All Hallows Evening Prayer for Wednesday Evening (July 21, 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 Psalm 23, “The Lord My Shepherd Guards Me Well.”

The Lord my Shepherd guards me well,
and all my wants are fed:
amid green pastures made to lie,
beside still waters led.
My careworn soul
grows strong and whole
when God's true path I tread.

Though I should walk in darkest ways
through valleys like the grave,
no evil shall I ever fear;
your presence makes me brave.
On my behalf
your rod and staff
assure me you will save.

For me a table has been spread
where all my foes can see;
you bathe my head with fragrant oil
to soothe and honor me.
My heart and cup
are both filled up
with joyful ecstasy.

Your steadfast love will follow me
to shield me all my days
and bring me to your holy house,
redeemed from error's ways,
my whole life long
to join the song
of those who sing God's praise.

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 hear Charles Wesley’s hymn, “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing.”

O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and king,
The triumphs of His grace!
The triumphs of His grace!
The triumphs of His grace!
The triumphs of His grace!
The triumphs of His grace!
The triumphs of His grace!

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
That bids our sorrows cease;
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’Tis life, and health, and peace!
’Tis life, and health, and peace!
’Tis life, and health, and peace!
’Tis life, and health, and peace!
’Tis life, and health, and peace!
’Tis life, and health, and peace!

See all your sins on Jesus laid:
The Lamb of God was slain,
The Lamb of God was slain,
His soul was once an offering made
For every soul of man!
For every soul of man!
For every soul of man!
For every soul of man!
For every soul of man!
For every soul of man!

He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me!
His blood availed for me!
His blood availed for me!
His blood availed for me!
His blood availed for me!
His blood availed for me!

He speaks, and, listening to His voice,
New life the dead receive,
New life the dead receive,
The mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
The humble poor believe!
The humble poor believe!
The humble poor believe!
The humble poor believe!
The humble poor believe!
The humble poor believe!

Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb,
Your loosened tongues employ;
Your loosened tongues employ;
Ye blind, behold your Savior come,
And leap, ye lame, for joy!
And leap, ye lame, for joy!
And leap, ye lame, for joy!
And leap, ye lame, for joy!
And leap, ye lame, for joy!
And leap, ye lame, for joy!

My gracious master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name!
The honors of Thy name!
The honors of Thy name!
The honors of Thy name!
The honors of Thy name!
The honors of Thy name!

The Proclamation of the Word

The Reading

Ephesians 2: 1-10 From Death to Life

You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

Silence is kept.

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

The Homily

Created for Good Works

The verse in today’s reading which caught my attention. ”…we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” In the words of the Common English Bible, “God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That’s why he sent Christ to make us what we are.” God in graciously saving us, has saved us to live a life of good deeds. God has shown us his love so that we might show God’s love to others and share God’s love with them

As a way of life doing good works is not confined to one season of our lives. It is a way of life that we live to the ends of our days.

The Reverend Fred Pratt Green was a British Methodist minister and hymnodist. His hymn, “Now Praise the Hidden God of Love,” reminds us that our life of doing good does not end when we grow old.

Now praise the hidden God of love
in whom we all must live, and move,
who shepherds us at every stage,
through youth, maturity, and love.

Who challenged us, when we were young,
to storm the citadels of wrong;
in care of others taught us how
God’s true community must grow:

Who bids us never lose our zest,
though age is urging us to rest,
but prove to us that we have still
a work to do, a place to fill.

It is noteworthy that his most prolific period as a hymn writer was after he retired as a minister.

“Now Praise the God of Hidden Love” is found in The Faith We Sing, hymn no. 2027, and is set to the beautiful Scottish folk tune O WALY WALY, also known as THE WATER IS WIDE. While The Faith We Sing was primarily published as a supplement to The United Methodist Hymnal (1989), it also serves as hymnal supplement to other denominational hymnals.

God still has a work for older Christians to do. God still has a place for older Christians to fill. We have been saved so that we may live a lifetime of doing good—a lifetime of compassion, kindness, generosity, forgiveness, gentleness, and forebearance, a lifetime of showing and sharing the love of Jesus.

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

O God,
you alone can order our unruly wills and affections:
teach us to love what you command,
and to desire what you promise,
that, among the changes and chances of this world,
our hearts may surely there be fixed
where true joys are to be found;
through Jesus Christ 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 John Rutter’s choral arrangement of John Newton’s hymn, “Amazing Grace.”

Amazing Grace how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
He Word my hopes secure;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

Amazing Grace how sweet the sound,
Amazing Grace how sweet the sound,
How sweet the sound.

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