All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (November 5, 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 a link in a new tab to hear Lori True’s evening hymn, “Let Evening Fall.”

1 Let evening fall gently around us.
Christ’s love surrounds us, warmth through the night.
Love laid before us, hopes and dreams too.
Prayer now upholds us closer to you.

2 Let evening fall gently within us,
Now sacred silence brings us to you.
Put to rest chaos, crying and pain,
Gently sustain us, speaking our name.

[Instrumental interlude]

3 Let evening fall gently upon us.
Sunlight has faded, day’s work is done.
Now you protect us, held in your sight
In holy darkness till morning’s 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 Tony Alonso’s responsorial setting of the evening psalm, “Psalm 141—Like Burning Incense, O Lord.”

Like burning incense, O Lord,
let my rise to you.
Like burning incense, O Lord,
let my prayer rise to you.

1 I call out to you,
Come quickly to my aid.
My song cries out to you,
O listen to me now.
I raise my hands in off’ring to you.

Like burning incense, O Lord,
(Like burning incense, O Lord,)
let my prayer rise to you.
(let my prayer rise to you.)
Like burning incense, O Lord,
(Like burning incense, O Lord,)
let my prayer rise to you.
(let my prayer rise to you.)

2 Let me speak your truth;
watch over all I say.
Keep my thoughts on you;
let goodness rule my heart.
Keep me far from those who do harm.

Like burning incense, O Lord,
(Like burning incense, O Lord,)
let my prayer rise to you.
(let my prayer rise to you.)
Like burning incense, O Lord,
(Like burning incense, O Lord,)
let my prayer rise to you.
(let my prayer rise to you.)

3 Never let me dine
with those who seek to harm.
Keep your holy ones
always at my side.
Plant your wisdom deep in my soul.

Like burning incense, O Lord,
(Like burning incense, O Lord,)
let my prayer rise to you.
(let my prayer rise to you.)
Like burning incense, O Lord,
(Like burning incense, O Lord,)
let my prayer rise to you.
(let my prayer rise to you.)

4 I look to you for help;
I seek your loving eyes.
Guard my life for you;
Spare me from all wrong.
Keep all evil far from my heart.

Like burning incense, O Lord,
(Like burning incense, O Lord,)
let my prayer rise to you.
(let my prayer rise to you.)
Like burning incense, O Lord,
(Like burning incense, O Lord,)
let my prayer rise to you.
(let my prayer rise to you.)

5 Glory be to God
and to God’s only Son,
glory to the Spirit,
three in one,
now and for ever. Amen.

Like burning incense, O Lord,
(Like burning incense, O Lord,)
let my prayer rise to you.
(let my prayer rise to you.)
Like burning incense, O Lord,
(Like burning incense, O Lord,)
let my prayer rise to you.
(let my prayer rise to you.)
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 hear Scott Soper’s responsorial setting of Psalm 145, “I Will Praise Your Name For Ever, My King and My God.”

I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God,
my king and my God.

1 I will praise you, God and king;
I will bless your name forever.
Ev’ry day I will bless you,
praise your name for ever.

I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God,
my king and my God.

2 You are grace and mercy, Lord,
slow to anger, filled with kindness.
You are good to all your children,
loving all creation.

I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God,
my king and my God.

3 Let your works give thanks to you;
let your faithful ever bless you;
let them praise your strength, your glory,
and proclaim your kingdom.

I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God,
my king and my God.

4 Ev’ry word you speak in faith,
ev’ry work you do is holy.
You lift up all who stumble,
you raise up the lowly.

I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God,
my king and my God.

Silence is kept.

King of the universe,
you show the bright glory of your reign
in acts of mercy and enduring love;
raise the spirits of the downcast
and restore those who have fallen away,
that we may sing for ever of your love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

CANTICLE

Open this link in a new tab to hear Geoff Bullock’s “Blessing, Honor, Glory to the Lamb,” based upon Revelation 5.

Blessing, honor, glory to the Lamb;
Holy, righteous, worthy is the Lamb.

Blessing, honor, glory to the Lamb;
Holy, righteous, worthy is the Lamb.

Death could not hold Him down
For He is risen
Seated upon the throne,
He is the Lamb of God

Blessing, honor, glory to the Lamb
Holy, righteous, worthy is the Lamb.

Blessing, honor, glory to the Lamb
Holy, righteous, worthy is the Lamb.

Blessing, honor, glory to the Lamb
Holy, righteous, worthy is the Lamb.

Death could not hold Him down
For He is risen
Seated upon the throne,
He is the Lamb of God

Death could not hold Him down
For He is risen
Seated upon the throne!
He is the Lamb of God
He is the Lamb of God
He is the Lamb of God

Blessing, honor, glory to the Lamb

Silence may be kept.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Isaiah 4:2-5:7 A Promise of Restoration and a Song about the Lord’s Vineyard

But in that day, the branch of the Lord
will be beautiful and glorious;
the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory
of all who survive in Israel.
All who remain in Zion
will be a holy people—
those who survive the destruction of Jerusalem
and are recorded among the living.
The Lord will wash the filth from beautiful Zion
and cleanse Jerusalem of its bloodstains
with the hot breath of fiery judgment.
Then the Lord will provide shade for Mount Zion
and all who assemble there.
He will provide a canopy of cloud during the day
and smoke and flaming fire at night,
covering the glorious land.
It will be a shelter from daytime heat
and a hiding place from storms and rain.

Now I will sing for the one I love
a song about his vineyard:
My beloved had a vineyard
on a rich and fertile hill.
He plowed the land, cleared its stones,
and planted it with the best vines.
In the middle he built a watchtower
and carved a winepress in the nearby rocks.
Then he waited for a harvest of sweet grapes,
but the grapes that grew were bitter.

Now, you people of Jerusalem and Judah,
you judge between me and my vineyard.
What more could I have done for my vineyard
that I have not already done?
When I expected sweet grapes,
why did my vineyard give me bitter grapes?

Now let me tell you
what I will do to my vineyard:
I will tear down its hedges
and let it be destroyed.
I will break down its walls
and let the animals trample it.
I will make it a wild place
where the vines are not pruned and the ground is not hoed,
a place overgrown with briers and thorns.
I will command the clouds
to drop no rain on it.

The nation of Israel is the vineyard of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
The people of Judah are his pleasant garden.
He expected a crop of justice,
but instead he found oppression.
He expected to find righteousness,
but instead he heard cries of violence.

Silence is kept.

Matthew 4:12-22 Jesus Begins His Ministry and Calls the First Disciples

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah:

“In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali,
beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River,
in Galilee where so many Gentiles live,
the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light.
And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow,
a light has shined.”

From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.

A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.

Silence is kept.

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

HOMILY

A Different Kind of Fishing, A Different Kind of Fish

If fishing is one of your pastimes, this evening’s New Testament reading may conjure an image of dozing off on bank of a bayou or creek with a cane pole with baited hook at the end of your line and a float bobbing in the water or sitting in an aluminum jon boat on the placid water of a lake, casting a lure into the lake’s depths. If fishing is your livelihood, the reading may conjure a different picture in your mind. If you have never gone fishing in your life and do not have a penchant for watching fishing videos, the reading may conjure no images in your mind at all.

The fisherman whom Jesus called to be his first disciples fished at night with a net when the fish swam close to the surface. If they were lucky, they would encounter a shoal of fish, a large number of fish swimming as a group, and return to shore with a catch. Once on shore they would sort the fish that they had caught, discarding those they could not sell or eat. Most of the fish they sold and used the proceeds from the sale to buy flour, lentils, olive oil, and other necessities. They did not live solely on fish. When they were not fishing or selling their catch, they spent their time cleaning and mending their nets. As they were cleaning and mending their nets, they would talk about the various happenings going on in their world.

The way they earned their livelihood was not an easy one. A squall might blow up on the Sea of Galilee and swamp their boat, causing it to founder. They might drown. They might return from a night’s fishing empty-handed. As the reading suggests, they became fishermen because their fathers were fishermen and their father’s fathers, fishermen too. It was a family occupation, passed on from one generation to the next like most occupations in the time of Jesus.

The willingness of the four men to give up what was for them their way of life to follow Jesus suggests two things. It was not the first time that Jesus had spoken to them, and he had made a strong impression on them. The Holy Spirit was moving in their lives in a powerful way. Without God’s grace enabling them, these simple fishermen would not have left their boats, their nets, and their kin and followed Jesus. If we read the Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and Luke’s Acts of the Apostles, we learn that Jesus did indeed keep his promise and show them how to fish for men.

What then does this evening’s reading mean for us today, for you and me? I believe that I am safe in saying, based upon what is written in the New Testament, that Jesus in calling us to follow him also calls us to be fishers of not just men but women and children too. The kind of fisherfolk which he calls us to be are not the kind dozing off on the bank of a bayou or creek or sitting in an aluminum jon boat on the placid water of a lake. Rather we are to be like those fishermen who set out in their shallow wooden fishing boats on the Sea of Galilee in the dark of night and braved the dangers and uncertainties of fishing in its waters.

Fishing for people is not just the calling of a few—bishops, pastors, elders, local preachers, and deacons. It is the calling of all whom have heard Jesus’ call to follow him. Admittedly the apostles had one advantage that we do not have: they had Jesus to teach them in person how to fish for people. They had him as their teacher and their exemplar. We may have to teach ourselves. While it is the task of those who have been ordained or licensed as ministers to equip their fellow Christians for the task, very few of them have been equipped themselves.

In my experience which is supported by what I have read in the literature, Christians in Western countries like Australia, Canada, the European Union, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States also shy away from what should be a normal part of their lifestyle, forming lasting relationships with people who do not know Jesus, having spiritual conversations with them, pointing them to Jesus, and helping them to follow Jesus. We find it much easier to be “the hands and feet of Christ” and minister to the physical needs of folks whom we know only slightly than we do to make friends of them and minister to their relationship and spiritual needs. To do the latter, we must move out of comfort zones and leave our Christian bubbles with which we surround ourselves.

How many of us know people who are not Christians. I am not talking about people with whom we have a passing acquaintance but people we know fairly well. I suspect that it is not very many. If we are to be faithful to our calling, that must change.

Among the reasons that we shy away from reaching out to non-Christians and engaging with them is that we mistakenly believe that we must be able to convince them to become followers of Jesus and we lack confidence in our ability to persuade them. Our task, however, is to faithfully represent Jesus in the world, to embody what he taught; to make friends with those who do not know Jesus and to be a genuine friend to them; to pray for them; and to point them to Jesus through our words as well as our actions. The rest is the Holy Spirit’s job. If our friend does experience a change of heart and the stirrings of faith in their innermost being, our task is to encourage them, teach them, model for them the faith and life of a genuine follower of Jesus, and be there for them when they need someone.

What if they do not experience a change of heart and the stirrings of faith? It is helpful to keep in mind that to some it falls to break the sod and prepare the ground; others to plant the seed; to others to water the ground where the seed was planted; to others to tend the young plant and watch it grow; and to others to see it bloom and bear fruit. Most blessed is the disciple who plays a role in all these stages, but we cannot always expect to do so. God’s grace works in different individuals’ lives at a different pace. It is God’s grace working in their lives, which enable them to repent and to believe. It is God’s grace working in their lives, which enables them to will and do what is God’s good pleasure, what is pleasing and acceptable to God.

We should never abandon someone because our efforts do not yield the results that we were hoping for. We keep praying for them and we keep showing them our friendship. God can use us as means of grace to them. God can also use them as a means of grace to us! Nothing is impossible for God!

I have put together a short list of books which I have found helpful over the years. Some may be out of print but used copies may be found on the internet.

Rebecca Manley Pippert, Out of the Saltshaker into the World: Evangelism as a Way of Life, Intervarsity Press, 1979

Rebecca Manley Pippert; Ruth Siemens, Evangelism: A Way of Life: 12 Studies for Individuals or Groups, Intervarsity Press, 1985

Joyce Neville, How to Share Your Faith Without Being Offensive, Morehouse Publishing Company, 1989

Harry C. Griffith, How to Share Your Faith Without Being Offensive Study Guide, Morehouse Publishing Company 1991

Bill Hybels; Mark Mittelberg, Becoming a Contagious Christian, Zondervan, 1994

Michael Green, Sharing Your Faith with a Friend: Simple Steps to Introducing Jesus, Intervarsity Press 1995, 2002

Philip D. Jensen; Tony Payne, Two Ways to Live: Know and Share the Gospel Leader’s Manual, Matthius Media, 2003

Philip D. Jensen; Tony Payne, Two Ways to Live: Know and Share the Gospel Participant’s Manual, Matthius Media, 2003

Philip D. Jensen; Tony Payne, Two Ways to Live: The Choice We All Face, Matthius Media, 2003

Philip D. Jensen, Who Will Be King? Two Ways to Live for Kids, Matthius Media, 2004

Steve Sjogren, Dave Ping; Doug Pollock, Irresistible Evangelism, Group Publishing, Inc., 2004 (This book identifies a number of skills we need to develop to have meaningful spiritual conversations with others.)

Mike Bechtle, Evangelism for the Rest of Us: Sharing Christ Within Your Personality Style, Baker Books, 2006

George G. Hunter, III, The Celtic Way of Evangelism: How Christianity Can Reach the West…Again, Tenth Anniversary Edition, Revised and Updated Abingdon, 2010 (I read an earlier edition of this book, but this edition is the most recent edition that is in print.)

An individual Christian, small group, Sunday school class, or an entire congregation can read and study one or more of these books and then apply what they have learned. What is key is that they make use of what they have learned from reading and studying the book or books. If we do not put into practice what we learn, it will be of little use to us, and we will quickly forget it. It is in the application of what we learn from reading and studying such books that accountability groups like Covenant Discipleship Groups, small groups modeled on the early Methodist class, prove their usefulness.

A church grows not by attracting a large crowd for whom attending that church is only a passing interest but by producing more disciples, genuine followers of Jesus who live their lives according to his teaching and example. We can talk all we want about making disciples for the transformation of the world but only people whose lives have been transformed are going to have a transforming effect on the world around them, on the people in their lives, and on their communities.

It is not enough to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We must also have the heart of Jesus. We must feel the same compassion for the lost that he felt and point them to him, to the One whose very name means “God saves.”

Silence is kept.

GOSPEL CANTICLE

Open this link in a new tab to hear Owen Alstott’s setting of the Magnificat, “My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of the Lord.”

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
My spirit sings to God, my saving God,
Who on this day above all others favored me
And raised me up, a light for all to see.

Through me great deeds will God make manifest,
And all the earth will come to call me blest.
Unbounded love and mercy sure will I proclaim
For all who know and praise God's holy name.

God's mighty arm, protector of the just,
Will guard the weak and raise them from the dust.
But mighty kings will swiftly fall from thrones corrupt.
The strong brought low, the lowly lifted up.

Soon will the poor and hungry of the earth
Be richly blest, be given greater worth.
And Israel, as once foretold to Abraham,
Will live in peace throughout the promised land.

All glory be to God, Creator blest,
To Jesus Christ, God's love made manifest,
And to the Holy Spirit, gentle Comforter,
All glory be, both now and ever more.

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

Almighty God,
you have sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts
and set us free from the bondage of sin;
give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service,
that we and all your people may be brought
to the glorious liberty of the children of God;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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 Marty Haugen’s “Spirit Blowing Through Creation.”

1 Spirit blowing through creation,
Spirit burning in the skies,
Let the hope of Your salvation fill our eyes;
God of splendor, God of glory,
You who light the stars above,
All the heavens tell the story of your love.

2 As you moved upon the waters,
As you ride upon the wind,
Move us all, your sons and daughters, deep within;
As you shaped the hills and mountains,
Formed the land and filled the deep,
Let your hand renew and waken all who sleep.

Spirit renewing the earth, renewing the hearts of all people;
Burn in the weary souls, blow through the silent lips,
come now awake us, Spirit of God.

Love that sends the rivers dancing,
Love that waters all that lives,
Love that heals and holds and rouses and forgives;
You are food for all your creatures,
You are hunger in the soul,
In your hands the brokenhearted are made whole.

4 All the creatures you have fashioned,
All that live and breathe in you,
Find their hope in your compassion, strong and true;
You, O Spirit of salvation,
You alone, beneath, above,
Come, renew your whole creation in your love.

Spirit renewing the earth, renewing the hearts of all people;
Burn in the weary souls, blow through the silent lips,
come now awake us, Spirit of God.

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.