All Hallows ’ Eve Liturgy
Holy Eucharist 10:30 A.M.
October 31, 2021

THE WORD OF GOD

Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen.

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 Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Hymn of Praise

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father

we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Collect

Let us pray.

Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 

THE WITCH OF ENDOR

Samuel 28:3-25

Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. Saul had expelled the mediums and the wizards from the land. The Philistines assembled, and came and encamped at Shunem. Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. When Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, not by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, ‘Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and inquire of her.’ His servants said to him, ‘There is a medium at Endor.’

So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes and went there, he and two men with him. They came to the woman by night. And he said, ‘Consult a spirit for me, and bring up for me the one whom I name to you.’ The woman said to him, ‘Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the wizards from the land. Why then are you laying a snare for my life to bring about my death?’ But Saul swore to her by the LORD, ‘As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.’ Then the woman said, ‘Whom shall I bring up for you?’ He answered, ‘Bring up Samuel for me.’ When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman said to Saul, ‘Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!’ The king said to her, ‘Have no fear; what do you see?’ The woman said to Saul, ‘I see a divine being coming up out of the ground.’ He said to her, ‘What is his appearance?’ She said, ‘An old man is coming up; he is wrapped in a robe.’ So Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance.

Then Samuel said to Saul, ‘Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?’ Saul answered, ‘I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams; so I have summoned you to tell me what I should do.’ Samuel said, ‘Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy? The LORD has done to you just as he spoke by me; for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor David. Because you did not obey the voice of

the LORD, and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you today. Moreover, the LORD will give Israel along with you into the hands of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me; the LORD will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.’

Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel; and there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. The woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, ‘Your servant has listened to you; I have taken my life in my hand, and have listened to what you have said to me. Now therefore, you also listen to your servant; let me set a morsel of bread before you. Eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.’ He refused, and said, ‘I will not eat.’ But his servants, together with the woman, urged him; and he listened to their words. So he got up from the ground and sat on the bed. Now the woman had a fatted calf in the house. She quickly slaughtered it, and she took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened cakes. She put them before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.

Psalm 130

Out of the depths have I called to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice; *

let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.

If you, Lord, were to note what is done amiss, *

O Lord, who could stand?

For there is forgiveness with you; *

therefore you shall be feared.

I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him; *

in his word is my hope.

My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning, *

more than watchmen for the morning.

O Israel, wait for the Lord, *

for with the Lord there is mercy;

With him there is plenteous redemption, *

and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins.

Let us pray. (Silence)

Almighty and everliving God, you have made all things in your wisdom and established the boundaries of life and death: Grant that we may obey your voice in this world, and in the world to come may enjoy that rest and peace which you have appointed for your people; through Jesus Christ who is Resurrection and Life, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

THE VISION OF ELIPHAZ THE TEMANITE

Job 4:12-21
‘Now a word came stealing to me, my ear received the whisper of it.

Amid thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on mortals,

dread came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.

A spirit glided  past my face; the hair of my flesh bristled.

It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance.

A form was before my eyes; There was silence, then I heard a voice: “Can mortals be righteous before God?

Can human beings be pure before their Maker?

Even in his servants he  puts no trust, and his angels he charges with error;

how much more those who live in houses of clay, 

whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed like a moth.

Between morning and evening they are destroyed; they perish for ever without any regarding it.

Their tent-cord is plucked up within them,  and they die devoid of wisdom.”

Psalm 13

How long, O Lord? will you forget me for ever? *

how long will you hide your face from me?

How long shall I have perplexity in my mind, 

and grief in my heart, day after day? *

how long shall my enemy triumph over me?

Look upon me and answer me, O Lord my God; * give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death; Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” * and my foes rejoice that I have fallen.

But I put my trust in your mercy; *

my heart is joyful because of your saving help.

I will sing to the Lord, for he has dealt with me richly; *

I will praise the Name of the Lord Most High.

Let us pray. (Silence)

You, O Lord, have made us from the dust of the earth and to dust our bodies shall return; yet you have also breathed your Spirit upon us and called us to new life in you: Have mercy upon us, now and at the hour of our death; through Jesus Christ, our mediator and advocate. Amen.

The Sermon

Prayers of the People

Presider:  Loving and gracious God, you have taught us to love you with all our heart and soul and mind and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves:  Hear us as we express our love through prayer and intercession, saying:  Alleluia!  Sing to God a new song; sing praise in the congregation of the faithful.

Litanist:  Eternal and Majestic One, you have raised Christ our High Priest into the Holy Place, obtaining eternal redemption for your people:  Guide the Church and purify our conscience from dead works to worship you, the living God.  Alleluia!  Sing to God a new song; sing praise in the congregation of the faithful.

Sustaining Ruler of All, guide those in authority to exercise their power with a commitment to compassion and justice, for you take pleasure in the people, and you adorn the poor with victory.  Alleluia!  Sing to God a new song; sing praise in the congregation of the faithful.

Merciful and Compassionate One, look upon refugees and immigrants, widows and families who are poor and threatened, who leave their homes seeking hope and prosperity:  Guide them into new places of security and hospitality.  Alleluia!  Sing to God a new song; sing praise in the congregation of the faithful.

Creator and Sustainer, be with us in this community that we may be people who follow your law of love.  Alleluia!  Sing to God a new song; sing praise in the congregation of the faithful.

Receive our prayers of intercession into your eternal heart of love, as we pray, especially for ___.  Your faithful people rejoice joyfully in our Maker and Monarch, hear our prayers of thanksgiving, especially for ___.  Christ the high priest of the good things that have come has entered into heaven; bring all who have died into your eternal presence, especially ___.  Alleluia!  Sing to God a new song;  sing praise in the congregation of the faithful.

Presider:  Holy and gracious One, your eternal and unqualified love exceeds all we can desire or imagine:  Guide us in your way, that we may love you, our neighbors, and ourselves with such singleness of heart, that your kingdom may come quickly among us, through Jesus Christ our great High Priest, in union with the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

Confession

Celebrant:  Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Minister and people:  

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.  We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.  We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.  For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your Name.  Amen.

Celebrant

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

Celebrant: The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

People: And also with you.

The Minister and People greet one another in the name of the Lord.

Announcements 

Oblations brought forward (congregation stands)

Offertory

The Holy Communion

Eucharistic Prayer A

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.

Celebrant It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and every-where to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

Here a Proper Preface is sung or said on all Sundays, and on other occasions as appointed.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

Celebrant and People

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The people stand 

Celebrant continues

Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus

Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all. He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper he 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 shed for you

and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.

Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully

receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom. All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ. By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say, 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by 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 Breaking of the Bread

The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread.
A period of silence is kept.

Then may be sung or said

Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

Facing the people, the Celebrant says the following Invitation

The Gifts of God for the People of God.

The Bread and the Cup are given to the communicants with these words

The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven. [Amen.]

The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation. [Amen.]

After Communion, the Celebrant says

Let us pray.

Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.  Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage  to love and serve you  with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Blessing        

The Dismissal

NOTES

Pledge Cards for 2022 are in the Narthex.  Please take yours with you today.

All Saints Sunday – November 7th.  On this day we commemorate our faithful departed, reading their names during the Rite I and Rite II services.  To have someone remembered, please place their name on our All Saints sheet in the narthex or contact the church office.  All names should be in the church office no later than November 1st. 

THANKSGIVING meal at St. Peter’s November 25th.  RSVP by contacting Audrey Montgomery at 228-697-9129.  Please plan to bring a dish to share. Gather at 11:30 Meal at Noon