Morning and Evening Prayer
Any of the opening sentences of Scripture, including those listed for
specific seasons or days, may be used at any time according to the
discretion of the officiant.
The proper antiphons on pages 43-44 and 80-82 may be used as refrains
with either of the invitatory Psalms.
Antiphons drawn from the Psalms themselves, or from the opening
sentences given in the Offices, or from other passages of Scripture may
be used with the Psalms and biblical Canticles.
Gloria Patri is always sung or said at the conclusion of the entire
portion of the Psalter; and may be used after the Invitatory Psalm or
the Canticle "Christ our Passover," after each Psalm, and after each
section of Psalm 119.
The Gloria printed at the conclusion of certain Canticles may be
omitted when desired.
The following pointing of the Gloria may be used:
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.
In Rite One services of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, the following
form of the Gloria may be used:
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Ghost:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, *
world without end. Amen.
Metrical versions of the Invitatory Psalms, and of the Canticles after
the Readings, may be used.
Additional Directions 141
In special circumstances, in place of a Canticle, a hymn may be sung.
The Apostles' Creed is omitted from the Office when the Eucharist with
its own Creed is to follow. It may also be omitted at one of the
Offices on weekdays.
The Lord's Prayer may be omitted from the Office when the Litany or the
Eucharist is to follow immediately.
In the Intercessions and Thanksgivings, opportunity may be given for
the members of the congregation to express intentions or objects of
prayer and thanksgiving, either at the bidding, or in the course of the
prayer; and opportunity may be given for silent prayer.
A sermon may be preached after the Office; or, within the Office, after
the Readings or at the time of the hymn or anthem after the Collects.
On occasion, at the discretion of the Minister, a reading from
non-biblical Christian literature may follow the biblical Readings.
An offering may be received and presented at the Office.
When there is Communion
When Morning or Evening Prayer is used as the Liturgy of the Word at
the Eucharist, the Nicene Creed may take the place of the Apostles'
Creed, and the officiant may pass at once from the salutation "The Lord
be with you," and its response, to the Collect of the Day. A Lesson
from the Gospel is always included.
The Intercessions on such occasions are to conform to the directions on
page 383.
The service then continues with the [Peace and] Offertory.
Order of Worship for the Evening
Before this service, there should be as little artificial light as possible in
the church. A musical prelude or processional is not appropriate.
When the ministers enter, one or two lighted candles may be carried
142 Additional Directions
before them, and used to provide light for reading the opening Short
Lesson and Prayer for Light. From Easter Day through the Day of
Pentecost, the Paschal Candle, if used, should be burning in its customary
place before the people assemble; the officiant then goes to a place close
by it to begin the service by its light.
The Short Lessons may be read from any version of the Scriptures
authorized for public worship in this Church, and should be read without
announcement or conclusion. When one or more Scripture Lessons are to
be read later in the service, the Short Lesson may be omitted.
For the lighting of the candles at the Altar and elsewhere, in Easter
Season the flame may be taken from the Paschal Candle. At other times,
the candle or candles carried in at the beginning of the service may be
placed on or near the Altar, and other candles may be lighted from them.
During Advent, the lighting of an Advent Wreath may take place after
the Prayer for Light. On special occasions, lighted candles may be
distributed to members of the congregation.
When this service is used in private houses, candles may be lighted at the
dining table, or at some other convenient place.
If incense is to be used, it is appropriate after the candles have been
lighted and while the hymn Phos hilaron is being sung.
When this service continues as a complete Office, Psalms and Lessons
from the Office Lectionary or the Proper of the Day, or ones suitable to
the season or the occasion, may be used. Psalms generally appropriate to
the evening include: 8, 23, 27, 36, 84, 93, 113, 114, 117, 121, 134, 139,
141, 143. When desired, more than one Lesson may be read, with silence
or singing between them.
If an additional hymn is desired, it may be sung immediately before the
Blessing or Dismissal.
When a meal is to follow, a blessing over food may serve as the
conclusion of this form of service.
Additional Directions 143