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A SERVICE OF EVENING PRAYER
October 7, 2021
Prelude
As Rain from the Clouds
ELW 508 (vs. 1 & 3)
As rain from the clouds will your word come to earth,
as snow from the heavens refreshing the land.
Then soften our soil that the good seed may grow
and ripen rich fruit to return to your hand.
We praise you, our God, for the dew of your word;
we thank you, good gard'ner, for your tender toil.
We bless you, best farmer, for hundredfold yield,
for harvest of grace in our once-barren soil.
As rays of the sun shall your word light the world,
awaking and warming and healing our land.
Then shine in our hearts that the good seed may grow
and ripen rich fruit to return to your hand.
We praise you, our God, for the light of your word;
we thank you, good gard'ner, for your tender toil.
We bless you, best farmer, for hundredfold yield,
for harvest of grace in our once-barren soil.
O Word of God Incarnate
ELW 514 (vs. 1 & 3)
O Word of God incarnate,
O Wisdom from on high,
O Truth unchanged, unchanging,
O Light of our dark sky:
we praise you for the radiance
that from the hallowed page,
a lantern to our footsteps,
shines on from age to age.
Oh, make your church, dear Savior,
a lamp of burnished gold
to bear before the nations
your true light, as of old;
oh, teach your wand'ring pilgrims
by this their path to trace,
till, clouds and darkness ended,
they see you face to face.
Welcome
Call to Worship
Jesus Christ is the light of the world,
the light no darkness can overcome.
Stay with us, Lord, for it is evening,
and the day is almost over.
Let your light scatter the darkness
and illumine your church.
Confession and Forgiveness
God of all mercy and consolation,
come to the aid of your people,
turning us from our sin
to live for you alone.
Give us the power of your Holy Spirit
that, attentive to your Word,
we may confess our sins,
receive your forgiveness,
and grow into the fullness of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the
presence of God and of one another.
Gracious God,
have mercy on us.
In your compassion
forgive us our sins,
known and unknown,
things done and left undone.
Uphold us by your Spirit
so that we may live and serve you
in newness of life,
to the honor and glory of your holy name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God have mercy on you,
forgive you all your sins
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
strengthen you in all goodness,
and by the power of the Holy Spirit
keep you in eternal life.
Amen.
Thanksgiving for Light
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning you called light into being,
and you set lights in the sky to govern night and day.
In a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night
you led your people into freedom.
Enlighten our darkness by the light of your Christ; may your Word be
a lamp to our feet and a light to our path; for you are merciful,
and you love your whole creation, and with all your creatures we give you glory,
through your Son Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
now and forever.
Amen.
Prayer
Almighty and ever-living God, increase in us your gift of faith, that, forsaking what lies behind and reaching out to what lies ahead, we may follow the way of your commandments and receive the crown of everlasting joy, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
Psalm 90
1LORD, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
2Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3You turn us back to dust,
and say, "Turn back, you mortals."
4For a thousand years in your sight
are like yesterday when it is past,
or like a watch in the night.
5You sweep them away; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning;
6in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.
7For we are consumed by your anger;
by your wrath we are overwhelmed.
8You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your countenance.
9For all our days pass away under your wrath;
our years come to an end like a sigh.
10The days of our life are seventy years,
or perhaps eighty, if we are strong;
even then their span is only toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11Who considers the power of your anger?
Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.
12So teach us to count our days
that we may gain a wise heart.
13Turn, O LORD! How long?
Have compassion on your servants!
14Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us,
and as many years as we have seen evil.
16Let your work be manifest to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
17Let the favor of the LORD our God be upon us,
and prosper for us the work of our hands —
O prosper the work of our hands!
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be. Amen.
Psalm 92
1It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
2to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night,
3to the music of the lute and the harp,
to the melody of the lyre.
4For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
5How great are your works, O LORD!
Your thoughts are very deep!
6The dullard cannot know,
the stupid cannot understand this:
7though the wicked sprout like grass
and all evildoers flourish,
they are doomed to destruction forever,
8but you, O LORD, are on high forever.
9For your enemies, O LORD,
for your enemies shall perish;
all evildoers shall be scattered.
10But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;
you have poured over me fresh oil.
11My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;
my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.
12The righteous flourish like the palm tree,
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13They are planted in the house of the LORD;
they flourish in the courts of our God.
14In old age they still produce fruit;
they are always green and full of sap,
15showing that the LORD is upright;
he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be. Amen.
Reading: Hebrews 4:12-16
12Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.
14Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Reflection
Response
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets,
but in these last days God has spoken to us by the Son.
Gospel Canticle (together)
Magnificat
A Prayer-Paraphrase of Luke 1: 46-55
We praise you, Lord,
and our spirits rejoice in you – our Saviour;
For you take notice of the unnoticeable,
and transform them into the blessed;
You are strong and true to yourself and all that is good
in everything you are and do and say;
and you do great things for us;
Through the ages you have shown compassion
to those who trust you,
And in your strength you have scattered
those who are arrogant and abusive;
You have made the thrones of tyrants topple
and you have made humble people into leaders of many;
You have cared for and provided for those who have nothing,
and you have left the over-satisfied with empty hands;
You have always been a help to your people,
and have shown mercy when we have gone astray;
You made this promise to our ancestors,
and you continue to stay true to it even now.
We praise you, Lord,
and our spirits rejoice in you – our Saviour.
Amen.
Thanksgiving for Salvation
Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the Lord GOD is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
And you will say in that day:
Give thanks to the LORD,
call on his name;
make known his deeds among the nations;
proclaim that his name is exalted.
Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously;
let this be known in all the earth.
Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Prayers
For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord,
Lord, have mercy.
For the well-being of the church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For this holy assembly and for all who offer here their worship and praise and prayer, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the people and nations of the world engaged in war and violence of all kinds, that peace may be restored, let us pray.
Lord, have mercy.
For our country, that angry vitriol may subside and concern for the common good may grow, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For public servants, the government, and those who protect us; for those who work to bring peace, justice, healing, and protection in this and every place, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For deliverance in the times of affliction, wrath, danger, and need, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For all persons who are suffering in this time of pandemic – the sick, their families, and all healthcare workers, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For all servants of the church, for all followers and disciples of Jesus, and for all people who await from the Lord great and abundant mercy, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
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.
Lord's Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen
Benediction
The guarding of the God of life be on you,
The guarding of loving Christ be on you,
The guarding of Holy Spirit be on you
Every night of your lives,
To aid you and enfold you
Each day and night of your lives.
In the name of the Father,
and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Postlude
God’s Word Is Our Great Heritage
ELW 509
God's word is our great heritage
and shall be ours forever;
to spread its light from age to age
shall be our chief endeavor.
Through life it guides our way;
in death it is our stay.
Lord, grant while time shall last
your church may hold it fast
throughout all generations.
As Rain from the Clouds, Text: Delores Dufner, OSB, b. 1939, Text © 1983, 2003 GIA Publications, Inc.Text: John Fawcett, 1740-1817, alt.; Music: Jonathan E. Spilman, 1812-1896; arr. hymnal version, Arr © 2003 Augsburg Fortress. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved.
O Word of God Incarnate, Text: William W. How, 1823-1897, alt. Music: Neuvermehrtes Gesangbuch, Meiningen, 1693. Public domain.
Liturgical Text and Music, from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, © 2006 and 2020 Augsburg Fortress, Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies License #SAS016761. All rights reserved
Magnificat, A Prayer-Paraphrase of Luke 1: 46-55, John van de Laar, copyright © 2008 Sacredise. Posted on Sacredise.com. Accessed on 7/21/2021.
Benediction – Jan Richardson. Used with permission.
God’s Word Is Our Great Heritage, Text: Nicolai F. S. Grundtvig, 1783-1872; tr. Ole G. Belsheim, 1861-1925, alt; Music: Martin Luther, 1483-1546. Public domain.
