Evening Prayer on Friday — Friday, 4 September 2026 — Birinus, Bishop of Dorchester (Oxon), Apostle of Wessex, 650 [Commemoration]

Preparation

O God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us.

The Blessing of Light (page 110) may replace the Preparation at Evening Prayer on any occasion.

One or more of the following is said or sung:

A prayer of thanksgiving (page 110),

Blessed are you, Lord God, creator of day and night: to you be praise and glory for ever. As darkness falls you renew your promise to reveal among us the light of your presence. By the light of Christ, your living Word, dispel the darkness of our hearts that we may walk as children of light and sing your praise throughout the world. Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit: Blessed be God for ever.

or a suitable hymn,

or A Song of Entreaty

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and in your faithfulness give ear to my supplications; answer me in your righteousness.

2 Enter not into judgement with your servant, for in your sight shall no one living be justified.

3 My spirit faints within me; my heart within me is desolate.

4 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul gasps for you like a thirsty land.

5 O Lord, make haste to answer me; my spirit fails me; hide not your face from me lest I be like those who go down to the Pit.

6 Let me hear of your loving-kindness in the morning, for in you I put my trust; show me the way I should walk in, for I lift up my soul to you.

7 Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God; let your kindly spirit lead me on a level path.

8 Revive me, O Lord, for your name’s sake; for your righteousness’ sake, bring me out of trouble.

Psalm 143.1, 2, 4, 6-8, 10, 11

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.

This opening prayer may be said

That this evening may be holy, good and peaceful, let us pray with one heart and mind.

Silence is kept.

As our evening prayer rises before you, O God, so may your mercy come down upon us to cleanse our hearts and set us free to sing your praise now and for ever. Amen.

The Word of God

Psalmody

The appointed psalmody is said.

Psalm 145

Great is the Lord and highly to be praised.

1 I will exalt you, O God my King, and bless your name for ever and ever.

2 Every day will I bless you and praise your name for ever and ever.

3 Great is the Lord and highly to be praised; his greatness is beyond all searching out.

4 One generation shall praise your works to another and declare your mighty acts.

5 They shall speak of the majesty of your glory, and I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

6 They shall speak of the might of your marvellous acts, and I will also tell of your greatness.

7 They shall pour forth the story of your abundant kindness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

8 The Lord is gracious and merciful, long-suffering and of great goodness.

9 The Lord is loving to everyone and his mercy is over all his creatures.

10 All your works praise you, O Lord, and your faithful servants bless you.

11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your mighty power,

12 To make known to all peoples your mighty acts and the glorious splendour of your kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; your dominion endures throughout all ages.

14 The Lord is sure in all his words and faithful in all his deeds.

15 The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all those who are bowed down.

16 The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord, and you give them their food in due season.

17 You open wide your hand and fill all things living with plenty.

18 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving in all his works.

19 The Lord is near to those who call upon him, to all who call upon him faithfully.

20 He fulfils the desire of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.

21 The Lord watches over those who love him, but all the wicked shall he destroy.

22 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord and highly to be praised.

King of the universe, you show the bright glory of your reign in acts of mercy and enduring love; raise the spirits of the downcast and restore those who have fallen away, that we may sing for ever of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Each psalm or group of psalms may end with

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.

If there are two Scripture readings, the first may be read here, or both may be read after the canticle.

Job 9.1-24

Then Job answered: ‘Indeed I know that this is so; but how can a mortal be just before God? If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand. He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength —who has resisted him, and succeeded?— he who removes mountains, and they do not know it, when he overturns them in his anger; who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble; who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars; who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the Sea; who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south; who does great things beyond understanding, and marvellous things without number. Look, he passes by me, and I do not see him; he moves on, but I do not perceive him. He snatches away; who can stop him? Who will say to him, “What are you doing?” ‘God will not turn back his anger; the helpers of Rahab bowed beneath him. How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him? Though I am innocent, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser. If I summoned him and he answered me, I do not believe that he would listen to my voice. For he crushes me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause; he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness. If it is a contest of strength, he is the strong one! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him? Though I am innocent, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse. I am blameless; I do not know myself; I loathe my life. It is all one; therefore I say, he destroys both the blameless and the wicked. When disaster brings sudden death, he mocks at the calamity of the innocent. The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the eyes of its judges— if it is not he, who then is it?

Canticle

A Song of the Justified, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 61 (page 619), may be said

Our hope is not in vain, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts. Alleluia.

1 God reckons as righteous those who believe, who believe in him who raised Jesus from the dead;

2 For Christ was handed over to death for our sins, and raised to life for our justification.

3 Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

4 Through Christ we have gained access to the grace in which we stand, and rejoice in our hope of the glory of God.

5 We even exult in our sufferings, for suffering produces endurance,

6 And endurance brings hope, and our hope is not in vain,

7 Because God’s love has been poured into our hearts, through the Holy Spirit, given to us.

8 God proves his love for us: while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

9 Since we have been justified by his death, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath.

10 Therefore, we exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we have now received our reconciliation.

Romans 4.24, 25; 5.1-5, 8, 9, 11

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.

Our hope is not in vain, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts. Alleluia.

Scripture Reading

One or more readings appointed for the day are read.

The reading(s) may be followed by a time of silence.

Mark 15.21-32

They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.

It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, ‘The King of the Jews.’ And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!’ In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, ‘He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.’ Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.

A suitable song or chant, or a responsory in this or another form, may follow

Forsake me not, O Lord; be not far from me, O my God. Forsake me not, O Lord; be not far from me, O my God. Make haste to help me, O Lord of my salvation. Be not far from me, O my God. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Forsake me not, O Lord; be not far from me, O my God.

from Psalm 38

Gospel Canticle

The Magnificat (The Song of Mary) is normally said, or Saviour of the World (page 644) may be said

You have scattered the proud in their conceit, and lifted up the lowly.

1 My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; he has looked with favour on his lowly servant.

2 From this day all generations will call me blessed; the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his name.

3 He has mercy on those who fear him, from generation to generation.

4 He has shown strength with his arm and has scattered the proud in their conceit,

5 Casting down the mighty from their thrones and lifting up the lowly.

6 He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.

7 He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, to remember his promise of mercy,

8 The promise made to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children for ever.

Luke 1.46-55

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.

You have scattered the proud in their conceit, and lifted up the lowly.

Prayers

Thanksgiving may be made for the day.

Intercessions are offered for peace for individuals and their needs

Prayers may include the following concerns from the cycle on pages 362–363

The King, members of parliament and the armed forces Peace and justice in the world Those who work for reconciliation All whose lives are devastated by war and civil strife Prisoners, refugees and homeless people

One of the forms of prayer found on pages 362–371 may be used.

These responses may be used

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer

(or)

Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.

Silence may be kept.

The Collect of the day is said

Almighty God, who called your Church to bear witness that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself: help us to proclaim the good news of your love, that all who hear it may be drawn to you; through him who was lifted up on the cross, and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer is said

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray

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. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

(or)

Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

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, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Conclusion

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

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia. Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.

© The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England, 2000–2005 Official Common Worship apps, books and eBooks are available from Church House Publishing.

The Bible readings (other than the psalms) are from The New Revised Standard Version Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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