Evening Prayer 11.8.16, 25th Ordinary Tuesday (USA: Election Day)

So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

Indianapolis is losing its Cardinal-Designate, Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin, who was announced yesterday as the next Archbishop of Newark, opposite New York City. He is considered a moderate, chosen by Pope Francis to replace a conservative. It’s been evident for awhile that the Pope’s had his eye on Tobin; when our Bishop Cate, the Episcopal Bishop of Indianapolis, visited the Anglican Centre in Rome with Francis last month, they talked about Tobin. He gets his red hat November 19. (Michael Conroy/Associated Press)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:2

INVITATORY AND PSALTER

O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

Hymn: Light of the World

Light of the world in grace and beauty,
Mirror of God’s eternal face,
Transparent flame of love’s free duty,
You bring salvation to our race.
Now, as we see the lights of evening,
We raise our voice in hymns of praise;
Worthy are you of endless blessing,
Sun of our night, lamp of our days.

Psalm 78:40-72

40  How often the people disobeyed God in the wilderness *
and offended the LORD in the desert!
41  Again and again they tempted God *
and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
42  They did not remember God’s power *
in the day when God ransomed them from the enemy;
43  How God wrought signs in Egypt *
and omens in the field of Zoan.
44  God turned their rivers into blood, *
so that they could not drink of their streams.
45  God sent swarms of flies among them, which ate them up, *
and frogs, which destroyed them.
46  God gave their crops to the caterpillar, *
the fruit of their toil to the locust.
47  God killed their vines with hail *
and their sycamores with frost.
48  God delivered their cattle to hailstones *
and their livestock to hot thunderbolts.
59  God poured out upon them blazing anger: *
fury, indignation, and distress,
a troop of destroying angels.
50  God did not spare their souls from death; *
but delivered their lives to the plague.
51  God struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, *
the flower of manhood in the dwellings of Ham.
52  God led out the chosen people like sheep *
and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
53  God led them to safety, and they were not afraid; *
but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
54  God brought them to the holy land, *
to the mountain won by God’s own hand.
55  The LORD drove out the Canaanites before them
and apportioned an inheritance to them by lot; *
God made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

56  But they tested and defied the LORD, *
and did not keep the commandments of the Most High.
57  They turned away and were disloyal like their ancestors; *
they were undependable like a warped bow.
58  They grieved God with their hill-altars *
and provoked God’s displeasure with their idols.
59  Hearing this, God was angry *
and utterly rejected Israel.
60  God forsook the shrine at Shiloh, *
the tabernacle where God had lived among mortals.
61  God delivered the ark into captivity, *
God’s glory into the adversary’s hand.
62  God gave the chosen people to the sword *
and was mightily angered against them.
63  The fire consumed their young men; *
there were no wedding songs for their young women.
64  Their priests fell by the sword, *
and their widows made no lamentation.

65  Then the LORD woke as though from sleep, *
like a warrior refreshed with wine.
66  These enemies God struck on the backside *
and put them to perpetual shame.
67  God rejected the tent of Joseph *
and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim;
68  God chose instead the tribe of Judah *
and Mount Zion, the beloved.
69  God built the holy sanctuary like the heights of heaven, *
like the earth which God founded for ever.
60  God chose David to serve, *
and took him away from the sheepfolds.
71  God brought him from tending the sheep, *
to be a shepherd over Jacob, the chosen people,
and over Israel, the chosen inheritance.
72  So David shepherded them with a faithful and true heart *
and guided them with the skillfulness of his hands.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The altar for “election eve” last night at St. Stephen’s, Terre Haute, Indiana. Half or more of the parishes in the diocese are holding public prayers Monday and Tuesday for the civic sacrament of Voting. Anecdotal reports say “turnout” so far for these services has been heavy. (parish photo)

THE LESSON
Luke 14:25-35 (NRSV)

Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus; and he turned and said to them, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

“Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; they throw it away. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!”

Canticle: The Song of Mary
Luke 1:46-55

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in you, O God my Savior, *
for you have looked with favor on your lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
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 help of your servant Israel, *
for you have remembered your promise of mercy,
The promise made to our forebears, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

THE 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 again 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.

THE PRAYERS

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 for ever. Amen.

That this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful,
We entreat you, O Lord.
That your holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and goodwill,
We entreat you, O Lord.
That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins and offenses,
We entreat you, O Lord.
That there may be peace to your Church and to the whole world,
We entreat you, O Lord.
That we may depart this life in your faith and fear,
and not be condemned before the great judgment seat of Christ,
We entreat you, O Lord.
That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit
in the communion of all your saints,
entrusting one another and all our life to Christ,
We entreat you, O Lord.

Chapel of Kalmar Castle, Sweden, where the first fortifications rose in the 13th Century. (Wikipedia)

Collect of the Day: Proper 27

O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

For U.S. Election Day 2016
By Josh Thomas

Holy God, we ask your blessing on the election of a new President and Congress of the United States. This is such a divisive year, with very different visions offered by the candidates, with a background of war in many nations and the reality of violence at home. The results of our choices will resound throughout the world. Bless the candidates and voters; make all of us responsible for our actions; give us a clear result and a humble acceptance of the outcome, that peace and justice may prevail in this and every nation; through Jesus Christ, who came to save us from discord and violence and lead us to your heavenly home. Amen.

A Collect for Aid against Perils

Be our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Tuesday Evening Prayer List

For the Departed
Frank

For Those Who Mourn
Remembering our family and friends

Please add your own prayers here.

Prayer for Mission

O God, you manifest in your servants the signs of your presence: Send forth upon us the Spirit of love, that in companionship with one another your abounding grace may increase among us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The General Thanksgiving

Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness
to us and to all whom you have made.
We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,
that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,
not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by giving up our selves to your service,
and by walking before you
in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

May the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you and scatter the darkness from before your path; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.++

VIDEO: And did those feet in ancient time (Jerusalem, Hubert Parry; William Blake) – Cadet Glee Club of West Point, the U.S. Military Academy; Craig Williams, organ, 2011