Evening Prayer

This is the ritual for "Evening Prayer and Praise" from: The United Methodist Hymnal: The Book of United Methodist Worship. It is found on pages 878-879.

AN ORDER FOR EVENING PRAISE AND PRAYER
This service is for groups as they end their day in prayer.

PROCLAMATION OF THE LIGHT
A candle may be lit of lifted in the midst of the community. The following may be sung or spoken:

L: Light and Peace in Jesus Christ.
ALL: Thanks be to God.

EVENING HYMN
"O Gladsome light," hymn 686, or other hymn appropriate to the evening may be sung.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The following or other prayer of thanksgiving may be said:

L: We praise and thank you, O God, for you are without beginning and without end. Through Christ, you created the whole world; through Christ, you preserve it. You made the day for the works of light and the night for the refreshment of our minds and our bodies. Keep us now in Christ; grant us a peaceful evening, a night free from sin; and bring us at last to eternal life. Through Christ and in the Holy Spirit, we offer you all glory, honor, and worship, now and for ever.
ALL: Amen.

OR:

Option 2

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 23, 90, 121, 141; Genesis 1:1-5, 1:14-19; Exodus 13:21-22; Matthew 25:1-13; Romans 5:6-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10; Revelation 22:1-5; or other psalms or readings appropriate to the evening, or to the day or season of the Christian year, or to the nature of the occasion, may be used.

SILENCE
Silent meditation on the Scripture that has been read. This may be concluded with a short prayer.

SONG OF PRAISE
Psalm 134 (page 850), Canticle of Covenant Faithfulness (No. 125), Canticle of Hope (No. 734), Canticle of Light and Darkness (No. 205), Canticle of Mary (No. 199), Canticle of Simeon (No. 225), or other Scripture song or hymn may be sung.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
The following or other litany of intercession may be prayed, during which any person may offer a brief prayer of intercession or petition. After each prayer, the leader may conclude:
L: Lord, in your mercy,
And all may respond:
ALL: Hear our prayer.

L: Together, let us pray for
The people of this congregation...
Those who suffer and those in trouble...
The concerns of this local community...

The world, its people, and its leaders...
The church catholic -its leaders, its members, and its mission...
The communion of saints...

Or, prayers of confession and words of pardon may be offered. See Nos. 890-893.

Following these prayers, all may sing: "Hear us, O God" (No. 490), "Kyrie Eleison" (Nos. 483, 484), "Lord, Have Mercy" (No. 482), or "Remember Me" (No. 491).

THE LORD'S PRAYER
Sung or spoken.

BLESSING
L: The grace of Jesus Christ enfold you this night.

Go in peace.
ALL: Thanks be to God.

THE PEACE
Signs of peace may be exchanged.

Morning Prayer

This is the ritual for "Morning Prayer and Praise" from: The United Methodist Hymnal: The Book of United Methodist Worship. It is found on pages 876-878.

AN ORDER FOR MORNING PRAISE AND PRAYER
This service is for groups as they begin their day in prayer.

CALL TO PRAISE AND PRAYER
Sung or spoken:

L: O Lord, open our lips.
ALL: And we shall declare your praise.

MORNING HYMN
A hymn appropriate to the morning may be sung.
Hymn 1

or Hymn 2

or Hymn 3

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The following or other prayer of thanksgiving may be said:

L: New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world. Stir up in us desire to serve you, to live peacefully with our neighbors, and to devote each day to your Son, Our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord.
ALL: Amen.

OR: Option 2
Option 3

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 51, 63, or 95; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Isaiah 55:1-3; John 1:1-5, 9-14; Romans 12:1-2; or other psalms or readings appropriate to the morning, or to the day or season of the Christian year, or to the nature of the occasion, may be used.

SILENCE
Silent meditation on the Scripture that has been read. This may be concluded with a short prayer.

SONG OF PRAISE
Psalm 100 (page 821), 148 (page 861), or 150 (page 862); Canticle of God's Glory (Nos. 82, 83); Canticle of the Holy Trinity (No. 80); Canticle of Light and Darkness (No. 205); Canticle of Moses and Miriam (No. 135); Canticle of Praise to God (No. 91); Canticle of Thanksgiving (No. 74); Canticle of Zechariah (No. 208); or other Scripture song or hymn may be sung.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
The following or other litany of intercession may be prayed, during which any person may offer a brief prayer of intercession or petition. After each prayer, the leader may conclude:
L: Lord, in your mercy,
And all may respond:
ALL: Hear our prayer.

L: Together, let us pray for
The people of this congregation...
Those who suffer and those in trouble...
The concerns of this local community...

The world, its people, and its leaders...
The church catholic -its leaders, its members, and its mission...
The communion of saints...

Following these prayers, all may sing: "Hear us, O God", "Jesus, Remember Me", "Let Us Pray to the Lord", "Remember Me", or "This Is Our Prayer".

THE LORD'S PRAYER
Sung or spoken.

BLESSING
L: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
And the love of God,
And the communion of the Holy Spirit
Be with you all.
ALL: Amen.

THE PEACE
Signs of peace may be exchanged.