Vespers and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

Grace Episcopal Church, Westwood Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Hillsdale November 22, 2020

Vespers

Officiant Light and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord. People Thanks be to God.

The Officiant then says the Prayer for Light, first saying

Let us pray.

Almighty God, we give thee thanks for surrounding us, as daylight fades, with the brightness of the vesper light; and we implore thee of thy great mercy that, as you enfold us with the radiance of this light, so thou wilt shine into our hearts the brightness of your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The candles at the Altar are now lighted

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 thy praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Thou art 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.

The Psalm

145 Exaltabo te, Deus

1 I will exalt you, O God my King, * and bless your Name for ever and ever.

2 Every day will I bless you * and praise your Name for ever and ever.

3 Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; * there is no end to his greatness.

4 One generation shall praise your works to another * and shall declare your power.

5 I will ponder the glorious splendor of your majesty * and all your marvelous works.

6 They shall speak of the might of your wondrous acts, * and I will tell of your greatness.

7 They shall publish the remembrance of your great goodness; * they shall sing of your righteous deeds.

8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, * slow to anger and of great kindness.

9 The LORD is loving to everyone * and his compassion is over all his works.

10 All your works praise you, O LORD, * and your faithful servants bless you.

11 They make known the glory of your kingdom * and speak of your power;

12 That the peoples may know of your power * and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; * your dominion endures throughout all ages.

14 The LORD is faithful in all his words * and merciful in all his deeds.

15 The LORD upholds all those who fall; * he lifts up those who are bowed down.

16 The eyes of all wait upon you, O LORD, * and you give them their food in due season.

17 You open wide your hand * and satisfy the needs of every living creature.

18 The LORD is righteous in all his ways * and loving in all his works.

19 The LORD is near to those who call upon him, * to all who call upon him faithfully.

20 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; * he hears their cry and helps them.

21 The LORD preserves all those who love him, * but he destroys all the wicked.

22 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD; * let all flesh bless his holy Name for ever and ever.

The Lessons

The first Lesson is read, the Reader first saying

A Reading from Book of the Prophet Isaiah (19:19-25)

On that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the center of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD at its border. It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; when they cry to the LORD because of oppressors, he will send them a savior, and will defend and deliver them. The LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians; and the Egyptians will know the LORD on that day, and will worship with sacrifice and burnt offering, and they will make vows to the LORD and perform them. The LORD will strike Egypt, striking and healing; they will return to the LORD, and he will listen to their supplications and heal them.

On that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.

On that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my heritage.”

After the Reading, the Reader says

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

The Song of Mary Magnificat Luke 1:46‑55

My soul doth magnify the Lord, * and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For he hath regarded * the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold from henceforth * all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath magnified me, * and holy is his Name. And his mercy is on them that fear him * throughout all generations. He hath showed strength with his arm; * he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, * and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things, * and the rich he hath sent empty away. He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel, * as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.

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 second Lesson is read, the Reader first saying

A Reading from the Gospel of Matthew (21:1-13)

When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,

“Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,

“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, “It is written,

‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a den of robbers.”

After the Reading, the Reader says

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

The Song of Simeon Nunc dimittis Luke 2:29‑32

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, * according to thy word; For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, * which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, * and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

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.

Officiant The Lord be with you. People And with thy Spirit. Officiant Let us pray.

Our 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.

Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

The Exposition and Adoration The Monstrance is placed on the altar for a time of prayer and meditation in the presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

Hymn: 310 Herr Jesu Christ O saving Victim, opening wide the gate of heaven to man below, our foes press on from every side, thine aid supply, thy strength bestow.

All praise and thanks to thee ascend for evermore, blest One in Three;

O grant us life that shall not end in our true native land with thee.

Hymn: 329 (vss. 5 & 6) Pange lingua Therefore we, before him bending, this great sacrament revere; types and shadows have their ending, for the newer rite is here; faith, our outward sense befriending, makes our inward vision clear.

Glory let us give and blessing to the Father and the Son, honor, thanks, and praise addressing, while eternal ages run; ever too his love confessing, who, from both, with both is one.

V. Thou didst give them bread from heaven. [Alleluia] R. Containing within itself all sweetness. [Alleluia]

Let us pray.

God our Father, whose Son our Lord Jesus Christ in a wonderful Sacrament hath left unto us a memorial of his passion: Grant us so to venerate the sacred mysteries of his Body and Blood, that we may ever perceive within ourselves the fruit of his redemption; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Benediction

The Officiant takes the monstrance and makes the sign of the cross over the assembly with the monstrance.

The Divine Praises The people repeat each sentence after the Celebrant

Blessed be God. Blessed be his Holy Name. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man. Blessed be the Name of Jesus. Blessed be his Most Sacred Heart. Blessed be Jesus Christ in the most holy Sacrament of the altar. Blessed be the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.

Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother. Blessed be Saint Joseph her most chaste spouse. Blessed be God in his Angels and in his Saints.

Reposition

The Blessed Sacrament is reposed as Psalm 117 is sung

Let us for ever adore the Most Holy Sacrament [Alleluia.] O praise the Lord, all ye nations; praise him, all ye peoples. For his merciful kindness is ever more and more toward us; and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise the Lord. 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.

The officiant then says Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Let us go forth in the name of Christ. People Thanks be to God.

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