An All Hallows Service of the Word for The Ninth Day of Christmas (January 2, 2021)
Open this link in a new tab to play William Kethe’ metrical version of Psalm 100, “All People That on Earth Do Dwell.”
1 All people that on earth do dwell,
sing to the LORD with cheerful voice;
Him serve with fear, his praise forth tell,
come ye before him, and rejoice.
2 The Lord, ye know, is God indeed,
Without our aid he did us make;
We are his folk, he doth us feed,
And for his sheep he doth us take.
3 O enter then his gates with praise,
Approach with joy his courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless his name always,
For it is seemly so to do.
4 For why? the LORD our God is good:
his mercy is for ever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
and shall from age to age endure.
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
O Christ, Son of God, existing before time,
you came into the world to save us.
Lord, have mercy.
Sun of Righteousness, shining with the Father’s love,
you illumine the whole universe.
Christ, have mercy.
Son of Mary: born a child,
you shared our humanity.
Lord, have mercy.
May the Lord forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are and direct what we shall be, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessed is the Lord:
Who has heard the voice of our prayer.
Therefore shall our hearts dance for joy:
And in our song will we praise our God.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Leo Sowerby’s choral setting of the Bendictus es, Domine, "Blessed Art Thou, O Lord God of Our Fathers."
Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers; praised and exalted above all forever
Blessed art thou for the Name of thy Majesty; praised and exalted above all forever.
Blessed art thou in the temple of thy holiness; praised and exalted above all forever.
Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths, and dwellest between the Cherubim; praised and exalted above all forever.
Blessed art thou on the glorious throne of – thy kingdom; praised and exalted above all forever.
Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven; praised and exalted above all forever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
Silence is kept.
Let us pray
A short period of silent prayer is recommended before the Collect of the Day is said.
Eternal God,
in whose sight a thousand years are like a watch in the night;
guide us now and always, as you have lead us in times past,
that our hearts may learn to choose your will.
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit.
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Silence is kept.
A reading from the Book of Exodus.
Then God spoke all these words:
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Silence is kept.
The Japanese claim that their country has more than a million gods. For the Japanese a tree, an unusual rock formation, a mountain, a lake, a stream, or a shrine may be a home of a kami, a god or spirit, or may be the kami themselves. People may also be kami. At one time the Japanese worship their emperor as a god, as a descendant of the Sun Goddess.
We are not as honest with ourselves and others in this area of our lives as the Japanese are. We will deify someone or something but we will not admit that is what we are doing. We will treat someone as if they can speak no untruth or do not no wrong. We will let someone influence us to the point that we begin to think and act in ways that are at odds with the Lord Jesus’ example and his teachings. We will also make gods of success, money, sex, and any number of things, letting these things rule our lives in place of God, in place of the Lord Jesus.
Some of us worship more idols than Hindus whose religion permits the worship of idols. We may not bow down to images graven from wood or stone or cast from bronze but we do bow down to idols of our own making.
Our idols are our blind spot. If anyone suggests that we have made an idol of someone or something, we become indignant and deny that we would do such a thing.
In the new year, in the next few days, the sooner, the better, but not weeks from now, or not at all, let us ask the Holy Spirit to show us the people and things that we have made into idols, the people and the things that we have put in place of God in our lives, in place of the Lord Jesus. Let us than ask God for grace to turn away from these idols, grace to turn to him. Let us beseech God, that the Lord Jesus whose birth we celebrate this season of the year, alone be enthroned in our hearts, that he alone be the ruler of our lives.
Silence is kept.
Open this link to play Thomas Tallis’ choral setting of the Te Deum, "We Praise Thee, O God," from his Dorian Service.
We praise thee, O God: we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship thee: the Father everlasting.
To thee all Angels cry aloud: the heavens, and all the powers therein.
To thee Cherubin and Seraphin: continually do cry,
Holy, Holy, Holy: Lord God of Sabaoth;
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty: of thy glory.
The glorious company of the Apostles: praise thee.
The goodly fellowship of the Prophets: praise thee.
The noble army of Martyrs: praise thee.
The holy Church throughout all the world: doth acknowledge thee;
The Father: of an infinite Majesty;
Thine honourable, true: and only Son;
Also the Holy Ghost: the Comforter.
Thou art the King of Glory: O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son: of the Father.
When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man: thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.
When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death: thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God: in the glory of the Father.
We believe that thou shalt come: to be our Judge.
We therefore pray thee, help thy servants: whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
Make them to be numbered with thy Saints: in glory everlasting.
O Lord, save thy people: and bless thine heritage.
Govern them: and lift them up for ever.
Day by day: we magnify thee;
And we worship thy Name: ever world without end.
Vouchsafe, O Lord: to keep us this day without sin.
O Lord, have mercy upon us: have mercy upon us.
O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us: as our trust is in thee.
O Lord, in thee have I trusted: let me never be confounded.
Silence is kept.
Let us pray for all people and the Church throughout the world.
After each petition silence may be kept. Further specific petitions may be added at appropriate points in the prayers or before the response.
We pray for the peace of the world, for the leaders of the nation, and for all in authority.
God of grace, hear our prayer.
We pray for the welfare of your holy church, our bishop William, and for all clergy and people.
God of grace, hear our prayer.
We pray that we nay share with justice the resources of the earth, and live in trust and goodwill with one another,
God of grace, hear our prayer.
We pray for the aged and infirm, for the bereaved and the lonely, and for the sick and the suffering.
God of grace, hear our prayer.
We pray for the poor and the oppressed, for prisoners and captives, and for all who care for them.
God of grace, hear our prayer.
We pray for ourselves and each other.
God of grace, hear our prayer.
We praise you, Lord God, for the communion of the saints, and for the glorious hope of the resurrection to eternal life.
God of grace, hear our prayer.
Faithful God,
you have promised to hear the prayers
of all who ask in Jesus’ name.
In your mercy, accept our prayers.
give us what we asked in faith,
according to your will;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray the prayer that Jesus gave us.
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,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ,
Send us out with confidence in your word
To tell the world of your saving acts,
And bring glory to your name. Amen.
Open this link to play Isaac Watts’ metrical version of the Dignus es, “Come, Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs.”
1 Come, let us join our cheerful songs
with angels round the throne;
ten thousand thousand are their tongues,
but all their joys are one.
2 'Worthy the Lamb that died,' they cry,
'to be exalted thus';
'Worthy the Lamb,' our lips reply,
'for he was slain for us.'
3 Jesus is worthy to receive
honour and power divine;
and blessings, more than we can give,
be, Lord, for ever thine.
4 Let all creation joins in one
to bless the sacred name
of him who sits upon the throne,
and to adore the Lamb.
Silence is kept.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
May the God of all grace bless us. Amen.
Silence is kept.
Let us pray
A short period of silent prayer is recommended before the Collect of the Day is said.
Eternal God,
in whose sight a thousand years are like a watch in the night;
guide us now and always, as you have lead us in times past,
that our hearts may learn to choose your will.
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit.
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Silence is kept.
A reading from the Book of Exodus.
Then God spoke all these words:
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Silence is kept.
The Japanese claim that their country has more than a million gods. For the Japanese a tree, an unusual rock formation, a mountain, a lake, a stream, or a shrine may be a home of a kami, a god or spirit, or may be the kami themselves. People may also be kami. At one time the Japanese worship their emperor as a god, as a descendant of the Sun Goddess.
We are not as honest with ourselves and others in this area of our lives as the Japanese are. We will deify someone or something but we will not admit that is what we are doing. We will treat someone as if they can speak no untruth or do not no wrong. We will let someone influence us to the point that we begin to think and act in ways that are at odds with the Lord Jesus’ example and his teachings. We will also make gods of success, money, sex, and any number of things, letting these things rule our lives in place of God, in place of the Lord Jesus.
Some of us worship more idols than Hindus whose religion permits the worship of idols. We may not bow down to images graven from wood or stone or cast from bronze but we do bow down to idols of our own making.
Our idols are our blind spot. If anyone suggests that we have made an idol of someone or something, we become indignant and deny that we would do such a thing.
In the new year, in the next few days, the sooner, the better, but not weeks from now, or not at all, let us ask the Holy Spirit to show us the people and things that we have made into idols, the people and the things that we have put in place of God in our lives, in place of the Lord Jesus. Let us than ask God for grace to turn away from these idols, grace to turn to him. Let us beseech God, that the Lord Jesus whose birth we celebrate this season of the year, alone be enthroned in our hearts, that he alone be the ruler of our lives.
Silence is kept.
Open this link to play Thomas Tallis’ choral setting of the Te Deum, "We Praise Thee, O God," from his Dorian Service.
We praise thee, O God: we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship thee: the Father everlasting.
To thee all Angels cry aloud: the heavens, and all the powers therein.
To thee Cherubin and Seraphin: continually do cry,
Holy, Holy, Holy: Lord God of Sabaoth;
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty: of thy glory.
The glorious company of the Apostles: praise thee.
The goodly fellowship of the Prophets: praise thee.
The noble army of Martyrs: praise thee.
The holy Church throughout all the world: doth acknowledge thee;
The Father: of an infinite Majesty;
Thine honourable, true: and only Son;
Also the Holy Ghost: the Comforter.
Thou art the King of Glory: O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son: of the Father.
When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man: thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.
When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death: thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God: in the glory of the Father.
We believe that thou shalt come: to be our Judge.
We therefore pray thee, help thy servants: whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
Make them to be numbered with thy Saints: in glory everlasting.
O Lord, save thy people: and bless thine heritage.
Govern them: and lift them up for ever.
Day by day: we magnify thee;
And we worship thy Name: ever world without end.
Vouchsafe, O Lord: to keep us this day without sin.
O Lord, have mercy upon us: have mercy upon us.
O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us: as our trust is in thee.
O Lord, in thee have I trusted: let me never be confounded.
Silence is kept.
Let us pray for all people and the Church throughout the world.
After each petition silence may be kept. Further specific petitions may be added at appropriate points in the prayers or before the response.
We pray for the peace of the world, for the leaders of the nation, and for all in authority.
God of grace, hear our prayer.
We pray for the welfare of your holy church, our bishop William, and for all clergy and people.
God of grace, hear our prayer.
We pray that we nay share with justice the resources of the earth, and live in trust and goodwill with one another,
God of grace, hear our prayer.
We pray for the aged and infirm, for the bereaved and the lonely, and for the sick and the suffering.
God of grace, hear our prayer.
We pray for the poor and the oppressed, for prisoners and captives, and for all who care for them.
God of grace, hear our prayer.
We pray for ourselves and each other.
God of grace, hear our prayer.
We praise you, Lord God, for the communion of the saints, and for the glorious hope of the resurrection to eternal life.
God of grace, hear our prayer.
Faithful God,
you have promised to hear the prayers
of all who ask in Jesus’ name.
In your mercy, accept our prayers.
give us what we asked in faith,
according to your will;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray the prayer that Jesus gave us.
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,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ,
Send us out with confidence in your word
To tell the world of your saving acts,
And bring glory to your name. Amen.
Open this link to play Isaac Watts’ metrical version of the Dignus es, “Come, Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs.”
1 Come, let us join our cheerful songs
with angels round the throne;
ten thousand thousand are their tongues,
but all their joys are one.
2 'Worthy the Lamb that died,' they cry,
'to be exalted thus';
'Worthy the Lamb,' our lips reply,
'for he was slain for us.'
3 Jesus is worthy to receive
honour and power divine;
and blessings, more than we can give,
be, Lord, for ever thine.
4 Let all creation joins in one
to bless the sacred name
of him who sits upon the throne,
and to adore the Lamb.
Silence is kept.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
May the God of all grace bless us. Amen.
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