Evening Prayer on Wednesday — Wednesday, 23 September 2026 — Ember Day

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 59

You, O God, are my strong tower.

1 Rescue me from my enemies, O my God; set me high above those that rise up against me.

2 Save me from the evildoers and from murderous foes deliver me.

3 For see how they lie in wait for my soul and the mighty stir up trouble against me.

4 Not for any fault or sin of mine, O Lord; for no offence, they run and prepare themselves for war.

5 Rouse yourself, come to my aid and see; for you are the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel.

6 Awake, and judge all the nations; show no mercy to the evil traitors.

7 They return at nightfall and snarl like dogs and prowl about the city.

8 They pour out evil words with their mouths; swords are on their lips; ‘For who’, they say, ‘can hear us?’

9 But you laugh at them, O Lord; you hold all the nations in derision.

10 For you, O my strength, will I watch; you, O God, are my strong tower.

11 My God in his steadfast love will come to me; he will let me behold the downfall of my enemies.

12 Slay them not, lest my people forget; send them reeling by your might and bring them down, O Lord our shield.

13 For the sins of their mouth, for the words of their lips, let them be taken in their pride.

14 For the cursing and falsehood they have uttered, consume them in wrath, consume them till they are no more.

15 And they shall know that God rules in Jacob, and to the ends of the earth.

16 And still they return at nightfall and snarl like dogs and prowl about the city.

17 Though they forage for something to devour, and howl if they are not filled,

18 Yet will I sing of your strength and every morning praise your steadfast love;

19 For you have been my stronghold, my refuge in the day of my trouble.

20 To you, O my strength, will I sing; for you, O God, are my refuge, my God of steadfast love.

You, O God, are my strong tower.

Strong and merciful God, stand with the oppressed against the triumph of evil and the complacency of your people, and establish in Jesus Christ your new order of generosity and joy, for he is alive and reigns now and for ever.

Psalm 60

Restore us again, O God our Saviour.

1 O God, you have cast us off and broken us; you have been angry; restore us to yourself again.

2 You have shaken the earth and torn it apart; heal its wounds, for it trembles.

3 You have made your people drink bitter things; we reel from the deadly wine you have given us.

4 You have made those who fear you to flee, to escape from the range of the bow.

5 That your beloved may be delivered, save us by your right hand and answer us.

6 God has spoken in his holiness: ‘I will triumph and divide Shechem, and share out the valley of Succoth.

7 ‘Gilead is mine and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet and Judah my sceptre.

8 ‘Moab shall be my washpot; over Edom will I cast my sandal; across Philistia will I shout in triumph.’

9 Who will lead me into the strong city? Who will bring me into Edom?

10 Have you not cast us off, O God? Will you no longer go forth with our troops?

11 Grant us your help against the enemy, for earthly help is in vain.

12 Through God will we do great acts, for it is he that shall tread down our enemies.

Restore us again, O God our Saviour.

Risen Christ, you claim your own among the nations; mend what is broken in us, loving Saviour; do not forsake us when we fail, but in your service grant us daring and love; for your name’s sake.

Psalm (67)

1 God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us,

2 That your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations.

3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

4 O let the nations rejoice and be glad, for you will judge the peoples righteously and govern the nations upon earth.

5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

6 Then shall the earth bring forth her increase, and God, our own God, will bless us.

7 God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

In the face of Jesus Christ your light and glory have blazed forth, O God of all the nations; with all your people, may we make known your grace and walk in the ways of peace; for your name’s sake.

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 Kings 4.1-7

Now the wife of a member of the company of prophets cried to Elisha, ‘Your servant my husband is dead; and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but a creditor has come to take my two children as slaves.’ Elisha said to her, ‘What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?’ She answered, ‘Your servant has nothing in the house, except a jar of oil.’ He said, ‘Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbours, empty vessels and not just a few. Then go in, and shut the door behind you and your children, and start pouring into all these vessels; when each is full, set it aside.’ So she left him and shut the door behind her and her children; they kept bringing vessels to her, and she kept pouring. When the vessels were full, she said to her son, ‘Bring me another vessel.’ But he said to her, ‘There are no more.’ Then the oil stopped flowing. She came and told the man of God, and he said, ‘Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your children can live on the rest.’

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.

John 2.1-11

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

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

Remember your promise of mercy, to Abraham and his children for ever.

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.

Remember your promise of mercy, to Abraham and his children for ever.

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

O Lord, we beseech you mercifully to hear the prayers of your people who call upon you; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil them; 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.

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