I am terrible at evening prayer, although I’ve always loved Compline, especially when I travel and can participate among some monastic brotherhood somewhere. I do love to write prayers however, morning or evening; whatever. Here is one from a few years ago. Who knows? perhaps posting this will help me realize a deeper faithfulness to the riches of evening prayer. I hope so.

I hope it speaks to you. Better, I hope you speak it to God.

Evening Prayer

Loving Lord, our God and friend, we are gathered together here to sing a new song to the Lord, to live as one in the community, which is promised whenever we come by faith into your holy presence.  We come not in haughty or vain spirits but in humility for we acknowledge that every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. You chose to give us birth through the word of truth that we might be a kind of first fruits of all you’ve created.

And so, dear Lord, we bring nothing to you other than our smallness into the enveloping presence of your powerful grace which changes our lives, making us new; refreshing us with light and love, forgiveness and wholeness.  We are children, safe in the arms of the God who is to us both Father and Mother, friend, confidante, grace-giver, sustainer and Saviour.

Walk with us this evening, oh God, as we seek to find you here among us.  Help us to hear your voice speaking, reminding us that, in you, there is a place to call home.

Through Christ Jesus, lover of our soul. Amen

Robert Rife, 2002