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. At choral Evensong most of the service is sung by the choir on our behalf. We participate through our presence and our listening, that the words and the music might become a prayer within us and lift us to contemplate God's beauty and glory.

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 the Abbey during services. Please ensure that mobile telephones and other electronic devices are silent.

The service is sung by the Lay Vicars of Westminster Abbey.

Following the service, a collection will be taken; the money from today's services will be divided equally between Christian Aid and the work of the Abbey. Christian Aid exists to create a world where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty.

Order of Service

All stand as the choir and clergy enter

The choir sings the Introit

O lux beata Trinitas,
Et principalis Unitas,
Iam sol recedit igneus,
Infunde lumen cordibus.

Te mane laudum carmine,
Te deprecemur vesperi,
Te nostra supplex gloria
Per cuncta laudet saecula.

Christum rogamus et Patrem,
Christi Patrisque Spiritum;
Unum potens per omnia,
Fove precantes, Trinitas.
   Amen.

O Trinity, O blessed light, and primal Unity: now as the fiery sun recedes, pour light into our hearts.

In the morning we praise you with song, in the evening to you we pray. Let our humble worship praise you throughout the ages.

We beseech Christ and the Father and the Spirit who is of both: O one almighty Trinity, guard those who pray to you. Amen.

Words: anonymous, 4th century
Music: plainsong

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 say together the Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

All stand. The officiant and choir sing the Responses

Music: plainsong

All sit. The choir sings Psalm 105

O give thanks unto the Lord, and call upon his name : tell the people what things he hath done.
O let your songs be of him, and praise him : and let your talking be of all his wondrous works.
Rejoice in his holy name : let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.
Seek the Lord and his strength : seek his face evermore.
Remember the marvellous works that he hath done : his wonders, and the judgements of his mouth,
O ye seed of Abraham his servant : ye children of Jacob his chosen.
He is the Lord our God : his judgements are in all the world.
He hath been alway mindful of his covenant and promise : that he made to a thousand generations;
even the covenant that he made with Abraham : and the oath that he sware unto Isaac;
and appointed the same unto Jacob for a law : and to Israel for an everlasting testament;
saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan : the lot of your inheritance;
when there were yet but a few of them : and they strangers in the land;
what time as they went from one nation to another : from one kingdom to another people;
he suffered no man to do them wrong : but reproved even kings for their sakes;
Touch not mine Anointed : and do my prophets no harm.
Moreover, he called for a dearth upon the land : and destroyed all the provision of bread.
But he had sent a man before them : even Joseph, who was sold to be a bond-servant;
whose feet they hurt in the stocks : the iron entered into his soul;
until the time came that his cause was known : the word of the Lord tried him.
The king sent, and delivered him : the prince of the people let him go free.
He made him lord also of his house : and ruler of his substance;
that he might inform his princes after his will : and teach his senators wisdom.
Israel also came into Egypt : and Jacob was a stranger in the land of Ham.
And he increased his people exceedingly : and made them stronger than their enemies;
whose heart turned, so that they hated his people : and dealt untruly with his servants.
Then sent he Moses his servant : and Aaron whom he had chosen.
And these shewed his tokens among them : and wonders in the land of Ham.
He sent darkness, and it was dark : and they were not obedient unto his word.
He turned their waters into blood : and slew their fish.
Their land brought forth frogs : yea, even in their kings' chambers.
He spake the word, and there came all manner of flies : and lice in all their quarters.
He gave them hail-stones for rain : and flames of fire in their land.
He smote their vines also and fig-trees : and destroyed the trees that were in their coasts.
He spake the word, and the grasshoppers came, and caterpillars innumerable : and did eat up all the grass in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.
He smote all the first-born in their land : even the chief of all their strength.
He brought them forth also with silver and gold : there was not one feeble person among their tribes.
Egypt was glad at their departing : for they were afraid of them.
He spread out a cloud to be a covering : and fire to give light in the night-season.
At their desire he brought quails : and he filled them with the bread of heaven.
He opened the rock of stone, and the waters flowed out : so that rivers ran in the dry places.
For why? he remembered his holy promise : and Abraham his servant.
And he brought forth his people with joy : and his chosen with gladness;
and gave them the lands of the heathen : and they took the labours of the people in possession;
that they might keep his statutes : and observe his laws.

All stand

Chant: plainsong

All sit for the first Lesson, Genesis 47: 1–12

Joseph went and told Pharaoh, 'My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan; they are now in the land of Goshen.' From among his brothers he took five men and presented them to Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to his brothers, 'What is your occupation?' And they said to Pharaoh, 'Your servants are shepherds, as our ancestors were.' They said to Pharaoh, 'We have come to reside as aliens in the land; for there is no pasture for your servants' flocks because the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now, we ask you, let your servants settle in the land of Goshen.' Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'Your father and your brothers have come to you. The land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers in the best part of the land; let them live in the land of Goshen; and if you know that there are capable men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.'

Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob, and presented him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Jacob, 'How many are the years of your life?' Jacob said to Pharaoh, 'The years of my earthly sojourn are one hundred and thirty; few and hard have been the years of my life. They do not compare with the years of the life of my ancestors during their long sojourn.' Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. Joseph settled his father and his brothers, and granted them a holding in the land of Egypt, in the best part of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had instructed. And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their dependants.

Here ends the first lesson.

All stand. The choir sings Magnificat

The Short Service, Thomas Tallis (c 1505–85)

All sit for the second Lesson, 1 Thessalonians 5: 12–end

We appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labour among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.

May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

Beloved, pray for us.

Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all of them.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Here ends the second lesson.

All stand. The choir sings Nunc dimittis

The Short Service, Thomas Tallis

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.

The officiant and choir sing the Lesser Litany; the Lord's Prayer and the Responses

Let us pray.

All kneel or sit

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 sings the Collects; of the day, for peace, and for aid against all perils

O God, the strength of all them that put their trust in thee, mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping of thy commandments we may please thee, both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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.

All sit. The choir sings the Anthem

O Domine Jesu Christe, adoro te in cruce pendentem et coronam spineam in capite portantem: deprecor te ut ipsa crux liberet me ab angelo poenitente.

O Domine Jesu Christe, adoro te in cruce vulneratum, fele et aceto, potatum: deprecor te, ut tua vulnera sint remedium animae meae.

O Domine Jesu Christe, adoro te in sepulcro positum, myrrha et aromatibus conditum: deprecor te, ut tua mors sit vita mea.

O Domine Jesu Christe, pastor bone, justos conserva, peccatores justifica, omnibus fidelibus miserere, et propitius esto mihi peccatori.

O Domine Jesu Christe, propter illam amaritudinem, quam pro me sustinuisti in cruce, maxime in illa hora, quando sanctissima anima tua egressa est de corpore tuo, miserere animae meae in egressu suo. Amen.

O Lord Jesus Christ, I adore you as you hang upon the cross, bearing the crown of thorns upon your head; I ask that this very cross may deliver me from the accusing angel.

O Lord Jesus Christ, I adore you wounded upon the cross, given gall and vinegar to drink; I ask that your wounds may be the healing of my soul.

O Lord Jesus Christ, I adore you laid in the tomb, anointed with myrrh and spices; I ask that your death may be my life.

O Lord Jesus Christ, good Shepherd, keep the righteous in your care, justify the sinner, have mercy on all the faithful, and be gracious to me, a sinner.

O Lord Jesus Christ, for the bitterness you endured for me upon the cross—above all in that hour when your most holy soul departed from your body—have mercy on my soul at its departing. Amen.

Words: attributed to Pope St Gregory I (c 540–604)
Music: Josquin des Prez (c 1450–1521)

All kneel or remain seated for the Intercessions

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 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 choir and 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.