Evening Prayer

Vespers · about 15 minutes

Seven parts, in this order: Opening, Psalm, Reading, the Song of Mary, Prayers, the Lord’s Prayer, Blessing. Say the bold lines out loud, or read them.

Opening

Stand, or stay exactly where you are.

O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me.

Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.

Psalm

Read slowly, and pause at the end of each line.

In plain wordsAn evening prayer. In the temple, incense was burned at sunset; this asks God to receive our prayer the same way. Jesus sang psalms like this with his disciples on the night before he died.

I call upon you, O LORD; come quickly to me;give ear to my voice when I call to you.Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD;keep watch over the door of my lips.

Psalm 141:1–3 · NRSV · Other translations

Reading

In plain wordsEaster Sunday evening. Two sad friends walk home and a stranger joins them. At dinner he breaks the bread, and they realize it is Jesus.

On the road

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them,but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad.Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?”

What they had hoped

He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him.But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place.Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning,and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive.Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.”

Jesus explains the Scriptures

Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared!Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?”Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

At the table

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on.But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them.When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”

Back to Jerusalem

That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together.They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!”Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Luke 24:13–35 · NRSV · Other translations

The Song of Mary

In plain wordsMary’s song when she is expecting Jesus. God notices the people the world overlooks, and turns things the right way up.

My soul magnifies the Lord,and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;for the Mighty One has done great things for me,and holy is his name.His mercy is for those who fear himfrom generation to generation.He has shown strength with his arm;he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,and lifted up the lowly;he has filled the hungry with good things,and sent the rich away empty.He has helped his servant Israel,in remembrance of his mercy,according to the promise he made to our ancestors,to Abraham and to his descendants forever.

Luke 1:46–55 · NRSV · Other translations

Show the older wording (King James)

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.
He hath shewed 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.

Prayers

Add your own here, aloud or silently. There is no wrong way to do this.

For the sick and those who care for them. Lord, have mercy.

For those who are alone tonight. Lord, have mercy.

For those who cannot sleep. Lord, have mercy.

For those who are hungry tonight, and those without a safe place to sleep. Lord, have mercy.

The Lord’s Prayer

Together, or alone. Pray the form you learned; both are used in Lutheran churches.

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,
forever and ever. Amen.

Show the contemporary form

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.

Matthew 6:9–13. Historic text of the Western church. English Language Liturgical Consultation. Read this in another translation

Both forms are in current use. Pray whichever one you learned.

Blessing

The almighty and merciful God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless us and keep us. Amen.