Jesus said, “Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.”
The Falls Church (Episcopal) in Virginia is a large, prestigious parish which dates from American colonial days; George Washington was a church warden when the oldest extant building was erected in 1769. A town then grew up around the church and is now a sought-after suburb of Washington, D.C. That colonial building was erected by slaves, a fact predviously omitted from the parish history. Now they’ve decided to rectify that, with a ceremony February 11 dedicating a new plaque honoring the slave craftsmen and offering “gratitude and repentance.” This is part of a larger, long-running effort by the Episcopal Church to come to grips with its role in slavery and the slave trade. Above, the Rector of Falls Church, the Rev. John Ohmer, reads as parishioners Nikki and Edward Henderson of the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, which helped lead the effort, assist in the dedication. (parish photo)
If I say, “Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light around me turn to night,” darkness is not dark to you, O Lord; the night is as bright as the day; darkness and light to you are both alike. Psalm 139:10-11
INVITATORY AND PSALTER
O God, be not far from us.
Come quickly to help us, O God.
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
Phos hilaron
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 104
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul; *
O LORD my God, how excellent is your greatness!
you are clothed with majesty and splendor.
2 You wrap yourself with light as with a cloak *
and spread out the heavens like a curtain.
3 You lay the beams of your chambers in the waters above; *
you make the clouds your chariot;
you ride on the wings of the wind.
4 You make the winds your messengers *
and flames of fire your servants.
5 You have set the earth upon its foundations, *
so that it never shall move at any time.
6 You covered it with the Deep as with a mantle; *
the waters stood higher than the mountains.
7 At your rebuke they fled; *
at the voice of your thunder they hastened away.
8 They went up into the hills and down to the valleys beneath, *
to the places you had appointed for them.
9 You set the limits that they should not pass; *
they shall not again cover the earth.
10 You send the springs into the valleys; *
they flow between the mountains.
11 All the beasts of the field drink their fill from them, *
and the wild asses quench their thirst.
12 Beside them the birds of the air make their nests *
and sing among the branches.
13 You water the mountains from your dwelling on high; *
the earth is fully satisfied by the fruit of your works.
14 You make grass grow for flocks and herds *
and plants to serve humankind;
15 That they may bring forth food from the earth, *
and wine to gladden our hearts,
16 Oil to make a cheerful countenance, *
and bread to strengthen the heart.
17 The trees of the LORD are full of sap, *
the cedars of Lebanon which the LORD planted,
18 In which the birds build their nests, *
and in whose tops the stork makes its dwelling.
19 The high hills are a refuge for the mountain goats, *
and the stony cliffs for the rock badgers.
20 You appointed the moon to mark the seasons, *
and the sun knows the time of its setting.
21 You make darkness that it may be night, *
in which all the beasts of the forest prowl.
22 The lions roar after their prey *
and seek their food from God.
23 The sun rises, and they slip away *
and lay themselves down in their dens.
24 Mortals go forth to their work *
and to their labor until the evening.
25 O LORD, how manifold are your works! *
in wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
26 Yonder is the great and wide sea
with its living things too many to number, *
creatures both small and great.
27 There move the ships,
and there is that Leviathan, *
which you have made for the sport of it.
28 All of them look to you *
to give them their food in due season.
29 You give it to them; they gather it; *
you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.
30 You hide your face, and they are terrified; *
you take away their breath,
and they die and return to their dust.
31 You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; *
and so you renew the face of the earth.
32 May your glory, O LORD, endure for ever; *
may you rejoice in all your works.
33 You look at the earth and it trembles; *
you touch the mountains and they smoke.
34 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; *
I will praise my God while I have my being.
35 May these words of mine please you; *
I will rejoice in the LORD.
36 Let sinners be consumed out of the earth, *
and the wicked be no more.
37 Bless the LORD, O my soul. *
Hallelujah!
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 new plaque in the sidewalk at the Falls Church in Virginia. Perhaps the job of reconciling the parish and its history is only begun, but it is well begun; may other churches follow. (parish photo)
THE LESSON
Matthew 6:1-6 (NRSV)
Jesus said, “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
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, his only son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He 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,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
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.
John Roberts was a priest and missionary among the Shoshone and Arapahoe Indians in Wyoming. He worked tirelessly establishing schools and churches from his arrival in 1883 to his death in 1949. Above in 1906, with students at his Fort Washakie Mission School for girls, which complemented a nearby government school for boys – raising a question, did the government not pay to educate girls?
Collect of the Day: John Roberts, Priest, 1949
Almighty God, who raised up your servant John Roberts to be a witness among the Shoshone and Arapahoe peoples; May we, inspired by his example and prayers, invite all people to the riches of your grace; 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 Saturdays
O God, the source of eternal light: Shed forth your unending day upon us who watch for you, that our lips may praise you, our lives may bless you, and our worship on the morrow give you glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Diocese of Malakal, Sudan
Saturday Evening Prayer List: For the Church
For Our Mission Partners
Cuttington University School of Nursing, Liberia
The American Friends of Cuttington, New York
Colleges and Universities of the Anglican Communion, New York; Canon Jamie Callaway
Haiti Nursing Foundation
Diocese of Brasilia Afterschool Program, Brazil
Rosebud Episcopal Mission, South Dakota
St. André’s School, Mithon, Haiti
For Mission
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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: When all thy mercies, O my God (#415, unknown tune; Joseph Addison, alt.) – NAC Concert Choir, 2011
The Daily Office 