Family Prayer
in the Early Evening
These devotions follow the basic structure of the Daily Office of the Church and are particularly appropriate for families with young children.
The Reading and the Collect may be read by one person, and the other parts said in unison, or in some other convenient manner.
This devotion may be used before or after the evening meal.
Opening Sentence
How excellent is your mercy, O God!
The children of men shall take refuge under the shadow of your wings.
For with you is the well of life,
and in your light shall we see light.
PSALM 36:7, 9
To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him.
DANIEL 9:9
PHOS HILARON
O Gladsome Light
O gladsome light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,*
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,*
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,*
O Son of God, O Giver of Life, and to be glorified through all the worlds. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” How the gold has grown dim, 2 The precious sons of Zion, 3 Even jackals offer the breast; 4 The tongue of the nursing infant sticks 5 Those who once feasted on delicacies 6 For the chastisement of the daughter of my people has been greater 7 Her princes were purer than snow, 8 Now their face is blacker than soot; 9 Happier were the victims of the sword 10 The hands of compassionate women 11 The Lord gave full vent to his wrath; 12 The kings of the earth did not believe, 13 This was for the sins of her prophets 14 They wandered, blind, through the streets; 15 “Away! Unclean!” people cried at them. 16 The Lord himself has scattered them; 17 Our eyes failed, ever watching 18 They dogged our steps 19 Our pursuers were swifter 20 The breath of our nostrils, the Lord's anointed, 21 Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, 22 The punishment of your iniquity, O daughter of Zion, is accomplished; I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
A hymn or canticle may be used. 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, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen. Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities that may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Lord God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ triumphed over the powers of death and prepared for us our place in the new Jerusalem: Grant that we, who have this day given thanks for his resurrection, may praise you in that City of which he is the light, and where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.A READING FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE
REVELATION 3:20
Lamentations 4
The Holy Stones Lie Scattered
how the pure gold is changed!
The holy stones lie scattered
at the head of every street.
worth their weight in fine gold,
how they are regarded as earthen pots,
the work of a potter's hands!
they nurse their young;
but the daughter of my people has become cruel,
like the ostriches in the wilderness.
to the roof of its mouth for thirst;
the children beg for food,
but no one gives to them.
perish in the streets;
those who were brought up in purple
embrace ash heaps.
than the punishment of Sodom,
which was overthrown in a moment,
and no hands were wrung for her.
whiter than milk;
their bodies were more ruddy than coral,
the beauty of their form was like sapphire.
they are not recognized in the streets;
their skin has shriveled on their bones;
it has become as dry as wood.
than the victims of hunger,
who wasted away, pierced
by lack of the fruits of the field.
have boiled their own children;
they became their food
during the destruction of the daughter of my people.
he poured out his hot anger,
and he kindled a fire in Zion
that consumed its foundations.
nor any of the inhabitants of the world,
that foe or enemy could enter
the gates of Jerusalem.
and the iniquities of her priests,
who shed in the midst of her
the blood of the righteous.
they were so defiled with blood
that no one was able to touch
their garments.
“Away! Away! Do not touch!”
So they became fugitives and wanderers;
people said among the nations,
“They shall stay with us no longer.”
he will regard them no more;
no honor was shown to the priests,
no favor to the elders.
vainly for help;
in our watching we watched
for a nation which could not save.
so that we could not walk in our streets;
our end drew near; our days were numbered,
for our end had come.
than the eagles in the heavens;
they chased us on the mountains;
they lay in wait for us in the wilderness.
was captured in their pits,
of whom we said, “Under his shadow
we shall live among the nations.”
you who dwell in the land of Uz;
but to you also the cup shall pass;
you shall become drunk and strip yourself bare.
he will keep you in exile no longer;
but your iniquity, O daughter of Edom, he will punish;
he will uncover your sins.The Apostles' Creed
Intercessions
Prayers may be offered for ourselves and others. It is appropriate that prayers of thanksgiving for the blessings of the day, and penitence for our sins, be included.The Lord's Prayer
The Collect
The Second Sunday in Lent
A COLLECT FOR RESURRECTION HOPE
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