Evening Prayer and Communion Marina the Monastic (5th century) Marina the Monk, Monastic, 5th century

Marina, distinguished as Marina the Monk and also known as and Mary of Alexandria, was a Christian of Byzantine, the area was variously know as Syria & Lebanon.

Marina, born Mariam, was the offspring of wealthy Christian parents and is often considered to be a transgender man. Marina’s mother died when the saint was very young, and thus Marina was raised in devout Christian life by his father Eugenius. As Marina’s age of marriage drew near, Marina’s father wished to retire to a monastery after he had found his child a husband. When Marina learned of his father’s plan, he asked why her father intended to save his own soul “and destroy mine.” When asked by her father, “What shall I do with you? You are a woman”, Marina answered that he would renounce women’s clothing and live as a monk. He then immediately shaved the hair from his own head and changed his clothes to male ones. His father, seeing his child’s strong determination, gave all his possessions to the poor and traveled with Marina to the to live in monastic community life, sharing a cell with him under the name Marinos.

After ten years Marina’s father died, leaving her alone. Marina continued to conceal the fact that he was born a woman. Later, a pregnant woman told her father that Marinos (Marina) was to blame. On hearing the story, the abbot called for Marina and reprimanded him severely. When Marina realized what was happening he fell to his knees and wept, confessing his sinfulness (without explicitly stating how he had sinned) and asking forgiveness. The fact that there was no attempt to deny the fault made the abbot so furious that he told Marina to leave the monastery. He left at once and remained outside the gates as a beggar. When the pregnant woman gave birth, Marina raised the child. After ten years the convinced the abbot to allow Marina to return to the monastery.

At the age of forty, Marina became ill and died. While cleaning the body, the monks discovered that he was in fact, born a woman. This made them very distressed. During the funeral prayers, one of the monks, who was blind in one eye, received full sight again after he touched the body. Please stand at the sound of the bell

Preparation

Officiant  The Lord almighty grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end. People Amen. V Our help is in the name of the Lord. R Who made heaven and earth.

Celebrant Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Please kneel as you are able, silence may be kept

All Almighty God, our heavenly Father: We have sinned against thee, through our own fault, in thought, word, and deed, and in those things which we have left undone. For the sake of thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us all our offenses; and grant that we may serve thee in newness of life, to the glory of thy Name. Amen.

Officiant Almighty God have mercy on you,  forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. All stand The Lighting of the Lamp 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 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. Word V Your word is a lantern to my feet, R and a light upon my path. Please be seated A Reading from Susanna Susanna 34-46 Then the two elders stood up before the people and laid their hands on her head. Through her tears she looked up towards Heaven, for her heart trusted in the Lord. The elders said, ‘While we were walking in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids, shut the garden doors, and dismissed the maids. Then a young man, who was hiding there, came to her and lay with her. We were in a corner of the garden, and when we saw this wickedness we ran to them. Although we saw them embracing, we could not hold the man, because he was stronger than we are, and he opened the doors and got away. We did, however, seize this woman and asked who the young man was, but she would not tell us. These things we testify.’ Because they were elders of the people and judges, the assembly believed them and condemned her to death. Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, ‘O eternal God, you know what is secret and are aware of all things before they come to be; you know that these men have given false evidence against me. And now I am to die, though I have done none of the wicked things that they have charged against me!’ The Lord heard her cry. Just as she was being led off to execution, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young lad named , and he shouted with a loud voice, ‘I want no part in shedding this woman’s blood!’

Silence is kept for a brief time

A Reading from the Gospel of Luke Luke 18:18-30 A certain ruler asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honour your father and mother.” ’ He replied, ‘I have kept all these since my youth.’ When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ Those who heard it said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ He replied, ‘What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.’ Then Peter said, ‘Look, we have left our homes and followed you.’ And he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.’

Silence is then kept for reflection and prayer.

Prayer

Please stand

V Let my prayer come before you as incense, R the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. V O Lord, I call to you, come to me quickly; R hear my voice when I cry to you. V My eyes are turned to you, Lord God; R in you I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless.

All Let my prayer come before you as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Please kneel as you are able, silence may be kept

Officiant O Lord, hear our prayer; People And let our cry come unto thee. Officiant Let us pray A Collect for Mission O God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let the whole earth also worship thee, all nations obey thee, all tongues confess and bless thee, and men and women everywhere love thee and serve thee in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Collect for Justice O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us, in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Collect for Peace Almighty God, kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth; that in tranquility your dominion may increase, until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Please stand An Evening hymn is sung by the Cantor

Communion

Celebrant The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Celebrant Lift up your hearts. People We lift them to the Lord. Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People It is right to give him thanks and praise. The Celebrant continues On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.” Recalling now his suffering and death, and celebrating his resurrection and ascension, we await his coming in glory. Accept, O Lord, our sacrifice of praise, this memorial of our redemption. Send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts. Let them be for us the Body and Blood of your Son.  And grant that we who eat this bread and drink this cup may be filled with your life and goodness. All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ. By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

The Lord’s Prayer Celebrant As our Savior Christ hath taught us, we are bold to say,

All 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.

The Fraction A Fraction Anthem is sung by the Cantor.

Act of Reception, read by all I believe that you are truly present in the Holy Sacrament, and, since I cannot at this time receive communion, I pray you to come into my heart. I unite myself with you and embrace you with all my heart, my soul, and my mind. Let nothing separate me from you; let me serve you in this life until, by your grace, I come to your glorious kingdom and unending peace. Amen. Communion Sending

Celebrant Let us pray. Please kneel as you are able, silence may be kept

The Post Communion Prayer, Celebrant and People Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image and nourishing us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood. Now send us forth a people, forgiven, healed, renewed; that we may proclaim your love to the world and continue in the risen life of Christ our Savior. Amen.

A Collect for Peace Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know thee as thou art revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of thy love. Amen.

All stand to sing the Canticle

A Canticle: Nunc Dimittis the antiphon and first phrase are sung by the cantor, the remainder sung by all Antiphon 66 ) 6 6 6 6 ) b 6 6 6 6 Guide us waki- ng, OLord, andguard us sleep - ing; 6 6 ) 6 6 )66 ) 6 6 b 6 6 66 6 ) that aw- ake we maywatch withChrist, anda-sleep we mayrestin peace. Cantor 66 666 666 6666 b 6 6 6 6 6 ) Lord, nowlett - est though thy ser-vant de-part in peace, ac-cord -ing to thyword; All 6666 )66666 b 6 6 66 For mine eyes have seen thy sal - va - tion, which thou hast prep- ared 666 6 666 b 6 6 6) 6 6 be - fore the face of all peo - ple, To be alight to 6 66 ) 66666666 6 b 6 6 6 6) light-en the gent- iles, andtobe the glor- y of thy peo-ple Is - ra - el. 6 666) 66 )66 66 ) b 6 6 6 6 Glo - ry be to the Fa - ther, andto the Son, andto the Ho - ly Ghost: 66666) 66666 ) b 6 6 6 As it wasin the be - gin - ing, is now, andeve- r shallbe, 6 6 b 6 6 6 ) world with - out end. A - men. Antiphon 66 ) 6 6 6 6 ) b 6 6 6 6 Guide us waki- ng, OLord, andguard us sleep - ing; 6 6 ) 6 6 )66 ) 6 6 b 6 6 66 6 ) that aw- ake we maywatch withChrist, anda-sleep we mayrestin peace. Cantor 66 666 666 6666 b 6 6 6 6 6 ) Lord, nowlett - est though thy ser-vant de-part in peace, ac-cord -ing to thyword; All 6666 )66666 b 6 6 66 For mine eyes have seen thy sal - va - tion, which thou hast prep- ared 666 6 666 b 6 6 6) 6 6 be - fore the face of all peo - ple, To be alight to 6 66 ) 66666666 6 b 6 6 6 6) light-en the gent- iles, andtobe the glor- y of thy peo-ple Is - ra - el. 6 666) 66 )66 66 ) b 6 6 6 6 Glo - ry be to the Fa - ther, andto the Son, andto the Ho - ly Ghost: 66666) 66666 ) b 6 6 6 As it wasin the be - gin - ing, is now, andeve- r shallbe, 6 6 b 6 6 6 ) world with - out end. A - men.

V Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; R For only in thee can we live in safety. V Peace be within your walls: R and quietness within your palaces.

Officiant As our evening prayer rises before you, O God, so may your mercy come down upon us to cleanse our hearts and set us free to sing your praise now and for ever. Amen.

Officiant The blessing of God Almighty,  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with you and remain with you always. People Amen. V May the divine help remain with us always. R And with our absent brethren. Amen.