All Hallows Evening Prayer for Wednesday Evening (April 20, 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 John MacLeod Campbell Crum’s “Now the Green Blade Riseth.”
1 Now the green blade riseth, from the buried grain,
Wheat that in dark earth many days has lain;
Love lives again, that with the dead has been:
Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.
2 In the grave they laid Him, Love whom men had slain,
Thinking that never He would awake again,
Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen:
Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.
3 Forth He came at Easter, like the risen grain,
He that for three days in the grave had lain;
Quick from the dead my risen Lord is seen:
Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.
4 When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain,
Thy touch can call us back to life again,
Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been:
Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.
SCRIPTURE
1 Peter 1: 13-25 A Call to Holy Living
So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.
Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.
You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.
For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. As the Scriptures say,
“People are like grass;
their beauty is like a flower in the field.
The grass withers and the flower fades.
But the word of the Lord remains forever.”
And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.
Silence is kept.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory
HOMILY
Deeply with All Your Heart
Peter was one of Jesus’ earliest disciples. He was a member of the inner circle of Jesus’ followers. He heard Jesus’ teaching. He witnessed Jesus’ miracles. He recognized Jesus as the Messiah. And on the night of Jesus’ arrest, he denied Jesus three times to his own shame.
While Peter refused to admit that he had any connection with Jesus on the night of Jesus’ betrayal, Jesus, when he rose from the dead, did not deny Peter. Rather he bade Peter to carry on his own mission to the world. Jesus did not let Peter’s denial affect his love for Peter.
In today’s reading, 1 Peter 1:13-24, Peter reiterates the new commandment which Jesus gave to his disciples. “Love each other deeply with all your heart.”
Considering all that Jesus has done for us, Peter tells us, we cannot make a pretense of loving one another. We must show a sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. We must treat each other with grace and kindness.
It may be difficult for us to love a particular fellow Christian because of what they may have said or done to us. We, however, are expected to love them as Jesus loves us. Our relationship with them may not be an easy one, but we must, as Peter points to our attention, love them deeply with all our heart.
In practice it means that we must set our heart on loving them and not change our minds. They may cause us anguish, disappointment, heartache, and sorrow, but we keep on loving them.
By the standards of the world such love is foolishness. The world would tell us to move on. They are not worth the trouble.
Jesus does not give us that option. They are our dear brother or sister. As he loved us, we are to love them. He loved us by dying on a cross. He loved us by lying in a borrowed tomb for three days. He loved us by rising from the dead. He loves us, providing us with an unimaginable abundance of grace and sending us the Holy Spirit, God himself indwelling us.
One of the ways that we can show our gratitude for all Jesus had done for us is to let go of any reservations regarding loving our brothers and sisters in Christ and any negative feelings toward them, which we have, and treat them with the grace and kindness that God treats us.
It may be difficult for us to love a particular fellow Christian because of what they may have said or done to us. We, however, are expected to love them as Jesus loves us. Our relationship with them may not be an easy one, but we must, as Peter points to our attention, love them deeply with all our heart.
In practice it means that we must set our heart on loving them and not change our minds. They may cause us anguish, disappointment, heartache, and sorrow, but we keep on loving them.
By the standards of the world such love is foolishness. The world would tell us to move on. They are not worth the trouble.
Jesus does not give us that option. They are our dear brother or sister. As he loved us, we are to love them. He loved us by dying on a cross. He loved us by lying in a borrowed tomb for three days. He loved us by rising from the dead. He loves us, providing us with an unimaginable abundance of grace and sending us the Holy Spirit, God himself indwelling us.
One of the ways that we can show our gratitude for all Jesus had done for us is to let go of any reservations regarding loving our brothers and sisters in Christ and any negative feelings toward them, which we have, and treat them with the grace and kindness that God treats us.
We don’t have to give them a body hug whenever we see them. However, we can acknowledge their presence, give them a welcoming smile, say a kind word or two. It may make our relationship with them easier. It may not. But we have done the right thing and that is what matters most.
Silence is kept.
SONG OF PRAISE
Open this link in a new tab to hear Rory Cooney's adaptation of the Magnificat, " MySoul 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
SONG OF PRAISE
Open this link in a new tab to hear Rory Cooney's adaptation of the Magnificat, " MySoul 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.
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
Jesus Christ our Saviour,
you have delivered us from sin and death.
You have brought with the dawn
a new beginning and an empty tomb;
grant us strength and humility
to enter into life.
Hear this prayer for your love’s sake.
Amen.
RESPONSE
Open this link in a new tab to hear John L. Bell's "Love One Another"
Love one another for love is of God,
Those who live in love,
Live in God and God lives in them.
Love one another for love is of God,
Those who live in love,
Live in God and God lives in them.
Those who show love are the children of God,
Father and mother is God to each of them.
Love one another for love is of God,
Those who live in love,
Live in God and God lives in them.
Love one another for love is of God,
Those who live in love,
Live in God and God lives in them.
God showed his love in the face of the Son;
Christ lives in us so that we might live in him.
Love one another for love is of God,
Those who live in love,
Live in God and God lives in them.
Love one another for love is of God,
Those who live in love,
Live in God and God lives in them.
Love has no place for the menace of fear;
Fear is abandoned where perfect love is found.
Love one another for love is of God,
Those who live in love,
Live in God and God lives in them.
Love one another for love is of God,
Those who live in love,
Live in God and God lives in them.
Love has its purpose in God's holy will;
We learn to love from the one who loved us first.
Love one another for love is of God,
Those who live in love,
Live in God and God lives in them.
Love one another for love is of God,
Those who live in love,
Live in God and God lives in them.
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.
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.
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
Jesus Christ our Saviour,
you have delivered us from sin and death.
You have brought with the dawn
a new beginning and an empty tomb;
grant us strength and humility
to enter into life.
Hear this prayer for your love’s sake.
Amen.
RESPONSE
Open this link in a new tab to hear John L. Bell's "Love One Another"
Love one another for love is of God,
Those who live in love,
Live in God and God lives in them.
Love one another for love is of God,
Those who live in love,
Live in God and God lives in them.
Those who show love are the children of God,
Father and mother is God to each of them.
Love one another for love is of God,
Those who live in love,
Live in God and God lives in them.
Love one another for love is of God,
Those who live in love,
Live in God and God lives in them.
God showed his love in the face of the Son;
Christ lives in us so that we might live in him.
Love one another for love is of God,
Those who live in love,
Live in God and God lives in them.
Love one another for love is of God,
Those who live in love,
Live in God and God lives in them.
Love has no place for the menace of fear;
Fear is abandoned where perfect love is found.
Love one another for love is of God,
Those who live in love,
Live in God and God lives in them.
Love one another for love is of God,
Those who live in love,
Live in God and God lives in them.
Love has its purpose in God's holy will;
We learn to love from the one who loved us first.
Love one another for love is of God,
Those who live in love,
Live in God and God lives in them.
Love one another for love is of God,
Those who live in love,
Live in God and God lives in them.
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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