Vespers and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
Grace Episcopal Church, Westwood Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Hillsdale September 20, 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 Psalms
34 Benedican Dominum
1 I will bless the LORD at all times; * his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
2 I will glory in the LORD; * let the humble hear and rejoice.
3 Proclaim with me the greatness of the LORD; * let us exalt his Name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me * and delivered me out of all my terror.
5 Look upon him and be radiant, * and let not your faces be ashamed.
6 I called in my affliction and the LORD heard me * and saved me from all my troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encompasses those who fear him, * and he will deliver them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; * happy are they who trust in him!
9 Fear the LORD, you that are his saints, * for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger, * but those who seek the LORD lack nothing that is good.
11 Come, children, and listen to me; * I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Who among you loves life * and desires long life to enjoy prosperity?
13 Keep your tongue from evil-speaking * and your lips from lying words.
14 Turn from evil and do good; * seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, * and his ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, * to root out the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and the LORD hears them * and delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted * and will save those whose spirits are crushed.
19 Many are the troubles of the righteous, * but the LORD will deliver him out of them all.
20 He will keep safe all his bones; * not one of them shall be broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked, * and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
22 The LORD ransoms the life of his servants, * and none will be punished who trust in him.
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 Lessons
The first Lesson is read, the Reader first saying
A Reading from the second book of Kings (4:8-37)
One day Elisha was passing through Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to have a meal. So whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for a meal. She said to her husband, “Look, I am sure that this man who regularly passes our way is a holy man of God. Let us make a small roof chamber with walls, and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that he can stay there whenever he comes to us.”
One day when he came there, he went up to the chamber and lay down there. He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite woman.” When he had called her, she stood before him. He said to him, “Say to her, Since you have taken all this trouble for us, what may be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?” She answered, “I live among my own people.” He said, “What then may be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has
no son, and her husband is old.” He said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood at the door. He said, “At this season, in due time, you shall embrace a son.” She replied, “No, my lord, O man of God; do not deceive your servant.”
The woman conceived and bore a son at that season, in due time, as Elisha had declared to her.
When the child was older, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. He complained to his father, “Oh, my head, my head!” The father said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” He carried him and brought him to his mother; the child sat on her lap until noon, and he died. She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, closed the door on him, and left. Then she called to her husband, and said, “Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, so that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again.” He said, “Why go to him today? It is neither new moon nor sabbath.” She said, “It will be all right.” Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Urge the animal on; do not hold back for me unless I tell you.” So she set out, and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.
When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Look, there is the Shunammite woman; run at once to meet her, and say to her, Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is the child all right?” She answered, “It is all right.” When she came to the man of God at the mountain, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi approached to push her away. But the man of God said, “Let her alone, for she is in bitter distress; the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me.” Then she said, “Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, Do not mislead me?” He said to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go. If you meet anyone, give no greeting, and if anyone greets you, do not answer; and lay my staff on the face of the child.” Then the mother of the child said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave without you.” So he rose up and followed her. Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no sound or sign of life. He came back to meet him and told him, “The child has not awakened.”
When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. So he went in and closed the door on the two of them, and prayed to the LORD. Then he got up on the bed and lay upon the child, putting his mouth upon his mouth, his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands; and while he lay bent over him, the flesh of the child became warm. He got down, walked once to and fro in the room, then got up again and bent over him; the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite woman.” So he called her. When she came to him, he said, “Take your son.” She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground; then she took her son and left.
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 Matthew (6:1-6, 16-18)
“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
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.
✠