All Hallows Evening Prayer for Sunday Evening (July 26, 2020)
Evening Prayer
The Service of Light
Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
A light no darkness can extinguish.
Joyous light of glory of
the immortal Father,
Heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ,
We have come to the setting of the Sun
And we look to the evening light.
We sing to God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy of being praised with pure voices forever.
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
The universe proclaims your glory,
Heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ,
We have come to the setting of the Sun
And we look to the evening light.
We sing to God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy of being praised with pure voices forever.
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
The universe proclaims your glory,
your glory, your glory.
Thanksgiving
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
We praise you, O Lord our God, Ruler of the universe!
Your word brings on the dusk of evening,
your wisdom creates both night and day.
You determine the cycles of time,
arrange the succession of the seasons,
and establish the stars in their heavenly courses.
Lord of the starry hosts is your name.
Living and eternal God,
rule over us always.
Blessed be the Lord,
whose word makes evening fall.
Amen.
Psalm 141 is sung and incense may be burned.
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
O God, you search me, and you know me
All my thoughts lie open to your gaze
When I walk or lie down, you are before me
Ever the maker and keeper of my days.
All my thoughts lie open to your gaze
When I walk or lie down, you are before me
Ever the maker and keeper of my days.
You know my resting and my rising
You discern my purpose from afar
And with love everlasting, you besiege me
In ev'ry moment of life or death, you are.
You discern my purpose from afar
And with love everlasting, you besiege me
In ev'ry moment of life or death, you are.
Before a word is on my tongue, Lord
You have known its meaning through and through
You are with me beyond my understanding
God of my present, my past and future, too.
You have known its meaning through and through
You are with me beyond my understanding
God of my present, my past and future, too.
Although your Spirit
is upon me
Still I search for shelter from your light
There is nowhere on Earth I can escape you
Still I search for shelter from your light
There is nowhere on Earth I can escape you
Even the darkness is
radiant in your sight.
For you created me and
shaped me
Gave me life within my
mother’s womb
For the wonder of who
I am, I praise you.
Safe in your hands,
all creation is made new
Silence
is kept.
Creator
God,
may
every breath we take be for your glory,
may
every footstep show you as our way,
that,
trusting in your presence in this world,
we
may, beyond this life, still be with you
where
you are alive and reign
for
ever and ever.
Amen.
The Proclamation of the Word
The Reading
A reading
from the first letter of John.
Now by this
we may be sure that we know him, if we obey his commandments. Whoever
says, ‘I have come to know him’, but does not obey his commandments, is a liar,
and in such a person the truth does not exist; but
whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached
perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever
says, ‘I abide in him’, ought to walk just as he walked.
The word of the
Lord.
Thanks be to God
Homily
Mirrors of Christ
In this passage in
his letter John assures us that we can be confident that we have knowledge of Christ
if we obey his commandments—the things that God commanded Jesus to teach to us.
John does not
soften his language where he warns us that those who claim to have knowledge of
Christ but do not obey his commandments. They are liars in whom the truth does
not exist at all. Strong words indeed.
On the other hand,
John has warm words for those who obey Jesus’ teaching. In them, he writes, the
love of God is completed or made perfect. They truly love God.
John further
assures us that we can be confident that we are in Christ, one with him, if we
act in accordance not only with what Jesus taught but also with the example
that Jesus set. In John’s words, “walk as he walked.” Our thoughts and actions
are completely aligned with his. We become a mirror in which is seen his bright
reflection. Those around us do not see us but Christ.
When we read this
passage, it should prompt us to look at our lives. A true disciple is an image
of the one whom he calls lord or master. We may recognize where we fall short
but struggle to walk more closely with our Lord.
The truth is that
we cannot follow Jesus in our own strength. Like gravity holds us to the earth,
a rebellious, sinful human nature holds us back.
God is a gracious
God, however, filled with love and compassion for his children. He has bestowed
upon us the gift of his presence and his power. He enables us to will and to do
what is pleasing to him. Walking closely with our Lord is his good pleasure.
Let us take time
every day to ask the Holy Spirit to show us how might we walk more closely with
our Lord. Once we have decided where we need to make improvement, let us pray
for God’s help, for his grace, to walk more closely with his Son and then act
upon what we have decided. When starting out, it is best to choose one or two
things, things that we can with God’s help accomplish, things that will help us
to grow more like Christ.
Using Zoom, Webex,
or some other video conferencing platform we may want to meet every week with a
group of fellow disciples to encourage and support each other, to prayer for
each other, and to help each other in various other ways.
Let us become
in every way mirrors of Christ.
Silence is kept.
The Gospel Canticle
My
soul proclaims the Lord my God.
My
spirit sings God’s praise,
Who
looks on me, and lifts me up,
That
gladness fills my days.
All
nations now will share my joy;
For
gifts God has outpoured.
This
lowly one has been made great.
I
magnify the Lord.
For
those who fear the Holy One,
God’s
mercy will not die.
Whose
strong right arm puts down the proud,
And
lifts the lowly high.
God
fills the hungry with good things,
And
sends the rich away;
The
promise made to Abraham
Is
filled to endless day.
Then
let all nations praise our God,
The
Father and the Son,
The
Spirit blest, who lives in us,
While
endless ages run.
Intercessions
Let us complete our evening prayer to the
Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For peace from on high and our salvation, let
us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For the welfare of all churches and for the
unity of the human family, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For (name), our bishop, and (name),
our pastor, and for all ministers of the Gospel, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For our nation, its government, and for all
who serve and protect us, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For this city (town, university, monastery…).
For every city and community, and for all those living in them, let us pray to
the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For the good earth which God has given us and
for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For the safety of travelers, the recovery of
the sick, the care of the destitute and the release of prisoners, let us pray
to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For an angel of peace to guide and protect
us, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For a peaceful evening and a night free from
sin, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For a Christian end to our lives and for all
who have fallen asleep in Christ, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
In the communion of the Holy Spirit (and of
all the saints), let us commend ourselves and one another to the living God
through Christ our Lord.
To you, O Lord.
Free
Prayer
In silent or spontaneous prayer all bring before God the
concerns of the day.
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
Christ
be beside me,
Christ
be before me,
Christ
be behind me,
King
of my heart,
Christ
be within me,
Christ
be below me,
Christ
be above me,
Never
to part.
Christ
on my right hand,
Christ
on my left hand,
Christ
all around me,
Shield
in the strife.
Christ
in my sleeping,
Christ
in my sitting,
Christ
in my rising,
Light
of my life.
Christ
be in all hearts
Thinking
about me.
Christ
be on all tongues
Telling
of me.
Christ
be the vision
In
eyes that see me,
In
ears that hear me
Christ
ever be.
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
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