Evening Prayer — from All Saints’ Day until — the day before the First Sunday of Advent — Saturday, 7 November 2026 — Willibrord of York, Bishop, Apostle of Frisia, 739 [Lesser Festival]

Preparation

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

Your faithful servants bless you. They make known the glory of your kingdom. Alleluia.

One or more of the following is said or sung:

this or another prayer of thanksgiving

Blessed are you, Sovereign God, our light and our salvation, to you be glory and praise for ever. Now, as darkness is falling, wash away our transgressions, cleanse us by your refining fire and make us temples of your Holy Spirit. By the light of Christ, dispel the darkness of our hearts and make us ready to enter your kingdom, where songs of praise for ever sound. Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Blessed be God for ever.

A Song of Tobit (page 596), the following or another suitable hymn

Give me the wings of faith to rise within the veil, and see the saints above, how great their joys, how bright their glories be.

Once they were mourning here below, and wet their couch with tears; they wrestled hard, as we do now, with sins and doubts and fears.

I ask them whence their victory came: they, with united breath, ascribe their conquest to the Lamb, their triumph to his death.

They marked the footsteps that he trod, his zeal inspired their breast, and, following their incarnate God, possess the promised rest.

Our glorious Leader claims our praise for his own pattern given; while the long cloud of witnesses show the same path to heaven.

Isaac Watts (Tune: CM)

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.

Deuteronomy 28.1-6

If you will only obey the Lord your God, by diligently observing all his commandments that I am commanding you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth; all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the Lord your God:

Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.

Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your livestock, both the increase of your cattle and the issue of your flock.

Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading-bowl.

Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

Canticle

A Song of God’s Assembled, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 70 (page 628) or number 73 (page 631), may be said

We have come before the throne of God to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Alleluia.

1 We have come before God’s holy mountain, ♦ to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God.

2 We have come before countless angels making festival, ♦ before the assembly of the firstborn citizens of heaven.

3 We have come before God, who is judge of all, ♦ before the spirits of the just made perfect.

4 We have come before Jesus, ♦ the mediator of the new covenant.

5 We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken: ♦ so let us give thanks and offer to God acceptable worship,

6 Full of reverence and awe; ♦ for our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 12.22-24a, 28, 29

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.

We have come before the throne of God to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Alleluia.

Scripture Reading

One or more readings appointed for the day are read.

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

Matthew 20.1-16

‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the labourers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place; and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?” They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard.” When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, “Call the labourers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.” When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’

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

Lord, you will guide me with your counsel and afterwards receive me with glory. Lord, you will guide me with your counsel and afterwards receive me with glory. For I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. And afterwards receive me with glory. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Lord, you will guide me with your counsel and afterwards receive me with glory.

from Psalm 73

Gospel Canticle

The Magnificat (The Song of Mary) is normally said, or the Nunc dimittis (The Song of the Simeon) (page 613) may be said

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news and proclaim the gospel of peace. Alleluia.

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.

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news and proclaim the gospel of peace. Alleluia.

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 364–365

The saints on earth, that they may live as citizens of heaven All people, that they may hear and believe the word of God All who fear the winter months All sovereigns and political leaders, that they may imitate the righteous rule of Christ All who grieve or wait with the dying

A form of prayer found on page 384 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 Father, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of all: govern the hearts and minds of those in authority, and bring the families of the nations, divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin, to be subject to his just and gentle rule; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer is said

Uniting our prayers with the whole company of heaven, 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)

Uniting our prayers with the whole company of heaven, 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

May Christ, who has opened the kingdom of heaven, bring us to reign with him in glory. 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.

Implemented by Simon Kershaw at Crucix. Implementation copyright © Simon Kershaw, 2002–2021.