All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (April 30, 2022)
PROCLAMATION OF THE LIGHT
One or more candles may be lit.
Christ is risen!!
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!!
EVENING HYMN
Open this link in a new tab to hear John L. Bell and Graham Maule’s “Jesus Calls Us Here to Meet Him.”
Jesus calls us here to meet him
as, through word and song and prayer,
we affirm God‘s promised presence
where his people live and care.
Praise the God who keeps his promise;
praise the Son who calls us friends;
praise the Spirit who, among us,
to our hopes and fears attends.
Jesus calls us to confess him
Word of Life and Lord of All,
sharer of our flesh and frailness
saving all who fail or fall.
Tell his holy human story;
tell his tales that all may hear;
tell the world that Christ in glory
came to earth to meet us here.
Jesus calls us to each other,
vastly different though we are;
creed and colour, class and gender
Neither limit nor debar.
Join the hand of friend and stranger;
join the hands of age and youth;
join the faithful and the doubter
in their common search for truth.
Jesus calls us to his table
rooted firm in time and space,
where the Church in earth and heaven
finds a common meeting place.
Share the bread and wine, his body;
share the love of which we sing;
share the feast for saints and sinners
hosted by our Lord and King.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
We praise and thank you, O God our Father,
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him you have enlightened us
by revealing the light that never fades,
for dark death has been destroyed
and radiant life is everywhere restored.
What was promised is fulfilled:
we have been joined to God,
through renewed life in the Spirit of the risen Lord.
Glory and praise to you, our Father,
through Jesus your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Spirit,
in the kingdom of light eternal,
for ever and ever. Amen.
HYMN OF THE DAY
Open this link in a new tab to hear Brian Wren’s hymn, “Christ Is Alive! Let Christians Sing.”
Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.
The cross stands empty to the sky.
Let streets and homes with praises ring.
Love, drowned in death, shall never die.
Christ is alive! No longer bound
to distant years in Palestine,
but saving, healing, here and now,
and touching every place and time.
In every insult, rift and war,
where color, scorn or wealth divide,
Christ suffers still, yet loves the more,
and lives, where even hope has died.
Women and men, in age and youth,
can feel the Spirit, hear the call,
and find the way, the life, the truth,
revealed in Jesus, freed for all.
Christ is alive, and comes to bring
good news to this and every age,
till earth and sky and ocean ring
with joy, with justice, love and praise.
SCRIPTURE
Acts 9: 1-20 Saul’s Conversion
Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.
As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
“Who are you, lord?” Saul asked.
And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.
Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord!” he replied.
The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”
“But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”
But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength.
Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”
Silence is kept.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory
HOMILY
Agents of God's Love
If you hold a magnet or a lodestone, a piece of magnetic rock, close to the needle of a compass, it will swing toward the magnet or lodestone or away from it, depending upon its polarity. Remove the magnet or lodestone and the needle of the compass will once more point to the magnetic north. You can face in a new direction with the compass, but the needle will still point to the magnetic north.
Most of us did not have an experience like Saul’s in today’s reading, Acts 9: 1-20, a sudden, dramatic conversion. No blinding light. No voice from heaven.
We have experienced a gradual reorientation of our life, a gradual change in our life’s direction—away from the things of the world, not just toward spiritual things but toward Jesus.
Jesus has increasingly become more important to us—who is he, what he has done for us, his character, his teachings, and his example. Our lives like a compass needle have swung in the direction of the One who may be described as our spiritual magnetic north. While the things of the world still tug at us like magnets and loadstones, our lives now point toward Jesus.
God chooses different ways to draw different people to himself. The one thing that these different ways have in common is that they are God’s doing. It is God’s grace, his merciful kindness, his holy influence, that draws us to him. It is God’s grace that enables us to respond to the pull that God exerts on us.
The events of Saul’s conversion may not be the most important thing about this passage from the Acts of the Apostles. What may be far more important is what Saul had been doing before his conversion and what he would do after his conversion.
Saul had been persecuting Jesus’ followers and in doing so, Saul had been persecuting Jesus. There is an echo in this passage of Jesus’ words, “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’” (Matthew 25: 40 NLT) Those who treat Jesus’ followers with kindness do the same to Jesus. Those who are cruel to Jesus’ followers do the same to him too.
Among the implications is that, when we are unkind and unpleasant to our fellow Christians, to one another, we are also ill-treating Jesus. It is something that should cause us to stop and think about what we are doing or intending to do. It is good reason to give careful thought to what we are going to say or do before saying or doing it.
When Ananias voices reluctance to do what Jesus told him to do because Saul has done terrible things to Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem, Jesus tells him that Saul is his chosen instrument to take his message not just to the people of Israel but also to the Gentiles and to kings. This is also something that should cause us to think. Jesus has chosen to make his messenger a man who had been responsible for the death of his followers.
When Jesus calls us to follow him, he does not run a background check on us to make sure that we are squeaky clean. He calls us just as we are and then he gives us a makeover.
All whom Jesus calls, he calls to be his messengers to others, to be his representatives in the world. We are not just called to be the hands and feet of Jesus as we may sometimes hear. We are called to be his lips. We are called to have his mind, to have his heart. We are called to stand in for him, to continue his mission to the world, to be agents of God’s love.
Silence is kept.
SONG OF PRAISE
Open this link in a new tab to hear Rory Cooney’s adaptation of the Magnificat, “My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout.”
1 My soul cries out with a joyful shout
that the God of my heart is great,
and my spirit sings of the wondrous things
that you bring to the ones who wait.
You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight,
and my weakness you did not spurn,
so from east to west shall my name be blest.
Could the world be about to turn?
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn.
2 Though I am small, my God, my all,
you work great things in me,
and your mercy will last from the depths of the past
to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame,
and to those who would for you yearn,
you will show your might, put the strong to flight,
for the world is about to turn.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn.
3 From the halls of pow’r to the fortress tow’r,
not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for your justice tears
ev’ry tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more,
for the food they can never earn;
there are tables spread, ev’ry mouth be fed,
for the world is about to turn.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn.
4 Though the nations rage from age to age,
we remember who holds us fast:
God’s mercy must deliver us
from the conqueror’s crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard
is the promise which holds us bound,
till the spear and rod can be crushed by God,
who is turning the world around.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Periods of silence may be kept.
Heavenly Father,
you have promised to hear when we pray
in the name of your Son.
Therefore in confidence and trust
we pray for the Church:
(Particular intercessions/thanksgivings may be offered.)
Father, enliven the Church for its mission
that we may be salt of the earth and light to the world.
Breathe fresh life into your people.
Jesus has increasingly become more important to us—who is he, what he has done for us, his character, his teachings, and his example. Our lives like a compass needle have swung in the direction of the One who may be described as our spiritual magnetic north. While the things of the world still tug at us like magnets and loadstones, our lives now point toward Jesus.
God chooses different ways to draw different people to himself. The one thing that these different ways have in common is that they are God’s doing. It is God’s grace, his merciful kindness, his holy influence, that draws us to him. It is God’s grace that enables us to respond to the pull that God exerts on us.
The events of Saul’s conversion may not be the most important thing about this passage from the Acts of the Apostles. What may be far more important is what Saul had been doing before his conversion and what he would do after his conversion.
Saul had been persecuting Jesus’ followers and in doing so, Saul had been persecuting Jesus. There is an echo in this passage of Jesus’ words, “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’” (Matthew 25: 40 NLT) Those who treat Jesus’ followers with kindness do the same to Jesus. Those who are cruel to Jesus’ followers do the same to him too.
Among the implications is that, when we are unkind and unpleasant to our fellow Christians, to one another, we are also ill-treating Jesus. It is something that should cause us to stop and think about what we are doing or intending to do. It is good reason to give careful thought to what we are going to say or do before saying or doing it.
When Ananias voices reluctance to do what Jesus told him to do because Saul has done terrible things to Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem, Jesus tells him that Saul is his chosen instrument to take his message not just to the people of Israel but also to the Gentiles and to kings. This is also something that should cause us to think. Jesus has chosen to make his messenger a man who had been responsible for the death of his followers.
When Jesus calls us to follow him, he does not run a background check on us to make sure that we are squeaky clean. He calls us just as we are and then he gives us a makeover.
All whom Jesus calls, he calls to be his messengers to others, to be his representatives in the world. We are not just called to be the hands and feet of Jesus as we may sometimes hear. We are called to be his lips. We are called to have his mind, to have his heart. We are called to stand in for him, to continue his mission to the world, to be agents of God’s love.
Silence is kept.
SONG OF PRAISE
Open this link in a new tab to hear Rory Cooney’s adaptation of the Magnificat, “My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout.”
1 My soul cries out with a joyful shout
that the God of my heart is great,
and my spirit sings of the wondrous things
that you bring to the ones who wait.
You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight,
and my weakness you did not spurn,
so from east to west shall my name be blest.
Could the world be about to turn?
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn.
2 Though I am small, my God, my all,
you work great things in me,
and your mercy will last from the depths of the past
to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame,
and to those who would for you yearn,
you will show your might, put the strong to flight,
for the world is about to turn.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn.
3 From the halls of pow’r to the fortress tow’r,
not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for your justice tears
ev’ry tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more,
for the food they can never earn;
there are tables spread, ev’ry mouth be fed,
for the world is about to turn.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn.
4 Though the nations rage from age to age,
we remember who holds us fast:
God’s mercy must deliver us
from the conqueror’s crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard
is the promise which holds us bound,
till the spear and rod can be crushed by God,
who is turning the world around.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Periods of silence may be kept.
Heavenly Father,
you have promised to hear when we pray
in the name of your Son.
Therefore in confidence and trust
we pray for the Church:
(Particular intercessions/thanksgivings may be offered.)
Father, enliven the Church for its mission
that we may be salt of the earth and light to the world.
Breathe fresh life into your people.
Give us power to reveal Christ in word and action.
We pray for the world:
(Particular intercessions/thanksgivings may be offered.)
Creator of all,
lead us and every people into ways of justice and peace.
That we may respect one another in freedom and truth.
Awaken in us a sense of wonder for the earth and all that is in it.
Teach us to care creatively for its resources.
We pray for the community:
(Particular intercessions/thanksgivings may be offered.)
God of truth, inspire with your wisdom
those whose decisions affect the lives of others
that all may act with integrity and courage.
Give grace to all whose lives are linked with ours.
May we serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.
We pray for those in need:
(Particular intercessions/thanksgivings may be offered.)
God of hope, comfort and restore
all who suffer in body, mind or spirit.
God of hope, comfort and restore
all who suffer in body, mind or spirit.
May they know the power of your healing love.
Make us willing agents of your compassion.
Strengthen us as we share in making people whole.
We remember those who have died and those who mourn:
(Particular intercessions/thanksgivings may be offered.)
We remember with thanksgiving those who have died in the faith
of Christ, and those whose faith is known to you alone.
Father, into your hands we commend them.
Give comfort to those who mourn.
Bring them peace in their time of loss.
We praise you for (N and) all your saints
who have entered your eternal glory.
May their example inspire and encourage us.
We pray for ourselves and our ministries:
(Particular intercessions/thanksgivings may be offered and the prayers
conclude with the following.)
Lord, you have called us to serve you.
Grant that we may walk in your presence:
your love in our hearts,
your truth in our minds,
your strength in our wills;
until, at the end of our journey,
we know the joy of our homecoming
and the welcome of your embrace,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Collect
O God,
your Son made himself known to his disciples
in the breaking of bread.
Open the eyes of our faith,
that we may see him in his redeeming work,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen
RESPONSE
Open this link in a new tab to hear Tony Alonso’s “God Sends Us Forth.”
God sends us forth to love and serve,
make known God’s name and live God’s word,
mirror God’s love and reflect God’s grace
till all have seen the Savior’s face.
Nourished by Christ with word and bread;
burning with love and Spirit led,
sent to embrace the world in need,
to make God known in word and deed.
Called to the ones the world ignores—
hungry and thirsty, weak and poor—
let us be Christ who heals all pain
and comforts those with guilt or shame.
So, with the cross to lead the way,
let us go forth in peace today
till ev’ry end of earth has known
the saving love of God alone.
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 Christ who out of defeat brings new hope and new alternatives, bring us new life
and the blessing of God our Creator, Redeemer and Giver of life be with us always. Amen.
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