EVENING PRAYERS FOR PEACE
November 6, 2024 via Zoom
Regular text will be said by the leader, text in bold will be said by representatives of the congregation. If you would like to join in aloud, please mute your microphone. Please participate as you feel led, or feel free to rest in quiet contemplation. Please mute your microphone unless you are called upon to read or you have something to offer at the reflection time.
We are glad you are here.
MUSICAL PRELUDE
“Peace I leave with you” by Amy Beach. Sung by the Cathedral Schola.
WELCOME
Thank you to members of the cathedral’s Listening Hub, who composed prayers for this season.
OPENING
Leader: Bless the Lord who calls us to be instruments of peace.
All: God’s loving kindness endures for ever.
Leader: Let us pray together.
All: As the darkness of evening closes in,
Blessed One, you are our Light,
Keep this community in peace and safety.
through the hours of the night to come.
As lamps fill our homes with brightness
send also the illumination of your Holy Spirit
to enlighten and cheer our hearts.
Grant us tranquil evening hours,
sleep in good conscience,
and a peaceful waking, renewed by your love,
through Christ, our Defender and Daystar. Amen.
Adapted from Simple Prayers for Complicated Lives, by Jennifer Phillips; New York: Church Publishing, 2006
Leader: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:5.
Song of Praise
All: Holy One of blessing,
you created us in your image and pronounced us good.
As the God of transformations,
you set us free to change and grow,
even while you hold us close in love and grace.
Strengthen us to love and serve you,
in Christ’s holy Name. Amen.
Adapted from the Rite of Renaming, The Episcopal Church
THE PSALM
Psalm 46 (The translation is from the 1928 Prayer Book and is the one used at Evensong)
We read the Psalm responsively, two readers alternating verses.
GOD is our hope and strength, * a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be moved, * and though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof rage and swell, * and though the mountains shake at the tempest of the same.
4 The rivers of the flood thereof shall make glad the city of God; * the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most Highest.
5 God is in the midst of her, therefore she shall not be removed; * God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen make much ado, and the kingdoms are moved; * but God hath shewed his voice and the earth shall melt away.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; * the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
8 O come hither, and behold the works of the Lord, * what destruction he hath brought upon the earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease in all the world; * he breaks the bow and knappeth the spear in sunder, and burneth the chariots in the fire.
10 Be still then, and know that I am God: * I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The Lord of hosts is with us; * the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
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.
Fr
THE FIRST LESSON
The Prophet’s Vision of Peace Micah 4:1-5
In days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s temple
shall be established as the highest of the mountains
and shall be raised up above the hills.
Peoples shall stream to it,
2 and many nations shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
3 He shall judge between many peoples
and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation;
neither shall they learn war any more;
4 but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees,
and no one shall make them afraid,
for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.
5 For all the peoples walk,
each in the name of its god,
but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God
forever and ever.
Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
All: Thanks be to God.
Prayer
From the Listening Hub:
Let us pray.
O God, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent:
we humbly acknowledge that you are the presider of this current jangling presidential election process;
that you are the great discerner who fills us with keenness of mind;
that you are in the moment whenever two or three are gathered together.
Grant us spiritual energy that we may embody your justice, ingenuity, and compassion
toward all sorts and conditions of persons, through the power of the Trinity. Amen.
The Second Lesson
The sons of Jacob are reconciled Genesis 45:1-15
45 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence.
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me.” And they came closer. He said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me; do not delay. 10 You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 I will provide for you there, since there are five more years of famine to come, so that you and your household and all that you have will not come to poverty.’ 12 And now your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you. 13 You must tell my father how greatly I am honored in Egypt and all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them, and after that his brothers talked with him.
Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
All: Thanks be to God.
PRayer
From the Listening Hub:
Let us pray.
Almighty God,: through this divisive and angry time in our nation, bring us inner calm.
Despite our grave concerns, let each of us move forward “with malice toward none, with charity for all”.
Grant that our vastly diverse peoples, holding hugely divergent values and viewpoints,
may come to see that we are still one nation and must remain so.
Calm our fears and focus our minds; and may we all commit to being Micah 6:8 people:
resolved to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. Amen.
the Gospel
The Beatitudes Matthew 5:1-16
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Matthew.
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
5 When Jesussaw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he began to speak and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falselyon my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 13 You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot.14 You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
PRayer
From the Listening Hub:
Let us pray.
Almighty God, lover of truth, beauty and love:
we are called to live these virtues through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Open our eyes through the lens of compassion and mature discernment
to be aware of the great dangers that are hovering over us and our country, and indeed the world.
Deliver us from our fears as we see our democracy being threatened
through irresponsible rhetoric and cries of hate.
Deliver our fellow citizens and ourselves from being beguiled by straw figures.
Lift our hearts to your presence and strengthen our will to live by your truth, beauty and love.
Give us the courage to make no peace with oppression.
Give us the strength to gather all people around your heavenly throne.
Into your hands we commend our spirits. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen
ReflectionS and Sharing
PRAYERS
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Suffrages
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 the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Paul, and all your saints,
entrusting one another and all our life to Christ,
We entreat you, O Lord.
Collect for the Mission of the Church
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,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever. Amen.
Collect for Peace
Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right
judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that
peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be
fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered
from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness;
through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.
Prayer for Social Justice
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart and especially the hearts of the
people of this land, that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In Time of Conflict
O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us,
in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront
one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work
together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
For those who influence public opinion
Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in every age by many
voices: Direct, in our time, we pray, those who speak where
many listen and write what many read; that they may do their
part in making the heart of this people wise, its mind sound, and
its will righteous; to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For the nation
Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the
earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace:
Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the
strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in
accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
For the human family
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
From the Listening Hub:
Holy Creator, bless us with your grace,
and still the troubled waters of these times.
Help us to make peace, accept differences with others,
and value the dignity of all citizens in our country. Amen.
MUSIC
“O Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem” by Herbert Howells. Sung by the Cathedral Schola.
THE BLESSING AND DISMISSAL
Leader: The peace of God which passes all understanding
keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God,
and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be upon you and remain with you, this night and for evermore.
All: Amen.
Leader: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
