03-29-23 Evening Prayer Live From Winchester Cathedral. 🇺🇦

Welcome to the Cathedral

A warm welcome awaits you, whether you're physically present in the building or tuning in online. The service today is marked in The Daily Prayer app, making it easy for you to follow along. If you're in the building, you'll find the order of service in the book in front of you, starting from page 257. We're in Passion Week, the final phase of Lent, and we're approaching Palm Sunday. Please join in the words in bold print, and when we reach the canticles, which are the items with a number down the left-hand side, we'll say those by me saying all the odd verses and everyone else together all the even verses.

The Power of Prayer

As we sit now for our psalm, today it's Psalm 62. You'll find it marked at the back of the book on page 736. As we read, let's remember that God alone is our salvation, our rock, and our stronghold. He alone is our strength and glory. He is our refuge, and we should always put our trust in him.

The Lessons from the Book of Job and John 14

The first lesson is from The Book of Job, chapter 36. This passage describes Eli, one of Job's so-called comforters. Eli emphasizes God's justice, but in a way that implies that Job's suffering must be his own fault. This misses the point of Job's problem, which is how to come to terms with undeserved suffering.

The second lesson comes from John 14, beginning at chapter verse 1. Judas has just left the Last Supper to betray Jesus. Other disciples are troubled but Jesus promises them that he will lead them to eternal life with the father.

The Silence and the Prayer

We now hold a few moments of silence, adoring Christ and blessing him by his Holy Cross. We remember those who have recently died, including David Lumsden, David Harris, and Frederick William Smith. We also remember the priest John Keeble, giving thanks for his poetry and his faithful service.

The Final Prayer

As we stand at the foot of the cross, let's pray with confidence as our savior has taught us. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

May Christ Who Bore our sins on the cross set us free to serve him with joy. Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God. The Lord be with you. Let us pray.

Conclusion

Thank you for joining us today. May God bless this Cathedral Church, the Diocese of Winchester, the Benedictine community of Fleury, and the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus. Most merciful God, who by the death and resurrection of your son Jesus Christ delivered and saved the world, granted by faith in him who suffered on the cross we may triumph in the power of his victory through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Thank You

Thank you for joining us today. Let us remember to pray for those who are sick, for those who have recently died, for those who are suffering unjustly, and for those who are involved in the election of the next Bishop of Winchester. Let us pray for wisdom and insight, for strength and support, and for the power to speak our best. Let us remember that God's love for us is revealed in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Amen.