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 the Abbey 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 Combat Stress and the work of the Abbey. Combat Stress provides clinical treatment and support for veterans from the British Armed Forces.

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 69

Save me, O God :
for the waters are come in, even unto my soul.
I stick fast in the deep mire, where no ground is :
I am come into deep waters, so that the floods run over me.
I am weary of crying; my throat is dry :
my sight faileth me for waiting so long upon my God.
They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head :
they that are mine enemies, and would destroy me guiltless, are mighty.
I paid them the things that I never took :
God, thou knowest my simpleness, and my faults are not hid from thee.
Let not them that trust in thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my cause :
let not those that seek thee be confounded through me, O Lord God of Israel.
And why? for thy sake have I suffered reproof :
shame hath covered my face.
I am become a stranger unto my brethren :
even an alien unto my mother's children.
For the zeal of thine house hath even eaten me :
and the rebukes of them that rebuked thee are fallen upon me.
I wept, and chastened myself with fasting :
and that was turned to my reproof.
I put on sackcloth also :
and they jested upon me.
They that sit in the gate speak against me :
and the drunkards make songs upon me.
But, Lord, I make my prayer unto thee :
in an acceptable time.
Hear me, O God, in the multitude of thy mercy :
even in the truth of thy salvation.
Take me out of the mire, that I sink not :
O let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
Let not the water-?ood drown me, neither let the deep swallow me up :
and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
Hear me, O Lord, for thy loving-kindness is comfortable :
turn thee unto me according to the multitude of thy mercies.
And hide not thy face from thy servant, for I am in trouble :
O haste thee, and hear me.
Draw nigh unto my soul, and save it :
O deliver me, because of mine enemies.
Thou hast known my reproof, my shame, and my dishonour :
mine adversaries are all in thy sight.
Thy rebuke hath broken my heart; I am full of heaviness :
I looked for some to have pity on me, but there was no man, neither found I any to comfort me.
They gave me gall to eat :
and when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink.
Let their table be made a snare to take themselves withal :
and let the things that should have been for their wealth be unto them an occasion of falling.
Let their eyes be blinded, that they see not :
and ever bow thou down their backs.
Pour out thine indignation upon them :
and let thy wrathful displeasure take hold of them.
Let their habitation be void :
and no man to dwell in their tents.
For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten :
and they talk how they may vex them whom thou hast wounded.
Let them fall from one wickedness to another :
and not come into thy righteousness.
Let them be wiped out of the book of the living :
and not be written among the righteous.
As for me, when I am poor and in heaviness :
thy help, O God, shall lift me up.
I will praise the name of God with a song :
and magnify it with thanksgiving.
This also shall please the Lord :
better than a bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
The humble shall consider this, and be glad :
seek ye after God, and your soul shall live.
For the Lord heareth the poor :
and despiseth not his prisoners.
Let heaven and earth praise him :
the sea, and all that moveth therein.
For God will save Sion, and build the cities of Judah :
that men may dwell there, and have it in possession.
The posterity also of his servants shall inherit it :
and they that love his name shall dwell therein.

All remain seated for the first Lesson, Jeremiah 31: 1–9

The Lord says, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.

Thus says the Lord:
The people who survived the sword
   found grace in the wilderness;
when Israel sought for rest,
   the Lord appeared to him from far away.
I have loved you with an everlasting love;
   therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
Again I will build you, and you shall be built,
   O virgin Israel!
Again you shall take your tambourines,
   and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.
Again you shall plant vineyards
   on the mountains of Samaria;
the planters shall plant,
   and shall enjoy the fruit.
For there shall be a day when sentinels will call
   in the hill country of Ephraim:
'Come, let us go up to Zion,
   to the Lord our God.'

For thus says the Lord:
Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,
   and raise shouts for the chief of the nations;
proclaim, give praise, and say,
   'Save, O Lord, your people,
   the remnant of Israel.'
See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north,
   and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,
among them the blind and the lame,
   those with child and those in labour, together;
   a great company, they shall return here.
With weeping they shall come,
   and with consolations I will lead them back,
I will let them walk by brooks of water,
   in a straight path in which they shall not stumble;
for I have become a father to Israel,
   and Ephraim is my firstborn.

Here ends the first lesson.

All stand to say Magnificat

All sit for the second Lesson, Matthew 15: 21–31

Jesus went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, 'Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.' But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, 'Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.' He answered, 'I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.' But she came and knelt before him, saying, 'Lord, help me.' He answered, 'It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs.' She said, 'Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.' Then Jesus answered her, 'Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.' And her daughter was healed instantly.

After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.

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

Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; 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.

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.