additional intercession would be good idea. I recommend:

            2. For All Sorts and Conditions of Men                              page 814

            7. For the Church                                                                  page 816

            19. For the President of the United States

and all in Civil Authority                                           page 820

            Another option for intercession would be any of the forms for the prayers for the people beginning on page 383.

From other Approved Liturgical Resources

            The principal additional resource for extending the noon office is the Hymnal. The traditional office Hymn, to be sung after the opening versicle and response and the Gloria Patri, is “O GOD of truth, O Lord of might” which is Hymns number 21 & 22 in the Hymnal. In addition to the office hymn, a hymn could be sung before the noon office in place of the chants I suggested above. Also a hymn could be sung after the office. These hymns could be used to give additional seasonality to the office.

            Another resource that could be used is the first volume of enriching our worship that has additional opening sentences on pages 18,19 that could be used in place of the reading provided in the order for noon prayer. There are additional canticles on pages 30-41 that could be used as an opening chant for the office.

Additional Materials

            The following are additional materials that could be used to extend the noon office.

            A traditional noon devotion (about 700 years old) is the praying the Angelus Domini, a series of three versicles and responses each set followed by the Ave Maria and concluding with the collect of the Annunciation. This should be used carefully, while the text is largely from the scriptures, the petition for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin is not and some people have scruples. So I have omitted it here, which is quite justified since it is a later interpolation.

            V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.

R. And she conceived by the Holy Ghost.

Hail Mary Full of Grace the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Amen.

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

R. Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary Full of Grace the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Amen.

V. And the Word was made Flesh.

R. And dwelt amongst us.

Hail Mary Full of Grace the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Amen.

Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

As I mentioned above, I generally use four chants to begin the office depending on the day and season. However there are 5 Psalm compilations from the 1789 BCP that are meant for use on: Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, the Ascension, and Whitsunday. I use these on the appropriate days.

http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/1789/Psalter_1789.htm

Before the opening versicle and response you can read an opening sentence of scripture. An appropriate one would be:

On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour. Acts 10:9

Turning to the Psalms, the office maybe extended and enriched by the use of antiphons. This is authorized by the BCP on page 141, “Antiphons drawn from the Psalms themselves, or from the opening sentences given in the Offices, or from other passages of Scripture may be used with the Psalms and biblical Canticles.” I personally only use seasonal antiphons for noon prayer, because traditionally one antiphon is used for the group of three psalms said at each of the little hours. These are the ones I use.

Christmas: The Angel said unto the shepherds: behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy: * for unto you is born this day the Savior of the world, Alleluia!

Epiphany: When they had opened their treasures, the wise men presented unto the Lord * gold and frankincense and myrrh, alleluia.

Palm Sunday: Give sentence with me, O God, and defend my cause; * for thou, O Lord, art the God of my strength.

Easter: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Ascension: He lifted up his hands and blessed them, * and was carried up into heaven, Alleluia!

Whitsunday: The Spirit of the Lord hath filled * the whole world, Alleluia!

Trinity: Praise and unending glory to God the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit, through ages everlasting.

Another way to extend the noon office is with an extended or supplemental reading. If you are not using Matins or Evensong in your parish on that day, you could use one of the readings appointed in the Lectionary for that service. Alternatively you could read through the scriptures from beginning to end at noon prayer one chapter a day. You could read the Rule of St. Benedict, the Articles of Religion, the decrees of the Ecumenical Councils, or the book of homilies.

A sermon preached after the concluding versicle and response would be another way to extend noon prayer.  I think it would clash with the tone of the service which is vey much praise and prayer oriented.

An addition element that can be added after the noon office is to chant the Marian antiphon after the office.  I only do this from Advent to the Purification, because this is when Marian elements seem most important to highlight and because Alma Redemptoris Mater is the most beautiful of the Marian antiphons.

Adopting the Noon Office for Terce or Noone

If you want to adopt the noon office for mid-morning or mid-afternoon worship, this can be done with a few easy changes.

First, if you are going to use an opening sentence of scripture, the following would be good for Terce and Noone respectively.

At the third hour they crucified him. Mark 15:25

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. Acts 3:1

Second, the office hymn is different.

Terce              COME, Holy Ghost, who ever One               Hymns 19,20

Noone             O God, creation’s secret force                     Hymns 14,15

Third, the traditional psalms are different sections of Psalm 119 than are prayed at noon.

Terce

V or He                                                                                   page 766

VI or Waw                                                                              page 766

VII or Zayin                                                                            page 767

VIII or Heth                                                                            page 768

IX or Teth                                                                               page 768

X or Yodh                                                                               page 769

Noone

XVII or Pe                                                                               page 774

XVIII or Sadhe                                                                       page 774

XIX or Qoph                                                                           page 775

XX or Resh                                                                             page 776

XXI or Shin                                                                             page 777

XXII or Taw                                                                            page 777

The antiphons for the Psalms are also different.

Terce

Christmas: Lo, a maiden hath borne the Monarch whose Name is everlasting: she hath both the joy of a mother and honor of a virgin: * before her hath none been seen like her, nor shall there be after, Alleluia!

Epiphany: Thy light is come, O Jerusalem, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee, * and the Gentiles shall walk in thy light, alleluia.

Palm Sunday: The Lord God will help me: * therefore shall I not be confounded.

Easter: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Ascension: And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, * they said, Alleluia!

Whitsuntide: They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, * and began to speak, Alleluia! Alleluia!

Trinity: Our hope art thou, our salvation and glory, * O holy, O blessed, O glorious Trinity.

Noone

Christmas: There was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, praising God and saying: * Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good-will, Alleluia!

Epiphany: O ye seas and river-floods, shew forth the praises of the Lord; O ye fountains of living water, bless ye the Lord of all, alleluia.

Palm Sunday: Let them be confounded that persecute me: * but let not me be confounded, O Lord my God.

Easter: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Ascension: Exalt ye the King of kings, * and sing a hymn unto God, Alleluia!

Whitsuntide: O ye Wells of Salvation, and all that move through the baptismal waters thereof, * sing praises to God, Alleluia!

Trinity: Let praise and glory resound from the lips of all men to the Father and the Only begotten; * and equal praise be given forever to the Holy Spirit.

If you are praying more than one of: Terce, Sext, or Noone, you will need different readings for the services. You could use several of the suggestions I made above, i.e. you could use the opening sentences for Morning Prayer at Terce, read the Rule of St. Benedict at Sext and read a chapter a day in course at Noone.

In Conclusion

As I mentioned at the beginning of this essay, Noon Prayer as a standalone service is not its only use. It can be used privately for prayers before meetings or lunches. In can be prayed publicly as an adjunct to Holy Communion. But the above should allow you to use the service for public worship at noon.

Sponsor

Those who enjoy our content might look at the site of our sponsor, St. Cuthbert's Ginger Treats. 
https://www.stcuthbertsgingertreats.com/

The Order for Daily Evening Prayer ALL

The Order for Daily

Evening Prayer

¶ The Angelus Domine may be said here.

¶ The Minister shall begin the Evening Prayer by reading one or more of the following Sentences of Scripture; and. then he shall say that which is written after them. But he may, at his discretion, pass at once from the Sentences to the Lord’s Prayer.

¶ And Note, that when the Confession and Absolution are omitted, the Minister may, after the Sentences, pass to the Versicles, O Lord open thou our lips, etc., in which case the Lord's Prayer shall be said with the other prayers, immediately after The Lord be with you, etc., and before the Versicles and Responses which follow, or, in the Litany, as there appointed.

THE LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him. Hab. ii. 20.
LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. Psalm xxvi. 8.
Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense; and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice. Psalm cxli. 2.
O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth stand in awe of him. Psalm xcvi. 9.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be alway acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength and my redeemer. Psalm xix. 14, 15.
Watch ye, for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. St. Mark xiii, 35, 36.
Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. Rev. xxi. 3.
And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Isaiah lx. 3.
I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Psalm li. 3.
To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws which he set before us. Dan. ix. 9, 10.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us; but if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 St. John i. 8, 9.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah liii. 6.
Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. xv. 57.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Col. iii. 1.
Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. Heb. ix. 24.

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. Psalm xlvi. 4.
The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Rev. xxii. 17.

Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. Isaiah vi. 3.

¶ Then the Minister shall say,

DEARLY beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us, in sundry places, to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness; and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before the face of Almighty God our heavenly Father; but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient heart; to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same, by his infinite goodness and mercy. And although we ought, at all times, humbly to acknowledge our sins before God; yet ought we chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet together to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy Word, and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore I pray and beseech you, as many as are here present, to accompany me with a pure heart, and humble voice, unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying—

¶ Or he shall say,

LET us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.

A General Confession.

¶ To be said by the whole Congregation. after the Minister, all kneeling.

ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father; We have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare thou those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore thou those who are penitent; According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake; That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.

The Declaration of Absolution, or Remission of Sins.

¶ To be made by the Priest alone, standing; the People still kneeling.

¶ But NOTE, That the Priest, at his discretion, may use, instead of what follows, the Absolution from the Order for the Holy Communion.

ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live, hath given power, and commandment, to his Ministers, to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the Absolution and Remission of their sins. He pardoneth and absolveth all those who truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel.
Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance, and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do at this present; and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy; so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ Then the Minister shall kneel, and say the Lord’s Prayer; the People still kneeling, and repeating it with him, both here, and wheresoever else it is used in Divine Service.

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.

¶ Then likewise he shall say,

V: O Lord, open thou our lips.

R: And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.

V: O God make speed to save us

R: O Lord make haste to help us

V: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:

R: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

V: Praise ye the Lord.
R: The Lord's Name be praised.

¶ Then may be sung a hymn

The Psalms

¶ Then shall follow a Portion of the PSALMS, according to the Use of this Church. And at the end of every Psalm, and likewise at the end of the Magnificat, Cantate Domino, Bonum est confiteri, Nunc dimittis, Deus misereatur, Benedic anima mea, may be sung or said the Gloria Patri; and at the end of the whole portion or Selection of Psalms for the day, shall be sung or said the Gloria Patri, or else the Gloria in excelsis, as followeth.

Gloria Patri

GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Gloria in excelsis.

GLORY be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.
For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Lessons and Canticles

¶ Then shall be read the First Lesson, according to the Table or Calendar. And NOTE, That before every Lesson, the Minister shall say, Here beginneth such a Chapter [or Verse of such a Chapter]. of such a Book; and after every Lesson, Here endeth the First [or the Second] Lesson.

¶ After which shall be sung or said the Hymn called Magnificat, with their antiphon as followeth.

¶ But, NOTE, That the Minister, at his discretion, may omit one of the Lessons in Evening Prayer, the Lesson read being followed by one of the Evening Canticles.

Magnificat. St. Luke i. 46.

Ant. Sunday & BVM: The Lord hath regarded * the lowliness of his handmaiden.

Mon. & Thur.: The Lord hath magnified me; * and holy is his Name.

Tues. & Sat.: The Lord hath showed strength with his arm; * he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

Wed., Fri., & Lent: The Lord’s mercy is on them that fear him * throughout all generations.
Adv & Annun :  The Angle of the Lord declared unto Mary* and she conceived by the Holy Ghost

Xmas: The word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us* full of grace and truth Alleluia!

Easter: She witnessed His conception and birth* death and resurrection. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Ss’ Days: The Lord remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel; * and hath exalted the humble and meek.

MY soul doth magnify the Lord, * and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded * the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth * all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me; * and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him * throughout all generations.
He hath showed strength with his arm; * he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, * and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; * and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel; * as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, for ever.

¶ Or this Psalm.

Cantate Domino. Psalm xcviii.

O SING unto the LORD a new song; * for he hath done marvellous things.
With his own right hand, and with his holy arm, * hath he gotten himself the victory.
The LORD declared his salvation; * his righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of the heathen.
He hath remembered his mercy and truth toward the house of Israel; * and all the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God.
Show yourselves joyful unto the LORD, all ye lands; * sing, rejoice, and give thanks.
Praise the LORD upon the harp; * sing to the harp with a psalm of thanksgiving.
With trumpets also and shawms, * O show yourselves joyful before the LORD, the King.
Let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is * the round world, and they that dwell therein.
Let the floods clap their hands, and let the hills be joyful together before the LORD * for he cometh to judge the earth.
With righteousness shall he judge the world * and the people with equity.

¶ Or this.

Bonum est confiteri. Psalm xcii.

IT is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, * and to sing praises unto thy Name, O Most Highest;
To tell of thy loving-kindness early in the morning, * and of thy truth in the night season;
Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the lute; * upon a loud instrument, and upon the harp.
For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy works; * and I will rejoice in giving praise for the operations of thy hands.

After this shall be said

Gloria Patri

GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

¶ Then shall be read, in like manner, the Second Lesson, taken out of the New Testament, according to the Table or Calendar.

¶ And after that shall be sung or said the Hymn called Nunc dimittis, with their antiphon  as followeth.

Nunc dimittis. St. Luke ii. 29.

Ant: Lord mine eyes have seen * thy salvation

Adv: Thou art a light* to enlighten the Gentiles

Xmas: Thou art the Glory* of thy people Isreal

Lent: Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, * for thy mercy endureth forever

Easter: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

LORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, * according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen * thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared * before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, * and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

¶ Or this Psalm

Deus misereatur. Psalm lxvii.

GOD be merciful unto us, and bless us, * and show us tile light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us;
That thy way may be known upon earth, * thy saving health among all nations.
Let the people praise thee, O God; * yea, let all the people praise thee.
O let the nations rejoice and be glad; * for thou shalt judge the folk righteously, and govern the nations upon earth.
Let the people praise thee, O God; * yea, let all the people praise thee.
Then shall the earth bring forth her increase; * and God, even our own God, shall give us his blessing.
God shall bless us; * and all the ends of the world shall fear him.

¶ Or this.

Benedic, anima mea. Psalm ciii.

PRAISE the LORD, O my soul; * and all that is within me, praise his holy Name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul, * and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thy sin, * and healeth all thine infirmities;
Who saveth thy life from destruction, * and crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness.
O praise the LORD, ye angels of his, ye that excel in strength; * ye that fulfill his commandment, and hearken unto the voice of his word.
O praise the LORD, all ye his hosts; * ye servants of his that do his pleasure.
O speak good of the LORD, all ye works of his, in all places of his dominion: * praise thou the LORD, O my soul.

The Creed

¶ Then shall be said the Apostles’ Creed by the Minister and the People, standing. And any Churches may, instead of the words, He descended into hell, use the words, He went into the place of departed spirits, which are considered as words of the same meaning in the Creed.

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary: Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty: From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost: The holy Catholic Church; The Communion of Saints: The Forgiveness of sins: The Resurrection of the body: And the Life everlasting. Amen.

¶ Or the Creed commonly called the Nicene.

I BELIEVE in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible:
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God; Begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of very God; Begotten, not made; Being of one substance with the Father; By whom all things were made: Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man: And was .crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried: And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures: And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father: And he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord, and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spake by the Prophets: And I believe one Catholic and Apostolic Church: I acknOwledge one Baptism for the remission of sins: And I look for the Resurrection of the dead: And the Life of the world to come. Amen.

The Prayers

¶ And after that, these Prayers following, the people devoutly kneeling; the Minister first pronouncing,

Minister         The Lord be with you.
Answer           And with thy spirit.
Minister         Let us pray.

Lord have mercy upon us

Christ have mercy upon us

Lord have mercy upon us

¶ Here, shall follow the Lord's Prayer.

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.

Minister         O Lord, show thy mercy upon us;

Answer           And grant us thy salvation.

Minister         O Lord, save the State

Answer           And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.

Minister         Endue thy ministers with righteousness;

Answer           And make thy chosen people joyful.

Minister         O Lord, save thy people.

Answer           And bless thine inheritance.

Minister         Give peace in our time, O Lord.

Answer           For it is thou, Lord, only, that makest us dwell in safety.

Minister         Create in us clean hearts, O God;

Answer           And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

¶ Then shall be said the Collect of the Day, and after that the Collects and Prayers following.

A Collect for Peace.

O GOD, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed; Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee, we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

A Collect for Aid against Perils.

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 Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

¶ Here may be sung a hymn. The traditional hymns are

            Advent:            Conditor alme siderum

                                    Creator of the Stary Hight

            Christmas:       Veni Redemptor gentium

                                    O Come Redeemer of the Earth

            Epiphany:        Hostis Herodes impie or Lucis Creator optime

                                    Why does the Impious Herod Fear or Blessed Creator of the Light

            Lent1:              Ex more docti mystic

                                    By prescepts tought of Ages Past

            Lent2:              Ecce tempus idoneum

                                    Lo Now is our Excepted Day

            Passiontide:     Vexilla regis prodeunt

                                    The Royal Banners Forward Go

            Easter:             Chorus novae Jerusalem or Ad cenam Agni provide

                                    Up New Jerusalem and Sing or The Lamb’s High Banquet Called to Share

            Ascensiontide:  Aeterne rex altissime

                                    O Thou Eternal King Most High

            Whitsuntide:    Beata nobis guadia

                                    O Joy because the Circling Year

            Trinity:            Adesto, sancta Trinitas

                                    Be Near us Holy Trinity

            OT :                 Lucis Creator optime or O lux beata Trinitas

                                    O Blessed Creator of the Light or O Trinity most Blessed Light

                                   

¶ In places where it may be convenient, here followeth the Anthem.

¶ The Minister may here end the Evening Prayer with such Prayer, Prayers, taken out of this Book, as he shall think fit.

A Prayer for The President of the United States, and all in Civil Authority.

ALMIGHTY God, whose kingdom is everlasting and power infinite; Have mercy upon this whole land; and so rule the hearts of thy servants THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, The Governor of this State, and all others in authority, that they, knowing whose ministers they are, may above all things seek thy honour and glory; and that we and all the People, duly considering whose authority they bear, may faithfully and obediently honour them, according to thy blessed Word and ordinance; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

A Prayer for the Clergy and People.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift; Send down upon our Bishops, and other Clergy, and upon the Congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy grace; and, that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our Advocate arid Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.

A Prayer for all Conditions of Men.

O GOD, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men; that thou wouldest be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for thy holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are any ways afflicted, or distressed, in mind, body, or estate; [*especially those for whom our prayers are desired;] that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them, according to. their several necessities; giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

A General Thanksgiving.

ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, we, thine unworthy servants, do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all men; [*particularly to those who desire now to offer up their praises and thanksgivings for thy late mercies vouchsafed unto them.] We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable 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 beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may he unfeignedly thankful; and that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

¶ Note, That the General Thanksgiving may be said by the Congregation with the Minister.

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom.

ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee; and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their requests; Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.

2 Cor. xiii. 14.

THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

Here endeth the Order of Evening Prayer.