Friday Evening Prayer 24th November 2023

Friday Evening Prayer 24th November 2023; Readings:  Psalm 60, 61;  Ecclesiastes 6.10-7; Revelation 9:13-21.

Led by Felicity Scott, Liturgical Assistant at St John the Baptist Anglican Church Bulimba, QLD, Australia.

 

Prayer Transcript:

 

Welcome to Friday Evening Prayer according to the Anglican ‘A Prayer book for Australia’.

Let us pray:

 

1

Peace to those who are far off.

Peace to those who are near. 

Ephesians 2.17

  

 

Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit: 

as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen. 

  

 

2 The Opening Canticle, The Lord’s Servant

He was despised; he was rejected: 
a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. 
As one from whom people hide their faces: 
he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 
Ours were the sufferings he bore: 
ours the torments he endured, 
While we thought he was being punished: 
struck by God and brought low. 
He was pierced for our sins: 
bruised for no fault but ours. 
His punishment has won our peace: 
and by his wounds we are healed. 
We had all strayed like sheep: 
all taking our own way; 
But the Lord laid on him: 
the guilt of us all. 

Isaiah 53.3–6

  

 

3 The Opening Prayer

The day is now past and the night is at hand. 

Let us pray with one heart and mind. 

  

 

Silence may be kept.

Father of lights, receive the prayer and praise we offer you as our evening sacrifice; make us a light for all the world, delivered by your goodness from all the works of darkness; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. 

Amen.

  

 

 

4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each.

Psalm 60; 61

60

1 O God, you have cast us off and broken us:

you were enraged against us—O restore us again!

2 You have caused the land to quake, you have rent it open:

heal the rifts, for the earth quivers and breaks.

3 You have steeped your people in a bitter draught:

you have given them a wine to make them stagger.

4 You have caused those that fear you to take flight:

so that they run from the bow.

5 O save us by your right hand, and answer us:

that those whom you love may be delivered.

6 God has said in his holy place:

‘I will exult and divide Shechem,

I will parcel out the valley of Succoth.

7 ‘Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine:

Ephraim is my helmet, and Judah my rod of command.

8 ‘Moab is my wash-bowl, over Edom will I cast my shoe:

against Philistia will I shout in triumph.’

9 Who will lead me into the fortified city:

who will bring me into Edom?

10 Have you not cast us off, O God?:

you go not out with our armies.

11 Give us your help against the enemy:

for human help is vain.

12 By the power of our God we shall do valiantly:

for it is he that will tread down our enemies.

61

1 Hear my loud crying, O God:

and give heed to my prayer.

2 From the ends of the earth I call to you

when my heart faints:

O set me on the rock that is higher than I.

3 For you have been my refuge:

and my strong tower against the enemy.

4 I will dwell in your tent for ever:

and find shelter in the covering of your wings.

5 For you have heard my vows, O God:

you have granted the desire of those that fear your name.

6 You will give the king long life:

and his years shall endure through many generations.

7 He shall dwell before God for ever:

loving-kindness and truth shall be his guard.

8 So will I ever sing praises to your name:

while I daily perform my vows.

5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow

Holy Spirit, sanctifier, cleanse us from all hypocrisy, unite us to one another in the bonds of peace and love, and confirm us in holiness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen.

  

 

6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed.

 

1st Reading

Ecclesiastes 6.10–7.13

10 Whatever has come to be, has already been named, and it is known what human beings are, and that they are not able to dispute with those who are stronger. 
11 The more words, the more vanity, so how is one the better? 
12 For who knows what is good for mortals while they live the few days of their vain life, which they pass like a shadow? For who can tell them what will be after them under the sun? 
1 A good name is better than precious ointment,
     and the day of death, than the day of birth. 
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning
     than to go to the house of feasting;
for this is the end of everyone,
     and the living will lay it to heart. 
3 Sorrow is better than laughter,
     for by sadness of countenance the heart is made glad. 
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning;
     but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 
5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise
     than to hear the song of fools. 
6 For like the crackling of thorns under a pot,
     so is the laughter of fools;
     this also is vanity. 
7 Surely oppression makes the wise foolish,
     and a bribe corrupts the heart. 
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning;
     the patient in spirit are better than the proud in spirit. 
9 Do not be quick to anger,
     for anger lodges in the bosom of fools. 
10 Do not say, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’
     For it is not from wisdom that you ask this. 
11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance,
     an advantage to those who see the sun. 
12 For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money,
     and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to the one who possesses it. 
13 Consider the work of God;
     who can make straight what he has made crooked?

2nd Reading

Revelation 9.13–21

13 Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.’ 15 So the four angels were released, who had been held ready for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, to kill a third of humankind. 16 The number of the troops of cavalry was two hundred million; I heard their number. 17 And this was how I saw the horses in my vision: the riders wore breastplates the colour of fire and of sapphire and of sulphur; the heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, and fire and smoke and sulphur came out of their mouths. 18 By these three plagues a third of humankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulphur coming out of their mouths. 19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they inflict harm. 20 The rest of humankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands or give up worshipping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk. 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their fornication or their thefts.

The readings may be followed by a period of silence for reflection, a hymn or

May your word live in us 

and bear much fruit to your glory.

 

7 The Canticle, A Song to the Lamb

You are worthy, our Lord and God: 
to receive glory and honour and power. 
For you have created all things: 
and by your will they have their being. 
You are worthy, O Lamb, for you were slain: 
and by your blood you ransomed for God 
saints from every tribe and language and nation. 
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests 
serving our God: 
and they will reign with you on earth. 
To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb: 
be blessing and honour and glory and might, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Revelation 4.11; 5.9b–10

  

 

8 The Prayers

Lord have mercy. 

Christ have mercy. 

Lord have mercy 

 

9 The Lord’s Prayer and the Collect of the Day

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. 
Save us from the time of trial 
and deliver us from evil. 
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours 

now and for ever. Amen. 

  

 

Prayer of the Week

Almighty God,

whose sovereign purpose none can make void:

give us faith to be steadfast amid the tumults of this world,

knowing that your kingdom shall come and your will be done,

to your eternal glory;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

10 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.

 

Merciful Lord, we ask for your mercy to be given to the country of Ukraine. We ask for your intervention, to impart peace as an initiative in the minds of all those at war across the world. We ask this in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen

 

Loving God, we thank you for our lives and the gifts you bestow upon us. Inspire us all to know and live our vocation, give courage to people to listen and follow the call to serve you in the holy church as your priests, religious and lay ministers. Help those you call to listen to what your Holy Spirit is saying; that they may fulfill your holy will and make all things new, through Christ our Lord. Amen

 

We pray for those listed on the Anglican cycle of prayer:

Loving God, we ask for your blessing on;

The Diocese of Awka – The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion)

The Diocese of Tasmania: †Richard Condie; Assistant Bishop – †Chris Jones; Clergy and People.

The Parish of Millmerran: David Snape – Missioner Locum

Anglicare SQ Children & Families, Foster & Kinship Care (Roma)

Anglican Schools Australia Management Committee and Member Schools: President – Peter Laurence

Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer
 

11 The Evening Collect

Lighten our darkness, Lord, we pray: 

and in your great mercy 

defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; 

for the love of your only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. 

Amen.

  

 

12

The Lord be with you.

And also with you. 

Let us praise the Lord. 

Thanks be to God. 

  

 

May the God of all grace, who has called us to eternal glory in Christ, restore, establish, strengthen us. To him be the dominion for ever and ever. 

Amen.

1 Peter 5.10–11