Welcome to Westminster Abbey. Daily prayer has been offered in this place for over a thousand years, and your participation in today's service is warmly welcomed. At choral Evensong most of the service is sung by the choir on our behalf. We participate through our presence and our listening, that the words and the music might become a prayer within us and lift us to contemplate God's beauty and glory.

The service always includes one or more psalms. These ancient prayers, taken from the Old Testament, reflect the full range of human emotions and experiences; from the depths of anger, resentment, and abandonment to the heights of ecstatic joy and praise. They were used by Jesus, and have always been at the heart of the Church's daily prayer.

The canticles Magnificat (Luke 1: 46–55) and Nunc dimittis (Luke 2: 29–32) reflect two responses to the Incarnation (God becoming fully human in Jesus Christ). Both speak of the fulfilment of God's promises, not just to 'Abraham and his seed', but also 'to be a light to lighten the Gentiles' (all nations). With their themes of fulfilment and completion, these texts have been given central place for many centuries in the Church's prayers for the evening and at the end of the day.

Please join in saying the words and singing the hymn printed in bold type.

The church is served by a hearing loop. Users should turn their hearing aid to the setting marked T.

Photography, filming, and sound recording are not allowed in the Abbey during services. Please ensure that mobile telephones and other electronic devices are silent.

The service is sung by the Lay Vicars of Westminster Abbey.

Order of Service

All stand as the choir and clergy enter

The choir sings the Introit

Audi, benigne Conditor,
Nostras preces cum fletibus,
Sacrata in abstinentia
Fusas quadragenaria.

Scrutator alme cordium,
Infirma tu scis virium;
Ad te reversis exhibe
Remissionis gratiam.

Praesta, beata Trinitas,
Concede, simplex Unitas,
Ut fructuosa sint tuis
haec parcitatis munera.
   Amen.

O merciful Creator, hear!
To us in pity bow your ear:
Accept the tearful prayer we raise
In this our fast of forty days.

Our hearts are open, Lord, to you:
You know our infirmity;
Pour out on all who seek your face
Abundance of your pardoning grace.

We pray to you, Holy Trinity,
One God, unchanging Unity,
That we from this our abstinence
May reap the fruits of penitence.
   Amen.

Words: Office hymn for Lent
Music: plainsong

All remain standing as the officiant introduces the Confession

Beloved, we are come together in the presence of Almighty God and of the whole company of heaven to offer unto him through our Lord Jesus Christ our worship and praise and thanksgiving; to make confession of our sins; to pray, as well for others as for ourselves, that we may know more truly the greatness of God's love and show forth in our lives the fruits of his grace; and to ask on behalf of all people such things as their well-being doth require. Wherefore let us sit or kneel and keep silence, and remember God's presence with us now.

All kneel or sit to say together

O God, our Father,
we have sinned against thee
in thought, word, and deed;
we have not loved thee with all our heart;
we have not loved our neighbour as ourselves.
Have mercy upon us, we beseech thee;
cleanse us from our sins;
and help us to overcome our faults;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The officiant gives the Absolution

May the almighty and merciful Lord grant unto you pardon and remission of all your sins, time for amendment of life, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

All say together the Lord's Prayer

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,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

All stand. The officiant and choir sing the Responses

Music: plainsong

All sit. The choir sings Psalm 105

O give thanks unto the Lord, and call upon his name : tell the people what things he hath done.
O let your songs be of him, and praise him : and let your talking be of all his wondrous works.
Rejoice in his holy name : let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.
Seek the Lord and his strength : seek his face evermore.
Remember the marvellous works that he hath done : his wonders, and the judgements of his mouth,
O ye seed of Abraham his servant : ye children of Jacob his chosen.
He is the Lord our God : his judgements are in all the world.
He hath been alway mindful of his covenant and promise : that he made to a thousand generations;
even the covenant that he made with Abraham : and the oath that he sware unto Isaac;
and appointed the same unto Jacob for a law : and to Israel for an everlasting testament;
saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan : the lot of your inheritance;
when there were yet but a few of them : and they strangers in the land;
what time as they went from one nation to another : from one kingdom to another people;
he suffered no man to do them wrong : but reproved even kings for their sakes;
Touch not mine Anointed : and do my prophets no harm.
Moreover, he called for a dearth upon the land : and destroyed all the provision of bread.
But he had sent a man before them : even Joseph, who was sold to be a bond-servant;
whose feet they hurt in the stocks : the iron entered into his soul;
until the time came that his cause was known : the word of the Lord tried him.
The king sent, and delivered him : the prince of the people let him go free.
He made him lord also of his house : and ruler of his substance;
that he might inform his princes after his will : and teach his senators wisdom.
Israel also came into Egypt : and Jacob was a stranger in the land of Ham.
And he increased his people exceedingly : and made them stronger than their enemies;
whose heart turned, so that they hated his people : and dealt untruly with his servants.
Then sent he Moses his servant : and Aaron whom he had chosen.
And these shewed his tokens among them : and wonders in the land of Ham.
He sent darkness, and it was dark : and they were not obedient unto his word.
He turned their waters into blood : and slew their fish.
Their land brought forth frogs : yea, even in their kings' chambers.
He spake the word, and there came all manner of flies : and lice in all their quarters.
He gave them hail-stones for rain : and flames of fire in their land.
He smote their vines also and fig-trees : and destroyed the trees that were in their coasts.
He spake the word, and the grasshoppers came, and caterpillars innumerable : and did eat up all the grass in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.
He smote all the first-born in their land : even the chief of all their strength.
He brought them forth also with silver and gold : there was not one feeble person among their tribes.
Egypt was glad at their departing : for they were afraid of them.
He spread out a cloud to be a covering : and fire to give light in the night-season.
At their desire he brought quails : and he filled them with the bread of heaven.
He opened the rock of stone, and the waters flowed out : so that rivers ran in the dry places.
For why? he remembered his holy promise : and Abraham his servant.
And he brought forth his people with joy : and his chosen with gladness;
and gave them the lands of the heathen : and they took the labours of the people in possession;
that they might keep his statutes : and observe his laws.

All stand

Chant: plainsong

All sit for the first Lesson, Genesis 32: 22–32

Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, 'Let me go, for the day is breaking.' But Jacob said, 'I will not let you go, unless you bless me.' So he said to him, 'What is your name?' And he said, 'Jacob.' Then the man said, 'You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.' Then Jacob asked him, 'Please tell me your name.' But he said, 'Why is it that you ask my name?' And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, 'For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.' The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the thigh muscle that is on the hip socket, because he struck Jacob on the hip socket at the thigh muscle.

Here ends the first lesson.

All stand. The choir sings Magnificat

The First Service, John Ward (1590–1638)

All sit for the second Lesson, 2 Peter 1: 10–end

Brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

Therefore I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to refresh your memory, since I know that my death will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honour and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, 'This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.' We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.

So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Here ends the second lesson.

All stand. The choir sings Nunc dimittis

The First Service, John Ward

All face east to say together the Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth:
and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried.
He descended into hell;
the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
the holy catholic Church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

The officiant and choir sing the Lesser Litany; the Lord's Prayer and the Responses

Let us pray.

All kneel or sit

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

The officiant sings the Collects; of the day, of Lent, for peace, and for aid against all perils

Almighty God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves; keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent; create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed; give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both, our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that, by thee, we being defended from the fear of our enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Music: plainsong

All sit. The choir sings the Anthem

Peccantem me quotidie et non paenitentem, timor mortis conturbat me.
Quia in inferno nulla est redemptio. Miserere mei, Deus, et salva me.

I, who sin every day and am not penitent, am troubled by the fear of death.
For in hell there is no redemption. Have mercy on me, O God, and save me.

Words: Seventh Respond at Matins for the Dead
Music: Orazio Vecchi (c 1550–1605)

All kneel or remain seated for the Intercessions

The officiant says the Prayers; for the Royal Family, and for the Members of the Order of the Bath

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless our most gracious Sovereign Lord King Charles, Queen Camilla, William Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and all the Royal Family: endue them with thy Holy Spirit; enrich them with thy heavenly grace; prosper them with all happiness; and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God save our Gracious Sovereign, and all the Members of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath living and departed. Amen.

All say

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore.
Amen.

All stand to sing the Hymn

O for a closer walk with God,
   a calm and heav'nly frame;
a light to shine upon the road
   that leads me to the Lamb!

Return, O holy Dove, return,
   sweet messenger of rest;
I hate the sins that made thee mourn,
   and drove thee from my breast.

The dearest idol I have known,
   whate'er that idol be,
help me to tear it from thy throne,
   and worship only thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,
   calm and serene my frame;
so purer light shall mark the road
   that leads me to the Lamb.

Words: from 'Walking With God' William Cowper (1731–1800)
Tune: 'Caithness' 414 NEH, in the 'Scottish Psalter' 1635

All remain standing as the choir and clergy depart

Music after the service

Adagio (Troisième symphonie pour grand orgue in F sharp minor Op 28), Louis Vierne (1870–1937)

Those who wish to may sit for the remainder of the organ voluntary

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Hymn covered by Christian Copyright Licensing (International) Ltd are reproduced under CCL no 1040271 and MRL no 1040288. Common Worship (Church House Publishing, 2000), material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops' Council. Scripture Readings are from the New Revised Standard Version.