All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (August 8, 2020)



Evening Prayer

The Service of Light

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


1 O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the
everliving Father in heaven.
O Jesus, Christ, holy and blessed!

2 Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing thy praises, O God:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

3 Thou art worthy at all times
to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.

Thanksgiving

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

God our Father, we give you thanks
for all your gifts freely bestowed upon us;
for the beauty and wonder of your creation,
in earth and sky and sea; for all that is gracious
in the lives of men and women, revealing the light of Christ;
for minds to muse and hearts to love and hands to serve;
for health and strength to work,
for leisure to rest and play;
for communion with your saints,
in all times and places,
and above all for the great promises and mercies
given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord.
To him be praise and glory,
with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Psalm 141 is sung and incense may be burned.


O God, my Lord, on thee I call,
do thou make hast to me:
and hearken thou unto my voice,
when I cry unto thee.

And let my prayer directed be
as incense in thy sight:
my hands uplifted unto thee
as sacrifice at night.

Jehovah, oh that thou would’st set
a watch my mouth before:
as also of my lips with care
O do thou keep the door.

Bow not my heart to evil things;
to do the wicked deed
with wicked workers: and let not
me of their dainties feed.

Like unto one who on the earth
doth cut and cleave the wood,
even so our bones at the graves mouth
are scatter’d all abroad.

But unto thee O God, the Lord
directed are mine eyes;
my soul, O leave not destitute,
on thee my hope relies.

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


Refrain:
O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name,
how wonderful your name,
in all the earth!

When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars which you set in place -
What is man that you should be mindful of him,
or the son of man that you should care for him? [Refrain]

You have made him little less than the angels,
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
putting all things under his feet: [Refrain]

All sheep and oxen,
yes, and the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea,
and whatever swims the paths of the seas. [Refrain]

Silence is kept.

We bless you, Master of the heavens,
for the wonderful order which enfolds this world;
grant that your whole creation
may find fulfilment in the Son of Man,
Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

The Proclamation of the Word

The Reading

A reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans.

Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that ‘the person who does these things will live by them.’ But the righteousness that comes from faith says, ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?”’ (that is, to bring Christ down) ‘or “Who will descend into the abyss?”’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say?

‘The word is near you,
    on your lips and in your heart’

(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.  For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be to God.

The Homily

Beautiful Feet

When I read these passages from Paul’s letter to the Romans,  and I reflect on how the different theological traditions in the Christian Church interpret them, my thoughts turn to a passage from Matthew’s gospel “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them….” I am prompted to wonder if we do the same thing. In our own way we prevent people from entering God’s kingdom by shutting the door in their face.

We add to what Scripture says requirements of our own. A number of these requirements may have an air of legitimacy about them. They are backed by long-standing tradition, we argue, tradition that is centuries old. But mistaken beliefs with a pedigree are still mistaken beliefs.

A number of these requirements reflect our own prejudices and preferences. We may not always be conscious of our prejudices and preferences. They do, however, affect how we relate to other people. They also affect our expectations of them.

The Jewish Christians would have confined salvation to their fellow Jews. Paul, however, tells the church at Rome and ourselves that God does not make any distinction between Jews and Gentiles. Any distinctions that we make are our own. They are not God’s. We cannot confine our proclamation of Jesus to those like ourselves or those who may be open to our way of thinking. We must proclaim Jesus to everybody.

Nor can we sit back and expect them to come to us. We must go to them. God does not send a select few to proclaim Jesus. He sends all of us. God put us in a particular neighborhood or community for that purpose.  We cannot hire someone to labor in the vineyard in our place while we take our ease. We must go and labor there ourselves. God called us out of darkness into his marvelous light to proclaim his mighty deeds. And the mightiest of his deeds is Jesus. Make no mistake. We are called to proclaim Jesus in word and in deed. We are God’s chosen instruments to make Jesus known.

Take off your shoes and your socks or stockings. Take a good look at your feet. They are the feet of the bearer of good news. Aren’t they beautiful?

Silence is kept.

The Gospel Canticle


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.

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 lowly throned instead;
the hungry filled with all good things,
the rich sent off unfed.

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,
on God, by all adored.

Intercessions

In peace let us pray to the Lord,
Lord, have mercy.

For God’s holy Church, that it may be filled with truth and love,
and be found without fault at the day of his coming, let us pray
to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the ministers of. the Church (especially …………), that they
may be faithful to the Gospel and worthy servants of the people
of God, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For all who fear God and believe in the Lord Jesus, that our
divisions may cease, and that all may be one, as he wills, let us
pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the mission of the Church, that in faithful witness it may preach
the Gospel to the ends of the earth, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For those who do not yet believe, and for those who have lost
their faith, that they may receive the light of the Gospel, let us
pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the world, that respect and understanding may
grow among nations and peoples, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For those in positions of public trust (especially ………...), that
they may serve justice and truth, and promote the dignity and
freedom of every person, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For our families and all those who are dear to us; for the aged and
for the young that they may have a future to hope in, let us pray
to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the poor, the persecuted, the sick, and all who suffer; for
refugees, prisoners, and all who are in danger, that they may be
relieved and protected, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For our enemies, and those who wish us harm; and for all whom
we have injured or offended, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

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


1 The Spirit sends us forth to serve;
 we go in Jesus' name
to bring glad tidings to the poor,
God's favor to proclaim.

2 We go to comfort those who mourn
and set the burdened free:
where hope is dim, to share a dream
and help the blind to see.

3 We go to be the hands of Christ,
to scatter joy like seed
and all our days, to cherish life,
to do the loving deed.

4 Then let us go to serve in peace,
the Gospel to proclaim.
God's Spirit has empowered us;
we go in Jesus' name.

Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The God of all grace bless us now and forever. Amen

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