Abiding in Hope: Prayer Service as the Polls Close

Prayer Service at the Close of the Polls

November 3, 2020

St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Ellisville, MO

Opening Words

Celebrant: Stay with us, Christ, for it is evening.

People: Make your Church bright with your radiance.

Celebrant: Let us pray.

Collect for an Election (Read in unison) BCP, p. 822

Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of the United States (or of this community) in the election of officials and representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Readings

A Reading from the Book of Isaiah. Isaiah 58:6-12

Is not this the fast that I choose:
   to loose the bonds of injustice,
   to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
   and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
   and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
   and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
   and your healing shall spring up quickly;
your vindicator shall go before you,
   the glory of the Lord shall be your rearguard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
   you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.

If you remove the yoke from among you,
   the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
if you offer your food to the hungry
   and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
then your light shall rise in the darkness
   and your gloom be like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you continually,
   and satisfy your needs in parched places,
   and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
   like a spring of water,
   whose waters never fail.
Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
   you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
   the restorer of streets to live in.

Reader: The Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

Canticle N (In Unison) 1 John 4:7-11

A Song of God’s Love

Beloved, let us love one another,

for love is of God.

Whoever does not love does not know God,

for God is Love.

In this the love of God was revealed among us,

that God sent God’s only Son into the world,

so that we might live through Jesus Christ.

In this is love, not that we loved God but that God loved us

and sent God’s son that sins might be forgiven.

Beloved, since God loved us so much,

we are also to love one another.

For if we love one another, God abides in us,

and God's love will be perfected in us.

A Reading from the Gospel of Matthew Matthew 20:25-28

But Jesus called them over and said, “You know that those who rule the Gentiles show off their authority over them and their high-ranking officials order them around. But that’s not the way it will be with you. Whoever wants to be great among you will be your servant. Whoever wants to be first among you will be your slave— just as the Human Onedidn’t come to be served but rather to serve and to give his life to liberate many people.”

Reader: The Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

Prayers for an Election

Written by The Rev. Shannon Kelly, Director Department of Faith Formation, The Episcopal Church

Celebrant:

Loving God, creator of this world who is our 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.

Intercessor: 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.