All Hallows Evening Prayer for Wednesday Evening (July 1, 2020)



Evening Prayer

The Service of Light

Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
A light no darkness can extinguish.


O radiant Light, O Sun divine
of God the Father's deathless face,
O image of the light sublime
that fills the heav'nly dwelling place.

O Son of God, the source of life,
praise is your due by night and day.
Our happy lips must raise the strain
of your esteemed and splendid name.

Lord Jesus Christ, as daylight fades,
as shine the lights of eventide,
we praise the Father with the Son,
the Spirit blest, and with them one.

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.


O Lord, let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.

1. Lord, I am calling:
hasten to help me.
Listen to me as I cry to you.
Let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.

O Lord, let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.

2. Lord, set a guard at my mouth,
keep watch at the gate of my lips.
Let my heart not turn to things that are wrong,
to sharing the evil deeds done by the sinful.
No, I will never taste their delights.

O Lord, let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.

3. The good may reprove me,
in kindness chastise me,
but the wicked shall never anoint my head.
Ev’ry day I counter their malice with prayer.

O Lord, let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.

4 To you, Lord, my God, my eyes are turned:
in you I take refuge;
do not forsake me.
Keep me from the traps they have set for me,
from the snares of those who do evil.

O Lord, let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.

5 Praise to the Father, praise to the Son,
all praise to the life-giving Spirit.
As it was, is now and shall always be
for ages unending. Amen.     

O Lord, let my prayer rise before you as incense,
my hands like an evening offering.

Silence is kept.

God our protector and guide, incline our hearts  to turn from evil and do good, that our lives may be a prayer for the coming of your kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Psalms


You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord
Who abide in His shadow for life
Say to the Lord: "My refuge, my rock in whom I trust!"

And He will raise you up on eagles' wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of His hand

The snare of the fowler will never capture you
And famine will bring you no fear
Under His wings your refuge, His faithfulness your shield

And He will raise you up on eagles' wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of His hand

You need not fear the terror of the night
Nor the arrow that flies by day
Though thousands fall about you, near you it shall not come

And He will raise you up on eagles' wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of His hand

For to His angels He's given a command
To guard you in all of your ways
Upon their hands they will bear you up
Lest you dash your foot against a stone

And He will raise you up on eagles' wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of His hand.

And hold you, hold you in the psalm of His hand.

Silence is kept.

Gracious God, in times of anxiety and stress, teach us to wait in quietness for your protection and defense, made known to us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


How worthy is the Lamb,
who was slain,
to receive power
to receive power and divinity,
and wisdom and strength
and honour.
To him belong glory and power
for ever and ever,
glory and power
for ever. Amen.
For ever more.

The Proclamation of the Word

The Reading

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Soon afterwards Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, ‘Young man, I say to you, rise!’ The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, ‘A great prophet has risen among us!’ and ‘God has looked favourably on his people!’ This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.

The Gospel of Christ
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

God’s Miracles

In this passage the physician Luke records one of the many miracles that Jesus performed during his earthly ministry. He drove out evil spirits. He healed the sick. He gave sight to the blind. He cleansed lepers. He gave hearing to the deaf. He gave the ability to walk to the lame. He raised the dead. He not only performed miracles but he also brought good news to the poor.

The miracles that he performed reveal Jesus’ compassion for the suffering. The woman who was morning the death of her son was a widow. She had lost her husband. He was her only son and she had no other children. To lose a child is bad enough but to lose an only child is worse. Since she was a widow, her son would have been her support in her old age. His death not deprived her of her only child but also of her only means of support. The lot of a widow in those days was not an easy one. The lot of a childless widow was even more difficult.

Jesus’ heart went out to her. He knew what she was facing. He approaches the bier on which the bearers were carrying the young man to his final resting place and touches it with his hand, causing the bearers to stop. He then restores life to the young man and returns him to his mother. Those who witnessed the miracle were filled with fear and they gave glory to God.

Awe—fear mixed with reverence and wonder—is a natural reaction to one of God’s miracles.

God’s miracles are happening all around us. But we do not notice them. In fact, we may take them for granted. The sun rises. The birds sing. A flower blooms. A baby smiles. Someone shows us a kindness. All these things are God’s miracles. They may not catch attention like Jesus’ miracles. But they are God’s miracles. They are his handiwork. They are evidence of his graciousness toward us.

Take time to notice these things. Let yourself be filled with reverence and wonder and fear. And then join your voice with those who have gone before us in the faith and those who will come after us and glorify God.

Silence is kept.

The Gospel Canticle


My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
And from this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and sent the rich away empty handed.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.

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.
 

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

Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.


May God bless and keep you.
May God's face shine on you.
May God be kind to you and give you peace.

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