Evening Prayer Service for Election Day November 3, 2020 Gathering In Opening Hymn: 529, In Christ there is no East or West
Welcome Presider: People: Presider:
Light and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord. Thanks be to God. If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has passed, behold the new has come. All this is from God, who Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:17-18
Presider: We gather together in this place, In the presence of God, To remember that our identity is not rooted in political affiliation, But in our covenant with God who created us in God’s own image; that we are one through Jesus Christ and members of his body; and that the Holy Spirit binds us together into one family. If this election season has left you feeling hopeless and heartsick, come, hear God’s word of peace, hope and unity. If you feel like your voice is lost in the public square come, and remember the covenant God has made with you, to never leave you. If the brokenness of the world, the nation and the city seem beyond repair, come and pray for the coming of God’s realm here and now. Opening Prayer Presider: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Presider: Let us pray. God of all peoples and nations, we have gathered in this place at your invitation to pray for our country. We come from varied backgrounds and political beliefs that often put us at odds with our friends, our family and our neighbors. In this time of prayer inspire us through your Spirit to a renewed sense of unity in Christ. Move us beyond the things that would divide to a deep awareness of all that we share, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Listening to God’s Word The First Reading: Micah 4:1-5 In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills. Peoples shall stream to it, 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. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; 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. For all the peoples walk, each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Psalm 133
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1 Oh, how good and pleasant it is, when brethren live together in unity! 2 It is like fine oil upon the head that runs down upon the beard, 3 Upon the beard of Aaron, and runs down upon the collar of his robe. 4 It is like the dew of Hermon that falls upon the hills of Zion. 5 For there the Lord has ordained the blessing: life for evermore. The Second Reading: Colossians 3:12-15 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. Thanks be to God. Hymn: Ubi Caritas
Prayers and Reflection Loving God, Creator of this world who is the source of our wisdom and understanding, watch over this nation during this time of election. Help us to see how our faith informs our principles and actions. God, our Creator, People: Guide us in truth and love.
We give thanks for the right to vote. Help us to hold this privilege and responsibility with the care and awareness it merits, realizing that our vote matters and that it is an act of faith. God, our Creator, People: Guide us in truth and love. Guide us through this election as a nation, state, and community as we vote for people to do work on our behalf and on the behalf of our communities. Help us to vote for people and ballot initiatives that will better our community and our world so it may reflect the values Christ taught us. God, our Creator, People: Guide us in truth and love. Help us create communities that will build your kingdom here on earth communities that will protect the poor, stand up for the vulnerable, advocate for those who are not seen and heard, and listen to everyone’s voice. God, our Creator, People: Guide us in truth and love. We pray for this nation that is deeply divided. May we come together for the common good and do as you have called us to do–to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you through creation. God, our Creator, People: Guide us in truth and love. Help us act out of love, mercy and justice rather than out of arrogance or fear. God, our Creator, People: Guide us in truth and love. Lord, continue to guide us as we work for the welfare of this world. We pray for places that are torn by violence, that they may know peace. God, our Creator, People: Guide us in truth and love. We pray for communities who are struggling with inequality, unrest, and fear. May we all work toward reconciliation with one another and with God. God, our Creator, People: Guide us in truth and love. Help us to listen in love, work together in peace, and collaborate with one another as we seek the betterment of our community and world. God, our Creator, People: Guide us in truth and love.
The Lord’s Prayer
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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. Quiet Reflection At this time we invite you to sit in silence, opening your heart to where God moves you to be. Please use the online chat box to include your prayers. The presider will conclude with special prayers.
Hymn(LEVAS):188, It is well with my soul
Thanksgivings for National Life Almighty God, giver of all good things: We thank you for the natural majesty and beauty of this land. They restore us, though we often destroy them. People: Heal us. We thank you for the great resources of this nation. They make us rich, though we often exploit them. People: Forgive us. We thank you for the men and women who have made this country strong. They are models for us, though we often fall short of them. People: Inspire us. We thank you for the torch of liberty which has been lit in this land. It has drawn people from every nation, though we have often hidden from its light. People: Enlighten us. We thank you for the faith we have inherited in all its rich variety. It sustains our life, though we have been faithless again and again. People: Renew us. Presider: Help us, O Lord, to finish the good work here begun. Strengthen our efforts to blot out ignorance, prejudice and racism. And hasten the day when all our people, with many voices in one united chorus, will glorify your holy Name. Amen.
Sending Out Closing Prayer The Blessing May you remember that all politics and all platforms and all legalities and all borders and all leaders are temporary. May you recall that political movements and boundaries and personalities and programs are here one day and gone the next. All of these are passing away. May you resist the temptation to place ultimate trust in any person, policy, party, movement, or nation - even a beautiful idea that is embodied by a nation - because there is no nation with an eternal foundation. May you discover your role in the just and merciful governance of the world God made good and pursue that cosmos-converting vocation with love amid the world's brokenness and grittiness. May you see your work in the world - all of your callings and activities - as a participation in bringing the kingdom of heaven to earth. May you have strength and beauty and determination and wisdom as you love your neighbor and your enemy as Christ has loved you, seeking with all persons to bring justice, mercy, and lasting peace to the earth. May you comprehend that your salvation is not dependent on who you vote for in an election, or in whether or not you vote; that you are under no biblical or theological or moral obligation to vote for a person or party or proposal or initiative if that vote violates your conscience. May you have empathy for the political decisions of others that you find troubling - particularly those of family and close friends. May you have ears to hear what lies at the heart of their political concerns, and eyes to see the noble but imperfect search for goodness that is motivating their choice, especially if you strongly disagree with the candidate, party, or politics they support. May you be grateful for the opportunity to participate in your government and if you choose not to participate in the election may you find ways to make that nonparticipation more than a protest, and may you find tangible ways to help and protect the poor and oppressed who might have been helped or shielded by your vote. May you realize that the kingdom of God is within you and that the Son of God sets you free even as you vote for whomever your conscience dictates, without anxiety or fear, for the Spirit the Father gives us does not make us timid, but bestows on us power, love, and self-discipline.
May your posture toward every human leader be driven by respectful prayer, and where protest and prophecy and non-violent resistance are needed may you have the courage to speak and oppose and critique in humility and charity. May God grant you grace to affirm the humanity - the image of God - in every political candidate and leader, and civility to impartially and energetically embrace any pursuit of genuine human flourishing they propose. May you perceive God's love for creation in sending Jesus to embody a New Humanity, and may you join in Christ's care for the earth and all its creatures and resources, embodying a people who beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. And the blessing of God Almighty, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer be upon you this night and remain with you always. Amen. Closing Hymn: 599, Lift every voice and sing (see following pages) The Dismissal Go into the world and know how much a tired and hurting world needs your strength and gladness; for there are deeds of compassion and courage that will never be done unless you do them; and words of hope and healing that will never be spoken unless you speak them. And now let us go forth into the world in peace, to love and serve the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.
Participants in the Service Presider: The Rev. Emily Richards Assisting Priest: The Rev. Laura Palmer Lector: Daniel Richards Organist: Joyce Chen Soloists: Rachael Lipson, Ally Mason and Kyle Mason Service Resources This service is based on Ecumenical Prayer Service for Election Eve/Day Council of Christian Unity of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the US and Canada. Portions of the service come from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. The prayers for the election are attributed to the Rev. Shannon Kelly, Missioner for Young Adult and Campus Ministries, the Episcopal Church. The Blessing is attributed to the Rev Kenneth Tanner; Church of the Holy Redeemer in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The Dismissal is attributed to Episcopal Relief & Development, The Episcopal Church).
Closing Hymn: 599, Lift every voice and sing