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To accompany Session 6B: Praying the Psalms - Worship
O sing to the Lord a new song:
sing to the Lord all the earth. (Psalm 96.1)
Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
The Opening Canticle, The Song of the Three
Blessed are you, the God of our forebears:
worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
Blessed is your holy and glorious name:
worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
Blessed are you, glorious in your holy temple:
worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
Blessed are you who behold the depths:
worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom:
worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
Blessed are you in the heights of heaven:
worthy to be praised and exalted for ever. (Song of the Three 29–34)
The Opening Prayer
The day is now past and the night is at hand.
Let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence may be kept.
Father of lights, receive the prayer and praise we offer you as our evening sacrifice; make us a light for all the world, delivered by your goodness from all the works of darkness; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
Read one or more Psalms. A pause is observed after each.
At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
God of grace, we thank you for all your gifts to us: grant us to accept both pain and joy in faith and hope, and never to fail in love to you and to our sisters and brothers; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed.
The readings may be followed by a period of silence for reflection, a hymn or
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
7 The Canticle, The Song of Simeon (Nunc dimittis)
Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation:
which you have prepared in the sight of every people:
A light to reveal you to the nations:
and the glory of your people Israel.
Luke 2.29–32
8 The Prayers
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
9 The Lord’s Prayer and the Collect of the Day
10 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.
11 The Evening Collect
Be present, merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night: that we, who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting world, may rest on your eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
12 The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May Jesus, the Lord of peace, give us peace at all times and in all ways. Amen.
© Anglican Church of Australia. A Prayer Book for Australia: for use together with The Book of Common Prayer (1662) and An Australian Prayer Book (1978). Mulgrave: Broughton, 1995.
1 The glory of the Lord shall be revealed;
and all people shall see it together.
Isaiah 40.5
Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
2 The Opening Canticle, A Song of Praise
God be gracious to us and bless us:
and make your face to shine upon us,
That your way may be known upon earth:
your salvation among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God:
let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy:
for you judge the peoples with equity
and govern the nations upon earth.
Let the peoples praise you, O God:
let all the peoples praise you.
Then the earth will bring forth its increase:
and God, our own God, will bless us.
You, O God, will bless us:
and all the ends of the earth will fear you.
Psalm 67
3 The Opening Prayer
The day is now past and the night is at hand.
Let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence may be kept.
Father of lights, receive the prayer and praise we offer you as our evening sacrifice; make us a light for all the world,
delivered by your goodness from all the works of darkness; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each.
5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
God of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: graft in our hearts the love of your name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of your great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed.
The readings may be followed by a period of silence for reflection, a hymn or
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
7 The Canticle, The Song of Mary (Magnificat)
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord:
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
Who has looked with favour 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.
God has mercy on those who fear him:
from generation to generation.
The Lord has shown strength with his arm:
and scattered the proud in their conceit,
Casting down the mighty from their thrones:
and lifting up the lowly.
God has filled the hungry with good things:
and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his servant Israel:
to remember the promise of mercy,
The promise made to our forebears:
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Luke 1.47–55
8 The Prayers
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
9 The Lord’s Prayer and the Collect of the Day
10 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.
11 The Evening Collect
Lighten our darkness, Lord, we pray: and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
12 The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May our Lord Jesus Christ, and God our Father, comfort our hearts and establish them in every good work and word. Amen.
2 Thessalonians 2.16–17
© Anglican Church of Australia. A Prayer Book for Australia: for use together with The Book of Common Prayer (1662) and An Australian Prayer Book (1978). Mulgrave: Broughton, 1995.
1 Peace to those who are far off.
Peace to those who are near.
Ephesians 2.17
Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
2 The Opening Canticle, The Lord’s Servant
He was despised; he was rejected:
a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.
As one from whom people hide their faces:
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Ours were the sufferings he bore:
ours the torments he endured,
While we thought he was being punished:
struck by God and brought low.
He was pierced for our sins:
bruised for no fault but ours.
His punishment has won our peace:
and by his wounds we are healed.
We had all strayed like sheep:
all taking our own way;
But the Lord laid on him:
the guilt of us all.
Isaiah 53.3–6
3 The Opening Prayer
The day is now past and the night is at hand.
Let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence may be kept.
Father of lights, receive the prayer and praise we offer you as our evening sacrifice; make us a light for all the world, delivered by your goodness from all the works of darkness; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each.
5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
Holy Spirit, sanctifier, cleanse us from all hypocrisy, unite us to one another in the bonds of peace and love, and confirm us in holiness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed.
The readings may be followed by a period of silence for reflection, a hymn or
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
7 The Canticle, A Song to the Lamb
You are worthy, our Lord and God:
to receive glory and honour and power.
For you have created all things:
and by your will they have their being.
You are worthy, O Lamb, for you were slain:
and by your blood you ransomed for God
saints from every tribe and language and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests
serving our God:
and they will reign with you on earth.
To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb:
be blessing and honour and glory and might, for ever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 4.11; 5.9b–10
8 The Prayers
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy
9 The Lord’s Prayer and the Collect of the Day
10 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.
11 The Evening Collect
Lighten our darkness, Lord, we pray: and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
12 The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May the God of all grace, who has called us to eternal glory in Christ, restore, establish, strengthen us. To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5.10–11
© Anglican Church of Australia. A Prayer Book for Australia: for use together with The Book of Common Prayer (1662) and An Australian Prayer Book (1978). Mulgrave: Broughton, 1995.