All Hallows Evening Prayer for Wednesday Evening (September 7, 2022)
PROCLAMATION OF THE LIGHT
One or more candles may be lit.Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Colossians 4: 5
EVENING HYMN
Open this link in a new tab to hear F. Bland Tucker’s translation of the Phos hilaron, “O Gracious Light, Lord Jesus Christ.”
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 Holy Ghost
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.
PRAYER OF 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!
Your word brings on the dusk of evening,
your wisdom creates both night and day.
You determine the cycles of time,
arrange the succession of seasons,
and establish the stars in their heavenly courses.
Lord of the starry hosts is your name.
Living and eternal God, rule over us always.
Blessed be the Lord, whose word makes evening fall. Amen.
HYMN OF THE DAY
Open this link in a new tab to hear Marty Haugen’s adaptation of the Prayer of St. Francis, “Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace.”
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love;
where there is injury, let me bring pardon;
where there is doubting, let me bring faith.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is despairing, let me bring hope;
where there is darkness, let me bring light;
where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
O Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
For it is giving that we receive;
and it is pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is dying that we are born.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
SCRIPTURE
Colossians 4: 2-6 An Encouragement for Prayer
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.
Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.
Silence
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory
HOMILY
Paul dictated his letter to the Colossians from the lowest levels of Rome’s grimmest prison, a dungeon from which few left alive. In all likelihood he never again saw the light of day and was executed in its depths.
In the closing passages of the letter, he gives advice on the right attitude with which Christians should approach prayer and asks for prayer for himself, not for his release from prison, but for many opportunities to speak about God’s plan of salvation and for his words to be clear and easy-to-understand. Paul also gives advice on how followers of Jesus should live among those who, unlike them, do not believe in Jesus.
Today’s reading, Colossians 4: 2-6, prompted me to wonder whether our prayers benefit believers and others who lived in the past. God does not exist in time and space like we do. The past, the present, and the future are one and the same to him. Whatever we choose to believe. Paul’s advice on how we should approach prayer is as valid today as it was in the remaining days of Paul’s life. When we pray, we should devote ourselves to prayer with a mind which is alert and a heart which is thankful. From my own experience I can attest that it is difficult to pray when we are falling asleep and are struggling to keep our eyes open. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus urged his disciples to watch and pray, but the hour was late and they fell asleep.
I can also attest that it is much easier to pray when we are thankful for the mercies that God as shown us in the past. They are a reminder of his goodness and give the ring of truth to Jesus’ words that if we who are evil are kind and generous to our children, how much more so will God be kind and generous to us.
An alert mind and a thankful heart also enable us to pray expectantly, trusting that God will hear our prayers and answer them.
We should pray for opportunities to share the good news with others and for words that clear and easy-to-understand, not just for pastors and local preachers but for ourselves too.
In his advice on how to live in an unbelieving world Paul echoes a principle of kingdom work that Jesus himself laid down: “….be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16 NLT). We should use our knowledge and experience to make good decisions and judgments, and we should use as much as possible the opportunities that come our way.
If the internet and social media are anything to go by many of us do not heed Paul’s advice to be gracious and attractive in our conversations. We are ungracious and unpleasant not only with non-believers but also our fellow Christians. We have not learned to season our words with salt so as to give them savor. We are far from pleasant, kind, and polite in how we speak. Instead, we are argumentative and belligerent, and we put non-believers off. We are not living wisely among those who do not yet believe as Paul urges us to do.
Making a personal commitment to put Paul’s advice into practice and to ask God for the help of the Holy Spirit are two things that we may wish to do correct this situation. We may wish to ask God to make us less prickly Christians, and to enable us to be kinder and more respectful toward non-believers and to be more consideration of their feelings.
Papering non-believers with flyers and tracts and shouting at them through bullhorns is not going to gain a hearing for good news from them. Rather they are going to pull away from us. We can hardly blame them.
Silence
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Let us affirm our faith in the words of the Apostles Creed.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.
SONG OF PRAISE
Open this link in a new tab to hear David Haas’ adaptation of the Magnificat, “Holy Is His Name.”
My soul is filled with joy
as I sing to God my savior;
you have looked upon your servant,
you have visited your people.
And holy is your name.
through all generations!
Everlasting is your mercy
to the people you have chosen,
and holy is your name!
I am lowly as a child,
but I know from this day forward
that my name will be remembered,
for all will call me blessed.
And holy is your name.
through all generations!
Everlasting is your mercy
to the people you have chosen,
and holy is your name!
I proclaim the pow’r of God,
you do marvels for your servants;
though you scatter the proud hearted
and destroy the might of princes.
And holy is your name.
through all generations!
Everlasting is your mercy
to the people you have chosen,
and holy is your name!
To the hungry you give food,
Send the rich away empty;
In your mercy you are mindful
of the people you have chosen.
And holy is your name.
through all generations!
Everlasting is your mercy
to the people you have chosen,
and holy is your name!
In your love you now fulfill
what you promised to your people
I will praise you, Lord my savior
everlasting is your mercy.
And holy is your name.
through all generations!
Everlasting is your mercy
to the people you have chosen,
and holy is your name!
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
(Let us offer our prayers to the source of all love and all life, saying, “Lord, hear our prayer.”)
Merciful Lord, we pray for all who call themselves Christians: that we may be faithful disciples of your Son Jesus Christ.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for N our pastor, for all pastors, and for all who serve Christ in his Church: that they may remain faithful to their calling and rightly proclaim the word of truth.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love;
where there is injury, let me bring pardon;
where there is doubting, let me bring faith.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is despairing, let me bring hope;
where there is darkness, let me bring light;
where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
O Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
For it is giving that we receive;
and it is pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is dying that we are born.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
SCRIPTURE
Colossians 4: 2-6 An Encouragement for Prayer
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.
Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.
Silence
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory
HOMILY
Living in an Unbelieving World
Paul dictated his letter to the Colossians from the lowest levels of Rome’s grimmest prison, a dungeon from which few left alive. In all likelihood he never again saw the light of day and was executed in its depths.
In the closing passages of the letter, he gives advice on the right attitude with which Christians should approach prayer and asks for prayer for himself, not for his release from prison, but for many opportunities to speak about God’s plan of salvation and for his words to be clear and easy-to-understand. Paul also gives advice on how followers of Jesus should live among those who, unlike them, do not believe in Jesus.
Today’s reading, Colossians 4: 2-6, prompted me to wonder whether our prayers benefit believers and others who lived in the past. God does not exist in time and space like we do. The past, the present, and the future are one and the same to him. Whatever we choose to believe. Paul’s advice on how we should approach prayer is as valid today as it was in the remaining days of Paul’s life. When we pray, we should devote ourselves to prayer with a mind which is alert and a heart which is thankful. From my own experience I can attest that it is difficult to pray when we are falling asleep and are struggling to keep our eyes open. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus urged his disciples to watch and pray, but the hour was late and they fell asleep.
I can also attest that it is much easier to pray when we are thankful for the mercies that God as shown us in the past. They are a reminder of his goodness and give the ring of truth to Jesus’ words that if we who are evil are kind and generous to our children, how much more so will God be kind and generous to us.
An alert mind and a thankful heart also enable us to pray expectantly, trusting that God will hear our prayers and answer them.
We should pray for opportunities to share the good news with others and for words that clear and easy-to-understand, not just for pastors and local preachers but for ourselves too.
In his advice on how to live in an unbelieving world Paul echoes a principle of kingdom work that Jesus himself laid down: “….be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16 NLT). We should use our knowledge and experience to make good decisions and judgments, and we should use as much as possible the opportunities that come our way.
If the internet and social media are anything to go by many of us do not heed Paul’s advice to be gracious and attractive in our conversations. We are ungracious and unpleasant not only with non-believers but also our fellow Christians. We have not learned to season our words with salt so as to give them savor. We are far from pleasant, kind, and polite in how we speak. Instead, we are argumentative and belligerent, and we put non-believers off. We are not living wisely among those who do not yet believe as Paul urges us to do.
Making a personal commitment to put Paul’s advice into practice and to ask God for the help of the Holy Spirit are two things that we may wish to do correct this situation. We may wish to ask God to make us less prickly Christians, and to enable us to be kinder and more respectful toward non-believers and to be more consideration of their feelings.
Papering non-believers with flyers and tracts and shouting at them through bullhorns is not going to gain a hearing for good news from them. Rather they are going to pull away from us. We can hardly blame them.
Silence
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Let us affirm our faith in the words of the Apostles Creed.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.
SONG OF PRAISE
Open this link in a new tab to hear David Haas’ adaptation of the Magnificat, “Holy Is His Name.”
My soul is filled with joy
as I sing to God my savior;
you have looked upon your servant,
you have visited your people.
And holy is your name.
through all generations!
Everlasting is your mercy
to the people you have chosen,
and holy is your name!
I am lowly as a child,
but I know from this day forward
that my name will be remembered,
for all will call me blessed.
And holy is your name.
through all generations!
Everlasting is your mercy
to the people you have chosen,
and holy is your name!
I proclaim the pow’r of God,
you do marvels for your servants;
though you scatter the proud hearted
and destroy the might of princes.
And holy is your name.
through all generations!
Everlasting is your mercy
to the people you have chosen,
and holy is your name!
To the hungry you give food,
Send the rich away empty;
In your mercy you are mindful
of the people you have chosen.
And holy is your name.
through all generations!
Everlasting is your mercy
to the people you have chosen,
and holy is your name!
In your love you now fulfill
what you promised to your people
I will praise you, Lord my savior
everlasting is your mercy.
And holy is your name.
through all generations!
Everlasting is your mercy
to the people you have chosen,
and holy is your name!
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
(Let us offer our prayers to the source of all love and all life, saying, “Lord, hear our prayer.”)
Merciful Lord, we pray for all who call themselves Christians: that we may be faithful disciples of your Son Jesus Christ.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for N our pastor, for all pastors, and for all who serve Christ in his Church: that they may remain faithful to their calling and rightly proclaim the word of truth.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for the leaders of the nations, and all in authority: that your people may lead quiet and peaceable lives.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for our community and those who live here, the poor and the rich, the elderly and the young, men and women: that you will show your favor and goodwill to all.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who are in any kind of trouble or need that you will deliver them from their distress.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for _______________________.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We give thanks for all the saints who have found favor in your sight from earliest times, prophets, apostles, martyrs, and those whose names are known to you alone: and we pray that we too may be counted among your faithful witnesses.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Free Prayer
In silent or spontaneous prayer all bring before God the concerns of the day.
The Collect
Servant God,
grant us opportunity,
give us willingness
to serve you day by day;
that what we do
and how we bear each other’s burdens,
may be our sacrifice to you.
Hear this prayer for your love’s sake.
Amen.
RESPONSE
Open this link in a new tab Fernado Ortaga’s setting of the Trisagion, “Holy God.”
Holy God,
holy and mighty,
holy immortal one
have mercy
have mercy on us.
Holy God,
holy and mighty,
holy immortal one
have mercy
have mercy on us.
Holy God,
holy and mighty,
holy immortal one
have mercy
have mercy
have mercy
have mercy
have mercy on us.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
As our Savior taught his disciples,
we pray:
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
The blessing of God,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
remain with us always. Amen.
We pray for the leaders of the nations, and all in authority: that your people may lead quiet and peaceable lives.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for our community and those who live here, the poor and the rich, the elderly and the young, men and women: that you will show your favor and goodwill to all.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who are in any kind of trouble or need that you will deliver them from their distress.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for _______________________.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We give thanks for all the saints who have found favor in your sight from earliest times, prophets, apostles, martyrs, and those whose names are known to you alone: and we pray that we too may be counted among your faithful witnesses.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Free Prayer
In silent or spontaneous prayer all bring before God the concerns of the day.
The Collect
Servant God,
grant us opportunity,
give us willingness
to serve you day by day;
that what we do
and how we bear each other’s burdens,
may be our sacrifice to you.
Hear this prayer for your love’s sake.
Amen.
RESPONSE
Open this link in a new tab Fernado Ortaga’s setting of the Trisagion, “Holy God.”
Holy God,
holy and mighty,
holy immortal one
have mercy
have mercy on us.
Holy God,
holy and mighty,
holy immortal one
have mercy
have mercy on us.
Holy God,
holy and mighty,
holy immortal one
have mercy
have mercy
have mercy
have mercy
have mercy on us.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
As our Savior taught his disciples,
we pray:
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
The blessing of God,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
remain with us always. Amen.
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