Emmanuel   Church

Preparation
O God, make speed to save us.
(All) O Lord, make haste to help us.

Blessed are you, Lord God, creator of day and night:
to you be praise and glory forever.
As darkness falls you renew your promise
to reveal among us the light of your presence.
By the light of Christ, your living Word,
dispel the darkness of our hearts
that we may walk as children of light
and sing your praise throughout the world.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
(All) Blessed be God forever.

Words of Penitence

We come to God as one from whom no secrets are hidden, to ask for his forgiveness and peace.

A short silence for reflection

Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole hearts. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(All) Amen

This opening prayer may be said

That this evening may be holy, good and peaceful, let us pray with one heart and mind.

Silence is kept.

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 forever.
(All) Amen.

The Word of God
Psalm

The appointed psalm is said ending with:

(All) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was, in the beginning, is now: and shall be forever. Amen.

First Reading

At the end of the reading, the following may be said

This is the word of the Lord
(All) Thanks be to God

Canticle – Song of the Lamb

Refrain: Let us rejoice and exult and give glory and homage to our God.

1 Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
whose judgements are true and just.
2 Praise our God, all you his servants,
all who fear him, both small and great.
3 The Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns:
let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory.
4 For the marriage of the Lamb has come
and his bride has made herself ready.
5 Blessed are those who are invited
to the wedding banquet of the Lamb. Revelation 19.1b, 2a, 5b, 6b, 7, 9b

(All) To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might, forever and ever. Amen.

Refrain: Let us rejoice and exult and give glory and homage to our God.

Second Reading

At the end of the following may say

This is the word of the Lord
(All) Thanks be to God

A short silence

The Lord is my light and my salvation; the Lord is the strength of my life.
(All) The Lord is my light and my salvation; the Lord is the strength of my life.
The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
(All) The Lord is the strength of my life.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
(All) The Lord is my light and my salvation; the Lord is the strength of my life.
from Psalm 27 and John 1

Gospel Canticle – The Magnificat

Refrain: You have done great things, O God, and holy is your name.

1 My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; he has looked with favour on his lowly servant.
2 From this day all generations will call me blessed;
the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his name.
3 He has mercy on those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
4 He has shown strength with his arm
and has scattered the proud in their conceit,
5 Casting down the mighty from their thrones
and lifting up the lowly.
6 He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
7 He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,
to remember his promise of mercy,
8 The promise made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his children forever. Luke 1.46-55

(All) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was, in the beginning, is now and shall be forever. Amen.

Refrain: You have done great things, O God, and holy is your name.

Homily

A short silence

Let us affirm our faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God.

(All) Though he was divine, he did not cling to equality with God but made himself nothing. Taking the form of a slave, he was born in human likeness. He humbled himself and was obedient to death, even the death of the cross.
Therefore God has raised him on high, and given him the name above every name:
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and every voice proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.Amen.
                                  Philippians 2.6-11

Prayers

The following response may be used, or another

Lord, in your mercy

(All) Hear our prayer

Silence may be kept.

Collect

The Collect of the day is said

(All) Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Rejoicing in God’s new creation, as our Saviour taught us, we pray

(All) Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, 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 the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever.
Amen.

The Conclusion

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.
(All) Amen

Or

(All) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore.
Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.
(All) Thanks be to God.