Give us grace almighty Father,
so to pray as to be heard,
to address thee with our hearts as -
with our lips, as thou deserves.
Thou art everywhere here present
and no secret can be hid.
May we now and on each evening
well consider our use of time,
our prevailing words and actions,
thoughts irreverent in the mind
have we disobeyed commandments,
or neglected tasks of thine?
Turn our hearts to ask these questions,
save from pride and vanity,
to acquit ourselves of evil
never thinking irreverently.
Give a sense of all thy blessings,
that we might live thankfully.
so to pray as to be heard,
to address thee with our hearts as -
with our lips, as thou deserves.
Thou art everywhere here present
and no secret can be hid.
May we now and on each evening
well consider our use of time,
our prevailing words and actions,
thoughts irreverent in the mind
have we disobeyed commandments,
or neglected tasks of thine?
Turn our hearts to ask these questions,
save from pride and vanity,
to acquit ourselves of evil
never thinking irreverently.
Give a sense of all thy blessings,
that we might live thankfully.
Hear us Lord. Thou hast redeemed us,
thus thou taught us how to pray,
thou hast given us many blessings
and the comforts of this day,
thus thou taught us how to pray,
thou hast given us many blessings
and the comforts of this day,
that we might not risk to lose them
by indifference to thy way.
by indifference to thy way.
Words: from an Evening Prayer of Jane Austen
adapted by Canon Sue Wallace
Tune: Westminster Abbey 205 NEH
Music: Henry Purcell