Vespers Order of Service-Sample Presider Script

A Young Adult Celebration of Solemn Vespers Service

[…] […] Presider Preacher

On behalf of [your parish or young adult ministry], Iʼd like to welcome you to our Evening of Worship. A few words about our service this evening… Tonight we are once again celebrating Evening Prayer, an ancient tradition of the Churchʼs rhythm of worship that was preserved by monasteries down through the ages, especially those with Benedictine roots. Through symbol, song, prayer, and praise, we give thanks for the presence of God in our life, and in this season of Easter, reflect on the ways we might have encountered the Risen Christ.

The albs we are wearing this evening represent our baptismal garment, a reminder that we are one with the Body of the Risen Christ.

And we begin our liturgy with a traditional evening hymn…

LUCERNARIUM

LIGHT PROCLAMATION Presider: Please respond – “Jesus Christ is the Light of the world.” Assembly: Jesus Christ is the Light of the world.

Presider: The Light that no darkness can overcome. Assembly: Jesus Christ is the Light of the world.

Presider: Stay with us Lord, for darkness draws nigh. Assembly: Jesus Christ is the Light of the world.

Presider: Scatter the darkness; shine in us here. Assembly: Jesus Christ is the Light of the world.

EVENING HYMN Sing out, Earth & Skies (See Worship Aid)

EVENING THANKSGIVING (From Michael Joncas, Gather 11)

Assembly: In the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Presider: Praised be the Lord our God, ruler of the universe, who led our ancestors in the faith by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night and prepared a lamp for his Anointed. Light up our darkness, O God, by the light of your Christ; may his word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, for you are full of loving kindness for your whole creation and we, your creatures, glorify you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever.

Assembly: Amen. (Presider gestures for all to sit)

PSALMODY PSALM 141 “Only Empty Cries” (See Worship Aid) Acolyte adds incense to censer on the altar

PSALM PRAYER (Presider gestures for all to stand)

Receive these prayers, O Lord, as we cry out to you aloud and deep within our hearts. May they arise before you like incense. May the raising of our empty hands be a fitting offering to you. We ask this through Christ, our Lord, Amen. (Presider gestures for all to sit) (brief pause)

1st READING 1 Peter 6:4-5 (longer pause) PSALM Psalm 34: O Taste and See (see Worship Aid) (pause)

PSALM PRAYER (Presider gestures for all to stand)

Presider: Loving God, We rejoice in your goodness to us. We thank you for your many gifts and blessings of this day. Continue to grace us with your abundant life and love. © Young Adult Ministry in a Box 2015 2 We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen. (Presider gestures for all to sit) (brief pause)

SCRIPTURE READING A reading from the letter of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 4:32-37) The word of the Lord… Thanks be to God (pause)

REFLECTION Silence. Presider instructs the Assembly to stand.

GOSPEL CANTICLE “Holy is Your Name” by David Haas, CG #147 Acolyte adds incense to censer on the altar. Presider incenses assembly.

Assembly: And holy is your name through all generations! Everlasting is your mercy to the people you have chosen, And holy is your name.

INTERCESSORY RITES INTERCESSIONS Proclaimer comes to the ambo. Assembly responds: “Gracious Lord, hear our prayer.”

Presider: Gracious God, we approach the end of this day conscious of both the wondrous ways you have blessed us and the needs we have for your continued love and protection. As this evening draws to a close, we bring our prayers and petitions before you:

Proclaimer: Please respond, “Lord, hear our prayer.” For our Church, that the global community of which we are a part, may continue to grow towards the one heart and mind that is Christʼs, We Pray…Lord, hear our prayer.

For the leaders of nations and those who serve them, especially that those in harmʼs way experience your protection as you lead us in the ways of peace and justice, We Pray...Lord, hear our prayer.

For all who are suffering from illness of mind, spirit, or body may find comfort and hope; Lord, hear our prayer.

For all those who have died and those who remember them, that all may experience the joy of the Resurrection every day. We Pray...Lord, hear our prayer.

(Proclaimer remains at the ambo for the “Our Father”)

THE LORDʼS PRAYER Presider: Gathering all our prayers into one, let us pray the prayer the Jesus himself taught us:

Assembly sings: 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. Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Any announcements…

Finally, Iʼd like to thank all the ministers and volunteers who made this possible and would like to invite you to continue our fellowship with refreshments after the service. After the final blessing we will share some sign of Christʼs peace with one another.

CONCLUDING RITES

CONCLUDING PRAYER Presider: Let us pray -- God of goodness and mercy, We thank you for this time To be together to give you thanks and praise. Help us become living stones built into spiritual houses, So that collectively, we might join our sacrifices with yours, For the good of all, according to need. As we celebrate this summer season, Continue to make your presence known And open our minds and hearts To the mystery of encountering your love. We ask this, as we do all our prayers, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit. One God, forever and ever. Amen.

EVENING THANKSGIVING (From David Haasʼ “Light and Peace”) Presider: Let us bow our heads to the Lord: May God our Creator, bless us and keep us: Assembly responds: Amen. May Jesus Christ, Godʼs only Son, our Lord graciously smile upon us: Assembly: Amen. May the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and giver of life, grant us peace: Assembly: Amen,.

HYMN OF UNITY We will serve the Lord (see Worship Aid)

Assembly processes out and exchanges

SIGN OF PEACE Refreshments

A reading from the First Letter of Peter…

Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

(pause)

The word of the Lord…Thanks be to God

THE SECOND READING Acts 4:32-37

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles:

The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common.

With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all.

There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.

Thus Joseph, also named by the apostles Barnabas (which is translated "son of encouragement"), a Levite, a Cypriot by birth, sold a piece of property that he owned, then brought the money and put it at the feet of the apostles.

(pause)

The word of the Lord…Thanks be to God