All Hallows Evening Prayer for Wednesday Evening (October 26, 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 to hear Carl P. Schalk’s choral arrangement “Joyous Light of Glory.”
Joyous light ,
joyous light, of glory
of the immortal Father,
Heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ,
We have come to the setting of the Sun
And we look to the evening light.
We sing to God,
we sing to God,
we sing to God,
we sing to God
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
You, you are worthy of being praised,
of being praised with pure voices forever.
O Son of God,
O Son of God,
O Son of God,
O Son of God
O Giver of life,
The universe proclaims your glory.
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 David Ashley White’s choral arrangement of Psalm 23, “The Lord My God My Shepherd Is.”
The Lord my God my shepherd is;
how could I want or need?
In pastures green, by streams serene,
he safely does me lead.
To wholeness he restores my soul
and does in mercy bless,
and helps me take for his Name’s sake
the paths of righteousness.
Yes, even when I must pass
through the valley of death’s shade,
I will not fear, for you are here,
to comfort and to aid.
You have in grace my table spread
secure in all alarms,
and filled my cup, and raised me up
in everlasting arms.
Then surely I can trust your love
for all the days to come,
that I may tell your praise,
and dwell for ever in your arms,
Silence is kept.
O God, our sovereign and shepherd,
who brought again your Son Jesus Christ
from the valley of death,
comfort us with your protecting presence
and your angels of goodness and love,
that we also may come home
and dwell with him in your house for ever. Amen.
CANTICLE
Open this link in a new tab to hear James Moore’s “Love E. Endures,” based upon 1 Corinthians 13.
1 Love is patient, love is kind.
Love is gentle, love’s not blind.
Love is all you have, all you need.
Love is all you are.
2 Love is gracious, love is sure.
Love is caring, love endures.
Love is all you have, all you need.
Love is all you are.
For love endures, love endures all things.
For love endures, love will never end.
3 Love I healing and forgiving.
Love is hoping and trusting.
Love is creating and living.
Love is peace, love is joy,
love is more.
For love endures, love endures all things.
For love endures, love will never end.
For love endures, love endures all things.
For love endures, love will never end.
Love will never end.
Silence may be kept.
SCRIPTURE READING
1 John 4: 7-21 Loving One Another
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first.
If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.
Silence is kept.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory
HOMILY
When we look at the world around us through the eyes of faith, through the eyes of a believer, we begin to notice what have been described as “God-incidences.” One definition which has been suggested for a “God-incidence” is “a happy coincidence or outcome that was most likely directed or orchestrated by God.” I am not entirely satisfied with this definition because it is my estimation too narrow. Rather I would define “God-incidences” as events and occurrences which point to God’s activity in our lives and the lives of others.
Over the last several days I have experienced or witnessed several such events and occurrences which have prompted me to reflect upon Jesus’ love commands in the Gospels and how the apostles like John, Peter, James, and Paul understood them. Jesus and the apostles teach us to love others and to treat them in a loving manner, that is, with kindness and forgiveness. But for some reason this teaching is lost on many who profess to be Christians in our day and time.
Among the events and occurrences which prompted me to think about how we are losing sight of this key teaching of Jesus and the apostles was the appearance in Memories on my Facebook page on Sunday was a prayer that I had composed, asking God for grace to love others. The sermon that I listened to online on Sunday was the first in a sermon series about the fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in believers. It was about the fruit of love.
In searching for articles for my blog on Monday I came across an article which was a reminder of two essential lessons about fruit, lessons which are applicable to the fruit of the Spirit. A tree will not bear fruit overnight and it will only bear fruit in a particular season of the year. It will not bear fruit year round.
I also came across two other articles which I bookmarked. The first article drew attention to how pastors who preached on Jesus’ love commands received a negative reaction from their congregations. Some congregants went as far as dismissing these commands as muddle-headed and out of touch with today’s world.
The second article noted the connection Jesus made between loving others and loving God, a connection to which John calls to our attention in today’s reading, 1 John 4: 7-21.
Early Tuesday morning I came across two more articles. One article made the point that pastors cannot assume that their congregations understand a number of key Biblical doctrines. The research of the past few years does not support that assumption. Rather it shows that many people who describe themselves as Christians subscribe to beliefs that diverge significantly from these doctrines. The other article contained the observation that in some communities it is not uncommon for the bulk of the population to call themselves Christians and believe in God, but it is clear from the way they live that they do not understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
After reading the prayer from a year ago, hearing the sermon, and reading these articles, I had concluded that what was happening was more than coincidence. It had the marks of being a God-incidence. I thought about an article, I had read earlier in the month, and it added another missing piece to the puzzle. God was drawing my attention to a matter which should concern us as Christians.
We live in an age of what has been called buffet Christianity, cafeteria Christianity, or smorgasbord Christianity. A popular Chinese restaurant in the university town on the outskirts of which I live has a long steam table on which are pans containing a number of entrees from which customers can fill their plates. Customers can also order dishes from the menu, but they pay more for these dishes than they do the buffet.
In the case of buffet Christianity, cafeteria Christianity, or smorgasbord Christianity, self-identified Christians select their favorite beliefs and practices and create their own personalized faith from these beliefs and practices. They may incorporate beliefs and practices from other faith traditions.
The problem with this approach to religion and spirituality is that in making their selection they may omit vital ingredients, teachings that a person must not just believe but also practice in order to be a genuine follower of Jesus. While some beliefs and practices they adopt from other faith traditions may be harmless, others may not. They may be beliefs and practices that the apostles recognized as leading away from Jesus, beliefs and practices against which the apostles warned the early Christians.
While we may be inclined to see this problem as someone else’s problem and not our own, none of us is entirely free from the tendency to be selective in what we believe and practice and to adopt beliefs and practices that weaken and undermine our faith in Jesus. They are two spiritual dangers that all Christians face to some degree. We may not consciously reject a particular belief or practice, but our actions suggest that it is not as important to us as it might ought to be. We may rationalize practices like astrology, tarot card reading and other forms of divination or fortune telling.
Jesus’ love commands, his instructions to his followers to love God, love your neighbor, love your enemies, and love one another, are part and parcel of his teaching. They are not something that we can refuse to believe and practice and call ourselves a Christian, an adherent of the religion based on his teaching, much less a disciple of Jesus. A disciple believes in the ideas and teaching of Jesus and seeks to live according to them.
Jesus’ love commands are not suggestions that he offered to his followers on how they might choose to live. They are not just moral imperatives, the right thing to do. They are divine imperatives. They are directions that God has given us on how we should behave toward him and toward our fellow human beings. As individuals who have professed faith in Jesus either in the sacrament of baptism or in the rite of confirmation, we are expected to make determined and serious effort to live according to them. We are expected to keep the pledge of faithfulness which we made at that time.
Since we cannot make this effort without God’s help. It behooves us to begin every day with prayer for grace to live according to Jesus’s teaching, to love as he taught us to love—to be kind, helpful, caring, thoughtful of others, patient, even-tempered, and other similar things, the kind of things we need to live the way he taught his disciples to live.
Silence may be kept.
SCRIPTURE READING
1 John 4: 7-21 Loving One Another
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first.
If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.
Silence is kept.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory
HOMILY
The Place of Jesus' Love Commands in the Life of a Christian
When we look at the world around us through the eyes of faith, through the eyes of a believer, we begin to notice what have been described as “God-incidences.” One definition which has been suggested for a “God-incidence” is “a happy coincidence or outcome that was most likely directed or orchestrated by God.” I am not entirely satisfied with this definition because it is my estimation too narrow. Rather I would define “God-incidences” as events and occurrences which point to God’s activity in our lives and the lives of others.
Over the last several days I have experienced or witnessed several such events and occurrences which have prompted me to reflect upon Jesus’ love commands in the Gospels and how the apostles like John, Peter, James, and Paul understood them. Jesus and the apostles teach us to love others and to treat them in a loving manner, that is, with kindness and forgiveness. But for some reason this teaching is lost on many who profess to be Christians in our day and time.
Among the events and occurrences which prompted me to think about how we are losing sight of this key teaching of Jesus and the apostles was the appearance in Memories on my Facebook page on Sunday was a prayer that I had composed, asking God for grace to love others. The sermon that I listened to online on Sunday was the first in a sermon series about the fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in believers. It was about the fruit of love.
In searching for articles for my blog on Monday I came across an article which was a reminder of two essential lessons about fruit, lessons which are applicable to the fruit of the Spirit. A tree will not bear fruit overnight and it will only bear fruit in a particular season of the year. It will not bear fruit year round.
I also came across two other articles which I bookmarked. The first article drew attention to how pastors who preached on Jesus’ love commands received a negative reaction from their congregations. Some congregants went as far as dismissing these commands as muddle-headed and out of touch with today’s world.
The second article noted the connection Jesus made between loving others and loving God, a connection to which John calls to our attention in today’s reading, 1 John 4: 7-21.
Early Tuesday morning I came across two more articles. One article made the point that pastors cannot assume that their congregations understand a number of key Biblical doctrines. The research of the past few years does not support that assumption. Rather it shows that many people who describe themselves as Christians subscribe to beliefs that diverge significantly from these doctrines. The other article contained the observation that in some communities it is not uncommon for the bulk of the population to call themselves Christians and believe in God, but it is clear from the way they live that they do not understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
After reading the prayer from a year ago, hearing the sermon, and reading these articles, I had concluded that what was happening was more than coincidence. It had the marks of being a God-incidence. I thought about an article, I had read earlier in the month, and it added another missing piece to the puzzle. God was drawing my attention to a matter which should concern us as Christians.
We live in an age of what has been called buffet Christianity, cafeteria Christianity, or smorgasbord Christianity. A popular Chinese restaurant in the university town on the outskirts of which I live has a long steam table on which are pans containing a number of entrees from which customers can fill their plates. Customers can also order dishes from the menu, but they pay more for these dishes than they do the buffet.
In the case of buffet Christianity, cafeteria Christianity, or smorgasbord Christianity, self-identified Christians select their favorite beliefs and practices and create their own personalized faith from these beliefs and practices. They may incorporate beliefs and practices from other faith traditions.
The problem with this approach to religion and spirituality is that in making their selection they may omit vital ingredients, teachings that a person must not just believe but also practice in order to be a genuine follower of Jesus. While some beliefs and practices they adopt from other faith traditions may be harmless, others may not. They may be beliefs and practices that the apostles recognized as leading away from Jesus, beliefs and practices against which the apostles warned the early Christians.
While we may be inclined to see this problem as someone else’s problem and not our own, none of us is entirely free from the tendency to be selective in what we believe and practice and to adopt beliefs and practices that weaken and undermine our faith in Jesus. They are two spiritual dangers that all Christians face to some degree. We may not consciously reject a particular belief or practice, but our actions suggest that it is not as important to us as it might ought to be. We may rationalize practices like astrology, tarot card reading and other forms of divination or fortune telling.
Jesus’ love commands, his instructions to his followers to love God, love your neighbor, love your enemies, and love one another, are part and parcel of his teaching. They are not something that we can refuse to believe and practice and call ourselves a Christian, an adherent of the religion based on his teaching, much less a disciple of Jesus. A disciple believes in the ideas and teaching of Jesus and seeks to live according to them.
Jesus’ love commands are not suggestions that he offered to his followers on how they might choose to live. They are not just moral imperatives, the right thing to do. They are divine imperatives. They are directions that God has given us on how we should behave toward him and toward our fellow human beings. As individuals who have professed faith in Jesus either in the sacrament of baptism or in the rite of confirmation, we are expected to make determined and serious effort to live according to them. We are expected to keep the pledge of faithfulness which we made at that time.
Since we cannot make this effort without God’s help. It behooves us to begin every day with prayer for grace to live according to Jesus’s teaching, to love as he taught us to love—to be kind, helpful, caring, thoughtful of others, patient, even-tempered, and other similar things, the kind of things we need to live the way he taught his disciples to live.
Prayer itself is a means of grace, a means by which the power of the Holy Spirit working in us enables us to will and do what pleases God. So are hearing, reading, and meditating upon the Scriptures, receiving the sacrament of Holy Communion, and having holy conversations with our fellow Christians.
One of the reasons that we may struggle more than we need to at living Jesus’ teaching is that we do not take full advantage of these means of grace. We try to run our engine on a near empty tank so to speak, on fumes as the saying goes. Unlike gasoline, or petrol, we do not have to pay for grace. It is free. But we do need to have hearts and minds open to it.
It is not only a good habit to begin each day with prayer for God’s grace but also to end each day with thanksgiving for the grace that God has provided us during the day. While this is a rough analogy, grace can be compared to the boost we get when we peddle an electric assisted bicycle and the motor engages, enabling us to climb hills and cycle on uneven surfaces without tiring ourselves. The Holy Spirit will nudge us to act and when we do, the Holy Spirit comes alongside us and helps us.
One of the reasons that we may struggle more than we need to at living Jesus’ teaching is that we do not take full advantage of these means of grace. We try to run our engine on a near empty tank so to speak, on fumes as the saying goes. Unlike gasoline, or petrol, we do not have to pay for grace. It is free. But we do need to have hearts and minds open to it.
It is not only a good habit to begin each day with prayer for God’s grace but also to end each day with thanksgiving for the grace that God has provided us during the day. While this is a rough analogy, grace can be compared to the boost we get when we peddle an electric assisted bicycle and the motor engages, enabling us to climb hills and cycle on uneven surfaces without tiring ourselves. The Holy Spirit will nudge us to act and when we do, the Holy Spirit comes alongside us and helps us.
While we are not always aware of God’s grace working in our lives, by praying for grace every morning and offering thanks for the grace we received that day every evening, we keep an open heart and mind to the grace God supplies us. We also stay focused on living our lives the way Jesus taught his disciples to live their lives.
Silence is kept.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Open this link to hear James J. Chepponis’ setting of the Magnificat, “Proclaim the Greatness of God.”
Proclaim the greatness of God; rejoice in God my Savior!
Rejoice in God my Savior!
Silence is kept.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Open this link to hear James J. Chepponis’ setting of the Magnificat, “Proclaim the Greatness of God.”
Proclaim the greatness of God; rejoice in God my Savior!
Rejoice in God my Savior!
Proclaim the greatness of God; rejoice in God my Savior!
Rejoice in God my Savior!
1 For he has favored his lowly one,
and all shall call me blessed.
The almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
Proclaim the greatness of God; rejoice in God my Savior!
Rejoice in God my Savior!
2 He favors those who fear his name,
in every generation.
He has shown the might and strength of his arm,
and scattered the proud of heart.
Proclaim the greatness of God; rejoice in God my Savior!
Rejoice in God my Savior!
3 He has cast the mighty from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with all good gifts,
and sent the rich away.
Proclaim the greatness of God; rejoice in God my Savior!
Rejoice in God my Savior!
4 He has helped his servant Israel,
Remembering his mercy.
He promised his mercy to Abraham
And his children for evermore.
Proclaim the greatness of God; rejoice in God my Savior!
Rejoice in God my Savior!
Proclaim the greatness of God, rejoice!
(Proclaim his greatness, rejoice!)
Silence may be kept.
PRAYERS
Particular intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered before any section.
Periods of silence may be kept.
Blessed are you eternal God,
to be praised and glorified for ever.
Heavenly Father, hear us as we pray for the unity of the Church.
May we all be one that the world may believe.
Grant that every member of the Church
may truly and humbly serve you,
that the life of Christ may be revealed in us.
We remember those who have died.
Father, into your hands we commend them.
(Remembering N)
We praise you for all your saints
who have entered your eternal glory.
May we also come to share your heavenly kingdom.
Have compassion on those who suffer from sickness,
grief or trouble.
In your presence may they find strength.
Look with your kindness on our homes and families.
Grant that your love may grow in our hearts.
Make us alive to the needs of our community.
Help us to share one another’s joys and burdens.
Inspire and lead those who hold authority
in the nations of the world.
Guide us and all people in the way of justice and peace.
Strengthen all who minister in Christ’s name.
Give us courage to proclaim your Gospel.
We pray in silence for our own needs and the needs of others...
Praise to you, abundant God,
for when we ask, you give;
when we seek, you show the way.
When we knock, you answer.
Praise to you for your unfailing grace.
Make us now your faithful people.
Amen.
THE COLLECTS
Jesus our Lord,
you have taught us that judgement
begins at the house of God;
save us from our self-satisfaction,
rigidity and corruption,
so that we may stand ready to do your will;
for the glory of your holy name.
Amen.
Gracious God,
you have given us much today;
grant us also a thankful spirit.
Into your hands we commend ourselves
and those we love.
Be with us still, and when we take our rest
renew us for the service of your Son Jesus Christ.
Amen.
In darkness and in light,
in trouble and in joy,
help us, heavenly Father,
to trust your love,
to serve your purpose,
and to praise your name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
As Christ teaches us, 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
Rejoice in God my Savior!
1 For he has favored his lowly one,
and all shall call me blessed.
The almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
Proclaim the greatness of God; rejoice in God my Savior!
Rejoice in God my Savior!
2 He favors those who fear his name,
in every generation.
He has shown the might and strength of his arm,
and scattered the proud of heart.
Proclaim the greatness of God; rejoice in God my Savior!
Rejoice in God my Savior!
3 He has cast the mighty from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with all good gifts,
and sent the rich away.
Proclaim the greatness of God; rejoice in God my Savior!
Rejoice in God my Savior!
4 He has helped his servant Israel,
Remembering his mercy.
He promised his mercy to Abraham
And his children for evermore.
Proclaim the greatness of God; rejoice in God my Savior!
Rejoice in God my Savior!
Proclaim the greatness of God, rejoice!
(Proclaim his greatness, rejoice!)
Silence may be kept.
PRAYERS
Particular intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered before any section.
Periods of silence may be kept.
Blessed are you eternal God,
to be praised and glorified for ever.
Heavenly Father, hear us as we pray for the unity of the Church.
May we all be one that the world may believe.
Grant that every member of the Church
may truly and humbly serve you,
that the life of Christ may be revealed in us.
We remember those who have died.
Father, into your hands we commend them.
(Remembering N)
We praise you for all your saints
who have entered your eternal glory.
May we also come to share your heavenly kingdom.
Have compassion on those who suffer from sickness,
grief or trouble.
In your presence may they find strength.
Look with your kindness on our homes and families.
Grant that your love may grow in our hearts.
Make us alive to the needs of our community.
Help us to share one another’s joys and burdens.
Inspire and lead those who hold authority
in the nations of the world.
Guide us and all people in the way of justice and peace.
Strengthen all who minister in Christ’s name.
Give us courage to proclaim your Gospel.
We pray in silence for our own needs and the needs of others...
Praise to you, abundant God,
for when we ask, you give;
when we seek, you show the way.
When we knock, you answer.
Praise to you for your unfailing grace.
Make us now your faithful people.
Amen.
THE COLLECTS
Jesus our Lord,
you have taught us that judgement
begins at the house of God;
save us from our self-satisfaction,
rigidity and corruption,
so that we may stand ready to do your will;
for the glory of your holy name.
Amen.
Gracious God,
you have given us much today;
grant us also a thankful spirit.
Into your hands we commend ourselves
and those we love.
Be with us still, and when we take our rest
renew us for the service of your Son Jesus Christ.
Amen.
In darkness and in light,
in trouble and in joy,
help us, heavenly Father,
to trust your love,
to serve your purpose,
and to praise your name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
As Christ teaches us, 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 Luke Connaughton's "Love Is His Word."
1 Love is His word, Love is His way,
Feasting with all, fasting alone,
Living and dying, rising again
Love only love is His way.
Richer than gold is the love of my Lord.
Better than splendour and wealth.
2 Love is His news, Love is His name,
We are His own, chosen and called,
Family, brethren, cousins and kin.
Love, only love is His name.
Richer than gold is the love of my Lord.
Better than splendour and wealth.
3 Love is His name, love is His law,
Hear His command, all who are His,
Love one another, I have loved you
Love, only love, is His law.
Richer than gold is the love of my Lord.
Better than splendour and wealth.
4 Love is His law, Love is His word,
Love of the Lord, Father, and Word,
Love of the Spirit, God ever one,
Love, only love, is His word.
Richer than gold is the love of my Lord.
Better than splendour and wealth.
THE CONCLUSION
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The almighty and merciful God bless us
and keep us now and for ever. Amen.
1 Love is His word, Love is His way,
Feasting with all, fasting alone,
Living and dying, rising again
Love only love is His way.
Richer than gold is the love of my Lord.
Better than splendour and wealth.
2 Love is His news, Love is His name,
We are His own, chosen and called,
Family, brethren, cousins and kin.
Love, only love is His name.
Richer than gold is the love of my Lord.
Better than splendour and wealth.
3 Love is His name, love is His law,
Hear His command, all who are His,
Love one another, I have loved you
Love, only love, is His law.
Richer than gold is the love of my Lord.
Better than splendour and wealth.
4 Love is His law, Love is His word,
Love of the Lord, Father, and Word,
Love of the Spirit, God ever one,
Love, only love, is His word.
Richer than gold is the love of my Lord.
Better than splendour and wealth.
THE CONCLUSION
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The almighty and merciful God bless us
and keep us now and for ever. Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment