All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (January 15, 2022)

 

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 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, Lord our God,
our eternal Father and David’s King.
You have made our gladness greater and increased our joy
by sending to dwell among us
the Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace.
Born of Mary,
proclaimed to the shepherds,
and acknowledged to the ends of the earth,
your unconquered Sun of righteousness
destroys our darkness and establishes us in freedom.
All glory in the highest be to you,
through Christ, the Son of your favour,
in the anointing love of the Spirit,
this night and for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 141 is sung and incense may be burned.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Randall De Bruyn’s arrangement of Psalm 141 from The Grail (England).

Like burning incense, O Lord, let my prayer rise up to you.
Like burning incense, O Lord, let my prayer rise up to you.

I have called to you, Lord, hasten to help me.
Hear my voice when I cry to you.
Let my prayer arise before you like incense.
the raising of my hands like the evening oblation.

Set, O Lord, a guard over my mouth,
keep watch, O Lord, at the door of my lips!
Do not turn my heart to things that are wrong,
to evil deeds with those who are sinners.

Never allow me to share in their feasting.
If the righteous strike or reprove me, it is a kindness;
but let the oil of the wicked n’er anoint my head.
Let my prayer be ever against their malice.

To you, Lord God, my eyes are turned;
in you I take refuge; spare my soul!
From the trap they have laid for me keep me safe;
Keep me from the snares of those who do evil.

Glory to the Father and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.

Like burning incense, O Lord, let my prayer rise up to you.

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 Karen Young Wimberly’s adaptation of Psalm 104, “Praise the Lord, All the Earth.”

You, O Lord, are clothed in glory
Praise the Lord, all the earth
You have spread the heavens above me
Praise the Lord, all the earth

Wings of wind and cloud of chariot
Praise the Lord, all the earth
Flashes of lightning, servants of majesty
Praise the Lord, all the earth

You have set the earth’s foundations
Praise the Lord, all the earth
Rushing waters hear your commanding
Praise the Lord, all the earth

You make springs flow into valleys
Praise the Lord, all the earth
Birds in their nests, singing your glory
Praise the Lord, all the earth

[Instrumental interlude]

Rain on the hills, earth filled with blessing
Praise the Lord, all the earth
Food for our strength, health and happiness
Praise the Lord, all the earth

All of these good things you have created
Praise the Lord, all the earth
You give us breath, new life to all
Praise the Lord, all the earth

Glory to God forever and ever
Praise the Lord, all the earth
Blessing to God all of my living
Praise the Lord, all the earth

Silence is kept.

Creator God,
send your Holy Spirit to renew this living world,
that the whole creation,
in its groaning and striving,
may know your loving purpose
and come to reflect your glory;
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Proclamation of the Word

The Reading

1 Corinthians 12: 1-11 Spiritual Gifts

Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

Silence is kept.

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

Homily

Gifts Given to Help Each Other

Some Christians shrink even at the thought of receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. They may have been taught that the gift of the Holy Spirit is not for our time. They may have heard or read about the bizarre antics that go on in some charismatic and Pentecostal churches. They may have the misapprehension that receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, they will speak in tongues and behave in a strange fashion, rolling on the floor, barking like dogs, laughing wildly and uncontrollably, and in other ways making a spectacle of themselves. They may be surprised to learn that they have already received the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not always make a dramatic entrance into our lives.

In today’s reading from the apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he makes three important points. The first is that only by the power of the Holy Spirit can we call Jesus Lord and mean what we are saying. The Holy Spirit enable us to recognize Jesus for whom he is—the Son of God. The Holy Spirit enables us to surrender our lives to Jesus, to accept fully his lordship over our lives.

The Holy Spirit is God himself, having made his home in us, living in us. God dwells in our innermost being. God not only lives in us, but he also works in us.

The second important point is found in these verses.

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.”

We may exhibit different kinds of spiritual gifts, different manifestations of the Holy Spirit, we may serve in different ways, God may work in us differently. However, it is the one true God, the God of Jesus, who gifts us, whom we serve, and who works in us.

The third important point is that the one and the same Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to each of us in order that we can help each other. Yes, they are gifts given to help each other. They are not given for our own benefit. They are given for the benefit of a particular local expression of the Body of Christ, a particular congregation of the faithful of Christ’s own church. It is the Holy Spirit alone who gives out these gifts to us and who decides who gets what gift. We may desire a particular gift. While our motives may be pure, the Holy Spirit may give us an entirely different gift.

Grace, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit’s gifts, the Spirit’s fruit are among the different ways that God makes provision for his people and shows his goodwill and favor toward us, makes known his goodness, his mercy, and his loving kindness. When we exercise the gifts, we are not only exhibiting God’s love for us but also sowing our own love for one another.

Silence is kept.

The Gospel Canticle

Open this link in a new tab to hear Chaz Bower’s choral arrangement of “My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness, Lord.”

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.

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 lowly throned instead;
the hungry filled with all good things,
the rich sent off unfed.

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

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

Almighty God,
by whose grace alone we are accepted
and called to your service
strengthen us by your Holy Spirit
and make us worthy of our calling;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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 Brian Foley’s hymn, “Holy Spirit, Come, Confirm Us.”

1 Holy Spirit, come, confirm us
In the truth that Christ makes known;
We have faith and understanding
Through your helping gifts alone.

2 Holy Spirit, come, console us,
Come as Advocate to plead,
Loving Spirit from the Father,
Grant in Christ the help we need.

3 Holy Spirit, come, renew us,
Come yourself to make us live;
Holy through your loving presence,
Holy through the gifts you give.

4 Holy Spirit, come, possess us,
You the Love of Three in One,
Holy Spirit of the Father,
Holy Spirit of the Son.

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

May the One who began a good work in us
bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ
and may the blessing of God Almighty, the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with us
and remain with us always. Amen.