Evening Prayer (Evensong) in Contemporary Language

¶ Evening Prayer on Thursday
Thursday, 1 October 2026
Remigius, Bishop of Rheims, Apostle of the Franks, 533 [Commemoration]
Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury, Social Reformer, 1885 [Commemoration]

Preparation

O God, make speed to save us.
AllO 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:
AllBlessed be God for ever.

or a suitable hymn,

or A Song of God’s Chosen One

1There shall come forth a shoot from the stock of Jesse, ♦
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

2And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, ♦
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,

3The spirit of counsel and might, ♦
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

4He shall not judge by what his eyes see, ♦
or decide by what his ears hear,

5But with righteousness he shall judge the poor, ♦
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth.

6The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, ♦
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid.

7The calf, the lion and the fatling together, ♦
with a little child to lead them.

8They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, ♦
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 11.1,2,3b-4a,6,9

AllGlory 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.
AllAmen.

The Word of God

Psalmody

The appointed psalmody is said.

Psalm 78.40-end*

Refrain: Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord.

40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness ♦
and grieved him in the desert!

41 Again and again they tempted God ♦
and provoked the Holy One of Israel.

42 They did not remember his power ♦
in the day when he redeemed them from the enemy;

43 How he had wrought his signs in Egypt ♦
and his wonders in the field of Zoan. R

44 He turned their rivers into blood, ♦
so that they could not drink of their streams.

45 He sent swarms of flies among them, which devoured them, ♦
and frogs which brought them ruin.

46 He gave their produce to the caterpillar, ♦
the fruit of their toil to the locust.

47 He destroyed their vines with hailstones ♦
and their sycamore trees with the frost. R

48 He delivered their cattle to hailstones ♦
and their flocks to thunderbolts.

49 He set loose on them his blazing anger: ♦
fury, displeasure and trouble,
a troop of destroying angels.

50 He made a way for his anger
and spared not their souls from death, ♦
but gave their life over to the pestilence.

51 He smote the firstborn of Egypt, ♦
the first fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham. R

52 But he led out his people like sheep ♦
and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.

53 He led them to safety and they were not afraid, ♦
but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

54 He brought them to his holy place, ♦
the mountain which his right hand took in possession.

55 He drove out the nations before them
and shared out to them their inheritance; ♦
he settled the tribes of Israel in their tents. R

56 Yet still they tested God Most High
and rebelled against him, ♦
and would not keep his commandments.

57 They turned back and fell away like their forebears, ♦
starting aside like an unstrung bow.

58 They grieved him with their hill altars ♦
and provoked him to displeasure with their idols.

59 God heard and was greatly angered, ♦
and utterly rejected Israel. R

60 He forsook the tabernacle at Shiloh, ♦
the tent of his presence on earth.

61 He gave the ark of his strength into captivity, ♦
his splendour into the adversary’s hand.

62 He delivered his people to the sword ♦
and raged against his inheritance.

63 The fire consumed their young men; ♦
there was no one to lament their maidens.

64 Their priests fell by the sword, ♦
and their widows made no lamentation. R

65 Then the Lord woke as out of sleep, ♦
like a warrior who had been overcome with wine.

66 He struck his enemies from behind ♦
and put them to perpetual shame.

67 He rejected the tent of Joseph ♦
and chose not the tribe of Ephraim,

68 But he chose the tribe of Judah ♦
and the hill of Zion, which he loved. R

69 And there he built his sanctuary like the heights of heaven, ♦
like the earth which he founded for ever.

70 He chose David also, his servant, ♦
and took him away from the sheepfolds.

71 From following the ewes with their lambs he took him, ♦
that he might shepherd Jacob his people
and Israel his inheritance.

72 So he shepherded them with a devoted heart ♦
and with skilful hands he guided them.

Refrain: Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord.

God our shepherd,
in all our wanderings and temptations,
teach us to rest in your mercy
and trust in your defence;
through him who laid down his life for us,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Each psalm or group of psalms may end with

AllGlory 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.

Ecclesiasticus 11.7-28

Do not find fault before you investigate;
   examine first, and then criticize.
Do not answer before you listen,
   and do not interrupt when another is speaking.
Do not argue about a matter that does not concern you,
   and do not sit with sinners when they judge a case.

My child, do not busy yourself with many matters;
   if you multiply activities, you will not be held blameless.
If you pursue, you will not overtake,
   and by fleeing you will not escape.
There are those who work and struggle and hurry,
   but are so much the more in want.
There are others who are slow and need help,
   who lack strength and abound in poverty;
but the eyes of the Lord look kindly upon them;
   he lifts them out of their lowly condition
and raises up their heads
   to the amazement of many.

Good things and bad, life and death,
   poverty and wealth, come from the Lord.
The Lord’s gift remains with the devout,
   and his favour brings lasting success.
One becomes rich through diligence and self-denial,
   and the reward allotted to him is this:
when he says, ‘I have found rest,
   and now I shall feast on my goods!’
he does not know how long it will be
   until he leaves them to others and dies.

Stand by your agreement and attend to it,
   and grow old in your work.
Do not wonder at the works of a sinner,
   but trust in the Lord and keep at your job;
for it is easy in the sight of the Lord
   to make the poor rich suddenly, in an instant.
The blessing of the Lord is the reward of the pious,
   and quickly God causes his blessing to flourish.
Do not say, ‘What do I need,
   and what further benefit can be mine?’
Do not say, ‘I have enough,
   and what harm can come to me now?’
In the day of prosperity, adversity is forgotten,
   and in the day of adversity, prosperity is not remembered.
For it is easy for the Lord on the day of death
   to reward individuals according to their conduct.
An hour’s misery makes one forget past delights,
   and at the close of one’s life one’s deeds are revealed.
Call no one happy before his death;
   by how he ends, a person becomes known.

or Ezekiel 12.17-end

Canticle

Great and Wonderful, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 63 (page 621), may be said

Refrain:

AllAll nations shall come and worship you, O Christ,
and share in the feast of your kingdom. Alleluia.

1Great and wonderful are your deeds, ♦
Lord God the Almighty.

2Just and true are your ways, ♦
O ruler of the nations.

3Who shall not revere and praise your name, O Lord? ♦
for you alone are holy.

4All nations shall come and worship in your presence: ♦
for your just dealings have been revealed.

Revelation 15.3, 4

AllTo the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb ♦
be blessing and honour and glory and might,
for ever and ever. Amen.

AllAll nations shall come and worship you, O Christ,
and share in the feast of your kingdom. Alleluia.

Scripture Reading

One or more readings appointed for the day are read.

The reading(s) may be followed by a time of silence.

Mark 14.43-52

Immediately, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.’ So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, ‘Rabbi!’ and kissed him. Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.’ All of them deserted him and fled.

A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked.

A suitable song or chant, or a responsory in this or another form, may follow

Fear not, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
AllFear not, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.
When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned.
AllI have called you by name; you are mine.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
AllFear not, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.

from Isaiah 43

Gospel Canticle

The Magnificat (The Song of Mary) is normally said,
or A Song of Christ’s Appearing (page 621) may be said

Refrain:

AllYou have filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.

1My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; ♦
he has looked with favour on his lowly servant.

2From this day all generations will call me blessed; ♦
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his name.

3He has mercy on those who fear him, ♦
from generation to generation.

4He has shown strength with his arm ♦
and has scattered the proud in their conceit,

5Casting down the mighty from their thrones ♦
and lifting up the lowly.

6He has filled the hungry with good things ♦
and sent the rich away empty.

7He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, ♦
to remember his promise of mercy,

8The promise made to our ancestors, ♦
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Luke 1.46-55

AllGlory 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.

Refrain:

AllYou have filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.

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

¶ Local government, community leaders
¶ All who provide local services
¶ Those who work with young or elderly people
¶ Schools, colleges and universities
¶ Emergency and rescue organizations

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

Almighty God,
you have made us for yourself,
and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you:
pour your love into our hearts and draw us to yourself,
and so bring us at last to your heavenly city
where we shall see you face to face;
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.
AllAmen.

The Lord’s Prayer is said

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray

AllOur 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

AllOur 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

All 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.
AllThanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.