Evening Prayer 11.14.16, Samuel Seabury, 1st American Bishop, 1796

In Hades, where he was being tormented, the rich man looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’

If you were with us this morning you know about the vandalizing of Episcopal churches in the wake of the election of Donald Trump; we published a photo of Nazi slogans, symbols and “fag church” painted on the side of St. David’s, Bean Blossom, Indiana, and above we see the back of a sign welcoming Latinos at Church of Our Saviour, Hillandale in Silver Spring, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C. The exterior wall of their columbarium was also desecrated. Pray that the criminals repent and the congregations and communities keep calm and carry on. (Diocese of Washington)

Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2

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: O Gracious Light

O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the everliving 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.

Psalm 89:19-52

19  You spoke once in a vision and said to your faithful people: *
“I have set the crown upon a warrior
and have exalted one chosen out of the people.
20  I have found David my servant; *
with my holy oil have I anointed him.
21  My hand will hold him fast *
and my arm will make him strong.
22  No enemy shall deceive him, *
nor any wicked man bring him down.
23  I will crush his foes before him *
and strike down those who hate him.
24  My faithfulness and love shall be with him, *
and he shall be victorious through my Name.
25  I shall make his dominion extend *
from the Great Sea to the River.
26  He will say to me, ‘You are my Father, *
my God, and the rock of my salvation.’
27  I will make him my firstborn *
and higher than the rulers of the earth.
28  I will keep my love for him for ever, *
and my covenant will stand firm for him.
29  I will establish his line for ever *
and his throne as the days of heaven.”
30  If his children forsake my law *
and do not walk according to my judgments;
31  If they break my statutes *
and do not keep my commandments;
32  I will punish their transgressions with a rod *
and their iniquities with the lash;
33  But I will not take my love from him, *
nor let my faithfulness prove false.
34  I will not break my covenant, *
nor change what has gone out of my lips.
35  Once for all I have sworn by my holiness: *
‘I will not lie to David.
36  His line shall endure for ever *
and his throne as the sun before me;
37  It shall stand fast for evermore like the moon, *
the abiding witness in the sky.'”
38  But you have cast off and rejected your anointed; *
you have become enraged at him.
39  You have broken your covenant with your servant, *
defiled his crown, and hurled it to the ground.
40  You have breached all his walls *
and laid his strongholds in ruins.
41  All who pass by despoil him; *
he has become the scorn of his neighbors.
42  You have exalted the right hand of his foes *
and made all his enemies rejoice.
43  You have turned back the edge of his sword *
and have not sustained him in battle.
44  You have put an end to his splendor *
and cast his throne to the ground.
45  You have cut short the days of his youth *
and have covered him with shame.
46  How long will you hide yourself, O LORD?
will you hide yourself for ever? *
how long will your anger burn like fire?
47  Remember, LORD, how short life is, *
how frail you have made all flesh.
48  Who can live and not see death? *
who can escape from the power of the grave?
49  Where, Lord, are your loving-kindnesses of old, *
which you promised David in your faithfulness?
50  Remember, Lord, how your servant is mocked, *
how I carry in my bosom the taunts of many peoples,
51  The taunts your enemies have hurled, O LORD, *
which they hurled at the heels of your anointed.

52  Blessed be the LORD for evermore! *
Amen, I say, Amen.

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 rich man and Lazarus; artist unknown.

THE LESSON
Luke 16:19-31 (NRSV)

Jesus said, “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house—for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Canticle: The Song of Simeon
Luke 2:29-32

Lord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten the nations, *
and the glory of your people Israel.

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.

Samuel Seabury was consecrated at the private chapel of the Bishop of Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1784, cementing ties between the American and Scottish churches. The English Church refused the American when he wouldn’t swear allegiance to the Crown. For generations, Americans had begged and pleaded for a colonial bishop, but the Bishop of London always said no. After the American Revolution, when Scotland said yes, the worldwide Anglican Communion was born, with no help whatever from London or Canterbury. (artist unknown)

Collect of the Day: Samuel Seabury, First American Bishop, 1796

We give you thanks, O Lord our God, for your goodness in bestowing upon this Church the gift of the episcopate, which we celebrate in this remembrance of the consecration of Samuel Seabury; and we pray that, joined together in unity with our bishops, and nourished by your holy Sacraments, we may proclaim the Gospel of redemption with apostolic zeal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

For the Nation

Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Peace

Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.

Monday Evening Prayer List: Thanksgivings

Birth of Henry
K’s good news
Fr. Jack Haney, recovering from illness
New subscribers to Oficio Diario
Our mission partners in Haiti, Liberia, Brazil and on the Rosebud Reservation
Those who give to food banks and pantries, and all who receive
Community Health Centers and Free Clinics

A Collect for Mission

O God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let the whole earth also worship you, all nations obey you, all tongues confess and bless you, and men and women everywhere love you and serve you in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14++

VIDEO: Father eternal, ruler of creation (#573, Old 124th, Genevan Psalter, 1551; Laurence Houseman, alt.) – Oasis Chorale, 2014