Evening Prayer and Communion in the time of Advent

Commemoration of Channing Moore Williams Missionary to Asia CHANNING MOORE WILLIAMS MISSIONARY TO ASIA (2 DEC. 1910)

Channing Moore Williams was born in Richmond, , in 1829, and ordained deacon in 1855. The Episcopal Church sent him to China, where he was ordained priest in 1857. In 1859 he was sent to , Japan, and in 1866 was consecrated Bishop of China and Japan. In 1868 Japan was opened to far greater contact with the West than before, and he determined that he could achieve best results by concentrating his efforts on Japan. In 1874 (or is that 1877?) a new bishop (Samuel Isaac Joseph Schereschewski, see October 14) was consecrated for China, and Williams went to (then called Edo or Yedo), where he founded what is now St Paul's University. In 1878 he helped unite several mission efforts in the formation of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai, the Holy Catholic Church in Japan. In 1889 his health began to fail, and he asked to be relieved. In 1893 a successor was appointed, and Williams stayed on, living in and helping to open new mission stations. He returned to America in 1908 and died 2 December 1910. Please stand at the sound of the bell

Preparation

Officiant  The Lord almighty grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end. People Amen. V Our help is in the name of the Lord. R Who made heaven and earth.

Celebrant Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Please kneel as you are able, silence may be kept

All Almighty God, our heavenly Father: We have sinned against thee, through our own fault, in thought, word, and deed, and in those things which we have left undone. For the sake of thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us all our offenses; and grant that we may serve thee in newness of life, to the glory of thy Name. Amen.

Officiant 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. All stand The Lighting of the Evening Lamp 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 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. Word V Your word is a lantern to my feet, R and a light upon my path. Please be seated A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles Acts 1:1-9 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’

So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

Silence is kept for a brief time

A Reading from the Gospel of Like Luke 10:1-12 After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the labourer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, “Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.” I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.

Silence is then kept for reflection and prayer.

Prayer

Please stand

V Let my prayer come before you as incense, R the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. V O Lord, I call to you, come to me quickly; R hear my voice when I cry to you. V My eyes are turned to you, Lord God; R in you I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless.

All Let my prayer come before you as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Please kneel as you are able, silence may be kept

Officiant O Lord, hear our prayer; People And let our cry come unto thee. Officiant Let us pray A Collect for Advent Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. A 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. A Collect for Evening Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen. A Collect for Channing Moore Williams O God, who in your providence called Channing Moore Williams to the ministry of this church and gave him the gifts and the perseverance to preach the Gospel in new lands: Inspire us, by his example and prayers, to commit our talents to your service, confident that you uphold those whom you call; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Please stand An Evening hymn is sung by the Cantor as the candles at the Altar are lit.

Communion

Celebrant The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Celebrant Lift up your hearts. People We lift them to the Lord. Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People It is right to give him thanks and praise. The Celebrant continues Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of the universe and giver of life. You formed us in your own image and called us to dwell in your infinite love. You gave the world into our care that we might be your faithful stewards and show forth your bountiful grace. But we failed to honor your image in one another and in ourselves; we would not see your goodness in the world around us; and so we violated your creation, abused one another, and rejected your love. Yet you never ceased to care for us, and prepared the way of salvation for all people. Through Abraham and Sarah you called us into covenant with you. You delivered us from slavery, sustained us in the wilderness, and raised up prophets to renew your promise of salvation. Then, in the fullness of time, you sent your eternal Word, made mortal flesh in Jesus. Born into the human family, and dwelling among us, he revealed your glory. Giving himself freely to death on the cross, he triumphed over evil, opening the way of freedom and life. On the night before he died for us, Our Savior Jesus Christ took bread, and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his friends, and said: “Take, eat: This is my Body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” As supper was ending, Jesus took the cup of wine, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said: “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.” Remembering his death and resurrection, we now present to you from your creation this bread and this wine. By your Holy Spirit may they be for us the Body and Blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. Grant that we who share these gifts may be filled with the Holy Spirit  and live as Christ’s Body in the world. Bring us into the everlasting heritage of your daughters and sons, that with St. Paul and all your saints, past, present, and yet to come, we may praise your Name for ever. Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, to you be honor, glory, and praise, for ever and ever. AMEN.

Celebrant As our Savior Christ hath taught us, we are bold to say,

All 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. The Fraction A Fraction Anthem is sung by the Cantor. Communion Coommunion will be brought to you in your pew.

Act of Reception, prayed by those at home I believe that you are truly present in the Holy Sacrament, and, since I cannot at this time receive communion, I pray you to come into my heart. I unite myself with you and embrace you with all my heart, my soul, and my mind. Let nothing separate me from you; let me serve you in this life until, by your grace, I come to your glorious kingdom and unending peace. Amen.

Sending

Celebrant Let us pray. Please kneel as you are able, silence may be kept The Post Communion Prayer, Celebrant and People God of abundance, you have fed us with the bread of life and cup of salvation; you have united us with Christ and one another; and you have made us one with all your people in heaven and on earth. Now send us forth in the power of your Spirit, that we may proclaim your redeeming love to the world and continue for ever in the risen life of Christ our Savior. Amen.

A Collect for Peace 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 thee as thou art revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of thy love. Amen. All stand to sing the Canticle A Canticle: Nunc Dimittis the antiphon and first phrase are sung by the cantor, the remainder sung by all Antiphon 66 ) 6 6 6 6 ) b 6 6 6 6 Guide us waki- ng, OLord, andguard us sleep - ing; 6 6 ) 6 6 )66 ) 6 6 b 6 6 66 6 ) that aw- ake we maywatch withChrist, anda-sleep we mayrestin peace. Cantor 66 666 666 6666 b 6 6 6 6 6 ) Lord, nowlett - est though thy ser-vant de-part in peace, ac-cord -ing to thyword; All 6666 )66666 b 6 6 66 For mine eyes have seen thy sal - va - tion, which thou hast prep- ared 666 6 666 b 6 6 6) 6 6 be - fore the face of all peo - ple, To be alight to 6 66 ) 66666666 6 b 6 6 6 6) light-en the gent- iles, andtobe the glor- y of thy peo-ple Is - ra - el. 6 666) 66 )66 66 ) b 6 6 6 6 Glo - ry be to the Fa - ther, andto the Son, andto the Ho - ly Ghost: 66666) 66666 ) b 6 6 6 As it wasin the be - gin - ing, is now, andeve- r shallbe, 6 6 b 6 6 6 ) world with - out end. A - men.

V Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; R For only in thee can we live in safety. V Peace be within your walls: R and quietness within your palaces.

Officiant As our evening prayer rises before you, O God, so may your mercy come down upon us to cleanse our hearts and set us free to sing your praise now and for ever. Amen.

Officiant The blessing of God Almighty,  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with you and remain with you always. People Amen. V May the divine help remain with us always. R And with our absent brethren. Amen.