All Hallows Evening Prayer for Wednesday Evening (July 29, 2020)

Evening Prayer

The Service of Light

Jesus Christ is the light of the world.

A light no darkness can extinguish.

Open this link in a new tab to hear David von Kampen’s a cappella choral arrangement of the Lutheran Book of Worship’s translation of the ancient lamp-lighting hymn Phos hilaron.

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,

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.

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 to hear Anna Letitia Waring’s “In Heavenly Love Abiding,” a hymn based on Psalm 23 and sung to the hymn tune PENLAN.

1 In heavenly love abiding,
no change my heart shall fear;
and safe is such confiding,
for nothing changes here:
the storm may roar without me,
my heart may low be laid;
but God is round about me,
and can I be dismayed?

2 Wherever he may guide me,
no want shall turn me back;
my Shepherd is beside me,
and nothing can I lack:
his wisdom ever waketh,
his sight is never dim,
he knows the way he taketh,
and I will walk with him.

3 Green pastures are before me,
which yet I have not seen;
bright skies will soon be o'er me,
where darkest clouds have been;
my hope I cannot measure,
my path to life is free;
my Saviour has my treasure,
and he will walk with me.

Silence is kept.

O God, our sovereign and shepherd,

who brought again your Son Jesus Christ

from the valley of death,

comfort us with your protecting presence

and your angels of goodness and love,

that we also may come home

and dwell with him in your house for ever.

Amen.

The Proclamation of the Word

The Reading

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

The Gospel of Christ

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

Jesus Ever the Same

What stands out to me in this passage is how approachable Jesus is. It was not Jesus who turning away the parents who brought their children to him. It was his disciples. Jesus rebukes the disciples for turning them away.

This passage is not the only one in the gospels in which those who needed him the most were able to approach him—the Syrophoenician woman whose daughter was possessed by an evil spirit, Jarius whose daughter had died, the centurion whose slave was deathly ill. All of them were able to approach him in their hour of need. None of them knew him. None had met him before.

Nicodemus, a religious leader and teacher of the Jews, visited Jesus secretly at night. It was not that Nicodemus was unable to approach him during the day. Nicodemus , however, feared the disapproval and censure of his fellow leaders and teachers and consequently visited Jesus in secrecy under the cover of darkness and away from prying eyes and loose lips, those who were eager not only to learn the business of others but also to tell all and sundry what they had learned. While Nicodemus did not need prayer or a blessing or a miracle, he still had a need. He needed to hear from Jesus’ own lips that one must be borne of the Spirit. Unless the Holy Spirit enables us, we cannot turn away from sin in repentance and to Jesus in faith.

Jesus is as approachable today as he was in the days of his earthly ministry. We do not need a priest or a saint or even his mother to talk to him for us. Jesus will hear us when we call upon him in an hour of need. He will listen to us when we unburden ourselves to him. He will give ear to our hopes and fears, our joys and sorrows.  He will walk beside us in times of trouble.

Jesus has promised to be with us always, to the end of the age. And Jesus keeps his promises. Due to our limitations we are unable to see Jesus. However, we are not alone. Jesus is present with us.  Jesus is one with God and God is present everywhere. Jesus also promised to send us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells us and unite us to Jesus.

Jesus knows our darkest secrets and our hidden sins. We can deceive ourselves. We can deceive others. But we cannot deceive him. At the same time Jesus wants us to confide in him, to open our hearts to him, to trust him and to trust his love and goodwill towards us.

The Jesus whom we meet in prayer is the same Jesus who laid his hands on the children and prayed for them. He is the same Jesus who delivered the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter from the evil spirit, who raised Jarius’ daughter from the dead, and healed the centurion’s servant.  The Jesus who meets us in prayer is the same Jesus who met Nicodemus late at night.

We should not fear to approach him. He welcomes us into his presence. To that which would keep us from him, he says, “Forbid them not! For to such as these belongs God’s kingdom, the kingdom of heaven.”

Silence is kept.

The Gospel Canticle

Open this link in a new tab to hear Anne Carter’s paraphrase of the Magnificat, “My Soul Proclaims the Lord My God,” sung to the American folk hymn tune NEW BRITAIN.

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

Open this link in a new tab to hear Henry Alford’s hymn, “We Walk by Faith, and Not by Sight,” sung to the hymn tune SHANTI.

1 We walk by faith, and not by sight:
No gracious words we hear
of him who spoke as none e'er spoke,
but we believe him near.

2 We may not touch his hands and side,
nor follow where he trod;
yet in his promise we rejoice,
and cry, "My Lord and God!"

3 Help then, O Lord, our unbelief,
and may our faith abound;
to call on you when you are near.
and seek where you are found:

4 That when our life of faith is done
in realms of clearer light
We may behold you as you are
in full and endless sight.

5  We walk by faith, and not by sight:
No gracious words we hear
of him who spoke as none e'er spoke,
but we believe him near.

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