All Hallows Morning and Evening Prayer for Sunday (November 6, 2022)
The order of service for this Sunday's services of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer 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 Lori True’s responsorial setting of the morning psalm, Psalm 63, “In the Morning Let Us Sing.
In the morning let us sing,
let us sing praise to you.
Let us sing glad songs of praise to you.
In the morning let us sing,
let us sing praise to you.
Let us 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.
I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.
In the morning let us sing,
let us sing praise to you.
Let us sing glad songs of praise to you.
In the morning let us sing,
let us sing praise to you.
Let us sing glad songs of praise to you.
2 For you love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
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 let us sing,
let us sing praise to you.
Let us sing glad songs of praise to you.
In the morning let us sing,
let us sing praise to you.
Let us 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 let us sing,
let us sing praise to you.
Let us sing glad songs of praise to you.
In the morning let us sing,
let us sing praise to you.
Let us sing glad songs of praise to you.
Let us sing glad songs of praise to you.
We’ll sing praise to you!
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 Songs In His Presence’s responsorial setting of Psalm 90: 3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17, “If Today You Hear His Voice/In Every Age You, O Lord, Have Been Our Refuge.”
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades.
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
(If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.)
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
(If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.)
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Silence is kept.
Almighty God,
our eternal refuge,
teach us to live with the knowledge of our death
and to rejoice in the promise of your glory,
revealed to us in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
CANTICLE
Open this link in a new tab to hear Timothy R. Smith’s responsorial setting of the Benedictus es, “Glory and Praise For Ever.”
Glory and praise, glory and praise,
glory and praise for ever!
Glory and praise, glory and praise,
glory and praise for ever!
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.
Glory and praise, glory and praise,
glory and praise for ever!
Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
Glory and praise, glory and praise,
glory and praise for ever!
Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
Glory and praise, glory and praise,
glory and praise for ever!
Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
Glory and praise, glory and praise,
glory and praise for ever!
Silence may be kept.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Isaiah 2:1-5 The Lord’s Future Reign
This is a vision that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house
will be the highest of all—
the most important place on earth.
It will be raised above the other hills,
and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.
People from many nations will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of Jacob’s God.
There he will teach us his ways,
and we will walk in his paths.”
For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion;
his word will go out from Jerusalem.
The Lord will mediate between nations
and will settle international disputes.
They will hammer their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will no longer fight against nation,
nor train for war anymore.
Come, descendants of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the Lord!
Silence is kept.
James 3:13-18 True Wisdom Comes from God
If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.
Silence is kept.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory
HOMILY
Instruments of God's Peace
I see two developments in North America, which I believe will concern Christians who earnestly seek to live in accordance with what Jesus taught and embodied. The first development is the abandonment or twisting of Jesus’ teaching and the rejection of his example by individuals and groups who claim to be Christian. As a consequence, these individuals and groups show very little influence of Jesus’ teaching and example in what they do and say. This development adds to the growing negative view of Christianity held by a segment of the North American population and creates another barrier to reaching and engaging this population segment.
The second development is the lack of evidence of an appreciable influence of genuine Christian values upon the younger generations, values like not being too quick to judge others or too severe in our judgment of others, being willing to make allowances for others, to give them the benefit of the doubt, and to forgive their failings, treating others as we would wish to be treated, and the like.
What began on the internet has become too common in other areas of daily life, canceling someone because we have taken a dislike to what they did or said. They do not actually have to say or do anything wrong. Nor do we need proof of wrongdoing. Our negative opinion of them may be formed solely based on hearsay, information that we have heard but do not know to be true.
This practice has become so common that the Cambridge Dictionary in its definitions of the word, "cancel,” includes it: “to completely reject and stop supporting someone especially because they have said something that offends you.”
Both developments are having similar effects upon individuals and groups affected by them. These effects include a tendency to think the worst of people who do not share our opinion of somebody or something, to exaggerate their bad qualities, to imagine that they have bad qualities which they do not have, and even to view them as completely evil. They also include the tendency to show favoritism toward those who agree with us as well as to consider situations far worse or far more serious than they really are.
Before we pat ourselves on back and think, “I’m not one of those folks. I’m not like that,” we need to think again. We may not be entirely free from these tendencies and similar ones or their causes. Due to the internet and social media these two developments may have impacted us too.
This is where readings like this morning’s New Testament reading from the epistle of James are helpful. They are, after all, one of the ways that God shows us his grace, his good will and favor toward us. Through them God offers us guidance.
As James draws to our attention in the reading, we need wisdom to live as Christians who follow our Lord’s teaching and example. It is wisdom that God provides us. It is a gift of God’s grace. Among its characteristics is that it is not tainted with evil. God gives us the ability to use our knowledge and experience to do no harm, to avoid all forms of evil, and to do good. He does not give us that ability to inflict harm on others and to do ill to them or to perpetrate any form of evil. Neither does God give us that ability to harm ourselves. James lists several other characteristics of the wisdom which comes from God:
“It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.”
One of the ways that God imparts wisdom to us is through the Scriptures. When we read or hear them or reflect upon them, we can ask God not only to enable us to understand them but also to pattern our lives on what we learn from them, particularly Jesus’ teaching and the teaching of the apostles.
The best place to start is the Gospels and Jesus’ teaching and life and then use what he taught as a lens through which we view the apostles’ teaching and what else is taught in Scripture. Something to bear in mind when reading the Gospels is that Jesus taught not only verbally but also by example.
Jesus was an interpreter of Scripture as well as a teacher. Familiarity with the Old Testament, with the Law and the Prophets, as two different collections of books forming the Hebrew Bible are called, will enable us to recognize where Jesus drew upon their teaching in his teaching and how he interpreted and applied what they taught.
In living our lives according to Jesus’ teaching, we bear witness to him. We show to the people around us that we are indeed his disciples. It is not the only way that we bear witness to our Lord, but it is an important one. With the good works that God as prepared for us to do, it is one of the ways that we are an influence for good in the world. It is one of the ways that we can be instruments of God’s peace in the world.
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.
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
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.
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 Fred Kaan’s “Put Peace in Each Other’s Hands.”
1 Put peace into each other’s hand
and like a treasure hold it;
protect it like a candle flame,
with tenderness enfold it.
2 Put peace into each other’s hand
with loving expectation;
be gentle in your words and ways,
in touch with God’s creation.
*3 Put peace into each other’s hand
like bread we break for sharing;
look people warmly in the eye:
Our life is meant for caring.
*4 Give thanks for strong yet tender hands,
held out in trust and blessing.
Where words fall short, let hands speak out,
the heights of love expressing.
Put Christ into each other’s hand
he is love’s deepest measure;
in love make peace,
give peace a chance
and share it like a treasure;
Put peace into— put peace into—
(put peace into—)
each other’s hand
(each other’s hand.)
* Omitted on the video.
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.
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 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 to hear Songs in His Presence Responsorial setting of Psalm 40: 2, 3, 4, 18, “ Lord, Come to My Aid!”
Lord, come to my aid! Lord, come to my aid!
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 to hear Songs in His Presence Responsorial setting of Psalm 40: 2, 3, 4, 18, “ Lord, Come to My Aid!”
Lord, come to my aid! Lord, come to my aid!
Lord, come to my aid! Lord, come to my aid!
I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me.
Lord, come to my aid! Lord, come to my aid!
The LORD heard my cry.
He drew me out of the pit of destruction,
out of the mud of the swamp;
he set my feet upon a crag;
he made firm my steps.
Lord, come to my aid! Lord, come to my aid!
And he put a new song into my mouth,
a hymn to our God.
Many shall look on in awe
and trust in the LORD.
Lord, come to my aid! Lord, come to my aid!
Though I am afflicted and poor,
yet the LORD thinks of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
O my God, hold not back!
Lord, come to my aid! Lord, come to my aid!
Silence is kept.
Free us from our sins, O God,
and may our sacrifices be of praise
to the glory of your Son,
our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Amen
CANTICLE
Open this link in a new tab to hear Donald Pearson's setting of the Dignus est, “Splendor and Honor.”
Splendor and honor and kingly power
are yours by right, O Lord our God.
For you created everything that is,
and by your will they were created
and have their being;
Splendor and honor and kingly power
are yours by right, O Lord our God.
And yours by right, O Lamb that was slain,
for with your blood you have redeemed for God,
From every family, language, people, and nation,
a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
Splendor and honor and kingly power
are yours by right, O Lord our God.
And so, to him who sits upon the throne,
and to Christ the Lamb,
Be worship and praise, dominion and splendor,
for ever more and for evermore.
Splendor and honor and kingly power
are yours by right, O Lord our God.
For ever more and for evermore.
Silence may be kept.
SCRIPTURE READING
1 Kings 3:1-15 Solomon Asks for Wisdom
Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and married one of his daughters. He brought her to live in the City of David until he could finish building his palace and the Temple of the Lord and the wall around the city. At that time the people of Israel sacrificed their offerings at local places of worship, for a temple honoring the name of the Lord had not yet been built.
Solomon loved the Lord and followed all the decrees of his father, David, except that Solomon, too, offered sacrifices and burned incense at the local places of worship. The most important of these places of worship was at Gibeon, so the king went there and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings. That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”
Solomon replied, “You showed great and faithful love to your servant my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you. And you have continued to show this great and faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit on his throne.
“Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies—I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life! And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.”
Then Solomon woke up and realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem and stood before the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, where he sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he invited all his officials to a great banquet.
Silence is kept.
Romans 8:31-39 Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Silence is kept.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory
HOMILY
When I was a boy, I was fascinated with an old-fashioned way of forecasting the weather—the weather house. A weather house is a hygrometer, an instrument used to measure the amount of water vapor in the air, in the form of a small wooden house. A typical weather house has two doors side by side. The left side has a girl or woman, the right side a boy or man. The female figure comes out of the house when the weather will be fair, sunny and dry, while the male comes out when the weather will be foul, rainy and wet. The figures are carved from wood and the female figure will be dressed for fair weather while the male figure will be dressed in sou’wester and oil skins, a waterproof hat and clothing usually worn by fishermen and sailors for foul weather.
The male and female figures ride on a balance bar, which is suspended by a strand of catgut or hair. The gut relaxes or shrinks based on the humidity in the air. It relaxes when the air is wet and tenses when the air is dry. This causes one figure or the other to come out of the house depending on the humidity.
In the morning one of the family members would check the weather house to see what kind of day it would be—fair or foul. If it was early in the morning, they would also take a look outside at the sky. There is some truth to the old adage:
"Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in morning, sailor's warning.” Or as I learned it, “Red sky at night shepherd’s delight. Red sky in morning, shepherd’s warning.”
They would look at the type and movement of the clouds and if they had a weather cock, the direction of the wind. They might also sniff the air for rain and listen for distant thunder. The roar of the wind in the trees also might warn that a storm was coming as it does where I live now.
Based on the weather signs, the family would decide what to wear that day and whether they should take a raincoat or umbrella with them to school or work. I rode a bicycle to school, five miles down country lanes and across open country and without a rain coat I would have been soaking wet by the time I reached school if I was caught in sudden shower or thunderstorm.
The village in which I lived as a boy was not that far from the North Sea and storms would blow in from the sea. In winter we would get freezing cold winds and heavy snow.
It was at that time in my life I learned what a fair-weather friend is. We don’t use that term much nowadays. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, it is someone who is a good friend when it is easy to be one and who stops being one when you are having problems.
I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me.
Lord, come to my aid! Lord, come to my aid!
The LORD heard my cry.
He drew me out of the pit of destruction,
out of the mud of the swamp;
he set my feet upon a crag;
he made firm my steps.
Lord, come to my aid! Lord, come to my aid!
And he put a new song into my mouth,
a hymn to our God.
Many shall look on in awe
and trust in the LORD.
Lord, come to my aid! Lord, come to my aid!
Though I am afflicted and poor,
yet the LORD thinks of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
O my God, hold not back!
Lord, come to my aid! Lord, come to my aid!
Silence is kept.
Free us from our sins, O God,
and may our sacrifices be of praise
to the glory of your Son,
our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Amen
CANTICLE
Open this link in a new tab to hear Donald Pearson's setting of the Dignus est, “Splendor and Honor.”
Splendor and honor and kingly power
are yours by right, O Lord our God.
For you created everything that is,
and by your will they were created
and have their being;
Splendor and honor and kingly power
are yours by right, O Lord our God.
And yours by right, O Lamb that was slain,
for with your blood you have redeemed for God,
From every family, language, people, and nation,
a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
Splendor and honor and kingly power
are yours by right, O Lord our God.
And so, to him who sits upon the throne,
and to Christ the Lamb,
Be worship and praise, dominion and splendor,
for ever more and for evermore.
Splendor and honor and kingly power
are yours by right, O Lord our God.
For ever more and for evermore.
Silence may be kept.
SCRIPTURE READING
1 Kings 3:1-15 Solomon Asks for Wisdom
Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and married one of his daughters. He brought her to live in the City of David until he could finish building his palace and the Temple of the Lord and the wall around the city. At that time the people of Israel sacrificed their offerings at local places of worship, for a temple honoring the name of the Lord had not yet been built.
Solomon loved the Lord and followed all the decrees of his father, David, except that Solomon, too, offered sacrifices and burned incense at the local places of worship. The most important of these places of worship was at Gibeon, so the king went there and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings. That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”
Solomon replied, “You showed great and faithful love to your servant my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you. And you have continued to show this great and faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit on his throne.
“Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies—I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life! And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.”
Then Solomon woke up and realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem and stood before the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, where he sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he invited all his officials to a great banquet.
Silence is kept.
Romans 8:31-39 Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Silence is kept.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory
HOMILY
God Is Not a Fair-Weather Friend
When I was a boy, I was fascinated with an old-fashioned way of forecasting the weather—the weather house. A weather house is a hygrometer, an instrument used to measure the amount of water vapor in the air, in the form of a small wooden house. A typical weather house has two doors side by side. The left side has a girl or woman, the right side a boy or man. The female figure comes out of the house when the weather will be fair, sunny and dry, while the male comes out when the weather will be foul, rainy and wet. The figures are carved from wood and the female figure will be dressed for fair weather while the male figure will be dressed in sou’wester and oil skins, a waterproof hat and clothing usually worn by fishermen and sailors for foul weather.
The male and female figures ride on a balance bar, which is suspended by a strand of catgut or hair. The gut relaxes or shrinks based on the humidity in the air. It relaxes when the air is wet and tenses when the air is dry. This causes one figure or the other to come out of the house depending on the humidity.
In the morning one of the family members would check the weather house to see what kind of day it would be—fair or foul. If it was early in the morning, they would also take a look outside at the sky. There is some truth to the old adage:
"Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in morning, sailor's warning.” Or as I learned it, “Red sky at night shepherd’s delight. Red sky in morning, shepherd’s warning.”
They would look at the type and movement of the clouds and if they had a weather cock, the direction of the wind. They might also sniff the air for rain and listen for distant thunder. The roar of the wind in the trees also might warn that a storm was coming as it does where I live now.
Based on the weather signs, the family would decide what to wear that day and whether they should take a raincoat or umbrella with them to school or work. I rode a bicycle to school, five miles down country lanes and across open country and without a rain coat I would have been soaking wet by the time I reached school if I was caught in sudden shower or thunderstorm.
The village in which I lived as a boy was not that far from the North Sea and storms would blow in from the sea. In winter we would get freezing cold winds and heavy snow.
It was at that time in my life I learned what a fair-weather friend is. We don’t use that term much nowadays. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, it is someone who is a good friend when it is easy to be one and who stops being one when you are having problems.
We make all kinds of friends in life. Very good friends stick with you through thick and thin. Fair-weather friends do not. They disappear at the first signs of trouble.
I met a boy at school, and he invited me to play at his house after school. I accepted the invitation and cycled with him to his village. He persuaded me to make a prank phone call to the fire brigade from a public telephone box. I was making the call when the local constable rode up on his bicycle and my new friend disappeared into his house. The constable gave me a serious talking-to about the harm that I could have done making a prank call to the fire brigade and then let me go.
I met a boy at school, and he invited me to play at his house after school. I accepted the invitation and cycled with him to his village. He persuaded me to make a prank phone call to the fire brigade from a public telephone box. I was making the call when the local constable rode up on his bicycle and my new friend disappeared into his house. The constable gave me a serious talking-to about the harm that I could have done making a prank call to the fire brigade and then let me go.
The boy had made prank calls to the fire brigade on several occasions until the constable had caught him in the act and given him a similar talking-to. The boy had not learned his lesson but had gotten another boy, me, to make a prank call. I rode home on my bicycle thoroughly chastened and never did anything like that again.
A fair-weather friend is no friend at all was one of the lessons which I learned that day.
The point that Paul is making in this evening’s New Testament reading from his epistle to the Romans is that God is not a fair-weather friend. God will not abandon us at the first sign of trouble. He is faithful and he will stick with us.
The point that Paul is making in this evening’s New Testament reading from his epistle to the Romans is that God is not a fair-weather friend. God will not abandon us at the first sign of trouble. He is faithful and he will stick with us.
People whom we once thought of as friends may for one reason or another decide that they no longer want to be friends. They may not have invested as much in the friendship as we have. They may have found someone else whom they think is more entertaining or interesting. They are in the habit of finding fault with all their friends at some point in the friendship and ending the friendship. They are not able to form close friendships and prefer to keep people at a distance. They may even go to great lengths to do that much to our consternation.
God, however, is not like them. God does not make friends with us and then reject us. It is a comforting thought when we are going through a time of difficulty in our lives. We may not be able to depend upon the friendship of our fellow humans, but we can depend upon God’s friendship. God’s love for us is unchanging. Nothing can separate us from God’s love which he revealed to humankind in Jesus. Nothing!
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.”
1 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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 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.
5 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 Keith Duke’s rendition of “Christ Be Near.”
1 Christ be near at either hand,
Christ behind, before me stand,
Christ with me where e’er I go,
Christ around, above, below.
2 Christ be in my heart and mind,
Christ within my soul enshrined.
Christ control my wayward heart;
Christ abide and ne’er depart.
[Instrumental interlude]
3 Christ my life and only way,
Christ my lantern night and day;
Christ be my unchanging friend,
guide and shepherd to the end.
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.
God, however, is not like them. God does not make friends with us and then reject us. It is a comforting thought when we are going through a time of difficulty in our lives. We may not be able to depend upon the friendship of our fellow humans, but we can depend upon God’s friendship. God’s love for us is unchanging. Nothing can separate us from God’s love which he revealed to humankind in Jesus. Nothing!
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.”
1 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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 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.
5 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 Keith Duke’s rendition of “Christ Be Near.”
1 Christ be near at either hand,
Christ behind, before me stand,
Christ with me where e’er I go,
Christ around, above, below.
2 Christ be in my heart and mind,
Christ within my soul enshrined.
Christ control my wayward heart;
Christ abide and ne’er depart.
[Instrumental interlude]
3 Christ my life and only way,
Christ my lantern night and day;
Christ be my unchanging friend,
guide and shepherd to the end.
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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