All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (June 19, 2021)
Evening Prayer
The Service of LightJesus Christ is the light of the world.
A light no darkness can extinguish.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Rufino Zaragoza’s hymn, “Radiant Light Hymn.”
Radiant Light Divine,
shine throughout this night.
Jesus, Holy One,
praise to you our Light.
As the daylight fades,
and come eventide,
dwell among us, Holy Fire.
Cristo,
Luz del mundo,
Luz y Amor.
Cristo,
Luz del mundo,
Luz y Amor.
Thanksgiving
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
We praise you, O Lord our God, Ruler of the universe!
Your word brings on the dusk of evening,
your wisdom creates both night and day.
You determine the cycles of time,
arrange the succession of the seasons,
and establish the stars in their heavenly courses.
Lord of the starry hosts is your name.
Living and eternal God,
rule over us always.
Blessed be the Lord,
whose word makes evening fall.
Amen.
Psalm 141 is sung and incense may be burned.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Tony Alonso’s responsorial setting of Psalm 141, “Like Burning Incense, O Lord.”
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
Open this link in a new tab to hear Bernadette Farrel’s adaption of Psalm 42, “O God, For You I Long.”
O God, for you I long,
more than those who watch for the dawn:
like the deer that yearns for water,
so I thirst for you, my God.
Like the deer that yearns for running streams,
so I long for you, my God,
as my spirit longs to behold
the God of my life.
O God, for you I long,
more than those who watch for the dawn:
like the deer that yearns for water,
so I thirst for you, my God.
I drink tears as if they were my bread
by night and by day
as I hear it said all day long:
“Where is your God?”
O God, for you I long,
more than those who watch for the dawn:
like the deer that yearns for water,
so I thirst for you, my God.
Why so sad within me, O my soul,
why cast down and grieving now?
Hope in God:
I will praise you still,
my Savior, my God.
O God, for you I long,
more than those who watch for the dawn:
like the deer that yearns for water,
so I thirst for you, my God.
Silence is kept.
Come, Creator Spirit, source of life;
sustain us when our hearts are heavy
and our wells have run dry,
for you are the Father’s gift,
with him who is our living water,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Dale Grotenhuis’ choral arrangement of the canticle, “Song of Triumph (Great and Marvelous).”
Great and marvelous, marvelous, are your deeds,
Great and marvelous, marvelous, are your deeds,
Lord God almighty,
Lord God almighty.
Just and true are all your ways.
Lord God almighty.
Just and true are all your ways.
You, O Lord, over all are King.
Who will not fear you,
Who will not fear you,
who will not fear you, O Lord,
Who will not fear,
who will not fear you, O Lord,
and bring gloryand bring great glory
and bring great glory
to your Name?
and bring great glory
and bring glory
to your Name?
You alone are holy.
You alone are holy.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
You alone are holy.
You alone are holy.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia
All nations shall come and worship before you, for your mighty and holy acts have been revealed
Great and marvelous, marvelous, are your deeds,
The Proclamation of the Word
The Reading
1 Peter 3: 8-22 Suffering for Doing Right
Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing. For
“Those who desire life
and desire to see good days,
let them keep their tongues from evil
and their lips from speaking deceit;
let them turn away from evil and do good;
let them seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence [or respect]. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. For Christ also suffered [or died] for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you [or us] to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for [or a pledge to God from] a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
The Homily
Can Christians suffer for doing evil? What the apostle Peter tell us in today’s reading is that they can indeed suffer for doing evil. We can do the wrong thing and suffer as a consequence of doing the wrong thing.
Like our fellow human beings we are capable of doing the wrong thing and rationalizing in our minds that we are doing is the right thing. We are quite adept at deceiving ourselves. Indeed we may be more clever at deceiving ourselves than we are at deceiving others or others are at deceiving us.
Great and marvelous, marvelous, are your deeds,
Lord God almighty
The Proclamation of the Word
The Reading
1 Peter 3: 8-22 Suffering for Doing Right
Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing. For
“Those who desire life
and desire to see good days,
let them keep their tongues from evil
and their lips from speaking deceit;
let them turn away from evil and do good;
let them seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence [or respect]. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. For Christ also suffered [or died] for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you [or us] to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for [or a pledge to God from] a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
The Homily
Be Eager to Do Good
Can Christians suffer for doing evil? What the apostle Peter tell us in today’s reading is that they can indeed suffer for doing evil. We can do the wrong thing and suffer as a consequence of doing the wrong thing.
Like our fellow human beings we are capable of doing the wrong thing and rationalizing in our minds that we are doing is the right thing. We are quite adept at deceiving ourselves. Indeed we may be more clever at deceiving ourselves than we are at deceiving others or others are at deceiving us.
Like the rest of humanity we are inclined to do evil. The Holy Spirit may dwell in our innermost being and urge us to do what is good, what is right, what is holy; enable us to respond to his nudging, and when we do, work with us to do what is good, what, is right, what is holy. However, our inclination to do evil does not go away. It will trip us up and cause us to stumble and even to fall.
Because someone calls themselves a Christian does not mean that they have surrendered their lives to Jesus and are living in accordance with his teaching and example. It does not mean that they are keeping their tongues from evil and their lips from speaking deceit; that they have turned away from evil and are doing good; that they are seeking peace and pursuing it. We cannot make that assumption. Jesus himself warned that he would not acknowledge all who called him “Lord,” only those who do the Father’s will and the Father’s will is that we obey the Son—that we obey Jesus.
Jesus also warned—
“Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and they will lead many astray.” (Matthew 24:4-5, NRSV)
This includes those who claim to be establishing Jesus’ kingdom in anticipation of his return. Jesus will establish his own kingdom. He has not appointed anyone to do it for him. Jesus’ kingdom is God’s kingdom. It is made up of humans in whose hearts Jesus is Lord and whose lives reflect his Lordship. They are living their lives in accordance with Jesus’ teaching and example and to God’s glory. It is not an earthly kingdom in which those who claim to be Christians form a ruling elite. It is not an earthly kingdom governed by the Old Testament civil code.
The Holy Spirit does not urge us to overthrow the government by violent insurrection. The Holy Spirit does not encourage us to kill the police or murder our neighbors. The Holy Spirit does, however, prompt us to pray for those in authority that we may live quiet, peaceful lives. The Holy Spirit does remind us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. Jesus is, after all, the Prince of Peace. The fruit of the Spirit are, after all, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23).
As the apostle Peter writes, “Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil.”
There is much good that we can do in the world as we await our Lord’s return. Because our Lord will one day return and put things straight does not mean that we should cease from doing good—serving our Lord in others. If we truly love God with every atom of our being, we will obey his Son. We will do so not out of fear of the consequences if we do not obey him. We will do so out of our love for the Son and for the Father who sent him.
Silence is kept.
The Gospel Canticle
Open this link in a new tab to hear John Michael Talbot and Jackie Francois’ adaptation of the Magnificat, “My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of the Lord.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit exalts in God my Savior.
For he has looked with mercy on my lowliness,
and my name will be forever exalted.
For the mighty God has done great things for me,
and his mercy will reach from age to age.
And holy, holy, holy is his name.
And holy, holy, holy is his name.
He has mercy in ev’ry generation.
He has revealed his power and his glory.
He has cast down the mighty in their arrogance,
and has lifted up the meek and the lowly.
He has come to help his servant Israel;
he remembers his promise to our fathers.
And holy, holy, holy is his name.
And holy, holy, holy is his name.
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
Almighty and everlasting God,
you are always more ready to hear than we to pray,
and give more than either we desire or deserve:
pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid,
and giving us those good things
which we are not worth to ask,
save through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ,
your Son our Lord. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer
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 Henry Purcell’s “An Evening Hymn (Now That the Sun Hath Veil’d His Light)”
Now that the Sun hath veil'd his Light,
And bid the World good Night;
To the soft Bed, my Body I dispose,
But where shall my Soul repose?
Dear God, even in Thy Arms, and can there be
Any so sweet Security!
Then to thy Rest, O my Soul! And singing, praise
The Mercy that prolongs thy Days.
Hallelujah!
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
Let us praise the Lord,
Thanks be to God.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore.
Amen.
Because someone calls themselves a Christian does not mean that they have surrendered their lives to Jesus and are living in accordance with his teaching and example. It does not mean that they are keeping their tongues from evil and their lips from speaking deceit; that they have turned away from evil and are doing good; that they are seeking peace and pursuing it. We cannot make that assumption. Jesus himself warned that he would not acknowledge all who called him “Lord,” only those who do the Father’s will and the Father’s will is that we obey the Son—that we obey Jesus.
Jesus also warned—
“Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and they will lead many astray.” (Matthew 24:4-5, NRSV)
This includes those who claim to be establishing Jesus’ kingdom in anticipation of his return. Jesus will establish his own kingdom. He has not appointed anyone to do it for him. Jesus’ kingdom is God’s kingdom. It is made up of humans in whose hearts Jesus is Lord and whose lives reflect his Lordship. They are living their lives in accordance with Jesus’ teaching and example and to God’s glory. It is not an earthly kingdom in which those who claim to be Christians form a ruling elite. It is not an earthly kingdom governed by the Old Testament civil code.
The Holy Spirit does not urge us to overthrow the government by violent insurrection. The Holy Spirit does not encourage us to kill the police or murder our neighbors. The Holy Spirit does, however, prompt us to pray for those in authority that we may live quiet, peaceful lives. The Holy Spirit does remind us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. Jesus is, after all, the Prince of Peace. The fruit of the Spirit are, after all, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23).
As the apostle Peter writes, “Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil.”
There is much good that we can do in the world as we await our Lord’s return. Because our Lord will one day return and put things straight does not mean that we should cease from doing good—serving our Lord in others. If we truly love God with every atom of our being, we will obey his Son. We will do so not out of fear of the consequences if we do not obey him. We will do so out of our love for the Son and for the Father who sent him.
Silence is kept.
The Gospel Canticle
Open this link in a new tab to hear John Michael Talbot and Jackie Francois’ adaptation of the Magnificat, “My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of the Lord.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit exalts in God my Savior.
For he has looked with mercy on my lowliness,
and my name will be forever exalted.
For the mighty God has done great things for me,
and his mercy will reach from age to age.
And holy, holy, holy is his name.
And holy, holy, holy is his name.
He has mercy in ev’ry generation.
He has revealed his power and his glory.
He has cast down the mighty in their arrogance,
and has lifted up the meek and the lowly.
He has come to help his servant Israel;
he remembers his promise to our fathers.
And holy, holy, holy is his name.
And holy, holy, holy is his name.
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
Almighty and everlasting God,
you are always more ready to hear than we to pray,
and give more than either we desire or deserve:
pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid,
and giving us those good things
which we are not worth to ask,
save through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ,
your Son our Lord. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer
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 Henry Purcell’s “An Evening Hymn (Now That the Sun Hath Veil’d His Light)”
Now that the Sun hath veil'd his Light,
And bid the World good Night;
To the soft Bed, my Body I dispose,
But where shall my Soul repose?
Dear God, even in Thy Arms, and can there be
Any so sweet Security!
Then to thy Rest, O my Soul! And singing, praise
The Mercy that prolongs thy Days.
Hallelujah!
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
Let us praise the Lord,
Thanks be to God.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore.
Amen.
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