Evening Prayer on Monday — Monday, 31 August 2026 — Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne, Missionary, 651 [Lesser Festival]

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 Greatness

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, how excellent is your greatness!

2 You are clothed with majesty and honour, wrapped in light as in a garment.

3 The sun knows the time for its setting. You make darkness that it may be night.

4 O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

5 When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.

6 May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; may the Lord rejoice in his works;

7 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will make music to my God while I have my being.

Psalm 104.1, 2, 21b ,22a, 26, 32, 33, 35*

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 127

The Lord shall keep watch over your going out and your coming in.

1 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.

2 Unless the Lord keeps the city, the guard keeps watch in vain.

3 It is in vain that you hasten to rise up early and go so late to rest, eating the bread of toil, for he gives his beloved sleep.

4 Children are a heritage from the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his gift.

5 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.

6 Happy are those who have their quiver full of them: they shall not be put to shame when they dispute with their enemies in the gate.

The Lord shall keep watch over your going out and your coming in.

Lord, you are ever watchful and bless us with your gifts; as you provide for all our needs, so help us to build only what pleases you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Psalm 128

How abundant is your goodness, O Lord.

1 Blessed are all those who fear the Lord, and walk in his ways.

2 You shall eat the fruit of the toil of your hands; it shall go well with you, and happy shall you be.

3 Your wife within your house shall be like a fruitful vine; your children round your table, like fresh olive branches.

4 Thus shall the one be blest who fears the Lord.

5 The Lord from out of Zion bless you, that you may see Jerusalem in prosperity all the days of your life.

6 May you see your children’s children, and may there be peace upon Israel.

How abundant is your goodness, O Lord.

O Christ, our true vine, may we your branches be ever fruitful in your service and share your love and peace with all your children, in the power of the Spirit and to the glory of the Father.

Psalm 129

The Lord ransoms the life of his servants.

1 ‘Many a time have they fought against me from my youth,’ may Israel now say;

2 ‘Many a time have they fought against me from my youth, but they have not prevailed against me.’

3 The ploughers ploughed upon my back and made their furrows long.

4 But the righteous Lord has cut the cords of the wicked in pieces.

5 Let them be put to shame and turned backwards, as many as are enemies of Zion.

6 Let them be like grass upon the housetops, which withers before it can grow,

7 So that no reaper may fill his hand, nor a binder of sheaves his bosom;

8 And none who go by may say, ‘The blessing of the Lord be upon you. We bless you in the name of the Lord.’

The Lord ransoms the life of his servants.

Jesus our redeemer, you bore the cut of the lash for us and our salvation; help us to bear our sufferings and to share in the affliction of all who suffer for your holy name.

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.

2 Samuel 7.4-17

But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’ Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. When he commits iniquity, I will punish him with a rod such as mortals use, with blows inflicted by human beings. But I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever. In accordance with all these words and with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

Canticle

A Song of God’s Grace, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 58 (page 615), may be said

The glorious grace of God is freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Alleluia.

1 Blessed are you, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for you have blest us in Christ Jesus with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

2 You chose us to be yours in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before you.

3 In love you destined us for adoption as your children, through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of your will,

4 To the praise of your glorious grace, which you freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

5 In you, we have redemption through the blood of Christ, the forgiveness of our sins,

6 According to the riches of your grace, which you have lavished upon us.

7 You have made known to us, in all wisdom and insight, the mystery of your will,

8 According to your purpose which you set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time,

9 To unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth.

Ephesians 1.3-10

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.

The glorious grace of God is freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Alleluia.

Scripture Reading

One or more readings appointed for the day are read.

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

2 Corinthians 5.1-10

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling—if indeed, when we have taken it off we will not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden, because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For all of us must appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.

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

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and be not wise in your own sight. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and be not wise in your own sight. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and be not wise in your own sight.

from Proverbs 3

Gospel Canticle

The Magnificat (The Song of Mary) is normally said, or A Song of the Blessed (page 606) 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 media and the arts Farming and fishing Commerce and industry Those whose work is unfulfilling, stressful or fraught with danger All who are unemployed

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

Everlasting God, you sent the gentle bishop Aidan to proclaim the gospel in this land: grant us to live as he taught in simplicity, humility and love for the poor; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, 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.

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