Fr. Tom reads Evening Prayer.
Here is Tonight’s Video.
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.
Centerfielder Bernie Williams, left, signed with the New York Yankees on his 17th birthday, made the Big Show at age 23 and was quite a success for 16 years: five-time All Star, four-time World Series champion, winner of the American League batting crown in 1998. But his mother in Puerto Rico wouldn’t let him sign unless he promised to go to college and earn a bachelor’s degree when he retired. He kept his word, enrolled at the Manhattan School of Music and earned a degree in classical guitar in 2016. Last week he appeared in Lincoln Center, not center field, playing a jazzy tune he wrote, with a student orchestra led by superstar conductor Gustavo Dudamel, who predicted Williams’ second career might be as successful as his first. Williams said baseball taught him to perform under pressure – which he was feeling that night in front of thousands at David Geffen Hall; let’s hope Mom got to watch him play. (Brandon Patoc/New York Philharmonic)
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 forever. 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 64
1 Hear my voice, O God, when I complain; *
protect my life from fear of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, *
from the mob of evildoers.
3 They sharpen their tongue like a sword, *
and aim their bitter words like arrows,
4 That they may shoot down the blameless from ambush; *
they shoot without warning and are not afraid.
5 They hold fast to their evil course; *
they plan how they may hide their snares.
6 They say, “Who will see us?
who will find out our crimes? *
we have thought out a perfect plot.”
7 The human mind and heart are a mystery; *
but God will loose an arrow at them,
and suddenly they will be wounded.
8 God will make them trip over their tongues, *
and all who see them will shake their heads.
9 Everyone will stand in awe and declare God’s deeds; *
they will recognize God’s works.
10 The righteous will rejoice and put their trust in the LORD, *
and all who are true of heart will glory.
Psalm 65
1 You are to be praised, O God, in Zion; *
to you shall vows be performed in Jerusalem.
2 To you that hear prayer shall all flesh come, *
because of their transgressions.
3 Our sins are stronger than we are, *
but you will blot them out.
4 Happy are they whom you choose
and draw to your courts to dwell there! *
they will be satisfied by the beauty of your house,
by the holiness of your temple.
5 Awesome things will you show us in your righteousness,
O God of our salvation, *
O Hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the seas that are far away.
6 You make fast the mountains by your power; *
they are girded about with might.
7 You still the roaring of the seas, *
the roaring of their waves,
and the clamor of the peoples.
8 Those who dwell at the ends of the earth will tremble at your marvelous signs; *
you make the dawn and the dusk to sing for joy.
9 You visit the earth and water it abundantly;
you make it very plenteous; *
the river of God is full of water.
10 You prepare the grain, *
for so you provide for the earth.
11 You drench the furrows and smooth out the ridges; *
with heavy rain you soften the ground and bless its increase.
12 You crown the year with your goodness, *
and your paths overflow with plenty.
13 May the fields of the wilderness be rich for grazing, *
and the hills be clothed with joy.
14 May the meadows cover themselves with flocks,
and the valleys cloak themselves with grain; *
let them shout for joy and sing.
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.
He Qi: Leave your gift and go.
THE LESSON
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 (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.
“And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Canticle: A Song of the Heavenly City
Revelation 21:22-26, 22:1-4
I saw no temple in the city, *
for its temple is the God of surpassing strength and the Lamb.
And the city has no need of sun or moon to light it, *
for the glory of God shines on it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
By its light the nations shall walk, *
and the rulers of the world lay their honor and glory there.
Its gates shall never be shut by day, nor shall there be any night; *
into it they will bring the honor and glory of nations.
I saw the clean river of the water of life, bright as crystal, *
flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
The tree of life spanned the river, giving fruit every month, *
and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
All curses cease where the throne of God and the Lamb stands,
and all servants give worship there; *
there they will see God’s face, whose Name shall be on their foreheads.
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.
V. Show us your mercy, O Lord;
R. And grant us your salvation.
V. Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
R. Let your people sing with joy.
V. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
R. For only in you can we live in safety.
V. Lord, keep this nation under your care;
R. And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
V. Let your way be known upon earth;
R. Your saving health among all nations.
V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
V. Create in us clean hearts, O God;
R. And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.
Giovanni di Paolo, c. 1449: St. Catherine of Siena Dictating the Dialogues; she envisioned a conversation the rising soul has with God at the hour of death. (Detroit Institute of Arts)
Collect of the Day: Catherine of Siena, Mystic, 1380
Kindle the flame of holy love in our hearts, O God, that we being strengthened by the example of your servant Catherine of Siena, may dedicate ourselves to the service of the poor and the sick, and to the peace and unity of your church. Grant that with her, we also may share in the mystery of Christ’s death, and rejoice in the revelation of his glory; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Prayer for Evening
O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in your mercy, grant us a safe lodging and a holy rest, and peace at the last. Amen.
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Diocese of Easton, USA
Monday Evening Prayer List: Thanksgivings
Friends who recover from Covid
People who get stuff done
Women who blaze trails
Men who live in equality
Theatre and film creators
Tom Welch is doing well at Virginia Seminary
Our Board of Directors
New webcast members added throughout the pandemic
Donors & pledgers – thank you!
Our subscribers: Asia-Pacific (600), North America (3300) and Oficios Diarios (1300)
Our mission partners in Haiti, the Rosebud Reservation & the Matthew Shepard Foundation
Those who feed the poor, and all who receive
Community Health Centers and Free Clinics
Churches that welcome immigrants and refugees
Please add 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.
Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
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: Christ triumphant, ever reigning (Guiting Power, John Barnard; Michael Saward) – Choir of Wells Cathedral, England, 2010
The Daily Office 