Evening Prayer on Wednesday — Wednesday, 16 September 2026 — Ninian, Bishop of Galloway, Apostle of the Picts, c.432 [Lesser Festival] — Edward Bouverie Pusey, Priest, Tractarian, 1882 [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 God’s Descending

1 I love you, O Lord my strength. The Lord is my crag, my fortress and my deliverer.

2 In my distress I called upon the Lord and cried out to my God for help.

3 He heard my voice in his temple and my cry came to his ears.

4 He parted the heavens and came down and thick darkness was under his feet.

5 He rode upon the cherubim and flew; he came flying on the wings of the wind.

6 He made darkness his covering round about him, dark waters and thick clouds his pavilion.

7 From the brightness of his presence, through the clouds burst hailstones and coals of fire.

8 The Lord also thundered out of heaven; the Most High uttered his voice with hailstones and coals of fire.

9 For you will save a lowly people and bring down the high looks of the proud.

10 You also shall light my candle; the Lord my God shall make my darkness to be bright.

11 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried in the fire; he is a shield to all who trust in him.

Psalm 18.1, 6, 7 ,10-14, 28, 29, 31

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 119.33-56

My delight shall be in your commandments.

33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes and I shall keep it to the end.

34 Give me understanding and I shall keep your law; I shall keep it with my whole heart.

35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for therein is my delight.

36 Incline my heart to your testimonies and not to unjust gain.

37 Turn away my eyes lest they gaze on vanities; O give me life in your ways.

38 Confirm to your servant your promise, which stands for all who fear you.

39 Turn away the reproach which I dread, because your judgements are good.

40 Behold, I long for your commandments; in your righteousness give me life.

41 Let your faithful love come unto me, O Lord, even your salvation, according to your promise.

42 Then shall I answer those who taunt me, for my trust is in your word.

43 O take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your judgements.

44 So shall I always keep your law; I shall keep it for ever and ever.

45 I will walk at liberty, because I study your commandments.

46 I will tell of your testimonies, even before kings, and will not be ashamed.

47 My delight shall be in your commandments, which I have greatly loved.

48 My hands will I lift up to your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.

49 Remember your word to your servant, on which you have built my hope.

50 This is my comfort in my trouble, that your promise gives me life.

51 The proud have derided me cruelly, but I have not turned aside from your law.

52 I have remembered your everlasting judgements, O Lord, and have been comforted.

53 I am seized with indignation at the wicked, for they have forsaken your law.

54 Your statutes have been like songs to me in the house of my pilgrimage.

55 I have thought on your name in the night, O Lord, and so have I kept your law.

56 These blessings have been mine, for I have kept your commandments.

My delight shall be in your commandments.

God of loving mercy, in this place of our pilgrimage turn your laws into songs, that we may find your promises fulfilled in 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.

Proverbs 2.1-15

My child, if you accept my words and treasure up my commandments within you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; if you indeed cry out for insight, and raise your voice for understanding; if you seek it like silver, and search for it as for hidden treasures— then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk blamelessly, guarding the paths of justice and preserving the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; prudence will watch over you; and understanding will guard you. It will save you from the way of evil, from those who speak perversely, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil; those whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.

Canticle

A Song of the Blessed, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 69 (page 627), may be said

Rejoice and be glad for you are the light of the world, and great is your reward in heaven. Alleluia.

1 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

2 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

3 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

4 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

5 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

6 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

7 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

8 Blessed are those who suffer persecution for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5.3-10

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.

Rejoice and be glad for you are the light of the world, and great is your reward in heaven. Alleluia.

Scripture Reading

One or more readings appointed for the day are read.

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

Colossians 1.9-20

For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

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 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 362–363

The social services All who work in the criminal justice system Victims and perpetrators of crime The work of aid agencies throughout the world Those living in poverty or under oppression

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 and everlasting God, who called your servant Ninian to preach the gospel to the people of northern Britain: raise up in this and every land heralds and evangelists of your kingdom, that your Church may make known the immeasurable riches of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, 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

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.

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