Video Evensong 11.18.16, St. Hilda of Whitby, Abbess & Diplomat, 680

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Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge…”

VIDEO: Before thy throne (#575, Vater unser im Himmelreich, German, adapt. Martin Luther; William Boyd Carpenter) – Choir of St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Honolulu, Hawai’i, 2010

Seek the One who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning, and darkens the day into night; who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out upon the surface of the earth: The Lord is his name. Amos 5:8

GENERAL CONFESSION

God of all mercy,
we confess that we have sinned against you,
opposing your will in our lives.
We have denied your goodness in each other,
in ourselves, and in the world you have created.
We repent of the evil that enslaves us,
the evil we have done,
and the evil done on our behalf.
Forgive, restore, and strengthen us
through our Savior Jesus Christ,
that we may abide in your love
and serve only your will. Amen.

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through the grace of Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen.

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.

If possible, light a candle here.

VIDEO: O Gracious Light (Tyler Hughes) – Texas Tech University Choir, 2015

Hymn: O Gracious Light
Phos hilaron

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.

VIDEO: Psalm 107:1-16 (Edward Bairstow) – Choir of Westminster Abbey, 70th Anniversary of the End of World War II in Europe, 2015

Psalm 107:1-32

1  Give thanks to the LORD, who is good, *
whose mercy endures for ever.
2  Let all those whom the LORD has redeemed proclaim *
that the LORD redeemed them from the hand of the foe.
3  God gathered them out of the lands; *
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
4  Some wandered in desert wastes; *
they found no way to a city where they might dwell.
5  They were hungry and thirsty; *
their spirits languished within them.
6  Then in their trouble they cried to the LORD, *
who delivered them from their distress.
7  The LORD put their feet on a straight path *
to go to a city where they might dwell.
8  Let them give thanks for the mercy of God, *
for the wonders the LORD does for all people.
9  For God satisfies the thirsty *
and fills the hungry with good things.
10  Some sat in darkness and deep gloom, *
bound fast in misery and iron;
11  Because they rebelled against the words of God *
and despised the counsel of the Most High.
12  So God humbled their spirits with hard labor; *
they stumbled, and there was none to help.
13  Then in their trouble they cried to the LORD, *
who delivered them from their distress.
14  The LORD led them out of darkness and deep gloom *
and broke their bonds asunder.
15  Let them give thanks for the mercy of God, *
for the wonders the LORD does for all people.
16  For God shatters the doors of bronze *
and breaks in two the iron bars.
17  Some were fools and took to rebellious ways; *
they were afflicted because of their sins.
18  They abhorred all manner of food *
and drew near to death’s door.
19  Then in their trouble they cried to the LORD, *
who delivered them from their distress.
20  God sent forth a word to heal them *
and saved them from the grave.
21  Let them give thanks for the mercy of God, *
for the wonders the LORD does for all people.
22  Let them offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and recount the deeds of God with shouts of joy.
23  Some went down to the sea in ships *
and plied their trade in deep waters;
24  They beheld the works of the LORD *
whose wonders are in the deep.
25  Then the LORD spoke, and a stormy wind arose, *
which tossed high the waves of the sea.
26  They mounted up to the heavens and fell back to the depths; *
their hearts melted because of their peril.
27  They reeled and staggered like drunkards *
and were at their wits’ end.
28  Then in their trouble they cried to the LORD, *
who delivered them from their distress.
29  God stilled the storm to a whisper *
and quieted the waves of the sea.
30  Then were they glad because of the calm, *
and God brought them to the harbor they were bound for.
31  Let them give thanks for the mercy of God, *
for the wonders the LORD does for all people.
32  Let them exalt him in the congregation of the people *
and praise God in the council of the elders.

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.

Re-enactment of the Parable of the Unjust Judge, or the Persistent Widow. (freebibleimages.org)

THE LESSON
Luke 18:1-8 (NRSV)

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

VIDEO: Nunc dimittis (Orlando Gibbons) – Ensemble Hilaris, 2011

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

VIDEO: Apostles’ Creed – Maria L. Evans, 3 months ago

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

VIDEO: Lord’s Prayer (Don D. Robey) – Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, 1950

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.

Grand-niece of a king, brought up at court, instructed by Paulinus, a companion to St. Augustine of Canterbury, at age 33 Hilda entered a convent in Gaul. But St. Aidan was so impressed with her he brought her back to Britain and made her Abbess of Hartlepool. Later she established her own abbey at Whitby with both nuns and monks. Her Collect below is a testament to her bishop-like authority and the respect she commanded, in a time when women were virtually powerless. She is best remembered for opposing Rome’s suppression of Celtic Christianity. (source unknown)

Collect of the Day: Hilda, Abbess of Whitby, 680

O God of peace, by whose grace the abbess Hilda was endowed with gifts of justice, prudence, and strength to rule as a wise mother over the nuns and monks of her household, and to become a trusted and reconciling friend to leaders of the Church: Give us the grace to recognize and accept the varied gifts you bestow on men and women, that our common life may be enriched and your gracious will be done; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A Collect for Fridays

Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake up in your likeness; for your tender mercies’ sake. Amen.

Friday Evening Prayer List: For the Church

For Our Candidates for Ordination to the Diaconate
Maria L. Evans, CDSP & Diocese of Missouri
Leslie Scoopmire, Eden Theological Seminary

For our Seminarians
Teresa Wakeen, CDSP
Shanna, CDSP

For Christians in the Middle East
Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Israel and Palestine

For the Anglican Communion
For Ecumenical Partners
For Church Unity

Primates of the Anglican Communion
Michael Curry, The Episcopal Church
Paul Kwong, Hong Kong
Ian Ernest, Indian Ocean
Richard Clarke, Ireland
Nathaniel Makoto Uematsu, Japan

Please add your own prayers and supplications here.

Prayer for Mission

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13++

VIDEO: Hey Jude (P. McCartney) – Paul McCartney at the White House, WETA, 2010