All Hallows Evening Prayer for Sunday Evening (July 12, 2020)

Evening Prayer

The Service of Light

Jesus Christ is the light of the world.

A light no darkness can extinguish.

Open this link to hear John Van Maanen's choral arrangement of Sylvia Dunstan’s translation of the ancient lamp-lighting hymn Phos Hilaron, “O Laughing Light, O First-Born of Creation.”

1 O laughing Light, O first-born of creation,
Radiance of glory, light from light begotten,
God self-revealing, holy, bright and blessed:
You shine upon us.

2 Day’s light is fleeting, yours is light eternal;
We look to you, our light within the shadow.
We sing to you, Creator, Christ, and Spirit.
You shine before us.

3 Light of the world, O Jesus Christ, we bless you.
Giver of life and Child of God, we praise you.
Hear as the universe proclaims your glory!
You shine among us.

Thanksgiving

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe! You led your people Israel by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Enlighten our darkness by the light of your Christ. May his word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path; for you are full of loving kindness for your whole creation, and we, your creatures, glorify you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

Psalm 141 is sung and incense may be burned.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Tony Alonso’s responsorial setting of the evening psalm, “Psalm 141—Like Burning Incense, O Lord.”

Like burning incense, O Lord,

let my rise to you.

Like burning incense, O Lord,

let my prayer rise to you.

1 I call out to you,

Come quickly to my aid.

My song cries out to you,

O listen to me now.

I raise my hands in off’ring to you.

Like burning incense, O Lord,

(Like burning incense, O Lord,)

let my prayer rise to you.

(let my prayer rise to you.)

Like burning incense, O Lord,

(Like burning incense, O Lord,)

let my prayer rise to you.

(let my prayer rise to you.)

2 Let me speak your truth;

watch over all I say.

Keep my thoughts on you;

let goodness rule my heart.

Keep me far from those who do harm.

Like burning incense, O Lord,

(Like burning incense, O Lord,)

let my prayer rise to you.

(let my prayer rise to you.)

Like burning incense, O Lord,

(Like burning incense, O Lord,)

let my prayer rise to you.

(let my prayer rise to you.)

  

3 Never let me dine

with those who seek to harm.

Keep your holy ones

always at my side.

Plant your wisdom deep in my soul.

Like burning incense, O Lord,

(Like burning incense, O Lord,)

let my prayer rise to you.

(let my prayer rise to you.)

Like burning incense, O Lord,

(Like burning incense, O Lord,)

let my prayer rise to you.

(let my prayer rise to you.)

4 I look to you for help;

I seek your loving eyes.

Guard my life for you;

Spare me from all wrong.

Keep all evil far from my heart.

Like burning incense, O Lord,

(Like burning incense, O Lord,)

let my prayer rise to you.

(let my prayer rise to you.)

Like burning incense, O Lord,

(Like burning incense, O Lord,)

let my prayer rise to you.

(let my prayer rise to you.)

5 Glory be to God

and to God’s only Son,

glory to the Spirit,

three in one,

now and for ever. Amen.

Like burning incense, O Lord,

(Like burning incense, O Lord,)

let my prayer rise to you.

(let my prayer rise to you.)

Like burning incense, O Lord,

(Like burning incense, O Lord,)

let my prayer rise to you.

(let my prayer rise to you.)

Silence is kept.

Let the incense of our repentant prayer ascend before you, O Lord, and let your loving kindness descend upon us, that with purified minds we may sing your praises with the Church on earth and the whole heavenly host, and may glorify you forever and ever. Amen.

The Psalms

Open this link in a new tab to hear Christopher Walker’s adaptation of Psalm 27,“The Lord Is My Light, My Help, My Salvation.”

The Lord is my light, my help, my salvation.
Why should I fear? With God I fear no one.
God protects me all my life.
With the Lord what should I dread?

The Lord is my light, the Lord is my help,
The Lord is my salvation.

There is one thing I ask, of God that I long for:
All of my days with God to be dwelling.
Gazing with awe at the beauty of God,
And in wonder look on God's house.

The Lord is my light, the Lord is my help,
The Lord is my salvation.

I know I will live to see the Lord's goodness;
Now, in this life, I'm sure I will see it.
Trust in the Lord, be strong and be brave;
Wait in hope for God, our salvation.

The Lord is my light, the Lord is my help,
The Lord is my salvation

Silence is kept.

God, our light and our salvation,

illuminate our lives,

that we may see your goodness in the land of the living,

and, looking on your beauty,

may be changed into the likeness of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Proclamation of the Word

The Reading

A reading from the First Letter of Peter.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

The Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Homily

Priests of the King

Earlier in his letter the apostle Peter urges those to whom his letter is addressed to come to Jesus whom he compares with a living stone—a stone “rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight.” “Like living stones” they themselves are being “built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” In this evening’s reading he explains why God is building them into a spiritual house. They are to proclaim the mighty acts of the One who called them out of darkness into his marvellous light. Telling others about what God has done are the spiritual sacrifices that they are offer to God through Jesus Christ.

This passage from Peter’s letter has tremendous implications for us as Christians. We were not called out of darkness into God’s marvellous light to serve God in silence. This is not say that we should cease from treating others with kindness and forgiveness and doing as much good as we can, showing the love of Jesus to others. It is to say that we should share the love of Jesus too. For the greatest of God’s mighty acts is Jesus and the mercy and goodwill that he ha shown us through Jesus. God in the person of the Son humbled himself and became one of us. He became human like ourselves. He experienced hunger, thirst, and pain. He suffered death for us. He put things right between God and ourselves. He enabled us to become what God had meant us to be from the very beginning.

How then might we share the love of Jesus with others? How might we share the story of the great love God has shown us through his Son?

Think about it during the week. Pray about it. Ask God for his guidance. Consider what actions you can take—by yourself and with other Christians. Make a plan. Carry it out. Truly be the priest of the one true King that God has called you to be.  

Silence is kept.

The Gospel Canticle

Open this link in a new tab to hear Ann Krentz’s choral arrangement of the Magnificat, “My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness.”

My soul proclaims your greatness, O Lord;

I sing my Savior’s praise!

Great wonders you have done for me,

and holy is your name.

My soul proclaims your greatness, Lord;

I sing my Savior’s praise!

You looked upon my lowliness,

and I am full of grace.

Now ev’ry land and ev’ry age

this blessing shall proclaim—

great wonders you have done for me,

and holy is your name.

My soul proclaims your greatness, O Lord;

I sing my Savior’s praise!

Great wonders you have done for me,

and holy is your name.

To all who live in holy fear

Your mercy ever flows.

With mighty arm you dash the proud,

Their scheming hearts expose.

The ruthless you have cast aside,

the lonely throned instead;

the hungry filled with all good things,

the rich sent off unfed.

My soul proclaims your greatness, O Lord;

I sing my Savior’s praise!

Great wonders you have done for me,

and holy is your name.

To Israel, your servant blest,

your help is ever sure;

the promise to our parents made

their children will secure.

Sing glory to the Holy One,

give honor to the Word,

and praise the Pow’r of the Most High,

one God, by all adored.

My soul proclaims your greatness, O Lord;

I sing my Savior’s praise!

Great wonders you have done for me,

and holy is your name,

and holy is your name.

Intercessions

That this evening may be holy, good and peaceful:

we entreat you, O Lord.

That your holy angels may lead us in the paths of peace and goodwill:

we entreat you, O Lord.

That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins and offences:

we entreat you, O Lord.

That there may be peace in your Church and for the whole world:

we entreat you, O Lord.

That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit,

in communion with the ever-blessed Virgin Mary and with all your saints,

entrusting one another and all our life to Christ:

we entreat you, O Lord.

Let us commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray,

to the mercy and protection of God.

Open prayer may be offered and silence is kept.

The Collect

Lighten our darkness,

Lord, we pray,

and in your great mercy

defend us from all perils and dangers of this night,

for the love of your only Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer is said

And now, as our Saviour has taught us,

we are bold to say,

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,

the power, and the glory

for ever and ever.

Amen.

Dismissal

Open this link in a new tab to hear the evening hymn, “We Praise You, Father, for Your Gifts.”

1 We praise you, Father, for your gifts
of dusk and nightfall over earth,
foreshadowing the mystery
of death that leads to endless day.

2 Within your hands we rest secure;
in quiet sleep our strength renew;
yet give your people hearts that wake
in love to you, unsleeping Lord.

3 Your glory may we ever seek
in rest, as in activity,
until its fullness is revealed,
O source of life, O Trinity. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

The Lord bless us and keep us.

The Lord make his face to shine upon us

and be gracious to us.

The Lord lift up his countenance upon us

and give us peace. Amen