Sunday, January 11

The Vespers Office To Be Observed on the Hour or Half Hour Between 5 and 8 p.m

The Call to Prayer

I will call upon God,* and the LORD will deliver me. In the evening, in the morning, and at noonday, I will complain and lament,* and he will hear my voice. He will bring me safely back . . .* God, who is enthroned of old, will hear me.

Psalm 55:17ff

The Request for Presence

You are the LORD; do not withhold your compassion from me;* let your love and your faithfulness keep me safe for ever.

Psalm 40:12

The Greeting

I remember your Name in the night, O LORD,* and dwell upon your law.

Psalm 119:55

The Hymn

There’s within my heart a melody Jesus whispers sweet and low: “Fear not, I am with thee, Peace, be still, in all life’s ebb and flow.” Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know, Fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go. All my life was wrecked by sin and strife, Discord filled my heart with pain; Jesus swept across the broken strings, Stirred the slumbering chords again. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know, Fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go. Feasting on the riches of his grace, Resting beneath his sheltering wing, Always looking on his smiling face, That is why I shout and sing. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know, Fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go. Soon he’s coming back to welcome me Far beyond the starry sky; I shall wing my flight to worlds unknown; I shall reign with him on high Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know, Fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go.

Luther Bridgers

The Refrain for the Vespers Lessons

. . . he gives to his beloved sleep.

Psalm 127:3

The Vespers Psalm

The LORD Sustains Me

But you, O LORD, are a shield about me;* you are my glory, the one who lifts up my head. I call aloud upon the LORD,* and he answers me from his holy hill; I lie down and go to sleep;* I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. Deliverance belongs to the LORD.* Your blessing be upon your people!

Psalm 3:3–5, 8

The Refrain

. . . he gives to his beloved sleep.

The Small Verse

Open, Lord, my eyes that I may see. Open, Lord, my ears that I may hear. Open, Lord, my heart and my mind that I may understand. So shall I turn to you and be healed.

Traditional

The Lord’s Prayer

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.

The Prayer Appointed for the Week

Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into His Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.†

Concluding Prayers of the Church

Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant me to so follow in faith where you have led the way, that I may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake in your likeness; for your tender mercies’ sake. Amen.† May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in eternal peace. Amen.