*The candles at the Altar are now lighted, as are other candles and 
lamps as may be convenient.* 

*During the candle-lighting, an appropriate anthem or psalm may be
sung, or silence kept.* 


*The following hymn, or a metrical version of it, or some other hymn, is
then sung* 


O Gracious Light Phos hilaron 

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 praised, 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 service may then continue in any of the following ways:* 

*With Evening Prayer, beginning with the Psalms; or with some other
Office or Devotion;* 

*With the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, beginning with the 
Salutation and Collect of the Day;* 

*Or, it may be followed by a meal or other activity, in which case Phos
hilaron may be followed by the Lord's Prayer and a grace or blessing;* 

*Or, it may continue as a complete evening Office with the following
elements:* 

Selection from the Psalter.  *Silence, or a suitable Collect, or both,
may follow the Psalmody.* 

Bible Reading.  *A sermon or homily, a passage from Christian 
literature,
or a brief silence, may follow the Reading.* 

Canticle.  *The Magnificat or other canticle, or some other hymn of 
praise.* 

Prayers.  *A litany, or other suitable devotions, including the Lord's 
Prayer.* 

Blessing or Dismissal, *or both.  The Peace may then be exchanged. 


*On feasts or other days of special significance, the Collect of the 
Day, or one proper to the season, may precede the Blessing or Dismissal.  
On other days, either of the following, or one of the Collects from 
Evening Prayer or from Compline, may be so used.* 

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, creator
of the changes of day and night, giving rest to the weary,
renewing the strength of those who are spent, bestowing
upon us occasions of song in the evening.  As you have
protected us in the day that is past, so be with us in the
coming night; keep us from every sin, every evil, and every
fear; for you are our light and salvation, and the strength of
our life.  To you be glory for endless ages.  Amen. 

Almighty, everlasting God, let our prayer in your sight be as
incense, the lifting up of our hands as the evening sacrifice.
Give us grace to behold you, present in your Word and
Sacraments, and to recognize you in the lives of those around
us.  Stir up in us the flame of that love which burned in the
heart of your Son as he bore his passion, and let it burn in us
to eternal life and to the ages of ages.  Amen.