Wednesday, June 28
The Vespers Office To Be Observed on the Hour or Half Hour Between 5 and 8 p.m.


The Call to Prayer
Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised;* there is no end to his greatness.
Psalm 145:3

The Request for Presence
“Hide not your face from your servant;* be swift and answer me, . . . Draw near to me and redeem me . . .”
Psalm 69:19–20


The Greeting

O gracious Light, pure brightness of the everlasting Father in heaven, O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed! Now as we come to the setting of the sun, and our eyes behold the vesper light, we sing your praises O God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices, O Son of God, O giver of life, and to be glorified through all the worlds.
Phos Hilaron

The Hymn

God Is Working His Purpose Out

God is working his purpose out As year succeeds to year; God is working his purpose out, And the time is drawing near; Nearer and nearer draws the time, The time shall surely be, When the earth shall be filled with the glory of God As the waters cover the sea. March we forth in the strength of God, With the banner of Christ unfurled, That the light of the glorious gospel of truth May shine throughout the world: Fight we the fight with sorrow and sin To set their captives free, That the earth may be filled with the glory of God As the waters cover the sea. All we can do is nothing worth Unless God blessed the deed; Vainly we hope for the harvest-tide Till God gives life to the seed; Yet nearer and nearer draws the time, The time shall surely be, When the earth shall be filled with the glory of God As the waters cover the sea.
Arthur C. Ainger

The Refrain for the Vespers Lessons

O God, you have taught me since I was young,* and to this day I tell of your wonderful works.
Psalm 71:17

The Vespers Psalm

The Wicked Shall Be No More

In a little while the wicked shall be no more;* you shall search out their place, but they will not be there. But the lowly shall possess the land;* they will delight in abundance of peace. The wicked plot against the righteous* and gnash at them with their teeth. The Lord laughs at the wicked,* because he sees that their day will come. The wicked draw their sword and bend their bow to strike down the poor and needy,* to slaughter those who are upright in their ways. Their sword shall go through their own heart,* and their bow shall be broken. The little that the righteous has* is better than the great riches of the wicked. For the power of the wicked shall be broken,* but the LORD upholds the righteous.
Psalm 37:11–18

The Refrain

O God, you have taught me since I was young,* and to this day I tell of your wonderful works.

The Gloria

Glory be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, so it is now and so it shall ever be, world without end. Alleluia.* Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your Name. May your kingdom come, and 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for yours are the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Prayer Appointed for the Week

Lord, make me have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.†

The Concluding Prayer of the Church

O God, the source of eternal light: Shed forth your unending day upon all of us who watch for you, that our lips may praise you, our lives may bless you, and our worship may give you glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.†