Thursday Evening Prayer – 30th November 2023

Thursday Evening Prayer – 30th November 2023 Readings: Psalm 73; Ecclesiastes 9.17–10-15; Revelation 12.7-18.

Led by Felicity Scott, Liturgical Assistant at St John the Baptist Anglican Church Bulimba, QLD, Australia. Accompanied with guest reader Olivia Scott.

The full prayer transcript is available by going to this episode on the Podcast website.

https://dailyprayeranglicanprayerbookforaustralia.podbean.com

Welcome to Thursday Evening prayer from the Anglican ‘A prayer book for Australia’.

We share the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ:

GOD in his infinite mercy, forgives all sins, and through our baptism in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we are given a rebirth into new life, free from the burden of all sin. ALLELUIA

Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Blessed be God forever.

Let us Pray.

 

 

1

The Lord our God the Almighty reigns.

Let us rejoice and exult and give God the glory. 

Revelation 19.6–7

 

Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit: 

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

 

2 The Opening Canticle, A Song of Joy

Be joyful in the Lord, all the earth: 
serve the Lord with gladness 
and come before his presence with singing. 
Know that the Lord is God: 
it is he who has made us, and we are his; 
for we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 
Enter his gates with thanksgiving; 
go into his courts with praise: 
give thanks to him and praise his name. 
For the Lord is good; 
his loving-kindness is everlasting: 
and his faithfulness endures from age to age. 

Psalm 100

  

 

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 73

1 God is indeed good to Israel:

to those whose hearts are pure.

2 Nevertheless, my feet were almost gone:

my steps had well-nigh slipped.

3 For I was filled with envy at the boastful:

when I saw the ungodly had such tranquillity.

4 For they suffer no pain:

and their bodies are hale and fat.

5 They come to no misfortune like other folk:

nor are they plagued as others are.

6 Therefore they put on pride as a necklace:

and clothe themselves in violence as in a garment.

7 Their eyes shine from folds of fatness:

and they have all that heart could wish.

8 Their talk is malice and mockery:

and they hand down slanders from on high.

9 Their mouths blaspheme against heaven:

and their tongues go to and fro on earth.

10 Therefore my people turn to them:

and find in them no fault.

11 They say ‘How can God know:

is there understanding in the Most High?’

12 Behold, these are the ungodly:

yet they prosper and increase in riches.

13 Was it for nothing then that I cleansed my heart:

and washed my hands in innocence?

14 Have I been stricken all day long in vain:

and rebuked every morning?

15 If I had said ‘I will speak thus’:

I should have betrayed the family of your children.

16 Then I thought to understand this:

but it was too hard for me,

17 Till I went into the sanctuary of God:

and then I understood what their end will be.

18 For you set them in slippery places:

and cause them to fall from their treacherous footholds.

19 How suddenly they are laid waste:

they come to an end, they perish in terror.

20 As with a dream when one awakes:

so when you rouse yourself, O Lord,

you will despise their image.

21 When my heart was soured:

and I was wounded to the core,

22 I was but brutish and ignorant:

no better than a beast before you.

23 Nevertheless, I am always with you:

for you hold me by my right hand.

24 You will guide me with your counsel:

and afterwards you will lead me to glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?:

and there is no one upon earth

that I desire in comparison with you.

26 Though my flesh and my heart fail me:

you, O God, are my portion for ever.

27 Behold, those who forsake you shall perish:

and all who whore after other gods you will destroy.

28 But it is good for me to draw near to God:

I have made the Lord God my refuge,

and I will tell of all that you have done.

 

 

 

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

God our saviour, you sent Jesus into the world of sin, and delivered him up to death for us: kindle in our hearts the same love with which he loved his own to the end; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

  

 

6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed.

1st Reading

Ecclesiastes 9.17–10.15

 

17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded
     than the shouting of a ruler among fools. 
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
     but one bungler destroys much good. 
1 Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a foul odour;
     so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour. 
2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
     but the heart of a fool to the left. 
3 Even when fools walk on the road, they lack sense,
     and show to everyone that they are fools. 
4 If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post,
     for calmness will undo great offences. 
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as great an error as if it proceeded from the ruler: 
6 folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. 
7 I have seen slaves on horseback, and princes walking on foot like slaves. 
8 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it;
     and whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a snake. 
9 Whoever quarries stones will be hurt by them;
     and whoever splits logs will be endangered by them. 
10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge,
     then more strength must be exerted;
     but wisdom helps one to succeed. 
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed,
     there is no advantage in a charmer. 
12 Words spoken by the wise bring them favour,
     but the lips of fools consume them. 
13 The words of their mouths begin in foolishness,
     and their talk ends in wicked madness; 
14 yet fools talk on and on.
     No one knows what is to happen,
     and who can tell anyone what the future holds? 
15 The toil of fools wears them out,
     for they do not even know the way to town. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2nd Reading

Revelation 12.7–18

 

7 And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, 
8 but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 
9 The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, proclaiming,
‘Now have come the salvation and the power
     and the kingdom of our God
     and the authority of his Messiah,
for the accuser of our comrades has been thrown down,
     who accuses them day and night before our God. 
11 But they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb
     and by the word of their testimony,
for they did not cling to life even in the face of death. 
12 Rejoice then, you heavens
     and those who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea,
     for the devil has come down to you
with great wrath,
     because he knows that his time is short!’ 
13 So when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 
14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to her place where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. 
15 Then from his mouth the serpent poured water like a river after the woman, to sweep her away with the flood. 
16 But the earth came to the help of the woman; it opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. 
17 Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus. 
18 Then the dragon took his stand on the sand of the seashore.

 

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,

Christ Jesus was in the form of God:

But he did not cling to equality with God.

He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant:

And was born in our human likeness.

Being found in human form, he humbled himself:

And became obedient unto death,

Even death on a cross.

Therefore, God has highly exalted him:

And bestowed on him the name above every name,

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow:

In heaven and on earth and under the earth;

And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord:

to the glory of God the father.

Philippians 2.5b–11

   

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. 

  

Andrew, Apostle & Martyr

 

Ever living God, whose apostle Andrew heard the call of your son and followed, bringing his brother with him: inspire us, like him, to offer ourselves readily for your service and to tell others the good news of your Kingdom;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit

one God, now and forever. Amen

 

Prayer of the Week

Stir up, we pray you, O Lord,

the wills of your faithful people,

that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works,

may by you be plenteously rewarded;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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

Let us pray

Loving God, We Pray thanks to you for all your blessings to us, for the earth which provides our needs, the natural resources, and its beauty. In our prosperity help us to be generous and compassionate to those who are in need.

God of grace; Hear our prayer.

 

Living God, we pray thanks for our mothers; for those who loved and cared for us and who taught us our faith and how to live a faithful life. We thank you for our mother church which teaches us and surrounds us with the examples of other faithful people to follow.

God of grace; Hear our prayer.

 

Merciful God, 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 through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God of grace; Hear our prayer.

 

God, we ask your blessing for the people listed on the Anglican cycle of prayer:

• The Diocese of Ballarat – The Anglican Church of Australia
• The Parish of Nambour: Theodor Svensen, John Graham-Freeman
• Anglicare SQ Children & Families Residential (Gympie)
• Parishes seeking new incumbents.
• Anglican schools seeking new chaplains

God of Grace; Hear our prayer

 

 

11 The Evening Collect

Be present merciful God, protect us through the hours of this night: that we, who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting world, may rest on your eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen.

 

12

The Lord be with you.

And also with you. 

Let us praise the Lord. 

Thanks be to God. 

  

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. 

Amen.

2 Thessalonians 2.16–17