Welcome to Westminster Abbey. Daily prayer has been offered in this place for over a thousand years, and your participation in today's service is warmly welcomed.

The service always includes one or more psalms. These ancient prayers, taken from the Old Testament, reflect the full range of human emotions and experiences; from the depths of anger, resentment, and abandonment to the heights of ecstatic joy and praise. They were used by Jesus, and have always been at the heart of the Church's daily prayer.

The canticles Magnificat (Luke 1: 46–55) and Nunc dimittis (Luke 2: 29–32) reflect two responses to the Incarnation (God becoming fully human in Jesus Christ). Both speak of the fulfilment of God's promises, not just to 'Abraham and his seed', but also 'to be a light to lighten the Gentiles' (all nations). With their themes of fulfilment and completion, these texts have been given central place for many centuries in the Church's prayers for the evening and at the end of the day.

Please join in saying the words printed in bold type.

The church is served by a hearing loop. Users should turn their hearing aid to the setting marked T.

Photography, filming, and sound recording are not allowed in St Margaret's Church during services. Please ensure that mobile telephones and other electronic devices are silent.

Following the service, a collection will be taken; the money from today's services will be divided equally between The King's Trust and the work of the Abbey. The King's Trust helps young people from disadvantaged communities and those facing the greatest adversity by supporting them to build the confidence and skills to live, learn, and earn.

Order of Service

All stand as the clergy enter

The officiant says a sentence of Scripture

All remain standing as the officiant introduces the Confession

Beloved, we are come together in the presence of Almighty God and of the whole company of heaven to offer unto him through our Lord Jesus Christ our worship and praise and thanksgiving; to make confession of our sins; to pray, as well for others as for ourselves, that we may know more truly the greatness of God's love and show forth in our lives the fruits of his grace; and to ask on behalf of all people such things as their well-being doth require. Wherefore let us sit or kneel and keep silence, and remember God's presence with us now.

All kneel or sit to say together

O God, our Father,
we have sinned against thee
in thought, word, and deed;
we have not loved thee with all our heart;
we have not loved our neighbour as ourselves.
Have mercy upon us, we beseech thee;
cleanse us from our sins;
and help us to overcome our faults;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The officiant gives the Absolution

May the almighty and merciful Lord grant unto you pardon and remission of all your sins, time for amendment of life, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

All stand to say the Responses

All sit to say Psalm 38

Put me not to rebuke, O Lord, in thine anger :
neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure.
For thine arrows stick fast in me :
and thy hand presseth me sore.
There is no health in my flesh, because of thy displeasure :
neither is there any rest in my bones by reason of my sin.
For my wickednesses are gone over my head :
and are like a sore burden, too heavy for me to bear.
My wounds stink, and are corrupt :
through my foolishness.
I am brought into so great trouble and misery :
that I go mourning all the day long.
For my loins are filled with a sore disease :
and there is no whole part in my body.
I am feeble, and sore smitten :
I have roared for the very disquietness of my heart.
Lord, thou knowest all my desire :
and my groaning is not hid from thee.
My heart panteth, my strength hath failed me :
and the sight of mine eyes is gone from me.
My lovers and my neighbours did stand looking upon my trouble :
and my kinsmen stood afar off.
They also that sought after my life laid snares for me :
and they that went about to do me evil talked of wickedness, and imagined deceit all the day long.
As for me, I was like a deaf man, and heard not :
and as one that is dumb, who doth not open his mouth.
I became even as a man that heareth not :
and in whose mouth are no reproofs.
For in thee, O Lord, have I put my trust :
thou shalt answer for me, O Lord my God.
I have required that they, even mine enemies, should not triumph over me :
for when my foot slipped, they rejoiced greatly against me.
And I, truly, am set in the plague :
and my heaviness is ever in my sight.
For I will confess my wickedness :
and be sorry for my sin.
But mine enemies live, and are mighty :
and they that hate me wrongfully are many in number.
They also that reward evil for good are against me :
because I follow the thing that good is.
Forsake me not, O Lord my God :
be not thou far from me.
Haste thee to help me :
O Lord God of my salvation.

All remain seated for the first Lesson, Proverbs 28: 3–end

A ruler who oppresses the poor
   is a beating rain that leaves no food.
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
   but those who keep the law struggle against them.
The evil do not understand justice,
   but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.
Better to be poor and walk in integrity
   than to be crooked in one's ways even though rich.
Those who keep the law are wise children,
   but companions of gluttons shame their parents.
One who augments wealth by exorbitant interest
   gathers it for another who is kind to the poor.
When one will not listen to the law,
   even one's prayers are an abomination.
Those who mislead the upright into evil ways
   will fall into pits of their own making,
   but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.
The rich is wise in self-esteem,
   but an intelligent poor person sees through the pose.
When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
   but when the wicked prevail, people go into hiding.
No one who conceals transgressions will prosper,
   but one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
Happy is the one who is never without fear,
   but one who is hard-hearted will fall into calamity.
Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
   is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor;
   but one who hates unjust gain will enjoy a long life.
If someone is burdened with the blood of another,
   let that killer be a fugitive until death;
   let no one offer assistance.
One who walks in integrity will be safe,
   but whoever follows crooked ways will fall into the Pit.
Anyone who tills the land will have plenty of bread,
   but one who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
The faithful will abound with blessings,
   but one who is in a hurry to be rich will not go unpunished.
To show partiality is not good—
   yet for a piece of bread a person may do wrong.
The miser is in a hurry to get rich
   and does not know that loss is sure to come.
Whoever rebukes a person will afterwards find more favour
   than one who flatters with the tongue.
Anyone who robs father or mother
   and says, 'That is no crime',
   is partner to a thug.
The greedy person stirs up strife,
   but whoever trusts in the Lord will be enriched.
Those who trust in their own wits are fools;
   but those who walk in wisdom come through safely.
Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing,
   but one who turns a blind eye will get many a curse.
When the wicked prevail, people go into hiding;
   but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Here ends the first lesson.

All stand to say Magnificat

All sit for the second Lesson, Mark 10: 17–31

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, 'Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?' Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: "You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honour your father and mother."' He said to him, 'Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.' Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, 'You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.' When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, 'How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!' And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, 'Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.' They were greatly astounded and said to one another, 'Then who can be saved?' Jesus looked at them and said, 'For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.'

Peter began to say to him, 'Look, we have left everything and followed you.' Jesus said, 'Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.'

Here ends the second lesson.

All stand to say Nunc dimittis

All face east to say together the Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth:
and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried.
He descended into hell;
the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
the holy catholic Church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

Let us pray.

All kneel or sit for the Lesser Litany; the Lord's Prayer and the Responses

Our Father, which art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done,
in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

The officiant says the Collects; of the day, for peace, and for aid against all perils

Almighty God, who shewest to them that be in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness; grant unto all them that are admitted into the fellowship of Christ's religion, that they may eschew those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels and all just works do proceed: Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee we being defended from the fear of our enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Lighten our darkness we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

The officiant says the Prayers; for the Royal Family, and for the Members of the Order of the Bath

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless our most gracious Sovereign Lord King Charles, Queen Camilla, William Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and all the Royal Family: endue them with thy Holy Spirit; enrich them with thy heavenly grace; prosper them with all happiness; and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God save our Gracious Sovereign, and all the Members of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath living and departed. Amen.

All remain kneeling or seated for the Intercessions, at the end of which all say

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore.
Amen.

All stand as the clergy depart

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Common Worship (Church House Publishing, 2000), material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops' Council. Scripture Readings are from the New Revised Standard Version.