The Vespers Office

Open my lips, O LORD,* and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,* for you are my crag and my stronghold; for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.

O gracious Light, pure brightness of the everlasting 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 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.

Lift up your heads, you mighty gates; Behold, the King of glory waits; The King of kings is drawing near; The Savior of the world is here! Fling wide the portals of your heart; Make it a temple, set apart From earthly use for heaven's employ, Adorned with prayer and love and joy. Redeemer, come, with us abide; Our hearts to you we open wide; Let us your inner presence feel; Your grace and love in us reveal. Your Holy Spirit lead us on Until our glorious goal is won; Eternal praise, eternal fame Be offered, Savior, to your name!

For you have rescued my soul from death and my feet from stumbling,* that I may walk before God in the light of the living.

Hallelujah! When Israel came out of Egypt,* the house of Jacob from a people of strange speech, Judah became God's sanctuary* and Israel his dominion. The sea beheld it and fled;* Jordan turned and went back. The mountains skipped like rams,* and the little hills like young sheep. What ailed you, O sea, that you fled?* O Jordan, that you turned back? You mountains, that you skipped like rams?* you little hills like young sheep? Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,* at the presence of the God of Jacob, Who turned the hard rock into a pool of water* and flint-stone into a flowing spring.

For you have rescued my soul from death and my feet from stumbling,* that I may walk before God in the light of the living.

Into your hands I commend my spirit for you have redeemed me, O God of my life. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the comforting Spirit.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your Name. May your kingdom come, and your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for yours are the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Grant us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

O God, you have brought me near to an innumerable company of angels, and to the spirits of just men made perfect: Grant me during my earthly pilgrimage to abide in their fellowship, and in your heavenly country to become partakers of their joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.