All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (August 29, 2020)



Evening Prayer

The Service of Light

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


O Light whose splendor thrills and gladdens
with radiance brighter than the sun,
pure gleam of God's unending glory,
O Jesus, blest Anointed One;

as twilight hovers near at sunset,
and lamps are lit, and children nod,
in evening hymns we lift our voices
to Father, Spirit, Son: one God.

In all life's brilliant, timeless moments,
let faithful voices sing your praise,
O Son of God, our Life-bestower,
whose glory lightens endless days.

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 prayer 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 Lord, O Lord, O Lord,
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, O Lord,
how lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, O Lord.

My soul, my soul, yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord;
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God,
my heart and my flesh cry out cry out for the living God.

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, O Lord,
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, O Lord.

Even the sparrow, the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest,
where she may have her young,
where she may have her young.

O Lord almighty, my King and my God.
O Lord almighty, my King, my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you,
ever praising you,
ever praising you, O my God,
O my God.

O Lord, O Lord, O Lord,
how lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, O Lord.
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, O Lord, O Lord.

Silence is kept.

Lord God,
sustain us in this vale of tears
with the vision of your grace and glory,
that, strengthened by the bread of life,
we may come to your eternal dwelling place;
in the power of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Proclamation of the Word

The Reading

A reading from Paul’s letter to the Galatians.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit.  We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Silence is kept.

The Homily

Like an Apple Tree at Harvest Time

When I was a boy, my mother, my older brother, and I lived with my mother’s parents. We lived for several years in Suffolk in the east of England. My grandparents owned a cottage, an apple orchard, and several acres of farmland at the edge of the Great Common in the village of Iccleshalt St. Andrew.

During those years I learned a lot about tending an apple orchard and storing the harvested apples for the winter. When the apple trees blossom, they are a beautiful sight. They are even more beautiful when they are laden with ripening fruit. Apples begin as tiny green knobs that swell into the red, green, and yellow fruit that we see in a supermarket’s produce department.

The fruit of the Spirit begin much the same way. They begin very small and then they grow until they are fully ripened.

When Paul refers to the fruit of the Spirit in his letter to the Galatians, he is referring to the effects of the Spirit upon us, those changes in us that originate with the Spirit or come from the Spirit.

Paul lists nine things--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith (or faithfulness), gentleness, self-control. What is notable about these things is that they are connected to our relationship with God, with our fellow Christians, and with other people in general. They are essential ingredients of harmonious relationships with all three. They can be experienced inwardly as well as exhibited outwardly. Although it may not be immediately apparent, they reflect God’s own character. God is loving. He is the source of true joy and peace. He is longsuffering and slow to anger. He is compassionate. He is the source of all goodness.

The fruit of the Spirit, like the fruit of an apple tree, can produce more fruit. The Spirit not only works in us to bring about changes in us but also works through these changes to bring about changes in other people, believers and non-believers, disciples and those who have not yet started their journey on the path of discipleship.

While we are apt to make much of the gifts of the Spirit, it is the fruit of the Spirit that makes the real difference in our lives and in turn the lives of others. While it may be possible to counterfeit the gifts of the Spirit, it is not possible to fake the Spirit’s fruit. We may try to pretend to be kind and gentle but if the Spirit has not transformed us, it will quickly become evident.

I would hazard that without the fruit of the Spirit we will make little or no headway in spreading the gospel. The Spirit’s fruit prepare the ground for the planting of the seed and waters the young plant when it springs up. The seed cannot grow in hard rocky soil and the young plant cannot flourish in dry ground. This is not to deny the power of the Word but to recognize that the Spirit works through our actions as well as our words.

Let us pray that we will become weighed down with the fruit of the Spirit in our lifetime like an apple tree with apples at harvest time, that through an abundance of the Spirit’s fruit in us, others will come to bear the Spirit’s fruit.

Silence is kept.

The Gospel Canticle


Refrain:
My soul proclaims with wonder
the greatness of the Lord;
rejoicing in God's goodness,
my spirit is restored.

For God has looked with favor,
on one the world thought frail;
and blessings through the ages will echo
the angel's first "All hail." [Refrain]

God's mercy shields the faithful
and gives them safe retreat
to arms that turns to scatter
the proud in their conceit. [Refrain]

The mighty have been vanquished;
the lowly lifted up.
The hungry find abundance;
the rich, an empty cup. [Refrain]

To Abraham's descendants
the Lord will steadfast prove,
for God has made with Israel
a covenant of love. [Refrain]

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


The tree of life my soul hath seen,
Laden with fruit and always green:
The trees of nature fruitless be
Compared with Christ the apple tree.

His beauty doth all things excel
 By faith I know, but ne'er can tell
The glory which I now can see
In Jesus Christ the apple tree.

For happiness I long have sought
And pleasure dearly I have bought:
I missed of all; but now I see
Tis found in Christ the apple tree.

I'm weary with my former toil,
Here I will sit and rest awhile:
Under the shadow I will be,
Of Jesus Christ the apple tree.

This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,
It keeps my dying faith alive;
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ the apple tree.

Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

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


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