All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (September 11, 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 F. Bland Tucker’s translation of the Phos hilaron, “O Gracious Light.”
O Gracious Light, Lord Jesus Christ,
In you the Father’s glory shone.
Immortal, holy, blest is he,
And blest are you, his holy Son.
Now sunset comes, but light shines forth,
the lamps are lit to pierce the night.
Praise Father, Son, and Spirit: God
Who dwells in the eternal light.
Worthy are you of endless praise,
O Son of God, Life-giving Lord;
Wherefore you are through all the earth
And in the highest heaven adored.
O Gracious Light!
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.
Silence is kept.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Tony Alonso’s bilingual version of Psalm 141, Let My Prayer Rise/Suba Mi Oración.”
Refrain:
Let my prayer rise up
like incense in your presence,
the raising of my hands,
and offering to you
Estribillo:
Suba mi oración
como incienso en tu precensia,
el alzar de mis manos
como ofrenda de la tarde.
1 I have called to you, O God,
come quickly to help me.
Hear my voice when I call to you.
Let my prayer rise up like incense before you,
and my hands like an evening off’ring.
Refrain
1 Señor, te llamo ven mí.
Escucha mi voz,
cuando te invoco.
Suba mi oración
como incienso en tu precensia,
como incienso en tu precensia.
Estribillo
2 Set a guard on my mouth
and guard my ev’ry word,
keep watch on the door of my lips.
Let me never turn my heart to evil or revenge,
nor join the evil in their feasting.
Refrain
2 Coloca, Señor, una guardia en mi boca,
y vigilia la puerta de mis labias.
No me dejas inclinarme a la maldad,
ni comer con los hombres malvaldos.
Estribillo
3 When the just correct me,
I take their words as kindness,
but the oil of the wicked will not touch me.
So I pray to you, O God,
I pray to you, O God, against their hateful ways.
Refrain
3 Que el justo me goipee,
que el bueno me reprenda,
es un gran favor, oh Señor.
Pero que el óleo de impío no perfume mi cabezañ
Seguiré rezando en sus desgracias.
Estribillo
4 To you, O God, I turn my eyes,
in you I find refuge and safety.
From the trap that has been set
by those who wish me harm,
keep me safe, O God.
Refrain
4 Mis ojos, Señor, están vueltos a ti.
Señor, en ti me refugio.
Guarda mi vida,
líbra me, Señor, de la trampa de los malhechores.
Estribillo
5 Glory to the Father, glory to the Son,
and glory to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen
Refrain
5 Gloria al Padre, gloria al Hijo,
y gloria al Espíritu Santo,
como era en el principio,
ahora y siempre por los siglos de los siglos. Amén.
Estribillo
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 Farrell’s adaptation of Psalm 139, “O God, You Search Me, and You Know Me.”
1 O God, you search me, and you know me
All my ways lie open to your gaze
When I walk or lie down, you go before me
Ever the maker and keeper of my days.
You know my resting and my rising
You discern my purpose from afar
You are with me beyond my understanding.
In ev'ry moment of life or death, you are.
[Instrumental interlude]
Although I feel your hand upon me
Still I search for shelter from your light
There is nowhere on Earth I can escape you
Even the darkness is radiant in your sight.
O God, you search me, and you know me
All my ways lie open to your gaze
When I walk or lie down, you are before me
Ever the maker and keeper of my days.
Silence is kept.
Creator God,
may every breath we take be for your glory,
may every footstep show you as our way,
that, trusting in your presence in this world,
we may, beyond this life, still be with you
where you are alive and reign
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Steven C. Warner’s “May You Cling to Wisdom.”
May you cling to Wisdom,
for she will protect you,
and if you cherish her,
she will keep you safe.
1 Take heed my children
and listen to my words,
and all your years shall be rich
and filled with joy.
For I have taught you
in ways of wisdom
and paths of honesty.
May you cling to Wisdom,
for she will protect you,
and if you cherish her,
she will keep you safe.
2 More than all else,
set a guard upon your heart,
since here is found
the wellspring of your soul!
Upon your journey
let Wisdom grace you with steadfast vision.
May you cling to Wisdom,
for she will protect you,
and if you cherish her,
she will keep you safe.
3 So may your treasure
the things I have to say.
These words of truth shall lead you
both to life!
Pray for perception,
hold fast to Wisdom,
do not forget her!
May you cling to Wisdom,
for she will protect you,
and if you cherish her,
she will keep you safe.
The Proclamation of the Word
The Reading
Proverbs 1: 20-33 Wisdom Calls
Listen! Wisdom is calling out in the streets and marketplaces, calling loudly at the city gates and wherever people come together:
“Foolish people! How long do you want to be foolish? How long will you enjoy making fun of knowledge? Will you never learn? Listen when I reprimand you; I will give you good advice and share my knowledge with you. I have been calling you, inviting you to come, but you would not listen. You paid no attention to me. You have ignored all my advice and have not been willing to let me correct you. So when you get into trouble, I will laugh at you. I will make fun of you when terror strikes—when it comes on you like a storm, bringing fierce winds of trouble, and you are in pain and misery. Then you will call for wisdom, but I will not answer. You may look for me everywhere, but you will not find me. You have never had any use for knowledge and have always refused to obey the Lord. You have never wanted my advice or paid any attention when I corrected you. So then, you will get what you deserve, and your own actions will make you sick. Inexperienced people die because they reject wisdom. Stupid people are destroyed by their own lack of concern. But whoever listens to me will have security. He will be safe, with no reason to be afraid.”
Silence is kept.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory
The Homily
Proverbs 1:20-33 is appointed as the Old Testament Lesson for this Sunday. The Wisdom of Solomon 7:26-8:1 from the Apocrypha, or Deuterocanonical Books, is appointed as an alternative reading:
She is a reflection of eternal light, a perfect mirror of God's activity and goodness. Even though Wisdom acts alone, she can do anything. She makes everything new, although she herself never changes. From generation to generation she enters the souls of holy people, and makes them God's friends and prophets. There is nothing that God loves more than people who are at home with Wisdom. Wisdom is more beautiful than the sun and all the constellations. She is better than light itself, because night always follows day, but evil never overcomes Wisdom.
Her great power reaches into every part of the world, and she sets everything in useful order.
Both readings draw to our attention the importance of wisdom. The first reading from the Book of Proverbs warns us against ignoring wisdom and rejecting wisdom. The second reading from the Wisdom of Solomon is a beautiful portrait of wisdom.
After reading the first reading, it was tempting to look at the different ways that people are ignoring wisdom or rejecting wisdom in the midst of a pandemic. However, the first reading, while its warnings can be applied to how different groups in my own state and other states are responding to the pandemic, is primarily addressing spiritual matters. Those who Wisdom is taking to task in the first reading are those who do not obey God. The reason those who are at home with Wisdom have a special place in God’s heart is that they obey God.
Before I proceed any further, I must point out that spiritual matters are not divorced from physical matters. I am not suggesting a Gnostic separation between the spiritual world and the physical world. Spiritual matters and physical matters are intertwined. They are interconnected. Everything is tied together. Spiritual and physical, or material, may be artificial distinctions.
If I disobey God when I clearly know what God expects from me, my act of disobedience will not only affect me spiritually, but it also may affect me physically or materially. It will not only affect my relationship with God, but it may also affect my relationship with others. I will not only cause injury to my standing with God, but also I may injure myself and/or someone else. I may injure several people. We are not disconnected from other people so what we do has no consequences for them. We are linked to each other.
When we disobey God, we are apt to do one of three things. We act as if God does not exist. We become temporary atheists.
Or we convince ourselves that God is not troubled by what we are about to do or are doing. We are not grieving God with what we are feeling, thinking, or saying or how we are acting.
Or we may persuade ourselves that our feelings, thoughts, words, and actions are not that serious, and God will either overlook them or forgive them this one time, ignoring the fact that “this one time” is “this one time” in a series of “this one times.” We are essentially presuming upon God’s forgiveness.
For you created me and shaped me
Gave me life within my mother’s womb
For the wonder of who I am, I praise you
God of my present, my past and future, too.
[Instrumental interlude]
Gave me life within my mother’s womb
For the wonder of who I am, I praise you
God of my present, my past and future, too.
[Instrumental interlude]
Although I feel your hand upon me
Still I search for shelter from your light
There is nowhere on Earth I can escape you
Even the darkness is radiant in your sight.
O God, you search me, and you know me
All my ways lie open to your gaze
When I walk or lie down, you are before me
Ever the maker and keeper of my days.
Silence is kept.
Creator God,
may every breath we take be for your glory,
may every footstep show you as our way,
that, trusting in your presence in this world,
we may, beyond this life, still be with you
where you are alive and reign
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Steven C. Warner’s “May You Cling to Wisdom.”
May you cling to Wisdom,
for she will protect you,
and if you cherish her,
she will keep you safe.
1 Take heed my children
and listen to my words,
and all your years shall be rich
and filled with joy.
For I have taught you
in ways of wisdom
and paths of honesty.
May you cling to Wisdom,
for she will protect you,
and if you cherish her,
she will keep you safe.
2 More than all else,
set a guard upon your heart,
since here is found
the wellspring of your soul!
Upon your journey
let Wisdom grace you with steadfast vision.
May you cling to Wisdom,
for she will protect you,
and if you cherish her,
she will keep you safe.
3 So may your treasure
the things I have to say.
These words of truth shall lead you
both to life!
Pray for perception,
hold fast to Wisdom,
do not forget her!
May you cling to Wisdom,
for she will protect you,
and if you cherish her,
she will keep you safe.
The Proclamation of the Word
The Reading
Proverbs 1: 20-33 Wisdom Calls
Listen! Wisdom is calling out in the streets and marketplaces, calling loudly at the city gates and wherever people come together:
“Foolish people! How long do you want to be foolish? How long will you enjoy making fun of knowledge? Will you never learn? Listen when I reprimand you; I will give you good advice and share my knowledge with you. I have been calling you, inviting you to come, but you would not listen. You paid no attention to me. You have ignored all my advice and have not been willing to let me correct you. So when you get into trouble, I will laugh at you. I will make fun of you when terror strikes—when it comes on you like a storm, bringing fierce winds of trouble, and you are in pain and misery. Then you will call for wisdom, but I will not answer. You may look for me everywhere, but you will not find me. You have never had any use for knowledge and have always refused to obey the Lord. You have never wanted my advice or paid any attention when I corrected you. So then, you will get what you deserve, and your own actions will make you sick. Inexperienced people die because they reject wisdom. Stupid people are destroyed by their own lack of concern. But whoever listens to me will have security. He will be safe, with no reason to be afraid.”
Silence is kept.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory
The Homily
Wisdom’s Children, God’s Friends
Proverbs 1:20-33 is appointed as the Old Testament Lesson for this Sunday. The Wisdom of Solomon 7:26-8:1 from the Apocrypha, or Deuterocanonical Books, is appointed as an alternative reading:
She is a reflection of eternal light, a perfect mirror of God's activity and goodness. Even though Wisdom acts alone, she can do anything. She makes everything new, although she herself never changes. From generation to generation she enters the souls of holy people, and makes them God's friends and prophets. There is nothing that God loves more than people who are at home with Wisdom. Wisdom is more beautiful than the sun and all the constellations. She is better than light itself, because night always follows day, but evil never overcomes Wisdom.
Her great power reaches into every part of the world, and she sets everything in useful order.
Both readings draw to our attention the importance of wisdom. The first reading from the Book of Proverbs warns us against ignoring wisdom and rejecting wisdom. The second reading from the Wisdom of Solomon is a beautiful portrait of wisdom.
After reading the first reading, it was tempting to look at the different ways that people are ignoring wisdom or rejecting wisdom in the midst of a pandemic. However, the first reading, while its warnings can be applied to how different groups in my own state and other states are responding to the pandemic, is primarily addressing spiritual matters. Those who Wisdom is taking to task in the first reading are those who do not obey God. The reason those who are at home with Wisdom have a special place in God’s heart is that they obey God.
Before I proceed any further, I must point out that spiritual matters are not divorced from physical matters. I am not suggesting a Gnostic separation between the spiritual world and the physical world. Spiritual matters and physical matters are intertwined. They are interconnected. Everything is tied together. Spiritual and physical, or material, may be artificial distinctions.
If I disobey God when I clearly know what God expects from me, my act of disobedience will not only affect me spiritually, but it also may affect me physically or materially. It will not only affect my relationship with God, but it may also affect my relationship with others. I will not only cause injury to my standing with God, but also I may injure myself and/or someone else. I may injure several people. We are not disconnected from other people so what we do has no consequences for them. We are linked to each other.
When we disobey God, we are apt to do one of three things. We act as if God does not exist. We become temporary atheists.
Or we convince ourselves that God is not troubled by what we are about to do or are doing. We are not grieving God with what we are feeling, thinking, or saying or how we are acting.
Or we may persuade ourselves that our feelings, thoughts, words, and actions are not that serious, and God will either overlook them or forgive them this one time, ignoring the fact that “this one time” is “this one time” in a series of “this one times.” We are essentially presuming upon God’s forgiveness.
These are three of the more common ways that we deceive ourselves.
Instead of choosing to forgive someone and let go of our anger and any other negative feelings in our heart, we may use these feelings to justify doing something that we clearly know is the wrong thing to do and which will grieve God. We can be very ingenious at self-deception.
Instead of choosing to forgive someone and let go of our anger and any other negative feelings in our heart, we may use these feelings to justify doing something that we clearly know is the wrong thing to do and which will grieve God. We can be very ingenious at self-deception.
For example, a husband who is addicted to porn, may indulge in a porn binge after having an argument with his wife. In his mind he is getting even with his wife when he watches videos of men forcing women to perform degrading sexual acts. His wife would be horrified if she knew what he was watching; he hopes that she will catch him watching the videos. In his mind it is payback for disagreeing with him. He does not think about the long-term consequences to their relationship.
To further justify our actions, we may seek validation from friends and acquaintances. Those from we are seeking validation of what we intend to do or are doing may not know that is what we are seeking from them. We may enter into a seemingly innocent conversation with ulterior motives.
Wisdom reminds us that our innermost desires and thoughts are not hidden from God. We may deceive ourselves. We may deceive other people. However, we cannot deceive God. God know what we are up to.
The Holy Spirit will nudge us to do what is right, to not let our own inward desires or the inward desires of other people to tempt us. Wisdom will encourage us to pay attention to the Holy Spirit and not to ignore the Spirit’s nudging. Wisdom will coax us to be open to God’s grace, his holy influence, working in us to make us willing and able to do what pleases God. Wisdom will draw to our attention that God desires only our good. We are God’s beloved children and God wants the best for us.
The thought that God knows our innermost secret desires and thoughts may be disconcerting to some of us. We may have had parents who allowed us very little privacy or space and were excessively protective.
God, however, is omniscient. God knows everything. There is no escaping this truth. We can ignore it but ignoring it will not make it go away. God knows when we truly love him and love others and when we are faking it. God knows when we have a deep affection for someone, how much we care for them, and whether we are putting their needs before our own. God knows if we are inquisitive about a friend out of a desire to know them better or if we are prying into their business uninvited from sheer nosiness. God knows if we are acting out of good motives or bad ones.
God is also omnipresent. God is wherever we are—in the kitchen when we are eating breakfast, in our car when we drive to work, in the store when we buy groceries, at our hairdresser’s when we are getting a tint, and in our bedroom when we sleep. God is everywhere. As Psalm 139 tells us, there is no place that we can hide from God.
God’s nature is love. The love that God shows us is a love that is concerned with our well-being. God is not going to butt out of our lives and leave us to do our own thing. Wisdom helps us to see that the love God shows us is genuine love.
We need the good counsel of Wisdom. We need to heed her call. We need to welcome her, make plenty of room for her in our lives, and to become Wisdom’s children, God’s friends.
Silence is kept.
The Gospel Canticle
Open this link in a new tab to hear John Philip Newell’s adaptation of the Magnificat, “The Song of Mary.”
My soul sings of you, O God.
My spirit delights in your Presence.
You have cherished my womanhood.
You have honored earth’s body.
All will know the sacredness of birth.
All will know the gift of life.
Your grace is to those who are open.
Your mercy to the humble in heart.
The dreams of the proud crumble.
The plans of the powerful fail.
You feed the hungry with goodness.
You deny the rich their greed.
The hopes of the poor are precious.
The birth pangs of creation are heard.
You have been faithful to the human family.
You are the seed of new beginnings.
My soul sings of you, O God.
My spirit delights in your presence.
My soul sings of you, O God.
My spirit delights in your presence.
My soul sings of you, O God.
My spirit delights in your presence.
My soul sings of you, O God.
My spirit delights in your presence.
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,
without you we are not able to please you:
mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit
may in all things direct and rule our hearts;
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 Fran McKendree’s adaptation of “Lord, It Is Night” from A New Zealand Prayer Book.
Lord,
it is night.
The night is for stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God.
It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done;
let it be,
let it be.
The night it is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness,
our fears of the world and of our own lives
rest in you.
The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,
and all who are dear to us,
and all who have no peace,
no peace.
The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly
to a new day,
new joy,
new possibility.
In your name we pray.
your name we pray.
Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen,
[Instrumental interlude]
In your name we pray.
In your name we pray.
Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
Let us praise the Lord,
Thanks be to God.
May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
To further justify our actions, we may seek validation from friends and acquaintances. Those from we are seeking validation of what we intend to do or are doing may not know that is what we are seeking from them. We may enter into a seemingly innocent conversation with ulterior motives.
Wisdom reminds us that our innermost desires and thoughts are not hidden from God. We may deceive ourselves. We may deceive other people. However, we cannot deceive God. God know what we are up to.
The Holy Spirit will nudge us to do what is right, to not let our own inward desires or the inward desires of other people to tempt us. Wisdom will encourage us to pay attention to the Holy Spirit and not to ignore the Spirit’s nudging. Wisdom will coax us to be open to God’s grace, his holy influence, working in us to make us willing and able to do what pleases God. Wisdom will draw to our attention that God desires only our good. We are God’s beloved children and God wants the best for us.
The thought that God knows our innermost secret desires and thoughts may be disconcerting to some of us. We may have had parents who allowed us very little privacy or space and were excessively protective.
God, however, is omniscient. God knows everything. There is no escaping this truth. We can ignore it but ignoring it will not make it go away. God knows when we truly love him and love others and when we are faking it. God knows when we have a deep affection for someone, how much we care for them, and whether we are putting their needs before our own. God knows if we are inquisitive about a friend out of a desire to know them better or if we are prying into their business uninvited from sheer nosiness. God knows if we are acting out of good motives or bad ones.
God is also omnipresent. God is wherever we are—in the kitchen when we are eating breakfast, in our car when we drive to work, in the store when we buy groceries, at our hairdresser’s when we are getting a tint, and in our bedroom when we sleep. God is everywhere. As Psalm 139 tells us, there is no place that we can hide from God.
God’s nature is love. The love that God shows us is a love that is concerned with our well-being. God is not going to butt out of our lives and leave us to do our own thing. Wisdom helps us to see that the love God shows us is genuine love.
We need the good counsel of Wisdom. We need to heed her call. We need to welcome her, make plenty of room for her in our lives, and to become Wisdom’s children, God’s friends.
Silence is kept.
The Gospel Canticle
Open this link in a new tab to hear John Philip Newell’s adaptation of the Magnificat, “The Song of Mary.”
My soul sings of you, O God.
My spirit delights in your Presence.
You have cherished my womanhood.
You have honored earth’s body.
All will know the sacredness of birth.
All will know the gift of life.
Your grace is to those who are open.
Your mercy to the humble in heart.
The dreams of the proud crumble.
The plans of the powerful fail.
You feed the hungry with goodness.
You deny the rich their greed.
The hopes of the poor are precious.
The birth pangs of creation are heard.
You have been faithful to the human family.
You are the seed of new beginnings.
My soul sings of you, O God.
My spirit delights in your presence.
My soul sings of you, O God.
My spirit delights in your presence.
My soul sings of you, O God.
My spirit delights in your presence.
My soul sings of you, O God.
My spirit delights in your presence.
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,
without you we are not able to please you:
mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit
may in all things direct and rule our hearts;
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 Fran McKendree’s adaptation of “Lord, It Is Night” from A New Zealand Prayer Book.
Lord,
it is night.
The night is for stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God.
It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done;
let it be,
let it be.
The night it is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness,
our fears of the world and of our own lives
rest in you.
The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,
and all who are dear to us,
and all who have no peace,
no peace.
The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly
to a new day,
new joy,
new possibility.
In your name we pray.
your name we pray.
Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen,
[Instrumental interlude]
In your name we pray.
In your name we pray.
Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
Let us praise the Lord,
Thanks be to God.
May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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