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The Episcopal Diocese of Georgia

EvEning PrayEr

Offered as a livestream liturgy On Wednesday, June 24, 2020

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Evening PrayerPrelude - Canticle of the Turning - The Rev. Canon Joshua Varner

The Officiant begins the service with the following sentence of ScriptureOfficiant I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel; my heart teaches me, night after night. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not fall. Psalm 16:7,8

The Invitatory and PsalterOfficiant O God, make speed to save us.People O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

O Gracious Light Phos hilaron

O gracious light,pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!

Now as we come to the setting of the sun,and our eyes behold the vesper light,we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,O Son of God, O Giver of Life,and to be glorified through all the worlds.

Psalm 85 Benedixisti, Domine

1 You have been gracious to your land, O Lord, * you have restored the good fortune of Jacob.

2 You have forgiven the iniquity of your people * and blotted out all their sins.

3 You have withdrawn all your fury * and turned yourself from your wrathful indignation.

4 Restore us then, O God our Savior; * let your anger depart from us.

5 Will you be displeased with us for ever? * will you prolong your anger from age to age?

6 Will you not give us life again, * that your people may rejoice in you?

7 Show us your mercy, O Lord, * and grant us your salvation.

8 I will listen to what the Lord God is saying, * for he is speaking peace to his faithful people and to those who turn their hearts to him.

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9 Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, * that his glory may dwell in our land.

10 Mercy and truth have met together; * righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

11 Truth shall spring up from the earth, * and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

12 The Lord will indeed grant prosperity, * and our land will yield its increase.

13 Righteousness shall go before him, * and peace shall be a pathway for his feet.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen

The LessonA Reading from Isaiah (Isaiah 40:1-11)

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.

The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God.

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Canticle 9 - The First Song of Isaiah - The Rev. Canon Joshua and Benjamin Varner

Surely, it is God who saves me; * I will trust in him and not be afraid.For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, * and he will be my Savior.Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing * from the springs of salvation.And on that day you shall say, * Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;Make his deeds known among the peoples; * see that they remember that his Name is exalted.Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, * and this is known in all the world.Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, * for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.

HomilyThe Right Reverend Frank S. Logue

Bishop of Georgia

Hymn - Christ is made the sure foundation - Stan Smith

Christ is made the sure foundation,Christ the head and cornerstone,chosen of the Lord, and precious,

binding all the Church in one;holy Zion’s help for ever,and her confidence alone.

Christ is made the sure foundation,Christ the head and cornerstone.

To this temple, where we call thee,come, O Lord of Hosts, today;

with thy wonted loving-kindnesshear thy servants as they pray,

and thy fullest benedictionshed within its walls alway.

To this temple, where we call thee,come, O Lord of Hosts, today.

Here vouchsafe to all the servantswhat they ask of thee to gain;

where they gain from thee, for everwith the blesséd to retain,and hereafter in thy glory

evermore with thee to reign.Here vouchsafe to all the servants

what they ask of what to gain.

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The Apostles’ CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The PrayersOfficiant The Lord be with you.People And also with you.Officiant Let us pray.

Officiant and PeopleOur 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, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Suffrages B

That this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful,We entreat you, O Lord.

That your holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and goodwill,We entreat you, O Lord.

That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins and offenses,We entreat you, O Lord.

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That there may be peace to your Church and to the whole world,We entreat you, O Lord.

That we may depart this life in your faith and fear, and not be condemned before the great judgment seat of Christ,We entreat you, O Lord.

That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit in the communion of Anna Alexander all your saints, entrusting one another and all our life to Christ,We entreat you, O Lord.

Merciful God, who sent the prophets to teach us to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with you, be with all enraged by the injustice we see in the world and kindle in us a righteous anger directed rightly toward the evil in the world and in our own hearts; help us to work for justice and peace among all people, respecting the dignity of every human being, that we all may one day stand reconciled before you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right judgements, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.

Hymn - Jesus loves me this I know - A Diocese of Georgia Virtual Children’s Choir

Jesus loves me! this I know,For the bible tells me so;

Little ones to Him belong;They are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me,The bible tells me so.

Officiant and PeopleAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.

Officiant Let us bless the Lord.People Thanks be to God.

Officiant then concludes with the followingMay the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. -Romans 15:13

Postlude - Canticle of the Turning - The Rev. Canon Joshua Varner