Evening Service for the Day of Atonement.

For Silent Devotion.

LORD our God, who art merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in kindness, look down upon us in this hour when we enter upon Thy worship, on the day set apart for the purification of our hearts and the renewal of our spiritual life.

We feel, O God, that our sins and transgressions are many and that we need Thy pardoning grace. For shouldst Thou strictly mark all our failings, 0 Lord, who would be able to stand before Thee? O help us to employ this holy time in accordance with its sacred purpose, that we may gather spiritual blessings which will make our future lives more abundant in goodness, more free from sin, and more perfect in righteousness and in love. When we are oppressed with a sense of our unworthiness, we are comforted by the assurances given unto us in Thy word, that the sacrifice Thou desirest is a meek and contrite spirit, and that they who confess their sins and forsake them shall find mercy and pardon, and be again accepted by Thee. Even thus we desire to prepare ourselves to meet Thee, O God. Here, in

Thy sanctuary, we come to pour out our hearts with all the burdens that press them down, with all the cares that disquiet us, with all the anxieties that often consume our strength. O Father, to whom our innermost life is revealed, Thou, who art acquainted with all our thoughts, even with those which remain buried in our bosom, deal kindly with us, as we humble ourselves before Thee; and as we confess our transgressions and shortcomings before Thee, O pardon us, and give us peace!

And as we seek to be at peace with Thee, so may we strive to be at peace with all our fellow-men. If our conscience smites us because of any wrong or injustice done to them, may this day admonish us, that we dare not ask Thy pardon before we have done our utmost to pacify those against whom we have offended, until we have undone the evil we have caused. O give us the high courage to acknowledge our sins to our fellow-men also, and thus to restore the bonds of friendship and heal the wounds we have inflicted. Thus, reconciled to one another, may we appear before Thee, O Father, on this Day of Atonement as with one heart and one soul, and thus make our supplications acceptable to Thee. Be Thou, we beseech Thee, with the spirits of all who are assembled here, and send unto them that light and comfort for which they crave according to their trials and necessities. And may this day come as a messenger of peace and grace to all our brethren of the house of Israel throughout their habitations. Hear as, O God, answer us according to the fulness of Thy mercy. Amen.

And fill all our spirits

With peace and with gladness from Heaven.

From the eventide to eventide

Let all earthly thoughts be sanctified

In prayer!

Upward to God, upward to God,

Sons of earth, together!

Lift the voice of prayer and song, Heavenward borne on the current strong, Upward all aspire!

In the angel choir

Blend our prayers and praises.

Lord! God! See,

See Thou our heart's contrition,

And bow Thine ear!

Hear, O hear the voice of my petition,

Banish our fear!

Blot out our evil ways,

Open the door of grace,

Bid us enter there!

Minister:

UT of the depths I cry unto Thee, O Lord, listen

to my voice, let Thine ear be attentive to my supplication. If Thou shouldst mark transgressions, O Lord, who shall stand before Thy judgment? But with Thee is forgiveness, that Thou mayest be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they who watch for the morning-I say more. than they who watch for the morning. Let Israel hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption. He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Choir:

[Psalm cxxx.]

May forgiveness be granted unto all the congregation of Israel and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them, for all the people have sinned in ignorance.

Minister:

Forgive, I beseech Thee, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Thy love, even as Thou hast borne with this people from Egypt until

now.

Choir:

And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to Thy word.

Minister:

Praise be to Thee, O God, Ruler of the world, who hast granted us life, hast preserved and sustained us and brought us unto this day.

Choir :-Ame”.