Daily Services/Wednesday Evening, Feast of the Annunciation
Mary said, 'Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.' (Luke 1:38)Grace, mercy, and peace to us from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
You are in the midst of us, O Lord;
and we are called by your name.
God is My Salvation
I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the Lord God is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.
3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4And you will say on that day:
Give thanks to the Lord,
call on his name;
make known his deeds among the nations;
proclaim that his name is exalted.
5 Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
let this be known in all the earth.
6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 12:2-6)
Glory to the Father and to the Son: and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now: and shall be for ever. Amen.
Time for Self Examination and Penitence.
Almighty and merciful God, we have sinned against you, in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with all our heart. We have not loved others as our Savior Christ loves us. We are truly sorry. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Almighty God, who pardons all who truly repent, forgive our sins, strengthen us by the Holy Spirit, and keep us in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.
Psalm 40:5-10
5 Great things are they that you have done, O LORD my God!
how great your wonders and your plans for us! *
there is none who can be compared with you.
6 Oh, that I could make them known and tell them! *
but they are more than I can count.
7 In sacrifice and offering you take no pleasure *
(you have given me ears to hear you);
8 Burnt-offering and sin-offering you have not required, *
and so I said, "Behold, I come.
9 In the roll of the book it is written concerning me: *
'I love to do your will, O my God;
your law is deep in my heart.'"
10 I proclaimed righteousness in the great congregation; *
behold, I did not restrain my lips;
and that, O LORD, you know.
Reading from Galatians 4:1-7
My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than slaves, though they are the owners of all the property; 2but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. 3So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental spirits of the world. 4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ 7So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
Silence is kept after the reading.
Song of Simeon
Lord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten the nations, *
and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Lord's Prayer
Collect of the Day
God of grace, grant that Mary's obedience may inspire us to obey your will and receive Jesus Christ in our hearts as Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy spirit, one God for ever. Amen.
Thanksgiving and Intercessions
At this time offer any prayers for yourself, others, world leaders, or any others on your heart.
Evening Collect
Be our light in the darkness, Lord we pray, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father,, who loved us and graciously gave us unfailing encouragement and good hope, comfort our hearts and establish them in every good word and deed. Amen.