November 24
Vespers from Daily Prayer for All Seasons
As we turn on lamps at dusk, we greet the evening by welcoming God to abide with us anew.
Opening
If anyone is in Christ,
there is a new creation.
Prayer
Creating God, your reign of love makes all things new: Plant seeds of confidence and gladness in our hearts, so that, trusting your word, we may live no longer for ourselves but for him who died and was raised for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Praise
May none of God’s wonderful works keep silence,
night or morning.
Bright stars, high mountains, the depths of the seas,
sources of rushing rivers:
May all these break into song as we sing
to Creator, Savior and Holy Spirit.
May all the angels in the heavens reply:
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Power, praise, honor and eternal glory to God,
the only giver of grace.
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Scripture
Daily Office Lectionary Readings:
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:17-18
Meditation
We should be clear about what happens when we destroy the living forms of this planet. The first consequence is that we destroy modes of divine presence. –Thomas Berry
What will we do today to preserve God’s work in creation?
Confession
We confess
that we have considered the earth to be our own,
believing God gave us dominion and, thus, absolute
control over it.
We affirm that
“the earth is the LORD’s and all that is in it,
for he has founded it on the seas and established
it on the rivers.” (Psalm 24:1-2)
We repent.
We know we need to change our understanding
of creation,
taking our share of responsibility
for its care and protection.
We believe that the Spirit, God’s recreating power,
is active in us and in the world.
God, Creator of all, may humankind be freed from greed,
which is destroying the earth;
and may your courageous churches take up causes
against the forces that threaten life. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
God does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us by the measure of our failings. As vast as the distance from one end of creation to another, God’s love for us is even greater. As far as east is from west, from greater than this distance does God remove our sin from us.
Thanks be to God.
Prayers
Holy One, we praise you for the wonders of your creation:
Make us joyful and faithful stewards.
As the day grows long,
Bless us with the gift of laying down our burdens.
And not ours only:
Help us lift the weights we have placed
on others and on your creation.
We offer these prayers of our hearts:
Intercessions
Create in us, again and always, your heart of grace.
May we rest on the sure foundation of your love.
Lord’s Prayer
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.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Prayer
Give us strength to understand and eyes to see;
teach us to walk the soft earth as related to all that lives. Amen.
If anyone is in Christ,
there is a new creation.
Virtual Chapel of St. Phoebe 