Tonight, we re-start our Lenten midweek tradition of Holden Evening Prayer at 7pm. Composed just over 40 years ago by Marty Haugen (who has his fair share of musical artistry in our hymnals), at Holden Village in Washington, it has become a cherished collection of vespers (evening sung prayers) for communities of faith around the world, including Divinity. Over the decades, the music has had a way of creating its own soul-soothing environment, of instilling beauty and hope no matter the hardship endured that day or whatever is troubling our hearts and minds.
As of right now, at least, my favorite wording comes shortly after the start, when we sing to God, requesting, perhaps even urging, “let your light scatter the darkness, and shine within your people here.” That’s wonderful imagery to be sure, but I still cling to a few lines later: “Love that fills the night with wonder, love that warms the weary soul. Love that bursts all chains asunder, set us free and make us whole.”
Of course, Scripture tends to paint the daylight portion in a more positive light than the darkness, as a way to metaphorically point out the overwhelming brightness of God’s love and grace and hope that blesses us with new life that no level of sin and death can ultimately withstand. But we also recognize plenty of ministry, including from Jesus himself, was/is beautifully carried out after the sun set/sets. Love and grace and hope can be just as alive at 3am as 3pm.
And maybe it’s just a needed personal re-assurance as our household continues to navigate the youngest member of our family wanting a semi-nightly visit beside his crib. Maybe it’s recognizing such breath-taking beauty emerging in the sky with the brightest stars from the comparatively furthest time and distance away. Maybe it’s seeing people walking their dogs after a long day at work or on their own family-front, with the canines adorned with collars that glow in the dark, adding just enough of a happiness-inducing enjoyment in the simplest matters of life. Maybe I just need to know that God is just as much in full-scale operation of the Gospel-enacting all hours of the day and night.
So, with every Lent, I like to think Holden Evening Prayer blesses all of us with that holy re-assurance. That even after our daily work and errand-running has concluded, God’s love and grace and hope are still in full force in and around us, raising our awareness of the breath-taking beauty emerging throughout our lives. And as we come together, yet again, this evening, we’ll conclude our singing together with, “may the Spirit of Love be our guide and path, for all of our days,” and nights, too. Amen (so let it be)!
In Christ,
Pastor Brad