Fr. Tom reads Evening Prayer.
Tonight’s video is here.
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, the top public health official in the U.S., warned parents and social media companies Tuesday to “take immediate action” to safeguard the mental health of children and adolescents. He wants families to turn off their devices for an hour before bedtime to encourage live, unstructured conversation. Meal times should be device-free as well, he wrote. Teens need to confide in a trusted adult if they’re being bullied, and can visit a government website, stopbullying.gov, for tips; in a dating situation, contact an expert at Love Is Respect for support. Avoid publishing personal information which can be used by stalkers. And parents should model responsible social media behavior and avoid over-sharing. -> Good advice, but it remains to be seen what impact Murthy’s prescriptions might have; past Surgeons General issued reports on smoking and AIDS that carried a lot of weight, but the office’s credibility was damaged during the Covid-19 pandemic under the previous president, and earnest Dr. Murthy seems to think families still sit down to eat dinner together every night. As Twitter and TikTok controversies indicate, social media are a societal danger, not just to kids. Wars are fought using them, mobs are mobilized and others suppressed; huge corporations record every computer keystroke, read private messages, monetize them and keep them as private property. Meanwhile Silicon Valley’s having a giant debate about whether Artificial Intelligence will take over our computers and make us all zombies. Where teenagers eat supper seems beside the point. If he’d called on Congress to take action on Big Tech and AI, he could have helped guide a national and international conversation that actually protects children. (Susan Walsh/AP)
On this day the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
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 105:23-45
23 Israel came into Egypt, *
and Jacob became a sojourner in the land of Ham.
24 The LORD made the chosen people exceedingly fruitful; *
the LORD made them stronger than their enemies;
25 Whose heart God turned, so that they hated the chosen people, *
and dealt unjustly with the servants of the LORD.
26 There came Moses, the servant of the LORD, *
and Aaron whom God had chosen.
27 They worked signs from the LORD among them, *
and portents in the land of Ham.
28 God sent darkness, and it grew dark; *
but the Egyptians rebelled against the words of the LORD.
29 God turned their waters into blood *
and caused their fish to die.
30 Their land was overrun by frogs, *
in the very chambers of their rulers.
31 God spoke, and there came swarms of insects *
and gnats within all their borders.
32 God gave them hailstones instead of rain, *
and flames of fire throughout their land.
33 God blasted their vines and their fig trees *
and shattered every tree in their country.
34 God spoke, and the locust came, *
and young locusts without number,
35 Which ate up all the green plants in their land *
and devoured the fruit of their soil.
36 God struck down the firstborn of their land, *
the firstfruits of all their strength.
37 God led out the chosen people with silver and gold; *
in all their tribes there was not one that stumbled.
38 Egypt was glad of their going, *
because they were afraid of them.
39 God spread out a cloud for a covering *
and a fire to give light in the night season.
40 They asked, and quails appeared, *
and God satisfied them with bread from heaven.
41 God opened the rock, and water flowed, *
so the river ran in the dry places.
42 For God remembered the holy promise *
and Abraham, chosen to serve.
43 So God led forth his people with gladness, *
the chosen ones with shouts of joy.
44 God gave the chosen people the lands of the nations, *
and they took the fruit of others’ toil,
45 That they might keep God’s statutes *
and observe the laws of the LORD.
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 Samaritans, descendents of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, were hated by the descendants of Judea; intermarriage with Chaldeans made Samaritan theology and ethnicity impure. But more than once, Jesus compared them favorably to Judea’s priests, Levites and lawyers. (source unknown)
THE LESSON
Luke 10:25-37 (NRSV)
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
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 by your Holy Spirit.
Br. Kenneth Hosley, OPC: The Venerable Bede
Collect of the Day: Bede, Priest and Historian, 735
Almighty God, who has enriched your Church with the learning and holiness of your servant Bede: Grant us to find in Scripture and disciplined prayer the image of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and to fashion our lives according to his likeness, to the glory of your great Name and the benefit of your holy Church; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Collect for the Presence of Christ
Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen.
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Diocese of Tanga, Tanzania
Thursday Evening Prayer List
For Sobriety & Recovery
Angie
An Anonymous friend
Emily
Adrian O.
Men of Reconciliation House
Jon
Stacey
Ian
Talmadge
Martin
Perry
Blake
Beth
Phoebe
For Those with Addictions
O blessed Lord, you ministered to all who came to you: Look with compassion on all who through addiction have lost their health and freedom. Restore to them the assurance of your unfailing mercy; remove from them the fears that beset them; strengthen them in the work of their recovery; and to those who care for them, give patient understanding and persevering love. Amen.
For Mental Health & Family Harmony
Hayley Grace
Roxy
Samantha
Scotty
Adam
Lyle
Beth
For those with mental illness
by Josh Thomas
O heavenly Father, look with your love on all your children who are living with mental illness; bless them with kindness and patience. Give them true friends who understand them and knowledgable therapists with competence and compassion. Soothe their worries, lift their spirits, help them to trust others, quiet their negative thinking, help them care for themselves, and give them peace; through the infinite mercy of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Please add your own prayers here.
For the Mission of the Church
Almighty God, you sent your Son Jesus Christ to reconcile the world to yourself: We praise and bless you for those whom you have sent in the power of the Spirit to preach the Gospel to all nations. We thank you that in all parts of the earth a community of love has been gathered together by their prayers and labors, and that in every place your servants call upon your Name; for the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours for ever. 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. Alleluia, alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine; Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21++
VIDEO: Spirit of mercy, truth and love (#229, Howard Helvey; Anonymous, Psalms, Hymns and Anthems, 1774) – Hyde Park United Methodist, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2012
The Daily Office 