All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (July 18, 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.

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


Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
All you nations.
Extol him! Extol him!
All you peoples.
For great is his love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord
endures forever.

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
All you nations.
Extol him! Extol him!
All you peoples.
For great is his love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord
endures forever.
  
Silence is kept.

Gracious God,
we praise you for your faithfulness
and pray that every nation may find your blessing
in the face of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The Proclamation of the Word

The Reading

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

In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.

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

Homily

A Template for God’s Grace

In this teaching Jesus expands two commandments found in the Old Testament. They are found at Leviticus 19:18 and Leviticus 19:34. The first is, “ You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord.” The second is, “The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”

It is recorded in the Babylonian Talmud that the famous rabbi, Hillel the Elder, had a similar teaching, which was also based upon Leviticus 19:18. It is, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow: this is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn.”

Jesus’ teaching, “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you,” is often called “the Golden Rule.” It is an important teaching on how we should treat others. It can be interpreted in three different ways. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. Do not treat others in ways that you would not like to be treated. It can be also applied to what we wish upon others. We should avoid wishing upon others what would not want to wish upon ourselves.

This teaching lies at the heart of the first rule and second rule of John Wesley’s “Three Simple Rules.” They are, “Do No Harm, Do Good, and Attend to the Ordinances of God.”

As useful as these teachings are in guiding how we should live our lives and treat others, I want to talk about something other than rule-keeping.

I am a vegetarian and sometimes vegan and when I was younger, I frequented a number of vegetarian and vegan online forums. Those who frequented these forums included Christians like myself, agnostics, atheists, and practitioners of other faiths. One criticism that was leveled at Christianity is that “it is all about rules.” This criticism has some validity. A second criticism was that Christians expected others to follow their rules but did not follow them themselves. This criticism also has some validity. One of the reasons non-Christians may have this perception of Christianity and Christians is that we have the same perception of our faith and our selves.

In his sermon on the mountain Jesus also told his disciples, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” He offers this advice at the conclusion of teaching the disciples about their relationship to others. In other words, we should be like God. We should show the same kind of forgiveness, kindness, mercy, and patience toward others that God shows towards us. God’s forgiveness, kindness, mercy, and patience are manifestations of his grace--his love and goodwill toward us which is free and undeserved. God not only shows his grace directly toward us but he also shows it through us to others. As Paul reminds the church at Philippi, God is at work in us, enabling us both to will and to work for his good pleasure. As Jesus repeatedly pointed to the attention of his disciples and those who gathered to hear him, being forgiving, kind, merciful and patient, being gracious like God, is what is pleasing to God. It is his good pleasure.

“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you,” can be thought of as a way of templating God’s manifestation of his grace toward others through us. It is not the only way which that grace may be shown but it is an important one. When we apply such a template, we not only show that we are truly disciples of Jesus, closely following his teachings and example, we also give expression to our love for Jesus. As Jesus told Judas (not Iscariot), those who love him keep his word.

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 for 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


What the dew is to the flower,
Gentle words are to the soul,
and a blessing to the giver,
and so dear to the receiver,
we should never withhold.

Gentle words kindly spoken
often soothe the troubled mind,
while links of love are broken
by words that are unkind.

Then O, thou gentle spirit,
my constant guardian be,
"Do to others," be my motto,
"as I'd have them do to me."

Text and tune: Sister Polly M. Rupe,
Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, c. 1867

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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