Evensong
from the Scottish Prayer Book

Opening hymn On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist Cry
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRd-g6i8pmE

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Opening Sentences for Epiphany season

From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my Name is great among the nations; and in every place incense is offered unto my Name, and a pure offering: for my Name is great among the nations, saith the Lord.

Malachi 1. 11.

The Lord declared his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.

Psalm 98. 2.

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Exhortation

DEARLY beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us in sundry places to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness; and that we should not dissemble nor cloke them before the face of Almighty God our heavenly Father; but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient heart; to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same, by his infinite goodness and mercy. And although we ought at all times humbly to acknowledge our sins before God; yet ought we most chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet together to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy word, and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore I pray and beseech you, as many as are here present, to accompany me with a pure heart and humble voice unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying after me:

ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father,
We have erred and strayed from
thy ways like lost sheep,
We have followed too much the devices
and desires of our own hearts,
We have offended against thy holy laws,
We have left undone those things
which we ought to have done,
And we have done those things which
we ought not to have done,
And there is no health in us: But thou, O Lord,
have mercy upon us miserable offenders;
Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults,
Restore thou them that are penitent,
According to thy promises declared unto mankind
in Christ Jesu our Lord:
And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,
That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous,
and sober life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.

The Absolution, or Remission of sins, to be pronounced by the Priest alone, standing: the people still kneeling.

ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live; and hath given power and commandment to his Ministers, to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the Absolution and Remission of their sins: He pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel. Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do at this present, and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy; so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Responses
O LORD, open thou our lips;
And our mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

O God, make speed to save us;

O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.

Praise ye the Lord;

The Lord’s Name be praised.

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The Psalm for the Day Psalm 89.1,2,20-29

1 I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, for ever;

with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.

2 I declare that your steadfast love is established for ever;

your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.

20 I have found my servant David; with my holy oil I have anointed him;

21 my hand shall always remain with him; my arm also shall strengthen him.

22 The enemy shall not outwit him, the wicked shall not humble him.

23 I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.

24 My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him;

and in my name his horn shall be exalted.

25 I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.

26 He shall cry to me, “You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation!”

27 I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.

28 For-ever I will keep my steadfast love for him, and my covenant with him will stand firm.

29 I will establish his line for ever, and his throne as long as the heavens endure.

Reader only UNMUTE - Pat

The Old testament Lesson Joshua 3:1-8, 14-17

The Old testament lesson is written in the third chapter of the book of Joshua reading verses 1 to 8 and 14 to 17.

Early in the morning Joshua rose and set out from Shittim with all the Israelites, and they came to the Jordan. They camped there before crossing over. At the end of three days the officers went through the camp and commanded the people, ‘When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place. Follow it, so that you may know the way you should go, for you have not passed this way before. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, a distance of about two thousand cubits; do not come any nearer to it.’ Then Joshua said to the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.’ To the priests Joshua said, ‘Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass on in front of the people.’ So they took up the ark of the covenant and went in front of the people.

The Lord said to Joshua, ‘This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so that they may know that I will be with you as I was with Moses. You are the one who shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, “When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.” ’

When the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the priests bearing the ark of the covenant were in front of the people. Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest. So when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water, the waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap far off at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, while those flowing towards the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people crossed over opposite Jericho. While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan.

Here ends the Old Testament lesson.

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The Magnificat St. Luke 1. 46.

The Magnificat- Set to Turle in F from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aosCgwzL8Ts

MY soul doth magnify the Lord : and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

2 For he hath regarded : the lowliness of his hand-maiden.

3 For behold, from henceforth : all generations shall call me blessed.

4 For he that is mighty hath magnified me : and holy is his Name.

5 And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations.

6 He hath shewed strength with his arm : he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

7 He hath put down the mighty from their seat : and hath exalted the humble and meek.

8 He hath filled the hungry with good things : and the rich he hath sent empty away.

9 He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel : as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

Reader only UNMUTE - Jane

The New Testament Lesson Hebrews 1:1-12

The New Testament Lesson is written in the first chapter of the letter to the Hebrews beginning to read from the first verse.

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son,* whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. 3He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains* all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,

‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you’?

Or again, ‘I will be his Father, and he will be my Son’?

6And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’

7Of the angels he says,

‘He makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire.’

8But of the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever,

and the righteous sceptre is the sceptre of your kingdom.

9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;

therefore God, your God, has anointed you

with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.’

10And, ‘In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth,

and the heavens are the work of your hands;

11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like clothing;

12 like a cloak you will roll them up, and like clothing they will be changed.

But you are the same, and your years will never end.’

Here ends the New Testament lesson.

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The Nunc Dimittis St. Luke 2. 29.

Nunc Dimittis Anglican Chant G MacFarren from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n4HCXZs4_o

O LORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace : according to thy word.

2 For mine eyes have seen : thy salvation;

3 Which thou hast prepared : before the face of all people;

4 To be a light to lighten the Gentiles : and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

Then shall be sung or said the Apostles’ Creed, by the Minister and the people standing

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I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth:

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,

Who was conceived by the holy Ghost,

Born of the Virgin Mary,

Suffered under Pontius Pilate,

Was crucified, dead, and buried:

He descended into hell.

The third day he rose again from the dead;

He ascended into heaven,

And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost;

The holy Catholic Church;

The Communion of Saints;

The Forgiveness of sins;

The Resurrection of the body,

And the Life everlasting. Amen.

And after that these prayers following, all devoutly kneeling: the Minister first pronouncing with a loud voice,

The Lord be with you;

And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Then the Minister, Clerks, and people shall say the Lord’s Prayer with a loud voice.

OUR Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil. Amen.

Then the Minister standing up shall say,

O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us;

And grant us thy salvation.

O Lord, save the Queen;

And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.

Endue thy Ministers with righteousness;

And make thy chosen people joyful.

O Lord, save thy people;

And bless thine inheritance.

Give peace in our time, O Lord;

Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God.

O God, make clean our hearts within us;

And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

Let us pray.

Then shall follow three Collects: The first of the Day:

The second for Peace:

The third for Aid against all Perils, as hereafter followeth. the people devoutly kneeling:

THE COLLECT OF THE DAY is said

LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people which call upon thee; 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 the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE SECOND COLLECT AT EVENING PRAYER

O GOD, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed: Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee we being defended from the fear of our enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

THE THIRD COLLECT, FOR AID AGAINST ALL PERILS

LIGHTEN our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

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In Quires and Places where they sing, here followeth the Anthem or hymn.

Brightest and Best from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5ACL94B4rM

some or all of the following Intercessions may be said.

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Let us pray for the Queen, and all who are set in authority under her throughout her dominions.

V. The King shall rejoice in thy strength, O Lord;

R. Exceeding glad shall he be of thy salvation.

ALMIGHTY God, who reignest over the kingdoms of men: We humbly beseech thee to bless our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth, her Ministers and Parliaments, and all who are set in authority under her throughout her dominions; that they may order all things in wisdom and righteousness, to the honour of thy holy Name, and the good of thy Church and people; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us pray for the unity of all Christian people.

V. Behold, how good and joyful a thing it is;

R. To dwell together in unity.

O LORD Jesus Christ, who didst say unto thine Apostles, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: Regard not our sins, but the faith of thy Church, and grant unto all Christian people that peace and unity which is agreeable to thy will; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

O GOD the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Saviour, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions. Take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatsoever else may hinder us from godly union and concord: that, as there is but one Body, and one Spirit, and one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may henceforth be all of one heart, and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us pray for the extension of Christ’s kingdom throughout the world.

V. How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace;

R. And bring glad tidings of good things.

O GOD our heavenly Father, who didst manifest thy love by sending thine only-begotten Son into the world that all might live through him: Pour thy Spirit upon thy Church that it may fulfil his command to make disciples of all the nations; send forth, we beseech thee, labourers into thy harvest; and hasten the time when the fulness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and all Israel shall be saved; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

V. Desire of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance;

R. And the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.

O GOD, who hast made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and didst send thy blessed Son to preach peace to them that are afar off and to them that are nigh: Grant that the people who sit in darkness and the shadow of death may feel after thee and find thee; and hasten, O Lord, the fulfilment of thy promise to pour out thy Spirit upon all flesh; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us pray for the sick and suffering.

V. He healeth those that are broken in heart;

R. And giveth medicine to heal their sickness.

ALMIGHTY and immortal God, giver of life and health: We beseech thee to hear our prayers for thy servants for whom we implore thy mercy, that by thy blessing upon them and upon those who minister to them of thy healing gifts, they may be restored, if it be thy gracious will, to soundness of health, and give thanks to thee in thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Here may follow any of the Additional Prayers as need may require.

Let us remember before God the faithful departed.

V. The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God;

R. They are in peace.

O ETERNAL Lord God, who holdest all souls in life: We beseech thee to shed forth upon all the faithful departed the bright beams of thy light and heavenly comfort; and grant that they, and we with them, may at length attain to the joys of thine eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Here may follow any of the Thanksgivings.

TO God the Father who loved us,
and made us accepted in the Beloved;
to God the Son, who loved us,
and loosed us from our sins by his own blood;
to God the Holy Ghost who sheddeth the love of God abroad in our hearts; to the one true God be all love and all glory for time and for eternity. Amen.

The Almighty and merciful God bless and keep us this night, and for evermore. Amen.

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Here endeth the Order of Evening Prayer throughout the year.

Closing hymn I Bind Unto Myself Today from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH4ToVxtn9A

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