All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (October 8, 2022)
THE BLESSING OF THE LIGHT
A lamp or candle may be lit. The Lord is my light and my salvation:
my God shall make my darkness to be bright.
The light and peace of Jesus Christ be with you
and also with you.
Blessed are you, Lord God, creator of day and night:
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As darkness falls you renew your promise
to reveal among us the light of your presence.
By the light of Christ, your living Word,
dispel the darkness of our hearts
that we may walk as children of light
and sing your praise throughout the world.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God for ever.
Other candles may be lit as the following is sung.
Open this link in a new tab to hear William George Storey’s translation of the Phos hilaron, “O Radiant Light, O Sun Divine.”
1 O radiant light, O sun divine,
Of God the Father's deathless face,
O image of the light sublime
That fills the heav'nly dwelling place.
2 O Son of God, the source of life,
Praise is your due by night and day.
Our happy lips must raise the strain
of your esteem'd and splendid name.
3 Lord Jesus Christ, as daylight fades,
As shine the lights of eventide,
We praise the Father with the Son,
The Spirit blest and with them one.
As Psalm 141 — A Song of the Evening Sacrifice ,is sung, incense may be burned.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Peter Inwood’s setting of Psalm 141, “O Lord, Let My Prayer Rise Before You Like Incense.”
O Lord, let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.
1. Lord, I am calling:
hasten to help me.
Listen to me as I cry to you.
Let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.
O Lord, let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.
2. Lord, set a guard at my mouth,
keep watch at the gate of my lips.
Let my heart not turn to things that are wrong,
to sharing the evil deeds done by the sinful.
No, I will never taste their delights.
O Lord, let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.
3. The good may reprove me,
in kindness chastise me,
but the wicked shall never anoint my head.
Ev’ry day I counter their malice with prayer.
O Lord, let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.
4 To you, Lord, my God, my eyes are turned:
in you I take refuge;
do not forsake me.
Keep me from the traps they have set for me,
from the snares of those who do evil.
O Lord, let my prayer rise before you like incense,
my hands like an evening offering.
5 Praise to the Father, praise to the Son,
all praise to the life-giving Spirit.
As it was, is now and shall always be
for ages unending. Amen.
O Lord, let my prayer rise before you as incense,
my hands like an evening offering.
This opening prayer is said.
That this evening may be holy, good and peaceful,
let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence is kept.
As our evening prayer rises before you, O God,
so may your mercy come down upon us
to cleanse our hearts
and set us free to sing your praise
now and for ever.
Amen.
THE WORD OF GOD
PSALMODY
Open this link in a new tab to hear Karen Young Wimberly’s version of Psalm 139, "You Have Searched Me and Know Me."
You have searched me and known me, Holy Lord;
Know when I sit and rise
You’re acquainted with my ways
Where I go and where I lie
You know each word completely,
before I speak it, Lord
You lay your hand upon me;
hem me in behind, before
Where can I flee from your spirit;
Or from your presence go?
If I rise up to the heavens,
Or descend to the depths below
If I take the wings of the dawn to
the far side of the sea,
Even there, your hand will hold me fast,
your right hand will guide me.
For you formed my inmost being,
within my mother’s womb
When I dwelt within that secret place,
I was not hid from you
You ordained that the days before me
be filled with love and grace,
Made me beautiful and wonderful,
for this I give you praise
How precious is your every thought,
how vast the sum of them
Though I try to count them,
they are more than every grain of sand
O that you would pull down the ones who
do harm and seek to gain
My heart is heavy and I long
for goodness and love to reign
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
know every anxious thought
And lead me on the path of
your everlasting way.
Silence is kept.
Creator God,
may every breath we take be for your glory,
may every footstep show you as our way,
that, trusting in your presence in this world,
we may, beyond this life, still be with you
where you are alive and reign
for ever and ever. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT CANTICLE
Open this link in a new tab to hear Jessica Greedy’s version of the magna et mirabilia, “Great and Marvelous Are All Your Deeds.”
Great and marvelous are all your deeds
Lord our God Almighty.
Just and true are all your ways and
You are King throughout all ages,
Throughout all ages.
We your people now proclaim You
And sing your glorious praise:
(Women) Blessing and honor,
glory and power
(Men) Blessing, honor, glory, power
(All) Be to our God, forever
(Women) Blessing and honor,
glory and power
(Men) Blessing, honor, glory, power
the far side of the sea,
Even there, your hand will hold me fast,
your right hand will guide me.
For you formed my inmost being,
within my mother’s womb
When I dwelt within that secret place,
I was not hid from you
You ordained that the days before me
be filled with love and grace,
Made me beautiful and wonderful,
for this I give you praise
How precious is your every thought,
how vast the sum of them
Though I try to count them,
they are more than every grain of sand
O that you would pull down the ones who
do harm and seek to gain
My heart is heavy and I long
for goodness and love to reign
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
know every anxious thought
And lead me on the path of
your everlasting way.
Silence is kept.
Creator God,
may every breath we take be for your glory,
may every footstep show you as our way,
that, trusting in your presence in this world,
we may, beyond this life, still be with you
where you are alive and reign
for ever and ever. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT CANTICLE
Open this link in a new tab to hear Jessica Greedy’s version of the magna et mirabilia, “Great and Marvelous Are All Your Deeds.”
Great and marvelous are all your deeds
Lord our God Almighty.
Just and true are all your ways and
You are King throughout all ages,
Throughout all ages.
We your people now proclaim You
And sing your glorious praise:
(Women) Blessing and honor,
glory and power
(Men) Blessing, honor, glory, power
(All) Be to our God, forever
(Women) Blessing and honor,
glory and power
(Men) Blessing, honor, glory, power
(All) Be to our God, forever
Amen!
Who will not fear You, O Lord,
and bring glory to your Name?
You are Holy.
All the nations will bow down
and worship at your Throne,
your glorious Throne.
We your people now proclaim You,
And sing your glorious praise:
(Women) Blessing and honor,
glory and power
(Men) Blessing, honor, glory, power
(All) Be to our God, forever
(Women) Blessing and honor,
glory and power
(Men) Blessing, honor, glory, power
(All) Be to our God, forever
(Women) Blessing and honor,
glory and gower
(Men) Blessing, honor, glory, power
(All) Be to our God, forever
Amen!
Silence is kept.
SCRIPTURE READING
2 Timothy 2:8–15 Paul exhorts Timothy to be a good worker
Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.
This is a trustworthy saying:
If we die with him,
we will also live with him.
If we endure hardship,
we will reign with him.
If we deny him,
he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny who he is.
Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God’s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.
Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.
Silence is kept.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory
HOMILY
In this day and age, we fight over more than words. We fight over just about everything—doctrine, practices, race, immigration, public health measures, sexual morality, gender, politics. If it something on which people can take more than one side, we fight about it. The Church may have never been more divided than it is now.
In his letter to the Galatians Paul associates hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, and the like with following the desires of our sinful natures. As Paul draws to Timothy’s attention such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.
The truth is that they can do more than that. They can damage our witness in the world to the point that we lose all credibility. Our church may acquire the reputation of a church whose members are always fighting with each other or fighting with the members of other churches.
Instead of showing to those outside the church and to those inside what Jesus said would be the mark that set his disciples apart—love for one another, we show that we are no different from other people. Whatever face we paint on it, we are doing the wrong thing, and only harm can from it in the long term.
This is not to say that Christians cannot have honest disagreements over important matters, but it does mean that we should avoid trying to make the person with who we disagree seem as if they are evil or have evil motives; criticizing them in such a way as to doubt their character or to damage their reputation; saying bad things about them to influence other people’s opinion of them; not telling the truth; and saying hateful and unkind things about them.
We certainly should not indulge in the bile that can heard from some church pulpits or the feelings of anger, hatred, and ill-will that are too often voiced on the internet by individuals who claim to be Christians, much less dismiss the humanity of those with whom we disagree and entertain thoughts of completely exterminating them from the face of the earth. We have entered a time of history when some of the worst characteristics in human nature are reasserting themselves.
Imposing our beliefs and values on others by force is not what our Lord taught. Devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ and obedience to his words and example comes from within and not from without. The kingdom of God cannot be spread by acts of violence. It spreads as our Lord occupies his rightful place in our hearts, as we turn away from sin and turn to him.
Those who seek to wed what is a distortion of the Christian faith to an ideology of hatred will do tremendous injury to orthodox Christianity in this country and other parts of the world. It is something that we might expect to come from the imagination of the evil one. What better way to do harm to Christ’s Church on earth than to further destroy its reputation.
In our human weakness and sinfulness, we are already drawing attention away from what good Christ’s Church does in the world. We may go to church. We listen to contemporary Christian and praise and worship music in our car and at home. We may regularly receive the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. But we do not live as people—to borrow the words of the late Queen Elizabeth—“guided by the message and teaching of Christ.” Rather our words and actions show the strong influence of the world.
As more than one young person has observed, the Christians that they know would likely hang out together if they did not go to church together. They have a lot in common, but it was not obeying Jesus as their Lord and following his teaching and example.
Jesus, however, is not some wise teacher who lived a long time ago and whose life and teaching we can emulate as we choose. Jesus is our living Lord. He rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of Father in heaven. We may not see him or touch him, but he is present with us to the end of the age as he promised.
If we are fully dedicated to being his disciple, we will want to do what he expects from us. It would our number one priority in this life. We would be walking as closely in his ways as we can, enabled by God’s grace, by the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. Rather than quarreling with our fellow Christians and tearing them down, we would be building each other up, encouraging and strengthening each other.
That’s what Paul in his letters always urged those to whom he wrote to do. Build each other up. Encourage and strengthen each other. Live a life of love, following Christ’s example.
Silence is kept.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Open this link in a new tab to hear Owen Alstott’s “Luke 1: My Soul Rejoices.”
My soul rejoices in God, my Saviour.
My spirit finds joy in God, the living God.
My soul proclaims your mighty deeds.
My spirit sings the greatness of your name.
My soul rejoices in God, my Saviour.
My spirit finds joy in God, the living God.
Your mercy flows throughout the land
and ev’ry generation knows your love.
My soul rejoices in God, my Saviour.
My spirit finds joy in God, the living God.
You cast the mighty from their thrones
and raise the poor and lowly to new life.
My soul rejoices in God, my Saviour.
My spirit finds joy in God, the living God.
You fill the hungry with good things.
With empty hands you send the rich away.
My soul rejoices in God, my Saviour.
My spirit finds joy in God, the living God.
Just as you promised Abraham,
You come to free your people, Israel.
My soul rejoices in God, my Saviour.
My spirit finds joy in God, the living God.
PRAYERS
(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
God of compassion,
deepen and increase our love for you
so that we may leave behind the sins
from which you have redeemed us,
and serve you in perfect freedom.
Hear this prayer for your love’s sake.
Amen.
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.
CLOSING SONG
Open this link in a new tab to hear Reginald Hebert’s “God, Who Made the Earth and Heaven.”
1 God, who made the earth and heaven,
darkness and light:
you the day for work have given,
for rest the night.
May your angel guards defend us,
slumber sweet your mercy send us,
holy dreams and hopes attend us
all through the night.
2 And when morn again shall call us
to run life's way,
may we still, whate'er befall us,
your will obey.
From the pow'r of evil hide us,
in the narrow pathway guide us,
never be your smile denied us
all through the day.
*3 Guard us waking, guard us sleeping,
and, when we die,
may we in your mighty keeping
all peaceful lie.
When the last dread call shall wake us,
then, O Lord, do not forsake us,
but to reign in glory take us
with you on high.
4 Holy Father, throned in heaven,
all-holy Son,
Holy Spirit, freely given,
blest Three in One:
grant us grace, we now implore you,
till we lay our crowns before you
and in worthier strains adore you
while ages run.
Alleluia! Amen!
Alleluia! Amen!
*Omitted on the video.
THE CONCLUSION
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God, and the fellowship of
the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore.
Amen.
Amen!
Who will not fear You, O Lord,
and bring glory to your Name?
You are Holy.
All the nations will bow down
and worship at your Throne,
your glorious Throne.
We your people now proclaim You,
And sing your glorious praise:
(Women) Blessing and honor,
glory and power
(Men) Blessing, honor, glory, power
(All) Be to our God, forever
(Women) Blessing and honor,
glory and power
(Men) Blessing, honor, glory, power
(All) Be to our God, forever
(Women) Blessing and honor,
glory and gower
(Men) Blessing, honor, glory, power
(All) Be to our God, forever
Amen!
Silence is kept.
SCRIPTURE READING
2 Timothy 2:8–15 Paul exhorts Timothy to be a good worker
Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.
This is a trustworthy saying:
If we die with him,
we will also live with him.
If we endure hardship,
we will reign with him.
If we deny him,
he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny who he is.
Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God’s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.
Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.
Silence is kept.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory
HOMILY
What Jesus Didn’t Teach His Disciples
In this day and age, we fight over more than words. We fight over just about everything—doctrine, practices, race, immigration, public health measures, sexual morality, gender, politics. If it something on which people can take more than one side, we fight about it. The Church may have never been more divided than it is now.
In his letter to the Galatians Paul associates hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, and the like with following the desires of our sinful natures. As Paul draws to Timothy’s attention such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.
The truth is that they can do more than that. They can damage our witness in the world to the point that we lose all credibility. Our church may acquire the reputation of a church whose members are always fighting with each other or fighting with the members of other churches.
Instead of showing to those outside the church and to those inside what Jesus said would be the mark that set his disciples apart—love for one another, we show that we are no different from other people. Whatever face we paint on it, we are doing the wrong thing, and only harm can from it in the long term.
This is not to say that Christians cannot have honest disagreements over important matters, but it does mean that we should avoid trying to make the person with who we disagree seem as if they are evil or have evil motives; criticizing them in such a way as to doubt their character or to damage their reputation; saying bad things about them to influence other people’s opinion of them; not telling the truth; and saying hateful and unkind things about them.
We certainly should not indulge in the bile that can heard from some church pulpits or the feelings of anger, hatred, and ill-will that are too often voiced on the internet by individuals who claim to be Christians, much less dismiss the humanity of those with whom we disagree and entertain thoughts of completely exterminating them from the face of the earth. We have entered a time of history when some of the worst characteristics in human nature are reasserting themselves.
Imposing our beliefs and values on others by force is not what our Lord taught. Devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ and obedience to his words and example comes from within and not from without. The kingdom of God cannot be spread by acts of violence. It spreads as our Lord occupies his rightful place in our hearts, as we turn away from sin and turn to him.
Those who seek to wed what is a distortion of the Christian faith to an ideology of hatred will do tremendous injury to orthodox Christianity in this country and other parts of the world. It is something that we might expect to come from the imagination of the evil one. What better way to do harm to Christ’s Church on earth than to further destroy its reputation.
In our human weakness and sinfulness, we are already drawing attention away from what good Christ’s Church does in the world. We may go to church. We listen to contemporary Christian and praise and worship music in our car and at home. We may regularly receive the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. But we do not live as people—to borrow the words of the late Queen Elizabeth—“guided by the message and teaching of Christ.” Rather our words and actions show the strong influence of the world.
As more than one young person has observed, the Christians that they know would likely hang out together if they did not go to church together. They have a lot in common, but it was not obeying Jesus as their Lord and following his teaching and example.
Jesus, however, is not some wise teacher who lived a long time ago and whose life and teaching we can emulate as we choose. Jesus is our living Lord. He rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of Father in heaven. We may not see him or touch him, but he is present with us to the end of the age as he promised.
If we are fully dedicated to being his disciple, we will want to do what he expects from us. It would our number one priority in this life. We would be walking as closely in his ways as we can, enabled by God’s grace, by the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. Rather than quarreling with our fellow Christians and tearing them down, we would be building each other up, encouraging and strengthening each other.
That’s what Paul in his letters always urged those to whom he wrote to do. Build each other up. Encourage and strengthen each other. Live a life of love, following Christ’s example.
Silence is kept.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Open this link in a new tab to hear Owen Alstott’s “Luke 1: My Soul Rejoices.”
My soul rejoices in God, my Saviour.
My spirit finds joy in God, the living God.
My soul proclaims your mighty deeds.
My spirit sings the greatness of your name.
My soul rejoices in God, my Saviour.
My spirit finds joy in God, the living God.
Your mercy flows throughout the land
and ev’ry generation knows your love.
My soul rejoices in God, my Saviour.
My spirit finds joy in God, the living God.
You cast the mighty from their thrones
and raise the poor and lowly to new life.
My soul rejoices in God, my Saviour.
My spirit finds joy in God, the living God.
You fill the hungry with good things.
With empty hands you send the rich away.
My soul rejoices in God, my Saviour.
My spirit finds joy in God, the living God.
Just as you promised Abraham,
You come to free your people, Israel.
My soul rejoices in God, my Saviour.
My spirit finds joy in God, the living God.
PRAYERS
(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
God of compassion,
deepen and increase our love for you
so that we may leave behind the sins
from which you have redeemed us,
and serve you in perfect freedom.
Hear this prayer for your love’s sake.
Amen.
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.
CLOSING SONG
Open this link in a new tab to hear Reginald Hebert’s “God, Who Made the Earth and Heaven.”
1 God, who made the earth and heaven,
darkness and light:
you the day for work have given,
for rest the night.
May your angel guards defend us,
slumber sweet your mercy send us,
holy dreams and hopes attend us
all through the night.
2 And when morn again shall call us
to run life's way,
may we still, whate'er befall us,
your will obey.
From the pow'r of evil hide us,
in the narrow pathway guide us,
never be your smile denied us
all through the day.
*3 Guard us waking, guard us sleeping,
and, when we die,
may we in your mighty keeping
all peaceful lie.
When the last dread call shall wake us,
then, O Lord, do not forsake us,
but to reign in glory take us
with you on high.
4 Holy Father, throned in heaven,
all-holy Son,
Holy Spirit, freely given,
blest Three in One:
grant us grace, we now implore you,
till we lay our crowns before you
and in worthier strains adore you
while ages run.
Alleluia! Amen!
Alleluia! Amen!
*Omitted on the video.
THE CONCLUSION
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God, and the fellowship of
the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore.
Amen.
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