Light And Hope – Evening Worship On The First Anniversary Of The Uvalde Shooting

Evening worship on the first anniversary of the Uvalde shooting
will be offered on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. central time 
in person and online at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Uvalde, Texas.

We welcome you to pray with and for us in person, online,
or whenever might be convenient for you.
Thank you for your prayers.
Peace be with you, Mike

An Order of Worship for the Evening

Officiant: Light and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

A Short Lesson of Scripture appropriate to the occasion is read.

I will appoint Peace as your overseer and Righteousness as your taskmaster. Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. (Isaiah 60:17-18)

Let us pray.

Grant us, Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Candle Lighting

As we name our remembrances candles are lighted.

• We remember all who died in the Robb School shooting; 
• We remember all who were injured or suffer in body, mind, or spirit as a result of the Robb School shooting; 
• We remember the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District and Robb Elementary School, their students, parents, and employees;
• We remember the City of Uvalde and all who live here;
• We remember the places and victims of gun violence throughout our country.

Song: The Lord is my light (x3)

The Lord is my light, my light and salvation: 
in God I trust, in God I trust.  

O Gracious Light  Phos hilaron (prayed in unison)

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 eyes 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.

Psalm 23 (spoken in unison)

1   The LORD is my shepherd; *
I shall not be in want.

2   He makes me lie down in green pastures *
and leads me beside still waters.

3   He revives my soul *
and guides me along right pathways for his Name’s sake.

4   Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I shall fear no evil; *
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5   You spread a table before me in the presence of those
who trouble me; *
you have anointed my head with oil,
and my cup is running over.

6   Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days
of my life, *
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. 

Song: Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place (x2)

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place;
I can feel His mighty power and His grace.
I can hear the brush of angel’s wings,
I see glory on each face;
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.

A reading from the gospel according to St. Matthew (5:14-16)

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

The Word of the Lord.
Answer: Thanks be to God.

Homily (click to read)

Song: Bless the Lord (x2)

Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.

The Prayers 

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.

For all who died in the Robb School shooting, that they may be given entrance into the land of light and joy, in the fellowship of all your saints;
Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord; let light perpetual shine upon them. May their souls, and the souls of all the departed, through your mercy, rest in peace.

For all who grieve the death of family and friends; remember them in your mercy, nourish them with patience, comfort them with a sense of your goodness, lift up your countenance upon them, and give them peace;
Lord, hear our prayer and let our cry come to you.

For all who were injured or suffer in body, mind, or spirit as a result of the Robb School shooting that they may be comforted, healed, and given courage and hope;
Lord, hear our prayer and let our cry come to you.

For Uvalde and all who live here; that our divisions may be healed, our trust in one another restored, and our bonds of mutual affection renewed; that peace may prevail with righteousness, justice with order, and all people may find with one another the fulfillment of their humanity;
Lord, hear our prayer and let our cry come to you.

For nonviolence toward ourselves in our thoughts, words, and actions, that there may be peace within us;
Guide us, O Lord, in your way, truth, and life.

For nonviolence toward others in our thoughts, words, and actions, that there may be peace between us;
Guide us, O Lord, in your way, truth, and life.

For nonviolence toward all creation in our thoughts, words, and actions, that there may be peace around us;
Guide us, O Lord, in your way, truth, and life.

For a faith demonstrated not just in our thoughts and prayers but also in our words and actions;
O God, inspire and empower us.

For the political will and wisdom to end gun violence in this country;
O Lord, inspire and empower us.

For actions that promote and respect the sanctity and dignity of every human being;
O Lord, inspire and empower us.

For justice and peace among all people;
O Lord, inspire and empower us.

For your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven;
O Lord, inspire and empower us.

For all who work for unity, peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people;
We thank you, Lord.

For first responders, law enforcement officers, nurses, doctors, and counselors who respond to acts of violence and care for those in need;
We thank you, Lord.

For all that is gracious in the lives of men and women, revealing the image of Christ;
We thank you, Lord.

For the will to be the light of the world;
Give us strength, O Lord, to let our light shine before others.

For the will to not put our lamp under a bushel basket;
Give us strength, O Lord, to let our light shine before others.

For the will to give light to all in the house;
Give us strength, O Lord, to let our light shine before others.

Following a period of silence the Officiant and people pray, 

O Lord our God, you have called us, the people of St. Philip’s, to be a public face of Christ. Open our hearts and minds to the uniqueness and holiness of each person we meet. May our lives and works lead others into the transformative love of Christ. Inspire us with compassion and imagination to care for those in need. Let the beauty of holiness shine in our lives, our worship, and this sacred space. All this we ask in Jesus’ name, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Song: O Lord, hear my prayer (x1)

O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord hear my prayer.
When I call answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord hear my prayer.
Come and listen to me.
The Lord is my song, the Lord is my praise:
All my hope comes from God.
The Lord is my song, the Lord is my praise:
God, the well-spring of life.

Officiant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Officiant: Let us pray.

Officiant and People

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 Anointing of Hands

Officiant: May the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us;
People: Prosper the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:17)

All are welcome and invited to be anointed. 
Please come forward and hold out both hands, palms up.
“In God’s Time” will be sung during the anointing.

Officiant: I anoint you with oil in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, praying that our Lord Jesus Christ will sustain you with his presence, make you whole in body and mind and spirit, and bless and empower your hands to offer healing, bring peace, and change the world.
Response: Amen. 

Officiant: May the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us;
People: Prosper the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:17)

Officiant: Let us pray.

Officiant and People

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Song: Come and fill our hearts (x2)

Come and fill our hearts with your peace. 
You alone, O Lord are holy.
Come and fill our hearts with your peace, alleluia!

Blessing 

May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may seek truth boldly and love deeply. Amen.

May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, peace, and the dignity of every human being. Amen.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who have died, and with those who are grieving and sorrowing, who live in fear, who are marginalized and discriminated against, who are victims of violence and injustice, and who suffer any distress or adversity, so that, with compassion, you may reach out your hands to comfort them and transform their pain into joy. Amen.

May God bless you with enough faith and foolishness to believe that you really can make a difference in this world, this town, and the lives of others, so that you are able, by God’s grace, to do what others claim cannot be done. Amen.

And the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be upon you this night and remain with you for ever. Amen.

Dismissal 

Officiant: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.
People: Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.

____________________
Image Credit: Photo by Prateek Gautam on Unsplash