Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, August 31, 2023)

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

This Thursday evening, we continue the message series about Jesus’ teaching. As we learned in last Thursday’s message what Jesus taught can be gleaned from conversations he had as well as instructions he gave, stories he told, and remarks he made. Disciples of Jesus show their love for the One whom they call Lord by following his teaching and example. They do not pass judgment on what he said and did but rather are guided by his words and actions.

WE GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

A lamp or candle may be lit.

You, O Lord, are my lamp;
my God, you make my darkness bright.

The light and peace of Jesus Christ be with you
and also with you.

As this evening hymn is sung, more lamps and candles may be lit.

Open this link in a new tab to hear William Bradley Roberts’ arrangement of “O Gracious Light (Phos hilaron).”

1 O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the everlasting One,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!

2 Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing thy praises, O God:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

3 Thou art 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.

Hear these words of scripture.

If we claim to be sinless,
we are self-deceived and strangers to the truth.
If we confess our sins,
God is just and may be trusted to forgive our sins
and cleanse us from every kind of wrong.
Spirit of God, search our hearts.

Let us bow our heads and, in silence,
remember our need for God’s forgiveness.

Silence

Let us confess our sins to God.

Almighty and merciful God,
we have sinned against you,
in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with all our heart.
We have not loved others
as our Savior Christ loves us.
We are truly sorry.
In your mercy forgive what we have been,
help us to amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be;
that we may delight in your will
and walk in your ways,
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Almighty God, who pardons all who truly repent,
forgive our sins, strengthen us by the Holy Spirit,
and keep us in life eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Redeemer.
Amen.

Open this link to hear Timothy Dudley Smith’s paraphrase of Psalm 121, “I Lift My Eves to the Quiet Hills.”

I lift my eyes
to the quiet hills
in the press of a busy day;
as green hills stand
in a dusty land
so God is my strength and stay.

I lift my eyes
to the quiet hills
to a calm that is mine to share;
secure and still
in the Father's will
and kept by the Father's care.

I lift my eyes
to the quiet hills
with a prayer as I turn to sleep;
by day, by night,
through the dark and light
my Shepherd will guard his sheep.

I lift my eyes
to the quiet hills
and my heart to the Father's throne;
in all my ways
to the end of days
the Lord will preserve his own.

The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.

Let us pray.

Silence

Almighty and everlasting God,
by your Spirit the whole body of the Church
is governed and sanctified;
hear the prayer we offer
for all your faithful people,
that in the ministry to which you have called us
we may serve you in holiness and truth;
through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

A reading from the New Testament (Matthew 8:14-22)

When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.

That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said,

“He took our sicknesses
and removed our diseases.”

When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake.

Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

Another of his disciples said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”

But Jesus told him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead.”

Silence

May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.

What Did Jesus Teach about Following Him?

The reports of the miracles Jesus had performed quickly spread through the countryside and people flocked to him, They brought to Jesus the demon-possessed and the sick and Jesus cast out the demons and healed the sick. As a crowd formed around him, Jesus prepared to cross to the other side of the lake.

From today’s reading we gather that the crowd included teachers of religious law. One of them volunteers to follow Jesus wherever he goes. Jesus responds with these words, ““Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

Jesus was very perceptive. He was able to discern people’s deepest thoughts and desires. He was able to recognize their motives, even those that they did not recognize themselves. He may have discerned that the teacher of religious law in question had expectations of him which he was not able or willing to meet.

In those days dignitaries and other important people had a retinue, a group of people who traveled with them to help them and for whom they were expected to provide food, shelter, and other necessities. The man may have thought that becoming a follower of Jesus his position would be akin to that of a member of such a group, a dependent whom Jesus was expected to house and support. He may also have thought that as a part of Jesus’ entourage, he would benefit from Jesus’ accomplishments. He may have been one of those individuals who associate themselves with celebrities and bask in their reflected glory. Dignitaries and other important people also attracted sycophants who sought to get some advantage from them. Whatever may have been the case, Jesus sets him straight.

The teacher of religious law may be described as representative of the various individuals mentioned in the New Testament who expressed a willingness to follow Jesus but from the wrong motives.

The lesson in Jesus’ interaction with this individual is one to which churchgoers who have bought into the Prosperity Gospel need to pay close attention. Nowhere in the Gospels does Jesus promise an easy life to his disciples or material blessings. Jesus himself was poor and he and his inner circle of disciples were supported by a group of women followers. He paid the temple tax which all Jews were required to pay with a coin found in a fish’s mouth.

In today’s reading another would-be follower of Jesus asks first to be allowed to return home and bury his father before following Jesus. Burying a parent was for the Jews a filial duty. Jesus’ response may have surprised those listening to the conversation and those to whom Mathew’s Gospel was originally written. We do not know from the text of the reading that this disciple wannabe’s father had died. All we know is that he asked first to be allowed to go and bury him. From his request we may jump to the conclusion that the father was dead, but we do not know that for certain. Jesus’ response suggests the possibility that the father may have been still alive and kicking. The individual in question may not have been sincere in his expressed desire to follow Jesus. He may have also been procrastinating, using filial obligations as an excuse to put off making the most important decision of his life, the decision to follow Jesus.

Jesus’ response is that if he is going to follow Jesus, he needs to begin now and not later. Others can bury the father if he is dead or when he dies. If he hesitates, he will never get around to following Jesus. He will always be finding some excuse to not do so.

How many of us are like this individual? We are experiencing Jesus’ call to follow him. Yet we come up with all kinds of reasons in our mind to delay taking the first step. What would be Jesus’ response to what we are saying to ourselves and perhaps even to others?

I believe that Jesus, while acknowledging what concerns we may have, would urge us to put our trust and confidence in him and step out in faith. While God does not promise us a life of ease or financial prosperity, God has our good at heart.

Jesus keeps calling us throughout our lives. He invites us not only to follow him but also to walk closer with him once we have set our feet on the path of discipleship. Following Jesus will have its ups and downs but of one thing we can be assured. While we may not see him or hear his voice, Jesus walks beside us. We do not walk alone.

Silence

WE RESPOND

Open this link in a new tab to hear Derek Boemler and Joel Payne’ “O sing, O Sing the Greatness of the Lord.”

1 O sing, O sing the greatness of the Lord, 
and lift your voice aloud with one accord:
let every generation proclaim
the honor and the glory of his name!

O sing! O hear!
O praise the Lord, my soul,
for God has shown his mercy to the world.
 
2 O sing, O sing the wonders of his ways, 
who year on year his mighty arm displays;
he scatters those with power and pride
and raises up the humble to his side.

O sing! O hear!
O praise the Lord, my soul,
for God has shown his mercy to the world.

3 O sing, O sing the goodness of his deeds, 
who brings us hope and satisfies our needs;
The hungry will be fed from his hand,
the rich are sent away at his command.

O sing! O hear!
O praise the Lord, my soul,
for God has shown his mercy to the world.

4 O sing, O sing his covenant of grace,
who holds his people fast in his embrace;
through Israel’s story God is made known,
through Christ the truest depths of love are shown.

O sing! O hear!
O praise the Lord, my soul,
for God has shown his mercy to the world.

WE PRAY FOR GOD’S WORLD

God of heaven and earth, through Jesus Christ you promise to hear
us when we pray to you in faith with thanksgiving.

We pray for one another, for our families and friends, through
whom we learn to love and to be loved. Thank you for all who care
for us. Give us grace to serve Christ by serving our neighbors and
our community, loving others as he loves us.

Silence

God of love
grant our prayer.

We thank you for the unfailing love you hold out to everyone in
Jesus Christ. Comfort and heal those in sorrow, need, sickness or
any other trouble. Give them courage and hope in their distress,
and bless those who minister to them.

Silence

God of love
grant our prayer.

We remember with gratitude your many gifts to us in creation and
the rich heritage of this land. Help us and people everywhere
to share with justice and peace the resources of the earth. Give
wisdom to those in authority among us and to all leaders of the
nations.

Silence

God of love
grant our prayer.

We pray for your Church throughout the world, thanking you for
all who serve Christ and his kingdom. By your Spirit strengthen
your people for their work and witness in the world. Unite us in
your truth and love, that we who confess your name may also
reflect your glory.

Silence

God of love
grant our prayer.

We remember with thanksgiving all who have died in Christ, and
we rejoice at the faithful witness of your saints in every age,
praying that we may enter with them into the unending joy of your
heavenly kingdom.

Silence

God of love
grant our prayer.

Merciful God, you look with compassion on all who turn to you.
Hear the prayers of your people.
Grant that what we have asked in faith
we may by your grace receive;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God of mercy,
you have given us grace to pray with one heart and one voice;
and have promised to hear the prayers
of two or three who agree in your name;
fulfil now, we pray,
the prayers and longings of your people
as may be best for us and for your kingdom.
Grant us in this world to know your truth,
and in the world to come to see your glory.
Amen.

As Christ taught us, we are bold to pray.

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.

WE GO FORTH TO SERVE

May God bless and keep us. Amen.
May God’s face ever shine upon us. Amen.
May God grant us peace for all our days. Amen.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Ana Letitia Waring’s “I Heavenly Love Abiding.”

1 In heavenly love abiding,
no change my heart shall fear;
and safe is such confiding,
for nothing changes here:
the storm may roar without me,
my heart may low be laid;
but God is round about me,
and can I be dismayed?

2 Wherever he may guide me,
no want shall turn me back;
my Shepherd is beside me,
and nothing can I lack:
his wisdom ever waketh,
his sight is never dim,
he knows the way he taketh,
and I will walk with him.

3 Green pastures are before me,
which yet I have not seen;
bright skies will soon be o'er me,
where darkest clouds have been;
my hope I cannot measure,
my path to life is free;
my Saviour has my treasure,
and he will walk with me.

Those present may exchange a sign of peace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.