Liturgical Evening Prayer - Day 1

Evening prayers (online only) will be at 20:45 (check for your local time):
Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 856 1374 5423
Passcode: 556492

Welcome to evening prayers

God is El Roi, ‘the God who sees me’. He sees us whether we feel strong or weak, important or insignificant, energised or overwhelmed. Let’s approach the throne of grace remembering that he sees us, welcomes us and has good things for us.

Together we pray

Calm me, O Lord, as You stilled the storm.
Still me, O Lord, keep me from harm.
Let all the tumult within me cease.
Enfold me, Lord, in Your peace.

Look over the day, asking God to bring clarity and understanding. Review the day through the lens of gratitude. Think of every detail for which you can be thankful; for the things that bring you joy, thank him. For the things that bring sadness or have been challenging, thank him that you had that opportunity to trust him.

Pause to pray

Together we pray

God, we thank you that you have seen us today and just like Hagar we can say  “You are the God who sees me,”..., “I have now seen the One who sees me.” 

Genesis 16:13 NIV

Now we have the opportunity to become aware of how we are feeling. Try to name that emotion and give it to the LORD.

Pause to pray

Together we pray

God, we thank you that you made our emotions and that they are part of us. You see us whether we are happy or sad, confused or lonely, jubilant or content. Thank you for creating me and accepting me no matter what.

Now choose a feature of today, maybe it’s a joy or it could be a burden or something that he has provoked in you due to the things we have been discussing today. Talk to the Lord about it.

Pause to pray

Psalm 46:1-3, 7-11 (NIV)

God is our refuge and strength,
     an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
     and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam
     and the mountains quake with their surging.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
     the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
     the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease
     to the ends of the earth.

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
     he burns the shields[d] with fire.

10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
     I will be exalted among the nations,
     I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
     the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Finally, as we look towards tomorrow, consider what is coming up. Through the lens of hope, trust and expectation, offer up all you will do, trusting him to be involved and for his will to be done.

Pause to pray

Together we pray

May God shield me;
may God fill me;
may God keep me;
may God watch me;
may God bring me this night
to the nearness of His love.

The peace of the Father of joy,
the peace of the Christ of hope,
the peace of the Spirit of grace,
the peace of all peace
be mine this night.

Amen.

Acknowledgements: 

The opening prayer is taken from the Northumbria Community Wednesday Compline: https://www.northumbriacommunity.org/offices/wednesday-the-felgild-compline/

The final prayer is taken from the Northumbria Community Saturday Compline: https://www.northumbriacommunity.org/offices/saturday-the-patrick-compline/