All Hallows Evening Prayer for Wednesday Evening (October 12, 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 the translation of the Phos Hilaron, O Gracious Light, from The Book of Common Prayer (1979).

1. O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the
everliving Father in heaven.
O Jesus, Christ, holy and blessed!

2. Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing thy praises, O God:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

3. Thou art worthy at all times
to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.

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 the Scottish Psalmist’s adaptation of Psalm 111, “Praise the Lord.”

Praise the Lord, oh give thanks from your heart,
All you near and far, you can come as you are,
Great is the Lord, Hallelujah!

Praise his name for His glorious ways, that we learn in the night,
and we see by the day,
Delight of our hearts, Hallelujah!

His grace and Majesty
His splendour and His beauty
His righteousness that reigns eternally!

For all His wondrous ways (For all His wondrous ways)
Unfailing love and mercy (Unfailing love and mercy)
Given to all, who come to Him for grace…………Praise Him!

Praise the Lord who has promised us peace,
Who is watching His word and is covenant keeping,
Held in His hands Hallelujah!

His faithfulness won’t fail
His word will never change
Our confidence, is sure for our God saves!.....Praise Him!

His faithfulness won’t fail (His faithfulness won’t fail)
His word will never change (His word will never change)
Our confidence, is sure for our God saves!.....Praise Him!

Hallelujah! The Holy One who reigns!
Who all the Heavens praise!
Who calls the world to fear His name!

Hallelujah! He came to bear our shame
To die and take our place,
Who will raise us from the grave, Hallelujah!.... Praise Him………….PRAISE HIM!!!!!

Silence is kept.

Gracious God, you are full of compassion;
may we who long for your kingdom to come
rejoice to do your will
and acknowledge your power alone to save;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CANTICLE

Open this link in a new tab to hear Timothy Dudley Smith’s “Not for Tongues of Heaven’s Angels,” based on 1 Corinthians 13

1 Not for tongues of heaven's angels,
not for wisdom to discern,
not for faith that masters mountains,
for this better gift we yearn:

May love be ours, Lord;
may love be ours.
May love be ours, O Lord.

Love is humble, love is gentle,
love is tender, true and kind;
love is gracious, ever patient,
generous of heart and mind:

May love be ours, Lord;
may love be ours.
May love be ours, O Lord.

Never jealous, never selfish,
love will not rejoice in wrong;
never boastful or resentful,
love believes and suffers long:

May love be ours, Lord;
may love be ours.
May love be ours, O Lord.

Soon will fade the word of wisdom.
Faith and hope be one day past;
When we see our Savior clearly,
Love it is alone will last.

May love be ours, Lord;
may love be ours.
May love be ours, O Lord.
May love be ours, O Lord.

Silence may be kept.

SCRIPTURE READING

2 Timothy 2:19-26 Paul counsels young Timothy

But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”

In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.

Silence is kept.

May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory

HOMILY

Wise Words from an Apostle to Us All

The counsel which the apostle Paul offers to his protégé Timothy in today’s reading, 2 Timothy 2:19-26, is not solely for elders, pastors, local preachers, and other ordained or licensed ministers. It is for all believers, for all who profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Read the passage carefully and then read it again. Let its words sink in.

We all will at various times in our lives be tempted by our own sinful desires. What Paul describes as “youthful lusts” persist well beyond our youth.

Pursuing holiness and practicing godliness, treating others in a fair and just manner, all the things that are a part of living righteously are not for a spiritual elite. They are for all who would call themselves and would be called “Christians.”

Not being quarrelsome, being kind to everyone, and being patient with difficult people—these are qualities that all who are committed to following the Lord Jesus Christ need to develop. All disciples of Christ are servants of God. The one whom they call Lord is the Word incarnate, the eternal Son, the second Person of the Godhead, God himself.

While we may never be called upon to preach a sermon, teach a Sunday school class, or lead a small group, we need to be able to explain Christ’s message and his teaching to others and to disciple those new to the Christian faith and way of life.

We too can accomplish more with gentle words than harsh ones.

Read this passage over again and then pray for God’s grace to do these things, for a heart and mind open to his grace, and for the willingness and ability to take full advantage of it.

Lord God,
we rejoice in your greatness and power,
your patience and love,
your mercy and justice.
Enable us by your Spirit
to honor you in our thoughts,
words and actions,
and to serve you in every aspect of our lives;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Silence is kept.

GOSPEL CANTICLE

Open this link in a new tab to hear Lucien Deiss' setting of the Magnificat, "My Soul Proclaims the Greatnes of the Lord."

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

And from this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and sent the rich away empty handed.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he remembered his promise of mercy,

The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Silence may be kept.

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 loving kindness to all.
Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for those who are in 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

Almighty God, 

in our baptism you adopted us for your own. 

Quicken, we pray, your Spirit within us, 

that we, being renewed both in body and mind, 

may worship you in sincerity and truth; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord, 

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 

one God, now and for ever.
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 Kathleen Thomerson’s “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light.”

1 I want to walk as a child of the light
I want to follow Jesus
God sent the stars to give light to the world
The star of my life is Jesus

In Him, there is no darkness at all
The night and the day are both alike
The Lamb is the light of the city of God
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus

2 I want to see the brightness of God
I want to look at Jesus
Clear sun of righteousness, shine on my path
And show me the way to the Father

In Him, there is no darkness at all
The night and the day are both alike
The Lamb is the light of the city of God
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus

3 I'm looking for the coming of Christ
I want to be with Jesus
When we have run with patience the race
We shall know the joy of Jesus

In Him, there is no darkness at all
The night and the day are both alike
The Lamb is the light of the city of God
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus

THE CONCLUSION

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
and the love of God the Father be with us all. Amen.