OPENING SENTENCES
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12
CONFESSION OF SIN
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Evening Examen: When, this week, did I sense being drawn away from God? When, this week, did I feel most touched by the presence of God?
O God, make speed to save us. *
O Lord, make haste to help us.
EVENING PSALM
Psalm 136
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, *
for his mercy endures for ever.
Give thanks to the God of gods, *
for his mercy endures for ever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, *
for his mercy endures for ever.
Who only does great wonders, *
for his mercy endures for ever;
Who by wisdom made the heavens, *
for his mercy endures for ever;
Who spread out the earth upon the waters, *
for his mercy endures for ever;
Who created great lights, *
for his mercy endures for ever;
The sun to rule the day, *
for his mercy endures for ever;
The moon and the stars to govern the night, *
for his mercy endures for ever.
Who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, *
for his mercy endures for ever;
And brought out Israel from among them, *
for his mercy endures for ever;
With a mighty hand and a stretched-out arm, *
for his mercy endures for ever;
Who divided the Red Sea in two, *
for his mercy endures for ever;
And made Israel to pass through the midst of it, *
for his mercy endures for ever;
But swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea, *
for his mercy endures for ever;
Who led his people through the wilderness, *
for his mercy endures for ever.
Who struck down great kings, *
for his mercy endures for ever;
And slew mighty kings, *
for his mercy endures for ever;
Sihon, king of the Amorites, *
for his mercy endures for ever;
And Og, the king of Bashan, *
for his mercy endures for ever;
And gave away their lands for an inheritance, *
for his mercy endures for ever;
An inheritance for Israel his servant, *
for his mercy endures for ever.
Who remembered us in our low estate, *
for his mercy endures for ever;
And delivered us from our enemies, *
for his mercy endures for ever;
Who gives food to all creatures, *
for his mercy endures for ever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven, *
for his mercy endures for ever.
God of everlasting love, through your Word you made all things in heaven and on earth; you have opened to us the path from death to life. Listen to the song of the universe, the hymn of resurrection, sung by your Church, and give us your blessing; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Glory 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.
EVENING SONG
For the Beauty of the Earth - Midwestern Hymnal
EVENING LESSONS
Joel 3:9-17
Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare war, stir up the warriors. Let all the soldiers draw near, let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weakling say, “I am a warrior.” Come quickly, all you nations all around, gather yourselves there. Bring down your warriors, O Lord. Let the nations rouse themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the neighboring nations. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the wine press is full. The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. The Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shake. But the Lord is a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel. So you shall know that I, the Lord your God, dwell in Zion, my holy mountain. And Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall never again pass through it.
James 2:1-13
My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?
You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For the one who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
In the evening, pray for:
peace
individuals and their needs
Conclude with the Lord's Prayer and/or the following Collect:
O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Let us bless the Lord. *
Thanks be to God!
The Almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless us and keep us. Amen.