EVENING PRAYER for Tuesday, January 26, 2021 Ss. Timothy and Titus,

Preparation  Consider and set your “prayer space” o If you are praying alone, consider finding a quiet, prayerful space. If you are praying with your family or other members of a household, consider gathering around a coffee table or dining table. o Add optional items that may enhance your prayer if you desire: a small table with a purple cloth, a lit candle, a cross, holy images or statues. o You may want to have a journal available to write down reflections or words as you pray. o Lighting affects our mood. Consider dimming the lights or using a lamp instead of bright overheads.  If you are praying in a group, you may want to assign parts to read along with the livestream. This is a great way to keep children engaged. You may want to consider splitting your “group” in half and alternating reading aloud each paragraph.  Silence cell phones or tend to things that have the potential to disrupt your prayer time.

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Gathering We take a few moments to quiet our hearts.

Introduction

[All make the Sign of the Cross as the leader begins.] Leader: God, + come to our assistance. All: Lord, make haste to help us. Leader: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. All: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia.

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Hymn Open My Eyes, Lord

Open my eyes, Lord Help me to see your face Open my eyes, Lord Help me to see

Open my ears, Lord Help me to hear your voice Open my ears, Lord Help me to hear

Open my heart, Lord, Help me to love like you Open my heart, Lord Help me to Love

Psalm Psalm 125: The Lord guards his people

Leader: The Lord surrounds his people with his strength.

Those who put their trust in the Lord are like Mount Sion, that cannot be shaken, that stands forever.

Jerusalem! The mountains surround her, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forever.

For the scepter of the wicked shall not rest over the land of the just for fear that the hands of the just should turn to evil.

Do good, Lord, to those who are good, to the upright of heart; but the crooked and those who do evil, drive them away! On Israel, peace!

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

ALL: The Lord surrounds his people with his strength.

Silence We sit in sacred silence for a few moments to allow our hearts to listen to the voice of the Spirit.

Psalm-prayer

Leader: Surround your people, Lord, within the safety of your Church, which you preserve on her rock foundation. Do not let us stretch out our hands to evil deeds, nor be destroyed by the insidious snares of the enemy, but bring us to share the lot of the in light. We ask this through , our Lord.

ALL: Amen.

Psalm Psalm 131: Childlike trust in God

Leader: Unless you acquire the heart of a child, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.

O Lord, my heart is not proud nor haughty my eyes. I have not gone after things too great nor marvels beyond me.

Truly I have set my soul in silence and peace. A weaned child on its mother’s breast, even so is my soul.

O Israel, hope in the Lord both now and forever.

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

ALL: Unless you acquire the heart of a child, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Silence

Psalm-prayer

Leader: Lord , gentle and humble of heart, you declared that whoever receives a little child in your name receives you, and you promised your kingdom to those who are like children. Never let pride reign in our hearts, but may the Father’s compassion reward and embrace all who willingly bear your gentle yoke. We ask this through Christ, our Lord.

All: Amen.

Canticle Revelation 4, 5: Redemption hymn

Leader: Lord, you have made us a kingdom and priests for God our father.

O Lord our God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power.

For you have created all things; by your will they came to be and were made.

Worthy are you, O Lord to receive the scroll and break open its seals.

For you were slain; with your blood you purchased for God men of every race and tongue, of every people and nation.

You made them a kingdom, and priests to serve our God, and they shall reign on earth.

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Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and praise.

Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

ALL: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

ALL: Lord, you have made us a kingdom and priests for God our father.

Reading Romans 12: 9-12

Do not let your love be a pretense, but sincerely prefer good to evil. Love each other as much as brothers should, and have a profound respect for each other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope, this will make you cheerful. Do not give up if trials come; and keep on praying.

Reflection

Short Responsory

Leader: Your word, O Lord, will endure forever. ALL: Your word, O Lord, will endure forever. Leader: Your truth will last from age to age. ALL: Your word, O Lord, will endure forever. Leader: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. ALL: Your word, O Lord, will endure forever.

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Canticle Magnificat: My soul rejoices in the Lord

Leader: Let us lead holy lives while we await in hope the coming of the Lord.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord And my spirit exults in God my Savior For He has looked with mercy on my lowliness And my name will be forever exalted For the mighty God has done great things for me And His mercy will reach from age to age

And holy, holy, holy is His name.

He has mercy in every generation He has revealed his power and His glory He has cast down the mighty in their arrogance And has lifted up the meek and the lowly He has come to help His servant Israel He remembers His promise to our fathers

ALL: Let us lead holy lives while we await in hope the coming of the Lord.

Prayers and intercessions

Leader: God establishes his people in hope. Let us cry out to him with joy: ALL: You are the hope of your people, Lord. Leader: We thank you, Lord, because in Christ you have given us all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ALL: You are the hope of your people, Lord. Leader: O God, in your hands are the hearts of the powerful; bestow wisdom upon government leaders: may they draw from the fountain of your counsel and please you in thought and deed. ALL: You are the hope of your people, Lord. Leader: The talents of artists reflect your splendor: may their work give the world hope and joy. ALL: You are the hope of your people, Lord. Leader: You do not allow us to be tested beyond our ability: strengthen the weak and raise up the fallen. ALL: You are the hope of your people, Lord.

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Leader: Through your Son you promised to raise men up on the Last Day: do not forget those who have died. ALL: You are the hope of your people, Lord. Leader: For what else shall we pray? (Type your intentions in the comments section.) And for these, we pray, ALL: You are the hope of your people, Lord.

The Lord’s Prayer

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.

Prayer

Leader: Almighty God, you endowed Timothy and Saint Titus with power to preach your word. Grant that, living a life of integrity and holiness in this world, we may, through their prayers, come to our true home in heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. ALL: Amen.

Dismissal

Leader: May the Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.

ALL: Amen.

Leader: Let us go forth wishing each other peace.

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