Concerning the Service
This Order provides a form of evening service or vespers for use on suitable occasions in the late afternoon or evening. It may be used as a complete rite in place of Evening Prayer, or as the introduction to Evening Prayer or some other service, or as the prelude to an evening meal or other activity. It is appropriate also for use in private houses.
Any part or parts of this service may be led by lay persons. A priest or deacon, when presiding, should read the Prayer for Light, and the Blessing or Dismissal at the end. The bishop, when present, should give the Blessing.
This order is not appropriate for use on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday in Holy Week, or on Good Friday. Easter Eve has its own form for the Lighting of the Paschal Candle.
For the Short Lesson at the beginning of the service, any one of the following is also appropriate, especially for the seasons suggested:
- Isaiah 60:19-20 (Advent)
- Luke 12:35-37 (Advent)
- John 1:1-5 (Christmas)
- Isaiah 60:1-3 (Epiphany)
- I John 1:5-7 (Lent)
- John 12:35-36A(Lent)
- Revelation 21:10, 22-24 (Easter)
- Psalm 36:5-9 (Ascension)
- Joel 2:28-30 (Whitsunday)
- Colossians 1:9, 11-14 (Saints’ Days)
- I Peter 2:9 (Saints’ Days)
- Revelation 22:1, 4-5 (Saints’ Days)
Any of the prayers in contemporary language may be adapted to traditional language by changing the pronouns and the corresponding verbs.
Additional Directions are on page 142
108Order for Evening
