Dear Companions of Our Journeys::
The structural outline and sample Evening Prayer liturgy that follow are offered so you might create your own personal expressions using this very ancient form of worship, a form and daily rhythm deeply rooted in the Judeo-Christian experience. Namaste + Peace, Lizz
A Structure for Evening Prayer
- An opening sentence, often called the Invitiatory, the invitation, traditionally an excerpt from Scripture; an excerpt from poetry or wisdom writings could also be used
- A form of self examination and confession
- Psalm - Nan C. Merrill's Psalms for Praying: An Invitation to Wholeness contains her poetic, non-gendered rendering of the Psalms
- Scripture Reading
- Canticle or song (can be said or sung)
- A recitation of your Creed, if you hold to one. For Christians, this is traditionally the Apostles Creed
- The Prayers includes adoration, gratitude and thanksgiving toward God, prayers for the needs of others and prayers for your own needs
- The Benediction(s) or blessings
EVENING PRAYER
The Invitation
Light and peace in the name of Christ.
Seek the One who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep
darkness into the morning, and darkens the day into night;
who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out upon the surface of the earth.
Form of Self Examination & Confession
God of the spirit of kindness,
In the glory of earth and sea and stars,
In the kaleidoscope of color and shade and shapeliness,
In patterns of humor and tenderness and touch,
I celebrate your generosity,
Forgive me when I forget the gift in my every breath,
The care that sustains my every moment,
The grace that can transform my every day.
Set me free from the prison of a grudging heart, mean desires and
resentful spirits.
Give me the courage to act with justice and generosity, and draw me into love that does not calculate or keep score.
As the day ends and darkness falls, may the darkness be a reminder of your mercy which blots out all my sins. Amen
Psalm
139: 1-10
Lord, you have searched me out and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You discern my thoughts from afar.
You trace my journeys and my resting-places
And are acquainted with all my ways.
There is not a word on my lips,
But you, O Lord, know it all together.
You press upon me behind and before
And lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is so high that I cannot attain to it.
Where can I go then from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I climb up to heaven, you are there;
If I make the grave my bed, you are there also.
If I take the wings of the morning
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there your hand will lead me
And your right hand hold me fast.
Glory to you, God, Creator, sustaining, redeeming. Amen.
Reading
[from either the Old or New Testament or from Wisdom poetry or prose. If you wish to follow the Revised Common Lectionary for daily readings for evening prayer, search it out on the internet where there are several websites to plug into]
Music/Song I like Taize chant, a sample of which follows:
In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful,
in the Lord I will rejoice.
Look to God, do not be afraid;
lift up your voices, the Lord is near;
Lift up your voices, the Lord is near.
Vesper Prayer
For the darkness of the night enveloping the earth
Enclosing the day’s labor
Thanks be to you, O God.
For the quiet that surrounds me
And your promise of sleep for my body
And the hope of healing for my soul
Thanks be to you, O God.
I bring not only my own weariness
But the tiredness of people who struggle this night.
I bring not only my own pain
But the sufferings of those who cry out.
Hear our souls’ prayers for rest, O God.
Hear our hearts’ pleas for healing.
The Prayers
I lift up my prayers to God:
Prayers of thanksgiving
Prayers on behalf of others
Prayers for our own needs
A Prayer of General Thanksgiving
Almighty God, source of all mercies,
we give you humble thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness
to us and to all whom you have made.
We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable 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 pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies
that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,
not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by giving up our selves to your service,
and by walking before you
in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen
Allow some time for centering prayer, quiet reflection and as Rainbo Mars says, “Enjoy your breath.”
The Benediction
Lord,
It is night.
The night is for stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God.
It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
What has not been done has not been done;
Let it be.
The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our lives
Rest in you.
The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,
All dear to us,
And all who have no peace.
The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly to a new day,
New joys,
New possibilities.
In your name we pray.
Amen.
From the New Zealand Prayer Book
