Vespers (Readings and Prayers)
All welcome for evening prayers online, Sundays at 6pm for 6.15pm start. You might like to light a candle.
INTRODUCTORY RITE
Introductory verse
O God, come to our aid.
God, make haste to help us.
Glory be to Abba God, Christ the Beloved, and the Spirit of Love,
as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Optional song, chant or silence.
Acknowledgment of traditional owners
We acknowledge the unceded land and waters of the Traditional Owners where we stand today. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and recognise the work of younger Indigenous leaders in the community.
Acknowledge First Nations people present by their names.
PSALMODY
Psalm
A reading from [specify Psalm].
Reader/leader reads the Psalm.
Pause for personal reflection.
Psalm prayer
May your grace, Abba God, we pray,
at all times go before us and follow after;
and make us always determined to carry out good works.
Through our Saviour Jesus Christ, your Own,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever.
Amen.
WORD OF GOD
Scripture reading
A reading from [specify reading].
Reader/leader reads the Scripture.
Pause for personal reflection.
People may share a brief response (e.g. phrase from the reading).
PRAISE AND INTERCESSION
Canticle of Mary (Magnificat)
Reader(s)/leader reads the four stanzas of the Magnificat, Luke 1:46-55, as follows.
My soul proclaims your greatness, O God,
and my spirit rejoices in you, my Saviour,
for you have looked with favour upon your lowly servant
and from this day forward all generations will call me blessed.
For you, the Almighty, have done great things for me,
and holy is your Name.
Your mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear you.
You have shown strength with your arm;
you have scattered the proud in their conceit;
you have deposed the mighty from their thrones
and raised the lowly to high places.
You have filled the hungry with good things
while you have sent the rich away empty.
You have come to the aid of Israel your servant,
mindful of your mercy –
the promise you made to our ancestors,
to Sarah and Abraham
and their descendants forever.
Alleluia.
Intercessions
Free prayers.
Lord’s Prayer
As children of a loving God, we pray in the confident words of Jesus Christ,
God’s Own:
Abba God in heaven,
glory to you!
Your rule of love renews the earth.
In your name, we take part in that renewal –
helping, and not harming,
caring, and not coercing …
We pray that we might receive with thanks
the bread we need,
the money we need,
the warmth we need …
We pray that forgiveness and freedom
flow through our lives.
Teach us that in sharing life
we live life to the full …
Remind us that evil is possible.
Still, we are not seduced by it,
but confident that love is stronger than hate,
justice other than revenge,
true peace the work of your Spirit.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding prayer
Listen favourably to our evening prayer, God,
and grant that as we follow your Beloved’s example,
we may, by perseverance, yield a harvest of good works.
We make our prayer through Christ our Saviour.
Amen.
Blessing
The grace of our Sovereign Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the friendship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore.
Amen.
Optional song, chant or silence.
Leader may share an image and/or music as those gathered depart gently in silence.
Acknowledgement: Based on a template short version of Evening Prayer from the Catholic Diocese of Maitland Newcastle. Excerpts from Evening Prayer are taken from The Divine Office, © 1974, the hierarchies of Australia, England and Wales, Ireland. All rights reserved. Canticle of Mary from the Inclusive Bible. Lord’s Prayer paraphrase by Andrew Collis.
