Thursday, January 22

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

The Call to Prayer

Open my lips, O Lord,* and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. Had you desired it, I would have offered sacrifice,* but you take no delight in burnt-offerings. The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit;* a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Psalm 51:16–18

The Request for Presence

Out of the depths have I called to you, O LORD; LORD, hear my voice;* let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.

Psalm 130:1

The Greeting

You have put gladness in my heart,* more than when grain and wine and oil increase. I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep;* for only you, LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:7–8

The Hymn

Savior, like a shepherd lead us, Much we need your tender care; In your pleasant pastures feed us, For our use your folds prepare. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! You have bought us, Yours we are. We are yours, you do befriend us, Be the guardian of our way; Keep your flock, from sin defend us, Seek us when we go astray. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray. You have promised to receive us, Poor and sinful though we be; You have mercy to relieve us, Grace to cleanse and power to free. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! We will early turn to thee. Early let us seek your favor, Early let us do your will; Blessed Lord and only Savior, With your love our bosoms fill. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! You have loved us, love us still.

Dorothy Thrupp

The Refrain for the Vespers Lessons

The LORD has sworn an oath to David;* in truth, he will not break it: “Ason, the fruit of your body* will I set upon your throne.”

Psalm 132:11–12

The Vespers Psalm

Our Eyes Look to the LORD Our God

To you I lift up my eyes,* to you enthroned in the heavens. As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters,* and the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the LORD our God,* until he shows us his mercy. Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy,* for we have had more than enough of contempt, Too much of the scorn of the indolent rich,* and of the derision of the proud.

Psalm 123

The Refrain

The LORD has sworn an oath to David;* in truth, he will not break it: “Ason, the fruit of your body* will I set upon your throne.”

The Gloria

Glory be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, so it is now and so it shall ever be, world without end. Alleluia. Amen.

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

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.†

The Concluding Prayer of the Church

Grant, Lord God, to all who have been baptized into the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ, that, as we have put away the old life of sin, so we may be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and live in righteousness and true holiness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.†