The Evening Holy Eucharist: February 12
The Sixth Sunday after Epiphany
The Opening Acclamation
Blessed be the one, holy, and living God.
Glory to God for ever and ever.
The Collect for Purity
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Collect
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The First Lesson—Jeremiah 17:5-10
Jeremiah’s ministry took place during one of the most troubling times in Judah’s history—when Babylon conquered Jerusalem and enslaved many of the population. Here, in the 17th chapter, Jeremiah is calling on the people to remain faithful and hold onto God’s promises—even in the darkest of times.
Thus says the Lord:
Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals
and make mere flesh their strength,
whose hearts turn away from the Lord.
They shall be like a shrub in the desert,
and shall not see when relief comes.
They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness,
in an uninhabited salt land.
Blessed are those who trust in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
They shall be like a tree planted by water,
sending out its roots by the stream.
It shall not fear when heat comes,
and its leaves shall stay green;
in the year of drought it is not anxious,
and it does not cease to bear fruit.
The heart is devious above all else;
it is perverse–
who can understand it?
I the Lord test the mind
and search the heart,
to give to all according to their ways,
according to the fruit of their doings.
Your word is a lantern to our feet.
And a light upon our path.
Psalm 1
The biblical phrase “Happy are they” is linguistically the same as “blessed are they.” Thus, the first psalm of the psalter is a beatitude, which proclaims that the righteous are blessed and the wicked are in trouble.
1 Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, *
nor lingered in the way of sinners,
nor sat in the seats of the scornful!
2 Their delight is in the law of the Lord, *
and they meditate on his law day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams of water,
bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; *
everything they do shall prosper.
4 It is not so with the wicked; *
they are like chaff which the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes, *
nor the sinner in the council of the righteous.
6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, *
but the way of the wicked is doomed.
The Gospel Lesson—Luke 6:17-26
In Matthew’s Gospel we find the famous “Sermon on the Mount.” Here, we see Jesus give a similar sermon, but Luke specifically tells us that it’s on a “level place.” Thus, this sermon is oftentimes given the moniker, “The Sermon on the Plain.” You’ll see that it’s similar to it’s more known cousin, but while the Sermon on the Mount spiritualizes poverty (“poor in spirit”) and hunger (“hunger and thirst for righteousness”), in Luke’s version of the sermon Jesus is talking about simple poverty and hunger.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Jesus came down with the twelve apostles and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.
Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
“Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.
“Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
“Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. 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.”
“But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
“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.
“Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon
The Prayers of the People
I ask your prayers for God’s people throughout the world; for our Bishop, our rector, our wardens and vestry, for this gathering; and for all ministers and people.
Pray for the Church.
Silence
I ask your prayers for peace; for goodwill among nations; and for the well-being of all people.
Pray for justice and peace.
Silence
I ask your prayers for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison.
Pray for those in any need or trouble.
Silence
I ask your prayers for all who seek God, or a deeper knowledge of him.
Pray that they may find and be found by him.
Silence
I ask your prayers for…
Silence
Praise God for those in every generation in whom Christ has been honored
Pray that we may have grace to glorify Christ in our own day.
Silence
For those serving our country at home or abroad, especially Christopher, Garrison, Richard, Stephen, Patrick, Esteban, Jeremy, Dan, Stewart, Wyatt, and Andrew.
We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life and for those celebrating their birthday this week, especially Ron Buesser, Spencer DeFeo, Steve Omick, David Aul, Alice Lapier, Jaime Lunny, Teddy Phillips, and Lorri Layton, and for the anniversary of Frank & Doriann Sanchez.
Officiant: O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your people; in the multitude of your mercies, look with compassion upon us and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, O lover of souls, and to you we give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
The Confession of Sin
God of all mercy,
we confess that we have sinned against you,
opposing your will in our lives.
We have denied your goodness in each other,
in ourselves, and in the world you have created.
We repent of the evil that enslaves us,
the evil we have done,
and the evil done on our behalf.
Forgive, restore, and strengthen us
through our Savior Jesus Christ,
that we may abide in your love
and serve only your will. Amen.
Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
The Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.