The Vespers Office
To Be Observed on the Hour or Half Hour Between 5 and 8 p.m
The Call to Prayer
Proclaim with me the greatness of the LORD;* let us exalt his Name together.
— Psalm 34:3
The Request for Presence
As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters,* and the eyes of a maid to
the hand of her mistress,
So my eyes look to you, O LORD, my God.
— adapted from Psalm 123:2-3
The Greeting
Blessed is the LORD!* for he has heard the voice of my prayer.
— Psalm 28:7
The Hymn
Break Thou the Bread of Life
Break thou the bread of life,
Dear Lord, to me,
As thou didst break the loaves
Beside the sea;
Beyond the sacred page
I seek thee, Lord;
My spirit pants for thee,
O living Word!
Bless thou the truth, dear Lord,
Now unto me,
As thou didst bless the bread
By Galilee;
Then shall all bondage cease,
All fetters fall;
And I will find my peace,
My all in all.
— Mary A. Lathbury
The Refrain for the Vespers Lessons
Great peace have they who love your law;* for them there is no stumbling block.
— Psalm 119:165
The Vespers Psalm
Come, Children, and Listen to Me
The young lions lack and suffer hunger,* but those who seek the LORD lack
nothing that is good.
Come, children, and listen to me;* I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Who among you loves life* and desires long life to enjoy prosperity?
Keep your tongue from evil-speaking* and your lips from lying words.
Turn from evil and do good;* seek peace and pursue it.
— Psalm 34:10-14
The Refrain
Great peace have they who love your law;* for them there is no stumbling block.
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
O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your servant who calls upon you, and
grant that I may know and understand what things I ought to do, and that I
also may have the grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; 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 King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the
shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from me all wrong desires, incline
my heart to keep your law, and guide my feet into the way of peace; that, having
done your will with cheerfulness during the day, I may, when night comes,
rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.