All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (December 18, 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 John Scott’s arrangement of “Creator of the Stars of Night.”

Creator of the stars of night
Thy people’s everlasting light
O Jesus, Saviour of us all
Regard thy servants when they call

Thou, grieving at the bitter cry
Of all creation doomed to die
Didst come to save a ruined race
With healing gifts of heav’n’ly grace

Thou camest, bridegroom of the bride
As drew the world to eveningtide
Proceeding from a virgin shrine
The Son of Man, yet Lord divine

At thy great name, majestic now
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow
And things in heav’n and earth shall own
That thou art Lord and King alone

To thee, O holy One, we pray
Our judge in that tremendous day
Preserve us, while we dwell below
From ev’ry onslaught of the foe

All praise, eternal Son, to thee
Whose advent sets thy people free
Whom with the Father we adore
And Spirit blest, for evermore. Amen.

Thanksgiving

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe,
creator of light and darkness.
In this holy season.
you renew your promise to reveal among us
the splendor of your glory,
enfleshed and visible to us in Jesus Christ your Son.
Through the prophets
you teach us to hope for his reign of peace,
Through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit,
you open our blindness to the glory of his presence.
Strengthen us in our weakness.
Support us in our stumbling efforts to your will
and free our tongues to sing your praise.
For to you all honour and blessing are due,
Now and for ever. Amen.

Psalm 141 is sung and incense may be burned.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Peter Inwood’s 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 Kiran Young Wimberly's Psalm 23, “The Lord’s My Shepherd I’ll Not Want.”

The Lord’s my shepherd I’ll not want
He lets me rest in pastures green
He leadeth me by waters still
He restores my soul; restores my soul

Even though I walk through the darkest vale
I will fear no evil, for you’re with me
Your rod and staff, protect and guide
You comfort me; you comfort me

You prepare a table, a feast for me
In the presence of my enemies
You anoint my head with holy oil
My cup overflows; it overflows

Surely goodness and God’s mercy great
Shall follow me all my days of life
And I’ll dwell within the house of God
My whole life long; my whole life long

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.

The Proclamation of the Word

The Reading

Micah 5: 2-5a The Ruler from Bethlehem

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return
to the people of Israel.
And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth;
and he shall be the one of peace.

Silence is kept.

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

Homily

“Who Do You Say I Am?”

Today’s reading from the Book of the Prophet Micah contains a prophesy of the birth of Jesus. But importantly, it also tells us that Jesus’s origin “is from of old, from ancient days.” It is one of many passages in Scripture, which tell us Jesus existed before he was born in Bethlehem, the most notable found in the opening passages of the Gospel of John.

Why is that important?

A recent survey revealed that many American Christians do not believe that Jesus existed before he was born. They are essentially denying Jesus’ divinity. They have an unbiblical view of Jesus akin to if not identical with the ancient heresy Arianism, which the Christian Church has identified as a false teaching since the fourth century AD.

Arianism maintains that “the Son of God was created by the Father and was therefore neither coeternal with the Father, nor consubstantial.” He is not eternal like the Father nor is he of one substance with the Father.

While we will find articles on the internet claiming that Arianism is no longer practiced today, these articles do reflect an accurate picture of what American Christians believe and may be wishful thinking on the part of their authors.

The Bible affirms not only Jesus’ pre-existence but also his divinity. Any denial of his pre-existence is a rejection of biblically orthodox Christianity.

It is worthy of note that this unbiblical view of Jesus is not confined to liberal Christians but is found in conservative Christians too.

Why should it concern us?

Jesus’ pre-existence and his divinity add great weight and authority to his teaching and his example. Deny Jesus’ pre-existence and his divinity and Jesus becomes one philosopher or teacher among many and the weight and authority that we give to his teaching and his example is our own and not God’s.

We are also denying Jesus’ own claim that his teaching is authoritative. His words were not his own but God’s. He was the fulfillment of an Old Testament prophesy that God himself would teach his people and make them his disciples.

Jesus’ Summary of the Law, which he claimed was the essence of true religion, the Great Commandment in which he enjoins us to love God and to love neighbor become suggestions. .

When we deny the authority of Jesus’ teaching and example, we make way for other beliefs to enter the thought life of the church, beliefs that have nothing to do with Jesus and which conflict with what he taught and exemplified. Concomitantly we weaken the central place of Jesus’ teaching and example in the church’s thinking. It explains at least in part why politics is dominating the thought life of a growing number of churches.

It is the identification of Christianity in people’s minds with a particular brand of politics that is causing many to reject Christianity. Ironically non-Christians are more likely to give a hearing to the members of a church which practices what Jesus taught and exemplified.

A Jesus who is human and not human and divine is powerless to save. His death is one tragedy among many tragedies. It does not serve to reconcile God to humanity or humanity to God. It is pointless.

Having faith in Jesus is no different from having faith in the mail carrier that they will deliver the mail on time.

The only effects that the sacraments have upon us are those which we imagine them to have—pure suggestion.

As can be seen, Christianity begins to unravel when we no longer believe that Jesus existed before his birth in Bethlehem. The birth that we celebrate at Christmas is no longer the birth of the savior of the world.

On the other hand, if Jesus existed before time, is one with God, and had a hand in creation, then the one whom we call Lord is Lord indeed. As Lord he has command over us that we cannot deny. This may explain why the notion of a Jesus who did not exist before his birth has gained popularity. A human Jesus cannot command our obedience. A human Jesus can be ignored.

Whose birth will we celebrate this Christmas? A Jesus who did not exist until his birth in Bethlehem. Or the Son of God, who existed before time and who humbled himself and became a human being like us.

Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” He asks us that same question today. “Who do you say I am?” What is our answer?

Silence is kept.

The Gospel Canticle

Open this link in a new tab to hear Ann Krentz’s choral arrangement of the Magnificat, “My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness.”

My soul proclaims your greatness, O Lord;
I sing my Savior’s praise!
Great wonders you have done for me,
and holy is your name.

1 My soul proclaims your greatness, Lord;
I sing my Savior’s praise!
You looked upon my lowliness,
and I am full of grace.
Now ev’ry land and ev’ry age
this blessing shall proclaim—
great wonders you have done for me,
and holy is your name.

My soul proclaims your greatness, O Lord;
I sing my Savior’s praise!
Great wonders you have done for me,
and holy is your name.

2 To all who live in holy fear
Your mercy ever flows.
With mighty arm you dash the proud,
Their scheming hearts expose.
The ruthless you have cast aside,
the lonely throned instead;
the hungry filled with all good things,
the rich sent off unfed.

My soul proclaims your greatness, O Lord;
I sing my Savior’s praise!
Great wonders you have done for me,
and holy is your name.

3 To Israel, your servant blest,
your help is ever sure;
the promise to our parents made
their children will secure.
Sing glory to the Holy One,
give honor to the Word,
and praise the Pow’r of the Most High,
one God, by all adored.

My soul proclaims your greatness, O Lord;
I sing my Savior’s praise!
Great wonders you have done for me,
and holy is your name,
and holy is your name.

Intercessions

Let us complete our evening prayer to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.

For peace from on high and our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.

For the welfare of all churches and for the unity of the human family, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.

For (name), our bishop, and (name), our pastor, and for all ministers of the Gospel, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.

For our nation, its government, and for all who serve and protect us, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.

For this city (town, university, monastery…). For every city and community, and for all those living in them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.

For the good earth which God has given us and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.

For the safety of travelers, the recovery of the sick, the care of the destitute and the release of prisoners, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.

For an angel of peace to guide and protect us, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.

For a peaceful evening and a night free from sin, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.

For a Christian end to our lives and for all who have fallen asleep in Christ, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.

In the communion of the Holy Spirit (and of all the saints), let us commend ourselves and one another to the living God through Christ our Lord.
To you, O Lord.

Free Prayer

In silent or spontaneous prayer all bring before God the concerns of the day.

The Collect

Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
With your abundant grace and might,
free us from the sin that binds us,
that we may receive you in joy
and serve you always,
for you live and reign
with the Father and Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer is said.

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 Christina Georgina Rosseti’s “Love Came Down at Christmas.”

1 Love came down at Christmas,
love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas;
star and angels gave the sign.

2 Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, Love divine;
worship we our Jesus,
but wherewith for sacred sign?

3 Love shall be our token;
love be yours and love be mine;
love to God and others,
love for plea and gift and sign.

Love came down at Christmas.

Love came down at Christmas.

Love came down at Christmas.

Love came down at Christmas.

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

Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon us,
and make us ready to meet him when he comes in glory;
and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit be with us and remain with us always. Amen.