All Hallows Evening Prayer for Wednesday Evening (February 9, 2022)
One or more candles may be lit.
Light and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord
Thanks be to God
EVENING HYMN
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!
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Dear Jesus,
as a hen covers her chicks with her wings
to keep them safe, do thou this night
protect us under your golden wings. Amen.
SCRIPTURE
Galatians 3: 15-22 The Law and the Promise
My friends, I am going to use an everyday example: when two people agree on a matter and sign an agreement, no one can break it or add anything to it. Now, God made his promises to Abraham and to his descendant. The scripture does not use the plural “descendants,” meaning many people, but the singular “descendant,” meaning one person only, namely, Christ. What I mean is that God made a covenant with Abraham and promised to keep it. The Law, which was given four hundred and thirty years later, cannot break that covenant and cancel God's promise. For if God's gift depends on the Law, then it no longer depends on his promise. However, it was because of his promise that God gave that gift to Abraham.
What, then, was the purpose of the Law? It was added in order to show what wrongdoing is, and it was meant to last until the coming of Abraham's descendant, to whom the promise was made. The Law was handed down by angels, with a man acting as a go-between. But a go-between is not needed when only one person is involved; and God is one.
Does this mean that the Law is against God's promises? No, not at all! For if human beings had received a law that could bring life, then everyone could be put right with God by obeying it. But the scripture says that the whole world is under the power of sin; and so the gift which is promised on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ is given to those who believe.
Silence is kept.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory
HOMILY
In today’s reading from his letter to the Galatians the apostle Paul explains why keeping the Law cannot put them right with God. The Law does not fulfill the promise that God made to Abraham. That promise is fulfilled in Jesus. All who believe in Jesus become descendants of Abraham and God’s children and heirs. Through their faith in Jesus, they are put right with God. God becomes their God.
The Law is also fulfilled in Jesus. He perfectly kept its requirements. Having been fulfilled, it passed away.
In his teaching Jesus emphasized the commandments that are called “moral. “Do not commit murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not accuse anyone falsely; respect your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Matthew 19:18–19) They are called “moral” because they relate to the standards for good or bad character and behavior in which Jesus’ disciples are not only expected believe but also by which they are expected to live.
In our time we use “moral” in a limited sense, relating to sexual behavior, but it has a broader application, referring to fairness, honesty, and the like. While we are not bound by the rules and regulations of the Mosaic Code as they relate to religious ritual, worship, and civil government, we are obligated to keep the “moral” commandments.
For us the Law shows us what wrongdoing is, where we “fall short” or “miss the mark.” Both terms are archery terms. When we shoot an arrow at a boss, a straw archery target, our arrow “falls short” when it does not reach the target. We “miss the mark” when our arrow goes wide of the target or hits only the edge of the target but does not strike the center of the target.
We fall short or miss the mark when we nurse feelings of dislike and hatred toward someone, entertain sexual desire for someone else’s spouse or partner and have sexual fantasies about them, represent a product falsely in order to sell it, gossip about someone and spread rumors about them, say something cruel to one of our parents, or exhibit no concern for other people’s troubles or do nothing to help them.
The Law shows us that we need a Savior, that we need Jesus.
In making a serious effort to obey the moral commandments, we express our love and trust in Jesus as we do when we seek in the same fashion to follow what else Jesus taught and exemplified. Just as an archer through constant practice and effort becomes skilled enough to hit the center of the target most of the time, we become become better disciples of Jesus.
Elsewhere in his letters Paul talks about putting on the new person as one puts on a garment. By “new person” Paul means the change that we begin to experience in our character when turn away from sin and trust in Jesus. We do not wait for someone to come and clothe us. We put on the garment ourselves. God will provide us with grace to live in a manner that pleases him, but we must open our hearts and minds to his grace and make use of it. The Holy Spirit may nudge us onto the right path and keep us on that path, but we on our part must pay attention to the Holy Spirit. We must keep in step with the Spirit.
Silence is kept.
SONG OF PRAISE
Open this link in a new tab to hear Kiran Young Wimberly’s adaptation of Psalm 67. “May God Be Gracious Unto Us.”
May God be gracious unto us
Make God’s face shine on to us
That your way be known on earth
And your power among all nations
Let the peoples praise you, God,
All the peoples praise you, God,
And be glad and sing for joy
Guide the peoples of all nations
God, our God, has blessed us kindly
Blessed us and sustained us kindly
God be gracious unto us
And God’s face shine on all nations
May God be gracious unto us
May God’s face shine on to us
God be gracious unto us
And God’s face shine on all nations
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
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
Most holy God,
the earth is filled with your glory,
and before you angels and saints stand in awe.
Enlarge our vision to see your power at work in the world,
and by your grace make us heralds of your Son,
Jesus Christ, Our Savior and Lord. Amen.
RESPONSE
Open this link in a new tab to hear Shirley Erena Murray’s “Go Gently, Go Lightly.”
Go gently, go lightly,
go safe in the Spirit,
live simply, don't carry
much more than you need:
go trusting God's goodness,
go spreading God's kindness,
stay centered on Jesus
and where he will lead.
Go singing, go bringing
the gifts of the Spirit,
go hopefully searching
for things that are true:
in living, in loving,
whatever befalls you,
God keep you, God bless you
in all that you do.
[Instrumental interlude]
Go gently, go lightly,
go safe in the Spirit,
live simply, don't carry
much more than you need:
go trusting God's goodness,
go spreading God's kindness,
stay centered on Jesus
and where he will lead.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
My friends, I am going to use an everyday example: when two people agree on a matter and sign an agreement, no one can break it or add anything to it. Now, God made his promises to Abraham and to his descendant. The scripture does not use the plural “descendants,” meaning many people, but the singular “descendant,” meaning one person only, namely, Christ. What I mean is that God made a covenant with Abraham and promised to keep it. The Law, which was given four hundred and thirty years later, cannot break that covenant and cancel God's promise. For if God's gift depends on the Law, then it no longer depends on his promise. However, it was because of his promise that God gave that gift to Abraham.
What, then, was the purpose of the Law? It was added in order to show what wrongdoing is, and it was meant to last until the coming of Abraham's descendant, to whom the promise was made. The Law was handed down by angels, with a man acting as a go-between. But a go-between is not needed when only one person is involved; and God is one.
Does this mean that the Law is against God's promises? No, not at all! For if human beings had received a law that could bring life, then everyone could be put right with God by obeying it. But the scripture says that the whole world is under the power of sin; and so the gift which is promised on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ is given to those who believe.
Silence is kept.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory
HOMILY
Missing the Mark
In today’s reading from his letter to the Galatians the apostle Paul explains why keeping the Law cannot put them right with God. The Law does not fulfill the promise that God made to Abraham. That promise is fulfilled in Jesus. All who believe in Jesus become descendants of Abraham and God’s children and heirs. Through their faith in Jesus, they are put right with God. God becomes their God.
The Law is also fulfilled in Jesus. He perfectly kept its requirements. Having been fulfilled, it passed away.
In his teaching Jesus emphasized the commandments that are called “moral. “Do not commit murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not accuse anyone falsely; respect your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Matthew 19:18–19) They are called “moral” because they relate to the standards for good or bad character and behavior in which Jesus’ disciples are not only expected believe but also by which they are expected to live.
In our time we use “moral” in a limited sense, relating to sexual behavior, but it has a broader application, referring to fairness, honesty, and the like. While we are not bound by the rules and regulations of the Mosaic Code as they relate to religious ritual, worship, and civil government, we are obligated to keep the “moral” commandments.
For us the Law shows us what wrongdoing is, where we “fall short” or “miss the mark.” Both terms are archery terms. When we shoot an arrow at a boss, a straw archery target, our arrow “falls short” when it does not reach the target. We “miss the mark” when our arrow goes wide of the target or hits only the edge of the target but does not strike the center of the target.
We fall short or miss the mark when we nurse feelings of dislike and hatred toward someone, entertain sexual desire for someone else’s spouse or partner and have sexual fantasies about them, represent a product falsely in order to sell it, gossip about someone and spread rumors about them, say something cruel to one of our parents, or exhibit no concern for other people’s troubles or do nothing to help them.
The Law shows us that we need a Savior, that we need Jesus.
In making a serious effort to obey the moral commandments, we express our love and trust in Jesus as we do when we seek in the same fashion to follow what else Jesus taught and exemplified. Just as an archer through constant practice and effort becomes skilled enough to hit the center of the target most of the time, we become become better disciples of Jesus.
Elsewhere in his letters Paul talks about putting on the new person as one puts on a garment. By “new person” Paul means the change that we begin to experience in our character when turn away from sin and trust in Jesus. We do not wait for someone to come and clothe us. We put on the garment ourselves. God will provide us with grace to live in a manner that pleases him, but we must open our hearts and minds to his grace and make use of it. The Holy Spirit may nudge us onto the right path and keep us on that path, but we on our part must pay attention to the Holy Spirit. We must keep in step with the Spirit.
Silence is kept.
SONG OF PRAISE
Open this link in a new tab to hear Kiran Young Wimberly’s adaptation of Psalm 67. “May God Be Gracious Unto Us.”
May God be gracious unto us
Make God’s face shine on to us
That your way be known on earth
And your power among all nations
Let the peoples praise you, God,
All the peoples praise you, God,
And be glad and sing for joy
Guide the peoples of all nations
God, our God, has blessed us kindly
Blessed us and sustained us kindly
God be gracious unto us
And God’s face shine on all nations
May God be gracious unto us
May God’s face shine on to us
God be gracious unto us
And God’s face shine on all nations
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
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
Most holy God,
the earth is filled with your glory,
and before you angels and saints stand in awe.
Enlarge our vision to see your power at work in the world,
and by your grace make us heralds of your Son,
Jesus Christ, Our Savior and Lord. Amen.
RESPONSE
Open this link in a new tab to hear Shirley Erena Murray’s “Go Gently, Go Lightly.”
Go gently, go lightly,
go safe in the Spirit,
live simply, don't carry
much more than you need:
go trusting God's goodness,
go spreading God's kindness,
stay centered on Jesus
and where he will lead.
Go singing, go bringing
the gifts of the Spirit,
go hopefully searching
for things that are true:
in living, in loving,
whatever befalls you,
God keep you, God bless you
in all that you do.
[Instrumental interlude]
Go gently, go lightly,
go safe in the Spirit,
live simply, don't carry
much more than you need:
go trusting God's goodness,
go spreading God's kindness,
stay centered on Jesus
and where he will lead.
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.
BLESSING
May God, Creator, bless us and keep us,
may Christ be ever light for our lives,
may the Spirit of love be our guide and path,
for all of our days. Amen.
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.
BLESSING
May God, Creator, bless us and keep us,
may Christ be ever light for our lives,
may the Spirit of love be our guide and path,
for all of our days. Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment