All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (July 24, 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 Stephen Sturk’s choral arrangement of the Phos hilaron, “O Gracious Light.”

1 O gracious Light,
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
we sing
we sing thy praises, O God:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

3 Thou art worthy
thou art worthy
at all times
at all time
to be praised
to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
and to be glorified
be glorified
through all the worlds
be glorified
through all the worlds
be glorified
through all the worlds
be glorified
through all the worlds
be glorified
through all the worlds
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.

Blessed are you, Sovereign God,
our light and our salvation,
eternal creator of day and night,
to you be glory and praise for ever.
Now, as darkness is falling,
hear the prayer of your faithful people.
As we look for your coming in glory,
wash away our transgressions,
cleanse us by your refining fire
and make us temples of your Holy Spirit.
By the light of Christ,
dispel the darkness of our hearts
and make us ready to enter your kingdom,
where songs of praise for ever sound.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever. Amen.

Psalm 141 is sung and incense may be burned.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Peter Inwood’s responsorial setting of Psalm 141, “O Lord, Let My Prayer Rise Before You Like Incense.”

O Lord, let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.

1 Lord, I am calling:
hasten to help me.
Listen to me as I cry to you.
Let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.

O Lord, let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.

2 Lord, set a guard at my mouth,
keep watch at the gate of my lips.
Let my heart not turn to things that are wrong,
to sharing the evil deeds done by the sinful.
No, I will never taste their delights.

O Lord, let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.

3 The good may reprove me,
in kindness chastise me,
but the wicked shall never anoint my head.
Ev’ry day I counter their malice with prayer.

O Lord, let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.

4 To you, Lord, my God, my eyes are turned:
in you I take refuge;
do not forsake me.
Keep me from the traps they have set for me,
from the snares of those who do evil.

O Lord, let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.

5 Praise to the Father, praise to the Son,
all praise to the life-giving Spirit.
As it was, is now and shall always be
for ages unending. Amen.

O Lord, let my prayer rise before you as incense,
my hands like an evening offering.

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 David Ashley White’s choral setting of Psalm 23, “The Lord My God My Shepherd Is.”

The Lord my God my shepherd is;
how could I want or need?
In pastures green, by streams serene,
he safely does me lead.

To wholeness he restores my soul
and does in mercy bless,
and helps me take for his Name’s sake
the paths of righteousness.

Yes, even when I must pass
through the valley of death’s shade,
I will not fear, for you are here,
to comfort and to aid.

You have in grace my table spread
secure in all alarms,
and filled my cup, and raised me up
in everlasting arms.

Then surely I can trust your love
for all the days to come,
that I may tell your praise,
and dwell for ever in your arms,

Silence is kept.

O God, our sovereign and shepherd,
who brought again your Son Jesus Christ
from the valley of death,
comfort us with your protecting presence
and your angels of goodness and love,
that we also may come home
and dwell with him in your house for ever.
Amen.

Open this link in a new tab to S. Trevor Francis’ hymn, “O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus.”

1 O the deep, deep love of Jesus!
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free,
rolling as a mighty ocean
in its fullness over me.
Underneath me, all around me,
is the current of thy love;
leading onward, leading homeward,
to thy glorious rest above.

2 O the deep, deep love of Jesus!
Spread his praise from shore to shore;
how he loveth, ever loveth,
changeth never, nevermore;
how he watches o'er his loved ones,
died to call them all his own;
how for them he intercedeth,
watcheth o'er them from the throne.

3 O the deep, deep love of Jesus!
Love of ev'ry love the best:
'tis an ocean vast of blessing,
'tis a haven sweet of rest.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus!
'Tis a heav'n of heav'ns to me;
and it lifts me up to glory,
for it lifts me up to thee.

The Proclamation of the Word

The Reading

Ephesians 3: 14-21 The Love of Christ

For this reason I fall on my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its true name. I ask God from the wealth of his glory to give you power through his Spirit to be strong in your inner selves, and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith. I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love, so that you, together with all God's people, may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ's love. Yes, may you come to know his love—although it can never be fully known—and so be completely filled with the very nature of God.

To him who by means of his power working in us is able to do so much more than we can ever ask for, or even think of: to God be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever! Amen.

Silence is kept.

May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory

The Homily

A Reminder of Jesus’ Love

Jesus reminds us of his love for us in the strangest circumstances. We cannot grasp the immensity of his love for us but now and then Jesus gives us a brief glimpse of how immeasurable his love is.

As I was thinking about several turns of events in my life and feeling downhearted and sad, Jesus reminded me of the hymn which we just heard, “O Deep, Deep Love of Jesus.” Jesus’ love is like a mighty ocean rolling over us, swirling around us, swirling under us, a current of love tugging at us, not drawing us out into the deep to drown, but washing us up safely onshore.

Whatever the adversities that we face in life, whatever troubles which come our way, nothing can pluck us from the hand of Jesus. We are his. Jesus will never let us go. He will never forsake us.

Like a loving mother he watches over each of us, cares for each of us. We are dear to him.

Inestimable is Jesus’ love for us. It is fathomless and beyond measure.

Jesus then showed me a poem that I had never read before, a poem which the seventeenth century English poet priest George Herbert wrote. I have sung a number of his poems as hymns. I had never read or heard this one. It is titled “Love Bade Me Welcome.” We will hear it sung later in this service.

Love in this poem is Jesus himself. We are the guest whom he welcomes. We hesitate, believing that we are unworthy of him, unworthy of love.

Ah my dear, I cannot look on thee.
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
Who made the eyes but I?
Truth Lord, but I have marred them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.
And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame?

Love would suffer for us. Love would die for us. The good shepherd would lay down his life for his sheep.

In today’s reading the apostle Paul prays for the church at Ephesus and for us. He prays, “Yes, may you come to know his love—although it can never be fully known—and so be completely filled with the very nature of God.”

What is the nature of God but love, love that is slow to anger, love that is mercifully kind, love that forgives.

Toward the close of his letter to the Ephesians Paul urges them to live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Let us live in love too, loving our fellow human beings, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and those who may have hard feelings towards us. Let us show them the love that Jesus has shown us and keeps on showing us—an unfathomable love, a measureless love.

Silence is kept.

The Gospel Canticle

Open this link in a new tab to hear Dan Schutte’s adaptation of the Nunc Dimittis, “Let Me Go Now in Peace.”

Hear the prayer of your servant; let me go now in peace
To the home you have promised where our joys never cease.
I have seen with my eyes what the prophets have foretold.
I have held in my arms God, my Savior

I have walked in your temple in the soft morning light
And have knelt in your presence in the still of the night
I have seen with my eyes what the prophets have foretold
I have held in my arms God, my Savior

I have worn smooth your pathways that I've loved from the start
As you've carved loving furrows in the stone of my heart
I have seen with my eyes what the prophets have foretold
I have held in my arms God, my Savior

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

Gracious God,
you have placed within the hearts of all your children

a longing for your word and a hunger for your truth:

grant that, believing in the one whom you sent,

we may know him to be the true bread of heaven

and the food of eternal life,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be glory and honour

for ever and ever amen. 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 George Hebert’s “Love Bade Me Welcome.”

Love bade me welcome.
Yet my soul drew back
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,
If I lacked any thing.

A guest, I answered, worthy to be here:
Love said, You shall be he.
I the unkind, ungrateful? Ah my dear,
I cannot look on thee.
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
Who made the eyes but I?

Truth Lord, but I have marred them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.
And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame?
My dear, then I will serve.
You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat:
So I did sit and eat.

The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
Let us praise the Lord,
Thanks be to God.

Open this link in a new tab to hear John Rutter’s choral benediction, “A Gaelic Blessing.”

Deep peace of the running wave to you
Deep peace of the flowing air to you
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you
Deep peace of the shining stars to you
Deep peace of the gentle night to you
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you
Deep peace of Christ
of Christ
the light of the world to you
Deep peace of Christ
to you

Deep peace of the running wave to you
Deep peace of the flowing air to you
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you
Deep peace of the shining stars to you
Deep peace of the gentle night to you
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you
Deep peace of Christ
of Christ
the light of the world to you
Deep peace of Christ
to you