← Prayer Book
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.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
Evening Prayer
Monday, December 28, 2026 • The Holy Innocents, Martyrs
Opening
O God, come to my assistance.
Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Hymn
Silent Night, Holy Night
Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon virgin mother and child,
holy infant, so tender and mild;
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace.
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon virgin mother and child,
holy infant, so tender and mild;
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing alleluia;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born.
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing alleluia;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born.
Silent night, holy night!
Son of God, love's pure light
radiant beams from thy holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace;
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
Son of God, love's pure light
radiant beams from thy holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace;
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
Psalmody
Psalm 136By the Waters of Babylon (Part I)
Ant. Today Christ is born for us; glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.
Upon the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept as we remembered Zion.
On the willows in their midst, we hung up our instruments.
For there those who had led us captive asked us the words of song.
And those who had carried us away said: "Sing to us a hymn from the songs of Zion."
How will we sing the song of the Lord in a foreign land?
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Ant. Today Christ is born for us; glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.
Psalm 136By the Waters of Babylon (Part II)
Ant. Today Christ is born for us; glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.
If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten.
Let my tongue cling to my jaws if I do not remember you,
if I do not set Jerusalem forth as the beginning of my joy.
Remember, O Lord, the sons of Edom, on the day of Jerusalem,
who said: "Tear it down, tear it down, even to its foundation!"
O daughter of Babylon, you are wretched; blessed is he who repays you your payment,
which you have paid to us.
Blessed is he who will hold and dash your little ones against the rock.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Ant. Today Christ is born for us; glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.
New Testament Canticle
New Testament Canticle (Colossians 1:12–20)
Giving thanks to God the Father, who has made us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in the light.
He has rescued us from the power of darkness, and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love,
in whom we have redemption through his blood, the remission of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.
For in him all things were created in the heavens and on earth, the visible and the invisible.
Whether thrones or dominations or principalities or powers, all things were created through him and in him.
And he exists before all others, and all things continue in him.
And he himself is the head of the body, the Church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
so that he may hold the primacy in all things.
For it has pleased the Father that all fullness would dwell in him,
and that through him all things would be reconciled to himself, making peace through the blood of his cross, both as to the things on earth and the things in heaven.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Gospel Canticle: Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55)
The Canticle of Mary (Magnificat) (Luke 1:46–55)
Ant. Holy Mother of God, ever-virgin Mary, who have given birth to the King of kings, intercede for us.
My soul magnifies the Lord.
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
Because he has regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold, from henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
Because he who is powerful has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
And his mercy is from generation to generation for those who fear him.
He has shown might with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He has deposed the powerful from their seat, and he has exalted the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has received Israel, his servant, being mindful of his mercy.
As he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his offspring forever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Ant. Holy Mother of God, ever-virgin Mary, who have given birth to the King of kings, intercede for us.
Short Reading
Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.
Responsory
V. A holy day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations, and adore the Lord.
R. For today a great light has descended upon the earth. Alleluia.
V. Sing to the Lord a new song,
R. for he has done marvelous things. Alleluia.
Evening Intercessions
As evening falls during this Christmas season, let us pray in the name of the one who was born for us, saying:
For peace in our world, that the peace proclaimed at Bethlehem may become a reality among nations: we pray to you, O Lord.
Glory to God in the highest.
For those who are isolated or forgotten at this time of year, that they may know they are not alone: we pray to you, O Lord.
Glory to God in the highest.
For children, that this season may be one of wonder, security, and love for them: we pray to you, O Lord.
Glory to God in the highest.
For all who mourn, especially those who have lost a loved one since last Christmas, that hope may comfort them: we pray to you, O Lord.
Glory to God in the highest.
For our bishop and all who lead our church, that they may reflect the light of Christ in their ministry: we pray to you, O Lord.
Glory to God in the highest.
For those who have died, that they may share in the eternal Christmas of heaven: we pray to you, O Lord.
Glory to God in the highest.
The Lord's Prayer
Let us pray as the Lord himself 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.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
Concluding Prayer
O God, who gave us your Son as our Savior, help us to treasure this gift and to share the joy of Christmas with all we meet; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Marian Antiphon
Alma Redemptoris Mater
Loving Mother of the Redeemer, gate of heaven, star of the sea, assist your people who have fallen, yet strive to rise again. To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator, yet remained a virgin after as before. You who received Gabriel's joyful greeting, have pity on us poor sinners.
Dismissal
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
May almighty God bless us: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.