All Hallows Evening Prayer for Christmas Day (December 25, 2022)
The Service of the Light
Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
A light no darkness can extinguish.
Open this link in a new tab to hear George Evan’s translation of the traditional 19th century French carol, “ He Is Born, the Divine Christ Child.”
He is born, the divine Christ Child;
play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
He is born, the divine Christ Child;
sing we all of the Savior mild.
He is born, the divine Christ Child;
play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
He is born, the divine Christ Child;
sing we all of the Savior mild.
1 Through long ages of the past,
prophets have foretold His coming;
through long ages of the past,
now the time has come at last!
He is born, the divine Christ Child;
play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
He is born, the divine Christ Child;
sing we all of the Savior mild.
He is born, the divine Christ Child;
play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
He is born, the divine Christ Child;
sing we all of the Savior mild.
2 O how lovely, O how pure
is this perfect Child of heaven;
O how lovely, O how pure,
gracious gift to humankind!
He is born, the divine Christ Child;
play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
He is born, the divine Christ Child;
sing we all of the Savior mild.
3 Jesus, Lord of all the world,
coming as a Child among us;
Jesus, Lord of all the world,
grant to us Thy heavenly peace.
He is born, the divine Christ Child;
play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
He is born, the divine Christ Child;
sing we all of the Savior mild.
He is born, the divine Christ Child;
play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
He is born, the divine Christ Child;
sing we all of the Savior mild.
Thanksgiving
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, Lord our God,
our eternal Father and David’s king.
You have made our gladness greater and increased our joy
by sending to dwell among us
the Wonderful Counsellor, the Prince of Peace.
Born of Mary,
proclaimed to the shepherds,
and acknowledged to the ends of the earth,
your unconquered Sun of righteousness
destroys our darkness and establishes us in freedom.
All glory in the highest be to you,
through Christ, the Son of your favour,
in the anointing love of his Spirit,
this night and for ever and ever. Amen.
The Psalms
Open this link in a new tab to hear Andrea Sandefur’s setting of Psalm 134, “Come, All Your Servants of the Lord.”
Come all you servants of the Lord (bless the Lord)
Who stand by night in the house of the Lord
Come all you servants of the Lord (bless the Lord)
Who stand by night in the house of the Lord
Lift up your hands to the Holy Place
Lift up your hands, and bless the Lord
Lift up your hands to the Holy Place
Lift up your hands, and bless the Lord, bless the Lord
May the Lord bless you from Zion
He who made heaven and earth (heaven and earth)
May the Lord bless you from Zion
He who made heaven and earth (heaven and earth)
Lift up your hands to the Holy Place
Lift up your hands, and bless the Lord
Lift up your hands to the Holy Place
Lift up your hands, and bless the Lord
Lift up your hands to the Holy Place
Lift up your hands, and bless the Lord
Lift up your hands to the Holy Place
Lift up your hands, and bless the Lord, bless the Lord
Silence is kept.
Guard all your household, Lord,
through the dark night of faith,
and purify the hearts of those who wait on you,
until your kingdom dawns with the
rising of your Son,
Christ, the morning star.
Praise to you our God;
You answer prayer. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Roger Holtz and Jane Terwillinger’s setting of Psalm 8, “O Lord, Our God, How Wonderful.”
O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name,
how wonderful your name,
in all the earth!
When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars which you set in place -
What is man that you should be mindful of him,
or the son of man that you should care for him?
O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name,
how wonderful your name,
in all the earth!
You have made him little less than the angels,
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
putting all things under his feet:
O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name,
how wonderful your name,
in all the earth!
All sheep and oxen,
yes, and the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea,
and whatever swims the paths of the seas.
O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name,
how wonderful your name,
in all the earth!
Silence is kept.
We bless you, Master of the heavens,
for the wonderful order which enfolds this world;
grant that your whole creation
may find fulfilment in the Son of Man,
Jesus Christ our Savior.
Hear this prayer for your love’s sake. Amen.
The Proclamation of the Word
The Readings
A reading from the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 65: 17-25)
“Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth,
and no one will even think about the old ones anymore.
Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation!
And look! I will create Jerusalem as a place of happiness.
Her people will be a source of joy.
I will rejoice over Jerusalem
and delight in my people.
And the sound of weeping and crying
will be heard in it no more.
“No longer will babies die when only a few days old.
No longer will adults die before they have lived a full life.
No longer will people be considered old at one hundred!
Only the cursed will die that young!
In those days people will live in the houses they build
and eat the fruit of their own vineyards.
Unlike the past, invaders will not take their houses
and confiscate their vineyards.
For my people will live as long as trees,
and my chosen ones will have time to enjoy their hard-won gains.
They will not work in vain,
and their children will not be doomed to misfortune.
For they are people blessed by the Lord,
and their children, too, will be blessed.
I will answer them before they even call to me.
While they are still talking about their needs,
I will go ahead and answer their prayers!
The wolf and the lamb will feed together.
The lion will eat hay like a cow.
But the snakes will eat dust.
In those days no one will be hurt or destroyed on my holy mountain.
I, the Lord, have spoken!”
Silence follows the reading
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Janet Whitaker’s “Magnificat.”
1 Sing out, my soul, for God has raised and blessed me
and looked on me with kindly, loving eyes.
A servant lowly yet I am beloved.
This wondrous God has done great things for me.
Forevermore O mighty God of mercy,
I will sing praise for holy is your name!
2 The proud of heart he shall make low and humble.
The gentle, poor and hungry shall be filled.
O Israel! God shall uphold the promise
made long ago to you and Abraham.
Forevermore O mighty God of mercy,
I will sing praise for holy is your name!
3 Glory to you, the God of all creation.
Glory to, O Christ, the promised one.
Glory to you, O Spirit of Compassion.
Inspire our hearts to sing our mother’s song.
Forevermore O mighty God of mercy,
I will sing praise for holy is your name!
A Reading from the Letter to the Philippians (Philippians 2:5-11)
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Silence follows the reading
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Open a link in a new tab to hear Manoling Francisco’s “Simeon’s Canticle.”
Lord, let Your servant go in peace
For Your Word has been fulfilled.
Lord, let Your servant go in peace
For Your Word has been fulfilled.
A Child shall be born to the Virgin,
And His Name shall be called, "Emmanuel."
Lord, let Your servant go in peace
For Your Word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen Your salvation
Which You have prepared for all men.
Lord, let Your servant go in peace
For Your Word has been fulfilled.
A Light shall reveal to the nations
And the glory of Your people, Israel.
Lord, let Your servant go in peace
For Your Word has been fulfilled.
Lord, let Your servant go in peace
For Your Word has been fulfilled.
Lord, let Your servant go in peace...
Homily
A Reflection of Jesus
The apostle Paul prefaces this evening’s New Testament reading from his letter to the Philippians with these words:
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
He follows the passage with these words.
Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.
When endeavoring to interpret, understand, and apply a passage of Scripture, it is always a good idea to look at its immediate context—the passages that precede it and those which follow it. Sometimes we may need to consider the larger context—an entire chapter of the book or letter or the whole book or letter. It is also a good idea to think about what is written elsewhere in Scripture on that particular topic. A practice to avoid is taking a passage out of context and interpreting it in isolation from what is written in other passages of Scripture.
After urging te members of the church at Philippi to be humble, Paul illustrates what he means with a description of Jesus’ humility, instructing them to adopt the same attitude as Jesus had. In his description of Jesus’ humility, Paul affirms that Jesus is God.
Paul is telling them to imitate Jesus. In the process he is also telling them and us about Jesus’ nature as well as his character. We learn that Jesus did not value his divinity that he was unwilling to relinquish to become a human being. We also learn something about our relationship to God. We are servants, slaves. And Jesus chose to become a slave like us of his own free will.
What Jesus told his disciples about coming to serve and not to be served springs to mind. That and what he said about he greatest among his disciples being the servant of all.
Jesus himself told his disciples to imitate God, to imitate God’s compassion and mercy and thereby show themselves to be the children of the Most High. .
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul also tells the members of the church at Ephesus to be imitators of God.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
Disciples not only follow the teachings of the person of whom they are disciples, but also they emulate that person’s attitudes, ways of thinking, and behavior.
Disciples not only follow the teachings of the person of whom they are disciples, but also they emulate that person’s attitudes, ways of thinking, and behavior.
One of Jesus’ claims was that he was the fulfillment of an Old Testament prophesy found in the Book of Isaiah. God himself would teach people and make them is disciples.
Among modern-day Christians here is a lot of confusion about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus as has been the case in the past. We think that because we go to church on Sunday, attend a Sunday school class, and listen to a sermon, and read our Bibles and pray during the week, we are disciples.
Among modern-day Christians here is a lot of confusion about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus as has been the case in the past. We think that because we go to church on Sunday, attend a Sunday school class, and listen to a sermon, and read our Bibles and pray during the week, we are disciples.
But it is clear from Jesus’ own teachings and the writings of the apostles that there is a lot more to being a disciple of Jesus than pursuing these activities. They are beneficial. They are means of grace. However, pursuing them does not make us a disciple of Jesus.
To be a true disciple, we must internalize what Jesus taught and what he exemplified so that it becomes a part of our character. A true disciple is a reflection of Jesus.
Silence is kept.
Affirmation of Faith
Hear, O Israel,
Silence is kept.
Affirmation of Faith
Hear, O Israel,
the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
This is the first and the great commandment.
The second is like it:
Love your neighbour as yourself.
There is no commandment greater than these.
Intercessions and Thanksgivings
(As we bow our heads in God’s presence, let us pray to the Lord, saying,
“Lord, have mercy.”)
For the whole People of God, that each one may be a true and
faithful servant of Christ, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those drawing near to the light of faith, that the Lord will
bring them to true knowledge of himself, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For our families and friends, that the Lord will give them joy
and satisfaction in all that they do, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those who are lonely, sick, hungry, persecuted, or ignored,
that the Lord will comfort and sustain them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For our country, that the Lord will help us to contribute to its
true growth and well-being, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the whole human family, that we may live together in
justice and peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Free intercessions and thanksgivings may be said, and silence kept.
The Collect
Almighty God,
you wonderfully created
and yet more wonderfully restored our human nature.
May we share the divine life of your Son Jesus Christ,
who humbled himself to share our humanity,
and now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
This is the first and the great commandment.
The second is like it:
Love your neighbour as yourself.
There is no commandment greater than these.
Intercessions and Thanksgivings
(As we bow our heads in God’s presence, let us pray to the Lord, saying,
“Lord, have mercy.”)
For the whole People of God, that each one may be a true and
faithful servant of Christ, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those drawing near to the light of faith, that the Lord will
bring them to true knowledge of himself, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For our families and friends, that the Lord will give them joy
and satisfaction in all that they do, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those who are lonely, sick, hungry, persecuted, or ignored,
that the Lord will comfort and sustain them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For our country, that the Lord will help us to contribute to its
true growth and well-being, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the whole human family, that we may live together in
justice and peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Free intercessions and thanksgivings may be said, and silence kept.
The Collect
Almighty God,
you wonderfully created
and yet more wonderfully restored our human nature.
May we share the divine life of your Son Jesus Christ,
who humbled himself to share our humanity,
and now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
And now, as our Saviour Christ has taught us,
we are bold to say,
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.
Open this link in a new tab to hear John W. Becker’s arrangement of Katherine Emily Roberts’ “All Poor Folk and Humble.”
1 All poor folk and humble,
All lame folk who stumble,
Come haste ye, be not afraid.
For Jesus our treasure,
With love past all measure,
In lowly poor manger was laid.
2 Though wise men who found him
Laid rich gifts around him,
Yet oxen they gave him their hay;
And Jesus in beauty
Accepted their duty;
Contented in manger he lay.
3 Then haste we to show him
The praises we owe him;
Our service he ne'er can despise:
Whose love still is able
To show us that stable
Where softly in manger he lies.
Dismissal
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May the Lord of peace give us peace
in all ways and at all times. Amen.
we are bold to say,
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.
Open this link in a new tab to hear John W. Becker’s arrangement of Katherine Emily Roberts’ “All Poor Folk and Humble.”
1 All poor folk and humble,
All lame folk who stumble,
Come haste ye, be not afraid.
For Jesus our treasure,
With love past all measure,
In lowly poor manger was laid.
2 Though wise men who found him
Laid rich gifts around him,
Yet oxen they gave him their hay;
And Jesus in beauty
Accepted their duty;
Contented in manger he lay.
3 Then haste we to show him
The praises we owe him;
Our service he ne'er can despise:
Whose love still is able
To show us that stable
Where softly in manger he lies.
Dismissal
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May the Lord of peace give us peace
in all ways and at all times. Amen.
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