Evening Prayer 12.27.20, First Sunday after Christmas

Tonight’s Evening Prayer podcast.

 

When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.

Speaking of monoliths as we were, this one showed up Christmas Day in San Francisco, 8 feet tall and made of gingerbread, held together with icing and a few gumdrops. A man discovered it at the summit of Corona Heights Park when he climbed up to see the sunrise; he could tell it wasn’t from “A Space Odyssey” because he could smell all the spices. A tweet or two went out, people climbed the hill to see it, and at least one dog took a bite. The head of the city’s parks and recreation said they wouldn’t remove it “until the cookie crumbles,” which it did the next day under a light rain. San Francisco symbolizes a lot of different things to people, but it is uniquely witty and big-hearted. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Behold, the dwelling of God is with humankind. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them, and be their God. Revelation 21:3

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 34

1 At all times I will bless the LORD; *
whose praise shall ever be in my mouth.
2 I will glory in the LORD; *
let the humble hear and rejoice.
3 Proclaim with me the greatness of the LORD; *
let us exalt the Name of the LORD together.
4 I sought the LORD, who answered me *
and delivered me out of all my terror.
5 Look upon the LORD and be radiant, *
and let not your faces be ashamed.
6 I called in my affliction and the LORD heard me *
and saved me from all my troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encompasses the God-fearing, *
and the LORD will deliver them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; *
happy are they who trust in the LORD!

9 Fear the LORD, you holy ones, *
for those who are God-fearing lack nothing.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger, *
but those who seek the LORD lack nothing that is good.
11 Come, children, and listen to me; *
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Who among you loves life *
and desires long life to enjoy prosperity?
13 Keep your tongue from evil-speaking *
and your lips from lying words.
14 Turn from evil and do good; *
seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, *
and the ears of the LORD are open to their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, *
to root out the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and the LORD hears them *
and delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted *
and will save those whose spirits are crushed.
19 Many are the troubles of the righteous, *
but the LORD will deliver the just out of them all.
20 The LORD will keep safe the bones of the righteous; *
not one of them shall be broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked, *
and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
22 The LORD ransoms the life of those chosen to serve, *
and none will be punished who trust in the LORD.

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.

Angel Appearing to St. Joseph (Br. Lawrence, O.P.)

THE LESSON
Matthew 1:18-25 (NRSV)

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”

which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

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 power of 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.

Show us your mercy, O Lord;
And grant us your salvation.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
Let your people sing with joy.
Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
For only in you can we live in safety.
Lord, keep this nation under your care;
And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
Let your way be known upon earth;
Your saving health among all nations.
Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.

St. Joseph the Betrothed; iconographer unknown

Collect of the Day: First Sunday after Christmas

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A Collect for Sundays

Lord God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ triumphed over the powers of death and prepared for us our place in the new Jerusalem: Grant that we, who have this day given thanks for his resurrection, may praise you in that City of which he is the light, and where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

A Prayer for Medical Scientists
Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County, California

God of wisdom,
bless medical scientists and researchers around the world
with insight and skill, dedication and fortitude
as they combat coronavirus,
so that their work yields knowledge and understanding,
speedily finding a vaccine, treatments and deterrents to its spread.

Source of life,
grant public health and government officials
the strength to act swiftly and decisively
with compassion and understanding
in service to humankind,
fighting this outbreak
and the other diseases that still plague the planet,
diseases threatening the lives of our brothers and sisters,
nations and communities,
young and old.

Rock of Ages,
bring an end to disease and suffering
so that all may know
your compassion and your grace.

Praised are You, Adonai, healer of flesh, maker of wonders. Amen.

Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Christians in other denominations and the ecumenical movement
His Holiness Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome
His All Holiness Archbishop Bartholomew of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch
The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches
Bishop Ivan M Abrahams, General Secretary World Methodist Council
The Reverend Chris Ferguson, General Secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches

Sunday Evening Prayer List: for the Daily Office Network

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You’re invited to offer your own prayers here.

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.

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfil now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21++

VIDEO: Hark! the herald angels sing (#87, Mendelssohn, Felix Mendelssohn, adapt. William M. Cummings; Charles Wesley) – Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, 2011