Evening Prayer (Evensong) in Contemporary Language

¶ Evening Prayer
Christmas Season
Wednesday, 31 December 2025
John Wyclif, Reformer, 1384 [Commemoration]

Preparation

O God, make speed to save us.
AllO Lord, make haste to help us.

You laid the foundation of the earth
Alland the heavens are the work of your hands. Alleluia.

One or more of the following is said or sung:

this or another prayer of thanksgiving

Blessed are you, Sovereign God,
our light and our salvation,
to you be glory and praise for ever.
To dispel the darkness of our night
you sent forth your Son, the firstborn of all creation,
to be the Christ, the light of the world.
Rejoicing in the mystery of the Word made flesh,
we acclaim him Emmanuel, as all creation sings to you:
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
AllBlessed be God for ever.

A Song of God’s Descending (page 552), the following or another suitable hymn

Of the Father’s heart begotten,
ere the world from chaos rose,
he is Alpha: from that fountain
all that is and has been flows;
he is Omega, of all things
yet to come the mystic close,
evermore and evermore.

O how blest that wondrous birthday,
when the Maid the curse retrieved,
brought to birth mankind’s salvation,
by the Holy Ghost conceived;
and the Babe, the world’s redeemer,
in her loving arms received,
evermore and evermore.

Sing, ye heights of heaven, his praises;
angels and archangels, sing!
Wheresoe’er ye be, ye faithful,
let your joyous anthems ring,
every tongue his name confessing,
countless voices answering,
evermore and evermore.

Prudentius, tr: R F Davis
(Tune: 87 87 87 7)

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 90

Refrain: O Lord my God, in you I take refuge.

1 Lord, you have been our refuge ♦
from one generation to another.

2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or the earth and the world were formed, ♦
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3 You turn us back to dust and say: ♦
‘Turn back, O children of earth.’

4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday, ♦
which passes like a watch in the night.

5 You sweep them away like a dream; ♦
they fade away suddenly like the grass.

6 In the morning it is green and flourishes; ♦
in the evening it is dried up and withered. R

7 For we consume away in your displeasure; ♦
we are afraid at your wrathful indignation.

8 You have set our misdeeds before you ♦
and our secret sins in the light of your countenance.

9 When you are angry, all our days are gone; ♦
our years come to an end like a sigh.

10 The days of our life are three score years and ten,
or if our strength endures, even four score; ♦
yet the sum of them is but labour and sorrow,
for they soon pass away and we are gone.

11 Who regards the power of your wrath ♦
and your indignation like those who fear you?

12 So teach us to number our days ♦
that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. R

13 Turn again, O Lord; how long will you delay? ♦
Have compassion on your servants.

14 Satisfy us with your loving-kindness in the morning; ♦
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

15 Give us gladness for the days you have afflicted us, ♦
and for the years in which we have seen adversity.

16 Show your servants your works, ♦
and let your glory be over their children.

17 May the gracious favour of the Lord our God be upon us; ♦
prosper our handiwork; O prosper the work of our hands.

Refrain: O Lord my God, in you I take refuge.

Almighty God,
our eternal refuge,
teach us to live with the knowledge of our death
and to rejoice in the promise of your glory,
revealed to us in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Psalm 148

Refrain: O praise the name of the Lord.

1 Alleluia.
Praise the Lord from the heavens; ♦
praise him in the heights.

2 Praise him, all you his angels; ♦
praise him, all his host.

3 Praise him, sun and moon; ♦
praise him, all you stars of light.

4 Praise him, heaven of heavens, ♦
and you waters above the heavens.

5 Let them praise the name of the Lord; ♦
for he commanded and they were created.

6 He made them fast for ever and ever; ♦
he gave them a law which shall not pass away. R

7 Praise the Lord from the earth, ♦
you sea monsters and all deeps;

8 Fire and hail, snow and mist, ♦
tempestuous wind, fulfilling his word;

9 Mountains and all hills, ♦
fruit trees and all cedars;

10 Wild beasts and all cattle, ♦
creeping things and birds on the wing;

11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, ♦
princes and all rulers of the world;

12 Young men and women,
old and young together; ♦
let them praise the name of the Lord.

13 For his name only is exalted, ♦
his splendour above earth and heaven.

14 He has raised up the horn of his people
and praise for all his faithful servants, ♦
the children of Israel, a people who are near him.
Alleluia.

Refrain: O praise the name of the Lord.

O glorious God,
your whole creation sings your marvellous work;
may heaven’s praise so echo in our hearts
that we may be good stewards of the earth;
through 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.

Isaiah 59.15b-end

The Lord saw it, and it displeased him
   that there was no justice.
He saw that there was no one,
   and was appalled that there was no one to intervene;
so his own arm brought him victory,
   and his righteousness upheld him.
He put on righteousness like a breastplate,
   and a helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
   and wrapped himself in fury as in a mantle.
According to their deeds, so will he repay;
   wrath to his adversaries, requital to his enemies;
   to the coastlands he will render requital.
So those in the west shall fear the name of the Lord,
   and those in the east, his glory;
for he will come like a pent-up stream
   that the wind of the Lord drives on.

And he will come to Zion as Redeemer,
   to those in Jacob who turn from transgression, says the Lord.
And as for me, this is my covenant with them, says the Lord: my spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouths of your children, or out of the mouths of your children’s children, says the Lord, from now on and for ever.

Canticle

A Song of Redemption, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 68 (page 626) or number 73 (page 631), may be said.

Refrain:

AllChrist is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation. Alleluia.

1The Father has delivered us from the dominion of darkness, ♦
and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son;

2In whom we have redemption, ♦
the forgiveness of our sins.

3He is the image of the invisible God, ♦
the firstborn of all creation.

4For in him all things were created, ♦
in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.

5All things were created through him and for him, ♦
he is before all things and in him all things hold together.

6He is the head of the body, the Church, ♦
he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead.

7In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell; ♦
and through him God was pleased to reconcile all things.

Colossians 1.13-18a, 19, 20a

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.

AllChrist is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation. Alleluia.

Scripture Reading

One or more readings appointed for the day are read.

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

John 1.29-34

The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’

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

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
full of grace and truth.
AllThe Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
full of grace and truth.
And we have seen his glory,
the glory as of a father’s only son,
Allfull of grace and truth.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
AllThe Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
full of grace and truth.

from John 1

Gospel Canticle

The Magnificat (The Song of Mary) is normally said, or the Nunc dimittis (The Song of Simeon) (page 613) may be said

Refrain:

AllWhen peaceful silence lay over all,
and night was in the midst of her swift course:
from your royal throne, O God, down from the heavens,
leapt your almighty Word.

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:

AllWhen peaceful silence lay over all,
and night was in the midst of her swift course:
from your royal throne, O God, down from the heavens,
leapt your almighty Word.

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 364–365

¶ The Church, especially in places of conflict
¶ The Holy Land, for peace with justice, and reconciliation
¶ Refugees and asylum seekers
¶ Homeless people
¶ Families with young children

A form of prayer found on page 378 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,
whose blessed Son was circumcised
in obedience to the law for our sake
and given the Name that is above every name:
give us grace faithfully to bear his Name,
to worship him in the freedom of the Spirit,
and to proclaim him as the Saviour of the world;
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

Rejoicing in the presence of God here among us,
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)

Rejoicing in the presence of God here among us,
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

May God, who has called us out of darkness
into his marvellous light,
bless us and fill us with peace.
AllAmen.

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.
AllThanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.