All Hallows Evening Prayer for Sunday Evening (August 9, 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.
Open
this link in a new tab to hear Will Chiles’ choral arrangement of Psalm 141, “O
God, My Lord, on Thee I Call,” from the Bay Psalm Book.
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
Blessed be the name of the Lord for
ever, for ever.
1 Praise, you servants of the Lord
praise the name of the Lord.
Blessed be the name of the Lord
both now and for ever.
Blessed be the name of the Lord for
ever, for ever.
2 From the rising to the setting of the
sun
is the name of the Lord to be praised.
High above all the nations is the Lord;
above the heavens is his glory.
Blessed be the name of the Lord for
ever, for ever.
3 Who is like the Lord, our God,
who is enthroned on high
and looks upon the heavens
and the earth below?
Blessed be the name of the Lord for
ever, for ever.
4 He raises up the lowly from the dust;
from the dunghill he lifts up the poor
to seat them with princes,
with princes of his own people.
Blessed be the name of the Lord for
ever, for ever.
Silence is kept.
Lord Jesus, surrendering the brightness of your glory, you became mortal
so that we might be raised from the dust to share your very being. May the
children of God always bless your name from the rising of the sun to its going
down, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spiri, now and
forever. 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
But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who
hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If
anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who
takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who
begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them
again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even
sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to
you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend
to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even
sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies,
do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great,
and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and
the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
The Gospel of Christ
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Silence is kept.
Silence is kept.
The Homily
Children of the
Most High
Jesus’ teaching that we should love our enemies is one of the most
radical of his teachings. It was at the time Jesus first taught and it still is
today. In the ancient Mid-East it was not uncommon for people to nurse ill-will
toward others, to hold grudges, and to retaliate in response to the slightest
offenses. Despite two thousand years of Christianity and in a nation in which some
people claim is Christian, this teaching appears to have little influence in
some quarters even among those who identify themselves as Christians. Yet it is
what Jesus taught and it is a teaching by which we as his disciples are
expected to live. A true disciple frames his life closely on the teachings and
example of the one he calls teacher, master, or lord.
We have no discretion in the matter. We cannot say, “I’ll love this person
but not that one.” “If they hate me, I’ll hate them in return.” If we are true
followers of Jesus, we cannot pick and chose where and when we follow his
teachings and example.
Jesus’ teaching that we should love our enemies is anticipated in the Old
Testament. In Exodus 23: 4-5 we read, “When you come upon your enemy’s ox or donkey going astray, you shall
bring it back. When
you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden and you would
hold back from setting it free, you must help to set it free….” In this
passage the people of Israel were enjoined not to take out any hard feelings
that they held toward someone on his ox or donkey. They were to bring back a
straying ox or donkey of an enemy as they were enjoined to bring back the
straying animal of a neighbor. They could not ignore it. They were to help lift up an enemy’s donkey
which had fallen on the road as they were enjoined to lift up a neighbor’s
donkey. They could not ignore it. See Deuteronomy 22: 1-4. They were to do good
where they might have done evil.
We are living in a time in which people
are sharply divided in their opinions. We are tempted to demonize those who do
not share our views and to respond to them with anger, outrage, and hate. But
if we are truly committed to following Jesus as our Lord, we cannot walk in
that path. It is not the path that Jesus would have us take. Hitting back twice
as hard when we’re hit is not the way of Christ.
Jesus told his disciples that those who
love him obey his teachings. God in turn will love them, reveal Jesus to them,
and indwell them. Those who ignore his teachings do not love him. His teachings
are not his own but God’s, the one who sent him. Those who ignore his teachings
are rejecting God. See John 14: 15-24.
Hard sayings, right? But Jesus calls us to a life of loving others,
and not to a life of hating
them. We are called to be children of the Most High, to be merciful as our heavenly Father
is merciful. He does not demand that we do so in our own strength. He supplies us with
ample grace to live a life of love. Jesus promised us the help of the Holy Spirit—God
himself indwelling us. The Holy Spirit enable us to will and do what pleases God. What
pleases God is obeying the teachings and example of Jesus.
them. We are called to be children of the Most High, to be merciful as our heavenly Father
is merciful. He does not demand that we do so in our own strength. He supplies us with
ample grace to live a life of love. Jesus promised us the help of the Holy Spirit—God
himself indwelling us. The Holy Spirit enable us to will and do what pleases God. What
pleases God is obeying the teachings and example of Jesus.
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
Refrain
God is love, and where true love is God himself is there.
1 Here in Christ we gather, love of Christ our calling.
Christ, our love, is with us, gladness be his greeting.
Let us fear and love him, holy God eternal.
Loving him, let each love Christ in one another. [Refrain]
2 When we Christians gather, members of one Body,
Let there be in us no discord but one spirit.
Banished now be anger, strife and every quarrel.
Christ, our God, be always present here among us. [Refrain]
3 Grant us love's fulfillment, joy with all the blessed,
When we see your face, O Savior, in its glory.
Shine on us, O purest Light of all creation,
Be our bliss while endless ages sing your praises. [Refrain]
Let us bless the
Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The God of all
grace bless us now and forever. Amen
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