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
PRELUDE HYMNS
Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus ELW 802
Let us ever walk with Jesus, follow his example pure,
Through a world that would deceive us and to sin our spirits lure.
Onward in his footsteps treading, trav'lers here, our home above,
Full of faith and hope and love,
Let us do our Savior's bidding. Faithful Lord, with me abide;
I shall follow where you guide.
Let us suffer here with Jesus, and with patience bear our cross,
Joy will follow all our sadness; where he is there is no loss.
Though today we sow no laughter, we shall reap celestial joy;
And the grave that shuts us in
Shall but prove the gate of heaven. Jesus, here I share your woe;
Help me there your joy to know.
Let us also live with Jesus. He has risen from the dead
That to life we may awaken. Jesus, you are now our head,
We are your own living members; where you live, there we shall be
In your presence constantly,
Living there with you forever. Jesus, let me faithful be;
Life eternal grant to me.
This Is My Father's World ELW 824
This is my Father's world, and to my list'ning ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world; I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father's world; the birds their carols raise;
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their maker's praise.
This is my Father's world; he shines in all that's fair,
In the rustling grass I hear him pass;
He speaks to me ev'rywhere.
This is my Father's world; oh, let me not forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world; why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is king, let heaven ring;
God reigns, let earth be glad!
DIALOGUE
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
Holy and gracious God,
I confess that I have sinned against you this day.
Some of my sin I know – the thoughts and words and deeds of which I am ashamed – but some is known only to you. In the name of Jesus Christ I ask forgiveness. Deliver and restore me, that I may rest in peace.
By the mercy of God we are united with Jesus Christ, in whom we are forgiven. We rest now in the peace of Christ and rise in the morning to serve.
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 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.
COLLECT
Let us pray. Grant us O Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that Holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing Light, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Psalm 49 (together)
1Hear this, all you peoples;
give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2both low and high,
rich and poor together.
3My mouth shall speak wisdom;
the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4I will incline my ear to a proverb;
I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.
5Why should I fear in times of trouble,
when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,
6those who trust in their wealth
and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7Truly, no ransom avails for one's life,
there is no price one can give to God for it.
8For the ransom of life is costly,
and can never suffice,
9that one should live on forever
and never see the grave.
10When we look at the wise, they die;
fool and dolt perish together
and leave their wealth to others.
11Their graves are their homes forever,
their dwelling places to all generations,
though they named lands their own.
12Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
they are like the animals that perish.
13Such is the fate of the foolhardy,
the end of those who are pleased with their lot.
Selah
14Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
Death shall be their shepherd;
straight to the grave they descend,
and their form shall waste away;
Sheol shall be their home.
15But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
for he will receive me.
Selah
16Do not be afraid when some become rich,
when the wealth of their houses increases.
17For when they die they will carry nothing away;
their wealth will not go down after them.
18Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy
— for you are praised when you do well for yourself —
19they will go to the company of their ancestors,
who will never again see the light.
20Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
they are like the animals that perish.
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 75 (together)
1We give thanks to you, O God;
we give thanks; your name is near.
People tell of your wondrous deeds.
2At the set time that I appoint
I will judge with equity.
3When the earth totters, with all its inhabitants,
it is I who keep its pillars steady.
Selah
4I say to the boastful, "Do not boast,"
and to the wicked, "Do not lift up your horn;
5do not lift up your horn on high,
or speak with insolent neck."
6For not from the east or from the west
and not from the wilderness comes lifting up;
7but it is God who executes judgment,
putting down one and lifting up another.
8For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup
with foaming wine, well mixed;
he will pour a draught from it,
and all the wicked of the earth
shall drain it down to the dregs.
9But I will rejoice forever;
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10All the horns of the wicked I will cut off,
but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.
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.
Mark 12:13-17
13Then they sent to him some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said. 14And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? 15Should we pay them, or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it." 16And they brought one. Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" They answered, "The emperor's." 17Jesus said to them, "Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were utterly amazed at him.
Word of God. Word of Life.
REFLECTION
RESPONSE
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness.
GOSPEL CANTICLE (together)
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,
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
Let us pray.
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 health of the creation, for abundant harvests that all may share, and for peaceful times, 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 those who are sick and suffering, particularly Alena, Marilyn, Jenna, Louis, Julie, Jean, John, Marcella, Michael, Philip, JoAnn, Sandy, Beth, Johnny, Meagan, Betty, Jane, Ron, Dione, Theresa, Margaret, Susan, , Tim, Mary, Ann Joyce, Greg, Shelby, & the Family of Maria Mitchell, and for those who are in captivity, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For deliverance in the time of affliction, wrath, danger, and need, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For all servants of the church, for this assembly, and for all people who await from the Lord great and abundant mercy, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord of all the worlds, guide this nation by your Spirit to go forward in justice and freedom. Give to all our people the blessings of well-being and harmony, but above all things give us faith in you, that our nation may bring glory to your name and blessings to all peoples. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
A brief silence for additional petitions.
Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Giving thanks for all who have gone before us and are at rest, rejoicing in the communion of all the saints, we commend ourselves, one another, and our whole life to you, through Christ our Lord.
To you, O Lord.
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.
BENEDICTION
"As you go on your way may Christ go with you.
May he go before you to show you the way.
May he go behind you to encourage you.
Beside you to befriend you,
above you to watch over,
and within you to give you peace."
Let us go then in peace. Amen.
POSTLUDE HYMN
Calm to the Waves ELW 794
Calm to the waves.
Calm to the wind.
Jesus whispers, "Peace, be still."
Balm to our hearts.
Fears at an end.
In stillness, hear his voice.
Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus Text: Sigismund von Birken, 1526-1681; tr Lutheran Book of Worship, alt. Music: Georg G. Boltz, 18th cent Text © Lutheran Book of Worship, admin Augsburg Fortress Reprinted/streamed under Augsburg Fortress License #SAS016761. All rights reserved.
This Is My Father's World Text: Maltbie D. Babcock, 1858-1901 Music: Franklin L. Shepard, 1852-1930, adapt. PUBLIC DOMAIN
Calm to the Waves Text: Mary Louise Bringle, b. 1953 Music: Thomas Pavlechko, b. 1962 Text © 2002 GIA Publications Music © 2002 Selah Publishing Co, Inc. Reprinted/streamed under OneLicense # A-722274. All rights reserved.
