Come join us as we close the day and welcome the evening in this devotional time.
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A SERVICE OF EVENING PRAYER
DIALOGUE
When anyone is united to Christ,
there is a new world;
the old order has gone,
and a new order has already begun.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Trusting in the mercy of God, let us confess our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Reconciling God,
we confess that we do not trust your abundance, and we deny your presence in our lives.
We place our hope in ourselves and rely on our own efforts.
We fail to believe that you provide enough for all.
We abuse your good creation for our own benefit.
We fear difference and do not welcome others as you have welcomed us.
We sin in thought, word, and deed.
By your grace, forgive us; through your love, renew us; and in your Spirit, lead us; so that we may live and serve you in newness of life. Amen.
Beloved of God, by the radical abundance of divine mercy we have peace with God through + Christ Jesus, through whom we have obtained grace upon grace.
Our sins are forgiven.
Let us live now in hope.
For hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Amen.
THANKSGIVING FOR LIGHT
Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.”
Let us pray. O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen.
O Gracious Light
O gracious light, pure brightness of the ever-living Father in heaven, O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun, and our eyes behold the vesper light, we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices, O Son of God, O Giver of Life, and to be glorified through all the worlds. Amen.
PSALM 145 (together)
1Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!
2I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
3Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help.
4When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish.
5Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God,
6who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever;
7who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free;
8the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.
9The LORD watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD!
Psalm 148 (together)
1Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights!
2Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!
3Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars!
4Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
5Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created.
6He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.
7Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps,
8fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!
9Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!
10Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!
11Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!
12Young men and women alike, old and young together!
13Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven.
14He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the LORD!
READING AND REFLECTION
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness.
Ephesians 2:11-22
11So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called "the uncircumcision" by those who are called "the circumcision" — a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands — 12remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. 17So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 30built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God. Word of God. Word of Life.
GOSPEL CANTICLE (together)
Refrain: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for you, Lord, have looked with favor on your lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me bless’d:
you, the Almighty, have done great things for me
and holy is your name.
You have mercy on those who fear you,
from generation to generation.
You have shown strength with your arm
and scattered the proud in their conceit,
casting down the mighty from their thrones
and lifting up the lowly.
You have filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
You have come to the aid of your servant Israel,
Refrain: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the
dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYERS
For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the whole world, 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 house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the healing of creation damaged by our misuse of your gifts, for harvests by which all may be fed, for a commitment to be a faithful steward of your creation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For public servants, for first responders, for all who work to protect us; for the leaders of the nations that they may work for the good of all to bring peace and justice in every place, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For all who are affected by natural disaster, those suffering and fearful because of the wild fires in Colorado and California, those in the track of Hurricane Laura, and all other victims of catastrophe around the world, that they may be protected, sustained, and preserved, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those who are sick or suffering in any way, particularly Alena, Jenna, Louis, Julie, Jean, Michael, Philip, JoAnn, Sandy, Beth, Johnny, Betty, Ron, Dione, Theresa, Margaret, Susan, Don, Tim, Mary, Ann Joyce, Greg, & Shelby; let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those who travel, that they may do so in safety; for those in captivity, that they may be saved from injustice; for teachers and all working in our schools and colleges, that they may be protected from the coronavirus, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For our elected leaders, that they may govern justly seeking the common good rather than personal gain, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For all servants of your church, for Presiding Bishop Elizabeth, for our Bishop Pedro, for all on our synod staff, and all ministers of the gospel, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
We give you thanks for all who have gone before us and are now at rest, we rejoice in the communion of all the saints and we commend ourselves, one another, and our whole life to you through Christ our Lord.
A brief silence for personal petitions.
Gracious God, we give you thanks for the day, especially for the good we were permitted to give and to receive; the day is now past and we commit it to you. We entrust to you the night; we rest securely, for you are our help, and you neither slumber nor sleep; 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.
BLESSING
Don’t give up on this year.
Keep fighting for the good.
Keep showing up.
Keep loving.
Keep giving back.
Keep being kind.
Keep being brave.
Keep caring.
Keep trying new things.
Keep showing grace.
Keep on.
This world needs you to believe
in the good.
- Rachel Marie Martin
Findingjoy.net
The Brave Art of Motherhood
