All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (August 15, 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!
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.
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.
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.
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
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ
Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from
Jerusalem and said, ‘Why do your disciples break the tradition of the
elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat.’ He
answered them, ‘And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of
your tradition? For God said, “Honor your father and your mother,” and,
“Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.” But you say that
whoever tells father or mother, “Whatever support you might have had from me is
given to God”, then that person need not honor the father or the mother. So,
for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God. You
hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said:
“This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching human precepts as doctrines.”’
but their hearts are far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching human precepts as doctrines.”’
Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, ‘Listen and
understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but
it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.’ Then the disciples approached
and said to him, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees took offence when they heard
what you said?’ He answered, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not
planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the
blind. And if one blind person guides
another, both will fall into a pit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘Explain this
parable to us.’ Then he said, ‘Are you also still without understanding? Do
you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out
into the sewer? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and
this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder,
adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what
defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.’
The Gospel of Christ
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The Homily
Guard Your Heart
What Jesus is telling the crowd and the disciples is that they should
not be concerned with external purity like the Pharisees and the scribes but with
inward purity. Our thoughts and our desires are what defile us. It is not
enough to give the outward appearance of being devoted to God—something at which
the Pharisees and scribes were very good, we must in our inner self be devoted
to God.
Earlier in the sermon on the mountain, Jesus had told those who had
gathered to hear him that man who looked at the wife of another man with lust
had committed adultery with her even though he had not touched her. The
implication is that if we do not wish to fall into sin, we need to guard our
hearts, our inner selves. We must keep watch over our thoughts and desires.
We can guard our hearts by immersing ourselves in God’s Word. This will
help us to discern good from evil and to recognize when our thoughts and
desires are straying from God’s ways.
We can guard our hearts by praying and thinking about whatever is noble
and true and pure and pleasing to God. As we pray, the Holy Spirit works within
us aligning our will with God’s will. We cannot entertain worldly thoughts and
desires at the same time as we entertain holy ones. The former must give way to
the latter.
We can guard our hearts by living holy lives. The holiness of our
thoughts and desires should be reflected in our lives. What we think and desire
and who we live should be in harmony with each other.
We can guard our hearts by seeking God’s help in guarding them. We can
call upon God in times of temptation. We can ask him to fill our inner selves
with thoughts and desires that are pleasing to him.
What are you doing to guard your heart?
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
Savior 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 Lord Jesus, think on me,
And purge away my sin;
From earthborn passions set me free,
And make me pure within.
2 Lord Jesus, think on me,
With care and woe opprest;
Let me thy loving servant be,
And taste thy promised rest.
3 Lord Jesus, think on me,
Amid the battle's strife;
In all my pain and misery
Be thou my health and life.
4 Lord Jesus, think on me,
Nor let me go astray;
Through darkness and perplexity
Point thou the heavenly way.
And purge away my sin;
From earthborn passions set me free,
And make me pure within.
2 Lord Jesus, think on me,
With care and woe opprest;
Let me thy loving servant be,
And taste thy promised rest.
3 Lord Jesus, think on me,
Amid the battle's strife;
In all my pain and misery
Be thou my health and life.
4 Lord Jesus, think on me,
Nor let me go astray;
Through darkness and perplexity
Point thou the heavenly way.
5 Lord Jesus, think on me,
That, when the flood is past,
I may the eternal brightness see,
And share thy joy at last.
That, when the flood is past,
I may the eternal brightness see,
And share thy joy at last.
6 Lord Jesus, think on me
That I may sing above
To Father, Spirit, and to Thee
The strains of praise and love.
That I may sing above
To Father, Spirit, and to Thee
The strains of praise and love.
To Father, Spirit, and to Thee
The strains of praise and love.
The strains of praise and love.
Let us bless the
Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The God of all
grace bless us now and forever. Amen
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