All Hallows Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer for Sunday (October 30, 2022)
This Sunday All Hallows Murray once again offers two services—Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer. The order of service for both services comes from The Church of England’s service book, Common Worship (2000). The morning readings are different from the evening reading, as are the songs and the homily.
The morning service begins at the top of the page at the Acclamation of Christ at the Dawning of the Day. Scroll down the page for the beginning of the evening service as the Blessing of the Light. MORNING PRAYER
THE ACCLAMATION OF CHRIST AT THE DAWNING OF THE DAY
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Open this link in a new tab to hear The Psalter, 1912’s metrical paraphrase of the Venite, “O Come and Sing to God the Lord.”
1 O come and sing to God, the Lord,
To him our voices raise;
Let us in our most joyful songs,
The Lord, our Savior praise.
2 Before his presence let us come
With praise and thankful voice;
Let us sing psalms to him with joy,
With grateful hearts rejoice.
3 He is a great and mighty king,
Above all gods his throne;
The depths of earth are in his hand,
The mountains are his own.
4 To him the spacious sea belongs,
He made its waves and tides;
And by his hand the rising land
Was formed and still abides.
5 O come, and bowing down to him
Our worship let us bring;
Yes, let us kneel before the Lord,
Our Maker and our King.
This prayer of thanksgiving is said.
Blessed are you, creator of all,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As your dawn renews the face of the earth
bringing light and life to all creation,
may we rejoice in this day you have made;
as we wake refreshed from the depths of sleep,
open our eyes to behold your presence
and strengthen our hands to do your will,
that the world may rejoice and give you praise.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
THE WORD OF GOD
PSALMODY
Open this link in a new tab to hear Marty Haugen’s responsorial setting of Psalm 63, “In the Morning I Will Sing.”
In the morning I will sing,
I will sing glad songs to you,
I will sing glad songs of praise to you,
I will sing glad songs of praise to you.
1 O God you are my God, for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting
My body pines for you
like a dry weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
To see your strength and your glory.
In the morning I will sing,
I will sing glad songs to you,
I will sing glad songs of praise to you,
I will sing glad songs of praise to you.
2 For you love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy.
In the morning I will sing,
I will sing glad songs to you,
I will sing glad songs of praise to you,
I will sing glad songs of praise to you.
3 On my bed I remember you.
on you I muse through the night
for you have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
my soul clings to you;
Your right hand holds me fast.
In the morning I will sing,
I will sing glad songs to you,
I will sing glad songs of praise to you,
I will sing glad songs of praise to you.
Silence is kept.
To you we come, radiant Lord,
the goal of all our desiring,
beyond all earthly beauty;
gentle protector, strong deliverer,
in the night you are our confidence;
from first light be our joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
CANTICLE
Open this link in a new tab to hear John Angotti’s setting of the Benedicite, “Canticle of Daniel.”
God is praised and exalted above all for ever.
God is praised and exalted above all for ever.
1 Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord!
you heavens, bless the Lord!
all waters above the heavens, bless the Lord!
all you hosts of the Lord,
sun and moon, stars of heaven,
bless the Lord!
God is praised and exalted above all for ever.
2 Ev’ry shower and dew, bless the Lord!
all wind and heat, bless the Lord!
cold and chill, dew and rain, bless the Lord!
ice and snow,
nights and days,
lights and darkness and clouds
bless the Lord!
God is praised and exalted above all for ever.
3 Mountains and hills, bless the Lord!
ev’rything growing from the earth, bless the Lord!
springs, seas and rivers, bless the Lord!
all water creatures,
all you birds,
all you beasts, sons of man
bless the Lord!
God is praised and exalted above all for ever.
4 O Israel, bless the Lord!
Priests and servants of the Lord, bless the Lord!
Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord.
Holy men of humble heart,
Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael,
bless the Lord!
God is praised and exalted above all for ever.
God is praised and exalted above all for ever.
Silence may be kept.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Isaiah 1:10-18 A Call to Repentance
Listen to the Lord, you leaders of “Sodom.”
Listen to the law of our God, people of “Gomorrah.”
“What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?”
says the Lord.
“I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams
and the fat of fattened cattle.
I get no pleasure from the blood
of bulls and lambs and goats.
When you come to worship me,
who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony?
Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts;
the incense of your offerings disgusts me!
As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath
and your special days for fasting—
they are all sinful and false.
I want no more of your pious meetings.
I hate your new moon celebrations and your annual festivals.
They are a burden to me. I cannot stand them!
When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look.
Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen,
for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims.
Wash yourselves and be clean!
Get your sins out of my sight.
Give up your evil ways.
Learn to do good.
Seek justice.
Help the oppressed.
Defend the cause of orphans.
Fight for the rights of widows.
“Come now, let’s settle this,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson,
I will make them as white as wool.
Silence is kept
Luke 19: 1-10 Jesus and Zacchaeus
Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.
When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”
Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.
Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
Silence is kept.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory
HOMILY
We Are Called to Be Ministers of God's Grace
In Jesus’ day tax collectors like Zaccheus in this morning’s New Testament reading, Luke 19: 1-10, were not civil service employees of the federal, state, or local government. They were businessmen who made a profit from collecting the taxes levied on the people of a province or district of a province. They would pay the taxes that was levied on the people of the province or district and then they would then gouge as much money as they could from the people for paying their taxes for them. They would seize the property of those who were unable to pay the money they demanded or sell them and members of their family into slavery. The people had no say in this arrangement.
As a consequence, tax collectors were hated and shunned by almost everybody except the unscrupuous government officials with whom they had dealings and their fellow tax collectors and other social outcasts in Judean society. It is not surprising that people were displeased when they learned Jesus was going to be a guest in Zaccheus’ house.
While curiosity may have prompted Zaccheus to climb into the sycamore tree to see Jesus as he passed by, it more likely God’s grace working in his life. As well as looking up, Jesus called Zaccheus by name, showing that he had foreknowledge that Zaccheus was in the sycamore tree. In telling Jesus that he will give half of his wealth to the poor and give to those he may have cheated four times what he took from them, Zaccheus gives the appearance of having experienced a change of heart. Jesus’ presence in his home may have been a catalyst.
What did Jesus mean when he said that Zaccheus had shown himself a true son of Abraham. Like Abraham, Zaccheus appears to have put his trust in God. Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. Zaccheus has shown himself to truly be Abraham’s son in that sense. He believed.
Zaccheus did what God was urging the people of Israel to do in this morning’s reading from the Old Testament, Isaiah 1:10-18. He decided to give up his evil ways and to learn to do good. To those who did, God promised to make them holy.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson,
I will make them as white as wool.”
People like Zaccheus the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law shunned because they believed that such people were sinners beyond redemption. To Jesus, however, they were the very people whom he had come to save.
To those who have become Jesus’ disciples, he has given a mission. It is to continue his mission to seek and save the lost.
Now we cannot put things right between someone and God, but we can point them to Jesus who can. Our calling is to show and share to them the love of Jesus so that they may come to know him.
The world is full of people like Zaccheus in whom God’s grace is working, drawing them to God. We were one of them too before we came to know Jesus. It is by God’s grace; we came to know Jesus ourselves.
As Jesus’ disciples we should follow his example and not shun people like Zaccheus as did the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law. Rather we should be ministers of God’s grace to them through whom God shows his compassion and mercy to them.
We have our limitations. Unlike Jesus, we cannot see the state of a person’s heart. It therefore behooves us to charitably presume that God is working in them even though we may have little evidence to go on. We will want to give them the benefit of the doubt.
We will want to avoid the strong negative bias that the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law had toward those whom they regarded as sinners beyond redemption.
Rather we will want to bear always in mind the words of Jesus, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
We may not remember an exact moment in our lives when Jesus looked up at us, clinging to the branches of a tree in order to see him, and called us to come down as he would be a guest in our house. God’s grace works in each of us differently. With the passage of time Jesus may have come to occupy a bigger place in our thoughts and feelings and the larger that place grew, with it grew our belief in him and our desire to live our lives according to his teaching and example and to please God in this way.
As for our witness and ministry to others, it is to be open to however God wishes to use us to bring them into a life-giving relationship with himself and to help them grow in that relationship. We are Jesus’ representatives here on earth, and as his representatives we have an obligation to embody what he taught and practiced.
Silence is kept.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Open this link in a new tab to hear Ruth Duck’s metrical paraphrase of the Benedictus Dominus Deus, “Now Bless the God of Israel.”
1 Now bless the God of Israel who comes in love and power,
who raises from the royal house deliv’rance in this hour.
Through holy prophets God has sworn to free us from alarm,
to save us from the heavy hand of all who wish us harm.
2 Remembering the covenant, God rescues us from fear,
that we might serve in holiness and peace from year to year.
And you, my child, shall go before, to preach, to prophesy,
that all may know the tender love, the grace of God most high.
While curiosity may have prompted Zaccheus to climb into the sycamore tree to see Jesus as he passed by, it more likely God’s grace working in his life. As well as looking up, Jesus called Zaccheus by name, showing that he had foreknowledge that Zaccheus was in the sycamore tree. In telling Jesus that he will give half of his wealth to the poor and give to those he may have cheated four times what he took from them, Zaccheus gives the appearance of having experienced a change of heart. Jesus’ presence in his home may have been a catalyst.
What did Jesus mean when he said that Zaccheus had shown himself a true son of Abraham. Like Abraham, Zaccheus appears to have put his trust in God. Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. Zaccheus has shown himself to truly be Abraham’s son in that sense. He believed.
Zaccheus did what God was urging the people of Israel to do in this morning’s reading from the Old Testament, Isaiah 1:10-18. He decided to give up his evil ways and to learn to do good. To those who did, God promised to make them holy.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson,
I will make them as white as wool.”
People like Zaccheus the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law shunned because they believed that such people were sinners beyond redemption. To Jesus, however, they were the very people whom he had come to save.
To those who have become Jesus’ disciples, he has given a mission. It is to continue his mission to seek and save the lost.
Now we cannot put things right between someone and God, but we can point them to Jesus who can. Our calling is to show and share to them the love of Jesus so that they may come to know him.
The world is full of people like Zaccheus in whom God’s grace is working, drawing them to God. We were one of them too before we came to know Jesus. It is by God’s grace; we came to know Jesus ourselves.
As Jesus’ disciples we should follow his example and not shun people like Zaccheus as did the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law. Rather we should be ministers of God’s grace to them through whom God shows his compassion and mercy to them.
We have our limitations. Unlike Jesus, we cannot see the state of a person’s heart. It therefore behooves us to charitably presume that God is working in them even though we may have little evidence to go on. We will want to give them the benefit of the doubt.
We will want to avoid the strong negative bias that the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law had toward those whom they regarded as sinners beyond redemption.
Rather we will want to bear always in mind the words of Jesus, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
We may not remember an exact moment in our lives when Jesus looked up at us, clinging to the branches of a tree in order to see him, and called us to come down as he would be a guest in our house. God’s grace works in each of us differently. With the passage of time Jesus may have come to occupy a bigger place in our thoughts and feelings and the larger that place grew, with it grew our belief in him and our desire to live our lives according to his teaching and example and to please God in this way.
As for our witness and ministry to others, it is to be open to however God wishes to use us to bring them into a life-giving relationship with himself and to help them grow in that relationship. We are Jesus’ representatives here on earth, and as his representatives we have an obligation to embody what he taught and practiced.
Silence is kept.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Open this link in a new tab to hear Ruth Duck’s metrical paraphrase of the Benedictus Dominus Deus, “Now Bless the God of Israel.”
1 Now bless the God of Israel who comes in love and power,
who raises from the royal house deliv’rance in this hour.
Through holy prophets God has sworn to free us from alarm,
to save us from the heavy hand of all who wish us harm.
2 Remembering the covenant, God rescues us from fear,
that we might serve in holiness and peace from year to year.
And you, my child, shall go before, to preach, to prophesy,
that all may know the tender love, the grace of God most high.
[Instrumental interlude]
3 In tender mercy, God will send the dayspring from on high,
our rising sun, the light of life for those who sit and sigh.
God comes to guide our way to peace, that death shall reign no more.
Sing praises to the Holy One, O worship and adore.
Silence may be kept.
PRAYERS
Make your ways known upon earth, O God,
your saving power among all peoples.
Renew your Church in holiness,
and help us to serve you with joy.
Guide the leaders of this and every nation,
that justice may prevail throughout the world.
Let not the needy, O God, be forgotten,
nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Make us instruments of your peace,
and let your glory be over all the earth.
Silence may be kept, and free intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered.
THE COLLECTS
Lord of the Church,
you have called us to witness in every nation.
May we do your work and bear your cross,
await your time and see your glory.
We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen.
Holy and everliving God,
by your power we are created
and by your love we are redeemed;
guide and strengthen us by your Spirit,
that we may give ourselves to your service,
and live each day in love to one another and to you,
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 Phil Hart’s “Christ Be Before Me.
Christ be before me
Christ be beside me
Christ be all around
Christ be before me
Christ be beside me
Christ be all around
Christ be before me
Christ be beside me
Christ be all around
Christ be before me
Christ be beside me
Christ be all around
Christ be before me
Christ be beside me
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
3 In tender mercy, God will send the dayspring from on high,
our rising sun, the light of life for those who sit and sigh.
God comes to guide our way to peace, that death shall reign no more.
Sing praises to the Holy One, O worship and adore.
Silence may be kept.
PRAYERS
Make your ways known upon earth, O God,
your saving power among all peoples.
Renew your Church in holiness,
and help us to serve you with joy.
Guide the leaders of this and every nation,
that justice may prevail throughout the world.
Let not the needy, O God, be forgotten,
nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Make us instruments of your peace,
and let your glory be over all the earth.
Silence may be kept, and free intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered.
THE COLLECTS
Lord of the Church,
you have called us to witness in every nation.
May we do your work and bear your cross,
await your time and see your glory.
We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen.
Holy and everliving God,
by your power we are created
and by your love we are redeemed;
guide and strengthen us by your Spirit,
that we may give ourselves to your service,
and live each day in love to one another and to you,
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 Phil Hart’s “Christ Be Before Me.
Christ be before me
Christ be beside me
Christ be all around
Christ be before me
Christ be beside me
Christ be all around
Christ be before me
Christ be beside me
Christ be all around
Christ be before me
Christ be beside me
Christ be all around
Christ be before me
Christ be beside me
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
Christ be all around
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.
EVENING PRAYER
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 F. Bland Tucker’s translation of the Phos hilaron, “O Gracious Light.”
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 Spirit: God
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.
O Gracious Light!
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 Marty Haugen’s responsorial setting of Psalm 113, “Blessed Be the Name.”
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the LORD
for ever!
Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD!
May the name of the LORD be blest
both now and forevermore!
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the LORD
for ever!
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
praised be the name of the LORD!
High above all nations is the LORD,
above the heavens his glory.
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the LORD
for ever!
Who is like the LORD, our God,
who dwells on high,
who lowers himself to look down
upon heaven and earth?
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the LORD
for ever!
From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
from the ash heap he raises the poor,
to set them in the company of princes,
yes, with the princes of his people.
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the LORD
for ever!
Silence is kept.
Lord Jesus,
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.
EVENING PRAYER
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 F. Bland Tucker’s translation of the Phos hilaron, “O Gracious Light.”
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 Spirit: God
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.
O Gracious Light!
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 Marty Haugen’s responsorial setting of Psalm 113, “Blessed Be the Name.”
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the LORD
for ever!
Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD!
May the name of the LORD be blest
both now and forevermore!
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the LORD
for ever!
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
praised be the name of the LORD!
High above all nations is the LORD,
above the heavens his glory.
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the LORD
for ever!
Who is like the LORD, our God,
who dwells on high,
who lowers himself to look down
upon heaven and earth?
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the LORD
for ever!
From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
from the ash heap he raises the poor,
to set them in the company of princes,
yes, with the princes of his people.
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the LORD
for ever!
Silence is kept.
Lord Jesus,
surrendering the brightness of your glory,
you became mortal
so that we might be raised from the dust
to share your very being.
May the children of God always bless your name
from the rising of the sun to its going down,
for you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
now and forever.
Amen.
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 power
(Men) Blessing, honor, glory, power
(All) Be to our God, forever
Amen!
Silence may be kept.
SCRIPTURE READING
Colossians 1: 3-14 Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer
We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.
This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.
You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf. He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.
So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
Silence is kept.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory
HOMILY
How often do we give thanks for what God is doing in our church? For what God is doing in churches in the community? For what he is doing in churches throughout the world?
How often do we give thanks for the fruit the Good News is bearing by changing lives?
When was the last time we asked God to give the members and attendees of our church and those who view its church services on cable TV and the internet complete knowledge of his will and to give them spiritual wisdom and understanding?
When was the last time we asked God to enable them to live in a way that will always honor and please the Lord, to produce in their lives every kind of good fruit, and all the while, to grow as they learn to know God better and better.
When was the last time we did the same thing for the congregations of churches in our community? The congregations of churches throughout the world.
When was the last time we asked God to strengthen the members and attendees of our church and those who view its church services on cable TV and the internet with all his glorious power so they will have all the endurance and patience you need.
When was the last time we did the same thing for the congregations of churches in our community? The congregations of churches throughout the world.
Let’s be honest with ourselves.
Make a commitment right now, this very moment, to give thanks for what God is doing and for the fruit the Good News is bearing, to pray for the people of our church, the people of churches in the community, and the people of church throughout the world, to pray for our pastor and their pastors too.
Make a commitment to do this at least one day a week. Ask God to help you keep this commitment. And then immediately after the conclusion of this evening’s service, do it. Give thanks! Pray!
Don’t wait until another time. If you do it immediately after the service, you are more likely keep your commitment. Do it even of you don’t feel like doing it.
Use Paul’s own words. The Holy Spirit inspired Pau to write them down not only to encourage the Colossians but so that future generations of believers could pray them. They are one of the many ways that the Holy Spirit helps us to pray.
Praying for others, believers and non-believers, is one of the ways that we express our love for them. It is one of the ways that we express our love for the One who rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his Son. Let's not put off giving thanks and praying. God is waiting to hear from us!
Silence is kept.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Open this link to hear John Michael Talbot’s adaptation of the Magnificat, “Holy Is His Name.”
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit exalts in God my Savior.
For he has looked with mercy on my lowliness,
and my name will be forever exalted.
For the mighty God has done great things for me,
and his mercy will reach from age to age.
And holy, holy, holy is his name.
He has mercy in ev’ry generation.
He has revealed his power and his glory.
He has cast down the mighty in their arrogance,
and has lifted up the meek and the lowly.
He has come to help his servant Israel;
he remembers his promise to our fathers.
And holy, holy, holy is his name.
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 those 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
Lord of the Church,
you have called us to witness in every nation.
May we do your work and bear your cross,
await your time and see your glory.
We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
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:
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 power
(Men) Blessing, honor, glory, power
(All) Be to our God, forever
Amen!
Silence may be kept.
SCRIPTURE READING
Colossians 1: 3-14 Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer
We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.
This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.
You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf. He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.
So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
Silence is kept.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory
HOMILY
How We Can Make Paul's Thanksgiving and Prayer Our Own
How often do we give thanks for what God is doing in our church? For what God is doing in churches in the community? For what he is doing in churches throughout the world?
How often do we give thanks for the fruit the Good News is bearing by changing lives?
When was the last time we asked God to give the members and attendees of our church and those who view its church services on cable TV and the internet complete knowledge of his will and to give them spiritual wisdom and understanding?
When was the last time we asked God to enable them to live in a way that will always honor and please the Lord, to produce in their lives every kind of good fruit, and all the while, to grow as they learn to know God better and better.
When was the last time we did the same thing for the congregations of churches in our community? The congregations of churches throughout the world.
When was the last time we asked God to strengthen the members and attendees of our church and those who view its church services on cable TV and the internet with all his glorious power so they will have all the endurance and patience you need.
When was the last time we did the same thing for the congregations of churches in our community? The congregations of churches throughout the world.
Let’s be honest with ourselves.
Make a commitment right now, this very moment, to give thanks for what God is doing and for the fruit the Good News is bearing, to pray for the people of our church, the people of churches in the community, and the people of church throughout the world, to pray for our pastor and their pastors too.
Make a commitment to do this at least one day a week. Ask God to help you keep this commitment. And then immediately after the conclusion of this evening’s service, do it. Give thanks! Pray!
Don’t wait until another time. If you do it immediately after the service, you are more likely keep your commitment. Do it even of you don’t feel like doing it.
Use Paul’s own words. The Holy Spirit inspired Pau to write them down not only to encourage the Colossians but so that future generations of believers could pray them. They are one of the many ways that the Holy Spirit helps us to pray.
Praying for others, believers and non-believers, is one of the ways that we express our love for them. It is one of the ways that we express our love for the One who rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his Son. Let's not put off giving thanks and praying. God is waiting to hear from us!
Silence is kept.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Open this link to hear John Michael Talbot’s adaptation of the Magnificat, “Holy Is His Name.”
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit exalts in God my Savior.
For he has looked with mercy on my lowliness,
and my name will be forever exalted.
For the mighty God has done great things for me,
and his mercy will reach from age to age.
And holy, holy, holy is his name.
He has mercy in ev’ry generation.
He has revealed his power and his glory.
He has cast down the mighty in their arrogance,
and has lifted up the meek and the lowly.
He has come to help his servant Israel;
he remembers his promise to our fathers.
And holy, holy, holy is his name.
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 those 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
Lord of the Church,
you have called us to witness in every nation.
May we do your work and bear your cross,
await your time and see your glory.
We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
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 John Michael Talbot’s “God.”
God to enfold me,
God to surround me,
God in my thinking,
God in my words,
God in my sleeping,
and in my waking,
God in my watching,
God in my hopes.
God in my life,
God in my lips,
God in my heart and my soul.
In my sufficing, and in my slumber,
In my eternal and living soul.
In my sufficing, and in my slumber,
In my eternal and living soul.
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.
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 John Michael Talbot’s “God.”
God to enfold me,
God to surround me,
God in my thinking,
God in my words,
God in my sleeping,
and in my waking,
God in my watching,
God in my hopes.
God in my life,
God in my lips,
God in my heart and my soul.
In my sufficing, and in my slumber,
In my eternal and living soul.
In my sufficing, and in my slumber,
In my eternal and living soul.
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.
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