Saturday Evening Devotion

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd *

 therefore can I lack nothing.

  He shall feed me in a green pasture *

 and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort.

  He shall convert my soul *

 and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness, for his Name’s sake.

  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death , I will fear no evil *

 for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me.

  Thou shalt prepare a table before me against them that trouble me *

 thou hast anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full.

  But thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life *

 and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

(Translation: Coverdale)

A Reading

(1 Corinthians 4:1-7)

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.

For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

(Translation: Authorized Version)

A period of silence may follow.

Canticle

Nunc dimittis

Luke 2:29-32

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, *

    according to thy word;

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, *

    which thou hast prepared before the face of all people,

To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, *

    and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

    as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Prayers for Ourselves and Neighbors

Everlasting God, I pray for my own needs and those of others:

Silence or add individual intentions here

I confess to Almighty God that I have sinned by my own fault in thought, word, and deed, in things done and left undone; especially these sins which I have committed today:

Silence or add individual intentions here

For these and all other sins which I cannot now remember, I am truly sorry. I pray God to have mercy upon me. I firmly intend amendment of life, and I humbly beg forgiveness of God and his Church.

+May the Almighty God grant me forgiveness of all my sins, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Holy Trinity, One God, Thou art the bearer of good things, grant unto me a grateful heart that I may go forth with thanksgiving for all thy blessings:

Silence or add individual intentions here

And now, I gather my all prayers in the words Thy Son hath taught us:

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, and the power, and the glory,

    for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Saturdays

O God, the source of eternal light: Shed forth thine unending day upon us who watch for thee, that our lips may praise thee, our lives may bless thee, and our worship on the morrow may give thee glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, bless me and keep me. Amen.