The Close Of The Day

O gracious Light, pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven

O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed! Now as we come to the setting of the sun, and our eyes behold the vesper light, we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices, O Son of God, O Giver of life, and to be glorified through all the worlds.

The prayer above can be found in Evening Prayer, Order for Worship in the Evening, and Daily Devotionals for Individuals and Families in the Early Evening from the Book of Common Prayer.

Few words in our Book of Common Prayer offer more peace and comfort at the close of the day than this prayer. It reminds us that our blessed Lord and Savior has walked with us throughout our day, a day that we give thanks to God for, regardless of what it offered.

Psalm 63:5-7 says, “My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.”

As you close your day brothers and sisters, may your heart sing with joy because of your love for God, and may your rest and sleep in Him bring you peace.

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. May the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, keep you safe and make you strong, this night and always. Amen.

Fr. Brian+