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☩ All Saints Day ☩ November 1, 2022 A Liturgy For Worship and Meditation  OPENING WORDS Life is a journey: A pilgrimage by which we are making our way from beginning to end. It is not new ground upon which we walk. We trod upon the way that was traverseed by those who have gone on befor us. It is a ground upon which we strive to make better; to make more paceful and just. We walk not alone. The generations of forebearers are compansions in the way. And, God is with us, guiding, encouraging, strengthening, and patiently calling us forward. When tired, God grants us rest, when hurting God grants us comfort, when mourning God shares our tears, when joyful God dances with us. God, is the beginning and end of life's journey. In God is all our steps in the in between. We are bleessed. Indeed, in God we are truly blessed. PRAYER God of the ages, we praise you for all your servants who have done justice, loved mercy, and walked humbly with their God. For apostles and martyrs and saints of every time and place, who in life and death have witnessed to your truth, For all your servants who have faithfully served you, witnessed bravely, and died in faith, who still are shining lights in the world, For those no longer remembered, who earnestly sought you in darkness, who held fast their faith in trial, and served others, For those we have known and loved, who by their faithful obedience and steadfast hope have shown the same mind that was in Jesus, We give you thanks, O God, and for these your servants, Keep us grateful for their witness and, like them, eager to follow in the way of Jesus. Then at the last, bring us with them to share in the inheritance of the saints in light; through your Beloved and Anointd One, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. SONG (Click Here For Music) Author: William Walsham How (1864) Tune: SINE NOMINE; Ralph Vaughan Williams (1906) Arrangement: Fernando Ortega (2012) who thee by faith before the world confessed, thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest. Alleluia! Alleluia! 2. Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might; thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight; thou, in the darkness dread, their one true light. Alleluia! Alleluia! 3. Oh, blest communion, fellowship divine! We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; yet all are one in thee, for all are thine. Alleluia! Alleluia! 4. From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast, through gates of pearl streams in the countless host, singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Alleluia! Alleluia! PRAYER FOR BROKENNESS Let us confess to God the sins and shortcomings of the world; its pride, its selfishness, its greed; its evil distortions and hatreds. Let us confess our share in what is wrong, and our failure to seek and establish the peace which God wills for all God's children. Eternal God, although we are the communion of saints, we are also a circle of sinners. We cling to death, hiding in tombs that we have carved out of fear and stubbornness, ignoring your call to come out. We fail to unbind each other from oppression, poverty, and abuse. You lay a feast before us, but we fill ourselves with selfishness and wonder why we are hungry. We are convinced that our best days are behind us, not believing that you are making all things new. Forgive us, we pray, and show us the light that we yearn to see. Lead us out of the safe places we have chosen and into your everlasting way. Amen. God of unfailing light, in your realm of glory the poor are blessed, the hungry filled, and every tear is wiped away. Strengthened by this vision, may we follow in the way of holiness that your Son made known in life and death. Amen. FIRST READING—Revelation 21:1-6; 22:1-5 21:1 Then I saw new heavens and a new earth. The former heavens and the former earth had passed away, and the sea existed no longer. 21:2 I also saw a new Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down out of heaven from God, beautiful as a bride and groom on their wedding day. 21:3 And I heard a loud voice calling from the throne, “Look! God’s dwelling is among humankind! God will live with them; they will be God’s people, and God will be fully present among them. 21:4 The Most High will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And death, mourning, crying and pain will be no more, for the old order has passd away.” 21:5 The One who sat on the throne said, “Look! I’m making everything new!” and added, “Write this, for what I am saying is trustworthy and true.” 21:6 And the One continued, “It is finished. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To those who are thirsty I will give drink freely from the spring of the water of life. 22:1 (An) angel then showed me the river of life-giving water, clear as crystal, which issued from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 22:2 and flowed down the middle of the streets. On either side of the river grew the trees of life which produce fruit twelve times a year, once each month; their leaves serve as medicine to heal the nations. 22:3 Nothing accursed will be there. The throne of the Almighty and of the Lamb will be there, and God’s subjects will serve faithfully. 22:4 They will see the Most High face to face, and bear God’s name on their foreheads. 22:5 Night will be no more. They will need no light from lamps or the sun, for our God will give them light, and they will reign forever. PSALTER—Psalm 149 149:1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful. 149:2 Let Israel be glad in its Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King. 149:3 Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre. 149:4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory. 149:5 Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their couches. 149:6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands, 149:7 to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, 149:8 to bind their kings with fetters and their nobles with chains of iron, 149:9 to execute on them the judgment decreed. This is glory for all his faithful ones. Praise the LORD! SECOND READING—Ephesians 1:11-23 1:11 In th Beloved and Anointed One of God, we were willed an inheritance; for in the decree of God—and everything is administered according to the divine will and counsel—we were predestined 1:12 to praise the glory of the Most High by being the first to hope in Christ. 1:13 In Christ you too were chosen. When you heard the Good News of salvation, the word of truth, and believed in it, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 1:14 who is the pledge of our inheritance, the deposit paid against the full redemption of a people who are God’s own—to the praise of God’s glory. 1:15 From the time I first heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of the holy ones, 1:16 I have never stopped thanking God for you and remembering you in my prayers. 1:17 I pray that the God of our Savior Jesus Christ, the God of glory, will give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation, to bring you to a rich knowledge of the Creator. 1:18 I pray that God will enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see the hope this call holds for you—the promised glories that God’s holy ones will inherit, 1:19 and the infinitely great power that is exercised for us who believe. You can tell this from the strength of God’s power at work in Jesus, 1:20 the power used to raise Christ from the dead and to seat Christ in heaven at God’s right hand, 1:21 far above every sovereignty, authority, power or dominion, and above any other name that can be named—not only in this age, but also in the age to come. 1:22 God has put all things under Christ’s feet and made Christ, as the ruler of everything, the head of the church, 1:23 and the church is Christ’s body; it’s the fullness of the One who fills all of creation. SONG (Click Here for Music) Author: Lesbia Scott TUNE: GRAND ISLE; Composer—John Henry Hopkins (1940) patient and brave and true, who toiled and fought and lived and died for the Lord they loved and knew. And one was a doctor, and one was a queen, and one was a shepherdess on the green: they were all of them saints of God, and I mean, God helping, to be one too. 2 They loved their Lord so dear, so dear, and God’s love made them strong; and they followed the right, for Jesus’ sake, the whole of their good lives long. And one was a soldier, and one was a priest, and one was slain by a fierce wild beast: and there’s not any reason, no, not the least, why I shouldn’t be one too. 3 They lived not only in ages past; there are hundreds of thousands still; the world is bright with the joyous saints who love to do Jesus’ will. You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea, in church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea; for the saints of God are just folk like me, and I mean to be one too. GOSPEL READING—Luke 6:20-31 6:20 Then (Jesus) looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kin-Dom of God. 6:21 "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 6:22 "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Child of Humanity. 6:23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. 6:24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 6:25 "Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. "Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. 6:26 "Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets. 6:27 "But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 6:28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 6:29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 6:30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. PRAYER OF INTERCESSION Merciful Lord, strengthen all Christian people by your Holy Spirit, that we may live as a royal priesthood and a holy nation to the praise of Jesus Christ our Saviour. ☩ God, in your mercy hear our prayer. Bless N our bishop and all ministers of your Church, that by faithful proclamation of your word we may be built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets into a holy temple in the Lord. ☩ God, in your mercy hear our prayer. Empower us by the gift of your holy and life-giving Spirit, that we may be transformed into the likeness of Christ from glory to glory. ☩ God, in your mercy hear our prayer. Give to the world and its peoples the peace that comes from above, that they may find Christ’s way of freedom and life. ☩ God, in your mercy hear our prayer. Hold in your embrace all who witness to your love in the service of the poor and needy; all who minister to the sick and dying; and all who bring light to those in darkness. ☩ God, in your mercy hear our prayer. Touch and heal all those whose lives are scarred by sin or disfigured by pain, that, raised from death to life in Christ, their sorrow may be turned to eternal joy. ☩ God, in your mercy hear our prayer. Remember in your mercy all those gone before us who have been well-pleasing to you from eternity; preserve in your faith your servants on earth, guide us to your kingdom and grant us your peace at all times. ☩ God, in your mercy hear our prayer. Hasten the day when many will come from east and west, from north and south, and sit at table in your kingdom. ☩ God, in your mercy hear our prayer. We give you thanks for the whole company of your saints in glory, with whom in fellowship we join our prayers and praises; by your grace may we, like them, be made perfect in your love. ☩ Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power, be to our God for ever and ever. Amen. PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND DEDICATION For all the saints who went before us who have spoken to our hearts and touched us with your fire, we praise you and give you thanks, O God. For all the saints who live beside us whose weaknesses and strengths are woven with our own, we praise you and give you thanks, O God. For all the saints who live beyond us who challenge us to change the world with them, we praise you and give you thanks, O God. Amen. THE PRAYER OF JESUS God, like a loving Parent, who reaches forth from heaven: most Holy is your Name. Your Kin-Dom come, your will be done; here and now on earth as it is by those in heaven. Give us this day what we need and guide us to share with others. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Bring us not to a testing of our trust in You, and free us from all evil. For Yours is the Kin-Dom, the Power, and the Glory, forever. Amen. —G Lake Dylan SONG (Click Here For Music) Author: William J. Irons, 1812–1893 TUNE: HYMN TO JOY; Ludwig van Beethoven, 1770–1827 sing the resurrection song! Death and sorrow, earth’s dark story, to the former days belong. All around the clouds are breaking; soon the storms of time shall cease; in God’s likeness we awaken, knowing everlasting peace. 2 Oh, what glory, far exceeding all that eye has yet perceived! Holiest hearts for ages pleading never that full joy conceived. God has promised, Christ prepares it; there on high our welcome waits. Ev’ry humble spirit shares it. Christ has passed th’eternal gates. 3 Life eternal heav'n rejoices: Jesus lives who once was dead; Join with all the heav'nly voices, Child of God lift up your head! Patriarchs from distant ages Saints all loning for their heav'n Prophets, psalmists, seers, and sages All await the glory giv'n. 4 Life eternal O what wonders Crowd on faith what joy unknown, When amidst earth's closing thunders. Saints shall stand before the throne O to enter that bright portal, seeing that glowing firmament; Now, with thee, O God immortal, Jesus Christ whom you have sent. GOING FORTH WITH BLESSING Go on your way rejoicing; Surrounded as you are by such a great cloud of witnesses, take courage as you face each new challenge, and comfort when you pick yourself from a fall, In whatever good you choose to do, precede it with hope, accompany it with prayer, and follow it with thanksgiving. And, the blessing of God Most Wonderful, whom the saints have trusted as the blessed and holy Trinity, will be with you now and ever more. |
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Those who believe they believe in God,
but without passion in the heart, without anguish of mind, without uncertainty, without doubt,
and even at times without despair, believe only in the idea of God, and not in God('s )self.
―Madeleine L'Engle