All Hallows Evening Prayer for Sunday Evening (March 14, 2021)

Evening Prayer

The Service of Light

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

Open this link in a new tab to hear David von Kampen’s choral arrangement of “Joyous Light of Glory.”

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,
your glory, your glory.

Thanksgiving

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

Blessed are you, O Lord our God,
the Shepherd of Israel,
their pillar of cloud by day,
their pillar of fire by night.
In these forty days you lead us
into the desert of repentance
that in this pilgrimage of prayer
we may learn to be your people once more.
In fasting and service you bring us back to your heart.
Open our eyes to your presence in the world
and free our hands to lead others
to the radiant splendour of your mercy.
Be with us in these journey days
for without you we are lost and will perish.
To you alone be dominion and glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 141 is sung and incense may be burned.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Randall De Bruyn’s arrangement of Psalm 141 from The Grail (England).

Like burning incense, O Lord, let my prayer rise up to you.
Like burning incense, O Lord, let my prayer rise up to you.

I have called to you, Lord, hasten to help me.
Hear my voice when I cry to you.
Let my prayer arise before you like incense.
the raising of my hands like the evening oblation.

Set, O Lord, a guard over my mouth,
keep watch, O Lord, at the door of my lips!
Do not turn my heart to things that are wrong,
to evil deeds with those who are sinners.

Never allow me to share in their feasting.
If the righteous strike or reprove me, it is a kindness;
but let the oil of the wicked n’er anoint my head.
Let my prayer be ever against their malice.

To you, Lord God, my eyes are turned;
in you I take refuge; spare my soul!
From the trap they have laid for me keep me safe;
Keep me from the snares of those who do evil.

Glory to the Father and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.

Like burning incense, O Lord, let my prayer rise up 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

Open this link in a new tab to hear Donald Fishel’s choral arrangement of Psalm 91, “Be With Me, Lord.”

Refrain:
Be with me, Lord,
when I am in trouble.
Be with me, Lord.
Be with me, Lord,
when I am in trouble.
Be with me, Lord.

1 You who dwell in the shelter, in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in his shadow of the Almighty,
say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God in whom I trust.”
Refrain

2 No evil shall befall you, no evil shall befall you,
nor affliction come near, come near your tent,
for to his angels he has given command about you,
that they guard you in all your ways.
Refrain

3 Upon their hands, upon their hands,
they shall bear you up, bear you up,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the asp and the viper;
You shall trample down the lion and the dragon.
Refrain

4 Because he clings to me, I will deliver him;
I will set him on high
because he acknowledges my name.
He shall call upon me,
and I will answer him;
I will be with him in distress;
I will deliver him and glorify him.
Refrain

Silence is kept.

Keep us, good Lord,
under the shadow of your mercy
and, as you have bound us to yourself in love,
leave us not who call upon your name,
but grant us your salvation,
made known in the cross of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The Proclamation of the Word

The Reading

Luke 18:15-17 Jesus Blesses Little Children

People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”

Silence is kept.

Homily

Like a Little Child

Anglicans and other Christians who baptize infants and small children have traditionally seen in today’s reading, in Matthew 19: 13-14, and in Mark 10:12-16 a Biblical warrant for the practice. A Biblical warrant is “a reason for thinking, deciding, or doing something,” which may be read in the Bible or which may be proved by the Bible. They argue that since Jesus welcomed infants and small children and blessed them, we should baptize them.

The passage from Mark’s Gospel is read as a Scripture lesson in the Order of Public Baptism for Infants in 1662 Book of Common Prayer, one of three alternative Scripture lessons in The Ministration of Holy Baptism in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, and as the Scripture lesson in The Ministration of Holy Baptism to Children to be Used in the Church of the 1962 Canadian Prayer Book. The 1662 Book of Common Prayer, the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, and the 1962 Canadian Prayer Book are the three traditional Anglican Prayer Books used in North America. It may also be read at baptism of infants and small children, using the newer Anglican service books.

The passage from Mark’s Gospel was read at my own baptism on a snowy winter day at St. Mary the Virgin Church in Therfield, England, six days before Christmas.

Some Anglicans also see in these passages a Biblical warrant for administering the sacrament of Holy Communion to infants and small children. They argue that if we administer the sacrament of Holy Baptism to infants and small children, we should also admit them to the Lord’s Supper. They point to the Eastern Orthodox Churches and the Eastern Catholic Church which has practiced infant communion since the days of the early Church. They quote the words of the early Church Fathers who commend the practice.

Other Anglicans disagree. They argue that the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper presupposes faith and gives expression to faith. By the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper God “work invisibly in us, both arousing and also strengthening and confirming our faith.” Infants and small children lack a vital faith and without such a faith they cannot receive any benefit from the sacrament. They cannot receive the grace of the sacrament. They cannot feed on Jesus in their hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

The debate goes round and round.

When we focus too much on these passages as a Biblical warrant for administering the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper to infants and children, we may be missing the point of what Jesus is saying in today’s reading. As disciples of Jesus, we should certainly follow his example and welcome children to us regardless of their age. When we gather to worship, we should not segregate them in their own space apart from the assembly. They rightfully belong in our midst for as Jesus himself taught when we receive them, we also receive him. They are his representatives.

What Jesus is drawing to the attention of his disciples in today’s reading is that we can learn from infants and small children—from their innocence, their trust, and their dependence. The kingdom of God is theirs—as much as anyone else’s if not more so. It is not just for grownups. When Jesus talks about receiving the kingdom as a child, he is not talking about receiving God’s kingdom while we are a child but receiving God’s kingdom like a child—with child-like innocence, trust, and dependence.

Infants and small children are guileless. They are not subtle or deceitfully cunning. Babies who are hungry or cold or have wet or soiled themselves, cry. They are open in calling attention to their needs. If they are not neglected or abused, they are naturally trusting toward those caring for them. Neglect or abuse, however, can destroy their natural trustfulness. Babies are also dependent. They require someone to care for them. They cannot care for themselves.

When we receive God’s kingdom like a child, when we accept God’s rule over our lives, when we surrender control of our life to Jesus, we do so without guile. We do not try to bargain with God. We acknowledge our need of Jesus. We do not withhold any area of our lives from God. We put our trust in Jesus, and we rely on God’s care and safekeeping. We become in our relationship with God like a little child. We do not try to dissemble with God, to disguise or hide our feelings and our thoughts. We approach God with the simplicity of a child. We recognize the trustworthiness and truthfulness of God’s words. We trust Jesus’ teaching and example and follow them. We place our lives wholly in God’s hands.

We live in a culture that values independence and self-sufficiency. People are expected to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, to raise themselves to a better position in life without outside help. It is a culture that tends to look down on those who need a helping hand from others and discourages them from accepting “charity.” It is a culture that encourages us to put on a front, to conceal our weaknesses, and to act in charge of our lives.

This, however, is not the way to receive God’s Kingdom. To receive God’s Kingdom requires that we recognize our utter dependence upon God’s grace, upon his love and goodness. The idea may take some getting used to. But it is an idea with which we need not only to familiarize ourselves but also upon which we need to act if we are indeed to receive God’s kingdom.

Our God being a generous God, a gracious God, will supply us with the grace that we need to do so. Trust him. Jesus is waiting to welcome you.

Silence is kept.

The Gospel Canticle

Open this link in a new tab to hear Richard Hillert’s choral arrangement of the Magnificat.

My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior;

For He has regarded
the low estate of His handmaiden.

For behold henceforth
all generations will call me blessed.

For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is His name;

And His mercy is on those who fear Him
from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He has put down the mighty from their thrones
and has exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich He has sent empty away.

He has helped his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy
as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen

Intercessions

Let us complete our evening prayer to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.

For peace from on high and 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

Open this link in a new tab to hear Richard Creighton’s hymn, “My Hope Rest Firm on Jesus Christ.”

My hope rests firm on Jesus Christ
He is my only plea
Though all the world should
Point and scorn
His ransom leaves me free

My hope sustains me as I strive
And strain toward the goal
Though still I stumble into sin
His death paid for it all

My hope provides me with a spur
To help me run this race
I know my tears will turn to joy
The day I see his face

[Interlude]

My hope is to be with my Lord
To know as I am known
To serve Him gladly all my days
In praise before His throne

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

May our Lord Jesus Christ, and God our Father,
comfort our hearts and establish them
In every good work and word. Amen