All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (August 21, 2021)
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 Michael John Trotta’s choral arrangement of “O Gracious Light.”
O gracious Light,
pure brightness
of the everliving Father in heaven.
O Jesus, Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times
to be praised,
You are worthy at all times
to be praise,
You are worthy at all times,
worthy to be praised,
praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, Giver of light,
you are worthy to be glorified
through all the worlds.
O gracious Light,
O gracious Light,
pure brightness
of the everliving Father in heaven.
O Jesus, Christ, holy and blessed!
O gracious Light, gracious Light,
pure brightness
of the everliving Father in heaven.
Jesus, Christ, holy and blessed!
Holy and blessed!
Holy and blessed!
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 Will Chiles’ choral arrangement of Psalm 141 from the Bay Psalm Book.
1 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.
2 And let my pray’r directed be
as incense in thy sight:
and the up-lifting of my hands
as sacrifice at night.
3 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.
4 Bow not my heart to evil things;
to do the wicked deed
with wicked workers: and let not
me of their dainties feed.
*5 Let just-men smite me, kindness ‘tis;
let him reprove me eke,
it shall be such a precious oil,
my head it shall not break:
*6 For yet my prayr’s ev’n in their woes.
When their judges are cast
on rocks, then shall they hear my words,
for they are sweet to taste.
7 Like unto one who on the earth
doth cut and cleave the wood,
ev’n so our bones at the graves mouth
are scattered abroad.
8 But unto thee O God, the Lord
directed are mine eyes:
my soul O leave not destitute,
on thee my hope relies.
*9 O do thou keep me from the snare
which they have laid for me;
and also from the grins of those
that work iniquity.
*10 Together into their own nets
O let the wicked fall:
until such time that I escape
may make from them withal.
*Omitted on video.
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 hear Omer Westendorf’s “Wisdom’s Feast.”
We eat the bread of teaching,
drink wine of wisdom
are given here a taste of the kingdom.
Together joined,
the greatest and the least,
we all are one
at Wisdom’s holy feast.
1 Wisdom calls throughout the city,
knows our hunger, and in pity
gives her loving invitation
to the banquet of salvation.
We eat the bread of teaching,
drink wine of wisdom
are given here a taste of the kingdom.
Together joined,
the greatest and the least,
we all are one
at Wisdom’s holy feast.
2 Simple ones whose hearts are yearning,
come and gain from Wisdom’s learning;
bread and wine she is preparing,
know her loving in the sharing.
We eat the bread of teaching,
drink wine of wisdom
are given here a taste of the kingdom.
When their judges are cast
on rocks, then shall they hear my words,
for they are sweet to taste.
7 Like unto one who on the earth
doth cut and cleave the wood,
ev’n so our bones at the graves mouth
are scattered abroad.
8 But unto thee O God, the Lord
directed are mine eyes:
my soul O leave not destitute,
on thee my hope relies.
*9 O do thou keep me from the snare
which they have laid for me;
and also from the grins of those
that work iniquity.
*10 Together into their own nets
O let the wicked fall:
until such time that I escape
may make from them withal.
*Omitted on video.
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 hear Omer Westendorf’s “Wisdom’s Feast.”
We eat the bread of teaching,
drink wine of wisdom
are given here a taste of the kingdom.
Together joined,
the greatest and the least,
we all are one
at Wisdom’s holy feast.
1 Wisdom calls throughout the city,
knows our hunger, and in pity
gives her loving invitation
to the banquet of salvation.
We eat the bread of teaching,
drink wine of wisdom
are given here a taste of the kingdom.
Together joined,
the greatest and the least,
we all are one
at Wisdom’s holy feast.
2 Simple ones whose hearts are yearning,
come and gain from Wisdom’s learning;
bread and wine she is preparing,
know her loving in the sharing.
We eat the bread of teaching,
drink wine of wisdom
are given here a taste of the kingdom.
Together joined,
the greatest and the least,
we all are one
at Wisdom’s holy feast.
3 Enter with delight and singing,
for her richness now is bringing
us this joyous celebration;
eat and drink in jubilation!
We eat the bread of teaching,
drink wine of wisdom
are given here a taste of the kingdom.
Together joined,
the greatest and the least,
we all are one
at Wisdom’s holy feast.
The Proclamation of the Word
The Reading
Proverbs 9: 1-6 Wisdom’s Feast
Wisdom has built her house,
she has hewn her seven pillars.
She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine,
she has also set her table.
She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls
from the highest places in the town,
“You that are simple, turn in here!”
To those without sense she says,
“Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.
Lay aside immaturity, and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”
Silence is kept.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory
The Homily
One of the stories in the Bible is the story of how King Solomon gained the great wisdom for which he was famous when he was king of Judah and Israel. Solomon was the son of David and Bathsheba. He assumed the throne of Judah and Israel upon the death of his father. During his reign the two kingdoms, which were then one kingdom flourished and prospered. Solomon’s fame spread far and wide. Solomon built the first temple in Jerusalem.
When Solomon became king, he went to great lengths to honor God. This pleased God and God appeared to him in a dream. He told Solomon that he would grant Solomon whatever Solomon asked him—great wealth, power, and prestige; victory over his enemies; and the like. Solomon’s request was a humble one. He asked God for the wisdom to rule the people over whom he was king. This pleased God even more. He not only granted Solomon’s request but also blessed his reign. Solomon would enjoy great wealth, power, and prestige; victory of his enemies, and all the things for which he might have asked God. During Solomon’s reign the joint kingdoms of Judah and Israel were at their height.
Today’s reading comes from the Book of Proverbs whose contents are attributed largely to Solomon. They form a part of a genre of the Bible known as Wisdom literature. In today’s reading Wisdom is personified as a woman of great importance, who prepares a rich feast and sends out her hand maidens to invite the simple to her feast. Those who feast with Lady Wisdom will leave behind their immaturity, their simpleness, and acquire insight and understanding. They themselves will become wise.
In the Bible simpleness is equated with lack of wisdom. Today we are likely to think about the simple life, the uncluttered life, when we talk about being simple. In the songs and writings of the Shakers, it was equated with being humble.
At one time “simple” was used to describe being low in intelligence. It is the origin of the word, “simpleton,” which was used to describe a person who was intellectually impaired, a person whose intelligence was below the community norm. A less kind way of putting it was an “idiot.” Most towns and villages from ancient times on have had a small population of intellectually impaired people. Words like “simpleton” and “idiot” were coined to describe this population. Its members were often subject to unkind treatment.
Wisdom is a gift from God. While we may acquire wisdom by natural means, it is God’s grace working in us enable us to do so. God gives to some insight and understanding that others lack. What today’s reading is telling us is that wisdom is something that we do well to seek. God is ready to give wisdom to those who seek it. Indeed, God encourages us to seek wisdom.
Wisdom is experience and knowledge, used with sagacious judgment. We are sagacious in our judgment when we use insight, understanding, and practical wisdom in weighing questions, forming opinions, and making decisions. We give careful thought to words and actions and consider their consequences. We do not speak or act thoughtlessly on impulse. We do not let our feelings cloud our judgment.
The Bible teaches us that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. What does it mean to fear the Lord? We regard God with the awe, the honor, and the reverence, which is the rightful way for us to regard God. We treat God with the highest respect and the greatest esteem. We highly value our relationship with God and put it first before everything else.
A companion gift of wisdom is discernment. Discernment enables us to recognize right from wrong, good from evil, truth from falsehood. It helps us to recognize whether what someone is encouraging us to do or say aligns with what God would have us say or do. Discernment also helps us to recognize what may be the source of what they are telling us—God, reason, or the unholy threesome of the world, the flesh, and the devil. While we may not be popular to talk about these three things as we once did, they did not disappear when we stopped talking about them. They did not go away. They continue to influence us regardless of whether we acknowledge their existence or consider their influence upon the choices that we make.
The culture and subculture in which we live influences us. Their influence may be extensive and subtle. At the same time, we may not be aware of how much they influence us.
Our natural inclination to do things our own way and not God’s way also influences us. This inclination is why we need God’s grace, the power of God’s presence working in our lives, to desire to do what pleases God and, when we have that desire, to enable us to do it.
We may be obsessed with the spiritual forces of evil or we may deny their existence. Obsession and denial both serve their ends. Jesus had an encounter with their leader in the wilderness and broke their power on the cross. Despite their defeat they continue their assault on humankind from sheer malice. The spiritual forces of evil are relentless in their efforts to undermine the faith of Christians, to tempt them to sin, to lead them astray, to persuade them that they are beyond forgiveness and to otherwise do them harm.
Wisdom and discernment are manifestations of God’s grace. When we pray for grace for ourselves and others, we will wish to pray for wisdom and discernment in particular. They enable us not only to recognize what pleases God but also to go about it in the proper way, in a way that accomplishes what we set out to do, in a way that itself pleases God.
In our desire to love others and to please God, we can, when insight and understanding is lacking, go about it in such an awkward, clumsy way that we do not achieve what we planned to do. While God may know our hearts, our motives, and our intentions, someone else, unless they have developed a relationship with us through meeting us, spending time with us, and becoming familiar or friendly with us, do not have this kind of knowledge. They may suspect that the motives for our inept but innocent words and actions are indecent and unseemly or otherwise not well-intentioned. Instead of doing good or doing no harm, we can have the opposite effect.
For this reason, we will want to pray for an abundance of grace, of wisdom, of discernment, for ourselves and for all whom God puts in our lives, for our brothers and sisters in Christ and all whom God puts in their lives. We will also want to ask God to enable us and our fellow Christians to show same adroitness that Jesus showed in choosing the right thing to say and the right thing to do. We will want to pray that our words and actions and the words and actions of our brothers and sisters in Christ do good and do no harm.
It is, I believe, God’s will that we grow in wisdom and discernment, we speak the right word and do the right thing, that we do good and do no harm. He will not withhold from us the help that we need to fulfill his will. He has set a place for us at Wisdom’s feast.
the greatest and the least,
we all are one
at Wisdom’s holy feast.
3 Enter with delight and singing,
for her richness now is bringing
us this joyous celebration;
eat and drink in jubilation!
We eat the bread of teaching,
drink wine of wisdom
are given here a taste of the kingdom.
Together joined,
the greatest and the least,
we all are one
at Wisdom’s holy feast.
The Proclamation of the Word
The Reading
Proverbs 9: 1-6 Wisdom’s Feast
Wisdom has built her house,
she has hewn her seven pillars.
She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine,
she has also set her table.
She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls
from the highest places in the town,
“You that are simple, turn in here!”
To those without sense she says,
“Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.
Lay aside immaturity, and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”
Silence is kept.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory
The Homily
Wisdom’s Feast
One of the stories in the Bible is the story of how King Solomon gained the great wisdom for which he was famous when he was king of Judah and Israel. Solomon was the son of David and Bathsheba. He assumed the throne of Judah and Israel upon the death of his father. During his reign the two kingdoms, which were then one kingdom flourished and prospered. Solomon’s fame spread far and wide. Solomon built the first temple in Jerusalem.
When Solomon became king, he went to great lengths to honor God. This pleased God and God appeared to him in a dream. He told Solomon that he would grant Solomon whatever Solomon asked him—great wealth, power, and prestige; victory over his enemies; and the like. Solomon’s request was a humble one. He asked God for the wisdom to rule the people over whom he was king. This pleased God even more. He not only granted Solomon’s request but also blessed his reign. Solomon would enjoy great wealth, power, and prestige; victory of his enemies, and all the things for which he might have asked God. During Solomon’s reign the joint kingdoms of Judah and Israel were at their height.
Today’s reading comes from the Book of Proverbs whose contents are attributed largely to Solomon. They form a part of a genre of the Bible known as Wisdom literature. In today’s reading Wisdom is personified as a woman of great importance, who prepares a rich feast and sends out her hand maidens to invite the simple to her feast. Those who feast with Lady Wisdom will leave behind their immaturity, their simpleness, and acquire insight and understanding. They themselves will become wise.
In the Bible simpleness is equated with lack of wisdom. Today we are likely to think about the simple life, the uncluttered life, when we talk about being simple. In the songs and writings of the Shakers, it was equated with being humble.
At one time “simple” was used to describe being low in intelligence. It is the origin of the word, “simpleton,” which was used to describe a person who was intellectually impaired, a person whose intelligence was below the community norm. A less kind way of putting it was an “idiot.” Most towns and villages from ancient times on have had a small population of intellectually impaired people. Words like “simpleton” and “idiot” were coined to describe this population. Its members were often subject to unkind treatment.
Wisdom is a gift from God. While we may acquire wisdom by natural means, it is God’s grace working in us enable us to do so. God gives to some insight and understanding that others lack. What today’s reading is telling us is that wisdom is something that we do well to seek. God is ready to give wisdom to those who seek it. Indeed, God encourages us to seek wisdom.
Wisdom is experience and knowledge, used with sagacious judgment. We are sagacious in our judgment when we use insight, understanding, and practical wisdom in weighing questions, forming opinions, and making decisions. We give careful thought to words and actions and consider their consequences. We do not speak or act thoughtlessly on impulse. We do not let our feelings cloud our judgment.
The Bible teaches us that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. What does it mean to fear the Lord? We regard God with the awe, the honor, and the reverence, which is the rightful way for us to regard God. We treat God with the highest respect and the greatest esteem. We highly value our relationship with God and put it first before everything else.
A companion gift of wisdom is discernment. Discernment enables us to recognize right from wrong, good from evil, truth from falsehood. It helps us to recognize whether what someone is encouraging us to do or say aligns with what God would have us say or do. Discernment also helps us to recognize what may be the source of what they are telling us—God, reason, or the unholy threesome of the world, the flesh, and the devil. While we may not be popular to talk about these three things as we once did, they did not disappear when we stopped talking about them. They did not go away. They continue to influence us regardless of whether we acknowledge their existence or consider their influence upon the choices that we make.
The culture and subculture in which we live influences us. Their influence may be extensive and subtle. At the same time, we may not be aware of how much they influence us.
Our natural inclination to do things our own way and not God’s way also influences us. This inclination is why we need God’s grace, the power of God’s presence working in our lives, to desire to do what pleases God and, when we have that desire, to enable us to do it.
We may be obsessed with the spiritual forces of evil or we may deny their existence. Obsession and denial both serve their ends. Jesus had an encounter with their leader in the wilderness and broke their power on the cross. Despite their defeat they continue their assault on humankind from sheer malice. The spiritual forces of evil are relentless in their efforts to undermine the faith of Christians, to tempt them to sin, to lead them astray, to persuade them that they are beyond forgiveness and to otherwise do them harm.
Wisdom and discernment are manifestations of God’s grace. When we pray for grace for ourselves and others, we will wish to pray for wisdom and discernment in particular. They enable us not only to recognize what pleases God but also to go about it in the proper way, in a way that accomplishes what we set out to do, in a way that itself pleases God.
In our desire to love others and to please God, we can, when insight and understanding is lacking, go about it in such an awkward, clumsy way that we do not achieve what we planned to do. While God may know our hearts, our motives, and our intentions, someone else, unless they have developed a relationship with us through meeting us, spending time with us, and becoming familiar or friendly with us, do not have this kind of knowledge. They may suspect that the motives for our inept but innocent words and actions are indecent and unseemly or otherwise not well-intentioned. Instead of doing good or doing no harm, we can have the opposite effect.
For this reason, we will want to pray for an abundance of grace, of wisdom, of discernment, for ourselves and for all whom God puts in our lives, for our brothers and sisters in Christ and all whom God puts in their lives. We will also want to ask God to enable us and our fellow Christians to show same adroitness that Jesus showed in choosing the right thing to say and the right thing to do. We will want to pray that our words and actions and the words and actions of our brothers and sisters in Christ do good and do no harm.
It is, I believe, God’s will that we grow in wisdom and discernment, we speak the right word and do the right thing, that we do good and do no harm. He will not withhold from us the help that we need to fulfill his will. He has set a place for us at Wisdom’s feast.
Silence is kept.
The Gospel Canticle
Open this link in a new tab to hear Marty Haugen’s adaptation of the Magnificat, “My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of God.”
My soul proclaims the greatness of God,
Rejoicing in God my Savior.
The Holy One has raised me up,
I live in God’s love and favour.
1 The Mighty One works great thinks in me:
My soul rejoices in God.
All faithful servants God’s mercy shall see:
My soul rejoices,
sings and rejoices,
gladly rejoices in God.
My soul proclaims the greatness of God,
Rejoicing in God my Savior.
The Holy One has raised me up,
I live in God’s love and favour.
2 The arm of God is justice and might:
My soul rejoices in God.
God puts the proud and the scheming to flight:
My soul rejoices,
sings and rejoices,
gladly rejoices in God.
My soul proclaims the greatness of God,
Rejoicing in God my Savior.
The Holy One has raised me up,
I live in God’s love and favour.
3 God topples ev’ry tyrant and crown:
My soul rejoices in God.
The lowly raised and the mighty brought down:
My soul rejoices,
sings and rejoices,
gladly rejoices in God.
My soul proclaims the greatness of God,
Rejoicing in God my Savior.
The Holy One has raised me up,
I live in God’s love and favour.
4 With wondrous things God’s banquet is spread:
My soul rejoices in God.
The rich go hungry; the hungry are fed:
My soul rejoices,
sings and rejoices,
gladly rejoices in God.
My soul proclaims the greatness of God,
Rejoicing in God my Savior.
The Holy One has raised me up,
I live in God’s love and favour.
[Coda]
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
Creator God,
you have made us for yourself,
and our hearts are restless
until they find their rest in you:
teach us to offer ourselves to your service,
that here we may your peace,
and in the world to come may see you face to face;
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 Ruth Duck’s “Come and Seek the Ways of Wisdom.”
Come and seek the ways of Wisdom,
she who danced, when earth was new.
Follow closely what she teaches,
for her words are right and true.
Wisdom clears the path to justice,
showing us what love must do.
Listen to the voice of Wisdom,
crying in the market-place.
Hear the Word made flesh among us,
full of glory, truth and grace.
When the word takes root and ripens,
peace and righteousness embrace.
Sister Wisdom, come, assist us;
nurture all who seek rebirth.
Spirit-guide and close companion,
bring to light our sacred worth.
Free us to become your people,
holy friends of God and earth.
[Instrumental interlude]
Sister Wisdom, come, assist us;
nurture all who seek rebirth.
Spirit-guide and close companion,
bring to light our sacred worth.
Free us to become your people,
holy friends of God and earth.
Free us to become your people,
holy friends of God and earth.
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 Don Besig and Nancy Price’s “Go Now in Peace.”
Go now in peace.
Never be afraid.
God will go with you
each hour of every day.
Go now in faith,
steadfast, strong and true.
Know He will guide you
in all you do.
Go now in love,
and show you believe.
Reach out to others
so all the world can see.
God will be there
watching from above.
Go now in peace,
in faith, and in love.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
The Gospel Canticle
Open this link in a new tab to hear Marty Haugen’s adaptation of the Magnificat, “My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of God.”
My soul proclaims the greatness of God,
Rejoicing in God my Savior.
The Holy One has raised me up,
I live in God’s love and favour.
1 The Mighty One works great thinks in me:
My soul rejoices in God.
All faithful servants God’s mercy shall see:
My soul rejoices,
sings and rejoices,
gladly rejoices in God.
My soul proclaims the greatness of God,
Rejoicing in God my Savior.
The Holy One has raised me up,
I live in God’s love and favour.
2 The arm of God is justice and might:
My soul rejoices in God.
God puts the proud and the scheming to flight:
My soul rejoices,
sings and rejoices,
gladly rejoices in God.
My soul proclaims the greatness of God,
Rejoicing in God my Savior.
The Holy One has raised me up,
I live in God’s love and favour.
3 God topples ev’ry tyrant and crown:
My soul rejoices in God.
The lowly raised and the mighty brought down:
My soul rejoices,
sings and rejoices,
gladly rejoices in God.
My soul proclaims the greatness of God,
Rejoicing in God my Savior.
The Holy One has raised me up,
I live in God’s love and favour.
4 With wondrous things God’s banquet is spread:
My soul rejoices in God.
The rich go hungry; the hungry are fed:
My soul rejoices,
sings and rejoices,
gladly rejoices in God.
My soul proclaims the greatness of God,
Rejoicing in God my Savior.
The Holy One has raised me up,
I live in God’s love and favour.
[Coda]
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
Creator God,
you have made us for yourself,
and our hearts are restless
until they find their rest in you:
teach us to offer ourselves to your service,
that here we may your peace,
and in the world to come may see you face to face;
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 Ruth Duck’s “Come and Seek the Ways of Wisdom.”
Come and seek the ways of Wisdom,
she who danced, when earth was new.
Follow closely what she teaches,
for her words are right and true.
Wisdom clears the path to justice,
showing us what love must do.
Listen to the voice of Wisdom,
crying in the market-place.
Hear the Word made flesh among us,
full of glory, truth and grace.
When the word takes root and ripens,
peace and righteousness embrace.
Sister Wisdom, come, assist us;
nurture all who seek rebirth.
Spirit-guide and close companion,
bring to light our sacred worth.
Free us to become your people,
holy friends of God and earth.
[Instrumental interlude]
Sister Wisdom, come, assist us;
nurture all who seek rebirth.
Spirit-guide and close companion,
bring to light our sacred worth.
Free us to become your people,
holy friends of God and earth.
Free us to become your people,
holy friends of God and earth.
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 Don Besig and Nancy Price’s “Go Now in Peace.”
Go now in peace.
Never be afraid.
God will go with you
each hour of every day.
Go now in faith,
steadfast, strong and true.
Know He will guide you
in all you do.
Go now in love,
and show you believe.
Reach out to others
so all the world can see.
God will be there
watching from above.
Go now in peace,
in faith, and in love.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
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