Hallowe'en has become quite a cultural event in our society, in addition to being big business. It's also one of the few nights of the year when people still get out and mingle with and extend hospitality to their neighbors and to strangers. In that sense, very practically speaking, Hallowe'en surprisingly bears quite a Christian stamp. Or not so surprisingly, since the night is in fact the eve of a great feast of the church, All Saints' Day.
But if this Hallowe'en has you stuck at home on a dark and stormy night, or for after some brave souls get in wet and chilled to the bone from trick or treating, here's a service of readings and prayers for your All Hallows' Eve, from the Episcopal Church's Book of Occasional Services. Happy Hallowe'en!
Service for All Hallows’ Eve
From The Book of Occasional Services:
This service may be used on the evening of October 31, known as All Hallows’ Eve. Suitable festivities and entertainments may take place before or after this service, and a visit may be made to a cemetery or burial place.
The rite begins with the Service of Light, p. 109 of the Book of Common Prayer, using the Prayer for Light appointed for Festivals of Saints.
After the Phos hilaron, two or more lessons are read, each followed
by a psalm or hymn, and a prayer.
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The church (or gathering place) is dark, or partially so, when the service is to begin.
The Officiant greets the people with these words.
Light
and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
The Officiant then says the following Prayer for Light, first
saying
Let
us pray. (Silence)
Lord
Christ, your saints have been the lights of the world in every generation:
Grant that we who follow in their footsteps may be made worthy to enter with
them into that heavenly country where you live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.
The candles at the Altar are now lighted, as are other candles
and lamps as may be convenient.
The following hymn is then said by all.
O
Gracious Light Phos hilaron
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.
Two or more of the following lessons are read, each followed by
the accompanying psalm and prayer.
The
Witch of Endor 1 Samuel 28:3-25
(This lesson may be read by a narrator, with additional readers
for Saul, the witch, and Samuel.)
Psalm
130 De profundis
1 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.
2 If you, LORD, were to note what is
done amiss, *
O LORD, who could stand?
3 For there is forgiveness with you; *
therefore you shall be feared.
4 I wait for the LORD; my soul waits for
him; *
in his word is my hope.
5 My soul waits for the LORD,
more
than watchmen for the morning, *
more than watchmen for the morning.
6 O Israel, wait for the LORD, *
for with the LORD there is mercy;
7 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
Psalm
13 Usquequo, Domine?
1 How long, O LORD? will you forget me for ever? *
how long will you hide your face from me?
2 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?
3 Look upon me and answer me, O LORD my God; *
give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in
death;
4 Lest my enemy say, "I have
prevailed over him," *
and my foes rejoice that I have fallen.
5 But I put my trust in your mercy; *
my heart is joyful because of your saving
help.
6 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
Valley of Dry Bones Ezekiel 37:1–14
Psalm
143:1–11 Domine, exaudi
1 LORD, hear my prayer,
and in your faithfulness heed my
supplications; *
answer me in your righteousness.
2 Enter not into judgment with your
servant, *
for in your sight shall no one living be
justified.
3 For my enemy has sought my life;
he has crushed me to the ground; *
he has made me live in dark places like
those who are long dead.
4 My spirit faints within me; *
my heart within me is desolate.
5 I remember the time past; I muse upon
all your deeds; *
I consider the works of your hands.
6 I spread out my hands to you; *
my soul gasps to you like a thirsty land.
7 O LORD, make haste to answer me; my
spirit fails me; *
do not hide your face from me
or I shall be like those who go down to the
Pit.
8 Let me hear of your loving-kindness in
the morning,
for I put my trust in you; *
show me the road that I must walk, for I
lift up my soul to you.
9 Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD, *
for I flee to you for refuge.
10 Teach me to do what pleases you, for you
are my God; *
let your good Spirit lead me on level
ground.
11 Revive me, O LORD, for your Name's sake;
*
for your righteousness' sake, bring me out
of trouble.
Let
us pray. (Silence)
O
God, you have called your people to your service from age to age. Do not give
us over to death, but raise us up to serve you, to praise you, and to glorify
your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The
War in Heaven Revelation 12:1–12
Psalm
103:15-22 Benedic, anima mea
15
Our days are like the grass; *
we flourish like a flower of the field;
16
When the wind goes over it, it is
gone, *
and its place shall know it no more.
17
But the merciful goodness of
the Lord endures for ever
on those who fear him, *
and his righteousness on children's
children;
18
On those who keep his covenant *
and remember his commandments and do
them.
19
The Lord has set his
throne in heaven, *
and his kingship has dominion over
all.
20
Bless the Lord, you angels of
his,
you mighty ones who do his bidding, *
and hearken to the voice of his word.
21
Bless the Lord, all you his
hosts, *
you ministers of his who do his will.
22
Bless the Lord, all you works
of his,
in all places of his dominion; *
bless the Lord, O my soul.
Let
us pray. (Silence)
O
most merciful and mighty God, your son Jesus Christ was born of the Blessed
Virgin Mary to bring us salvation and to establish your kingdom on earth: Grant
that Michael and all your angels may defend your people against Satan and every
evil foe, and that at the last we may come to that heavenly country where your
saints for ever sing your praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The service then concludes with the Lord’s prayer, the Collect
of All Saints’ Day, and a dismissal.
Our Father, who art in heaven . . .
Almighty
God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the
mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your
blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable
joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ
our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory
everlasting. Amen.
V. Let us bless the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.
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