Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, September 3, 2023)
Jesus told his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.” Whatever our circumstances, Jesus calls us to follow him with the same words, “…give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.”
In the ancient Roman world in the time of Jesus a man carrying a cross to his place of execution was considered a dead man. Whatever life that he may have had, it ceased when he hoisted that cross onto his shoulders.
Whatever life we may have had also ceases when we respond to Jesus’ call to follow him. We are dead to that life and the life which we live from that point on is the life we live in Christ.
WE GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness:
let the whole earth stand in awe. Psalm 96:9
Open this link in a new tab to hear James Quinn’s morning hymn, “This Day God Gives Me.”
1 This day, God gives me strength of high heaven,
Sun and moon shining, flame in my hearth,
Flashing of lightning, wind in its swiftness,
Deeps of the ocean, firmness of earth,
Deeps of the ocean, firmness of earth.
2 This day, God sends me strength as my steersman,
Might to uphold me, wisdom as guide.
Your eyes are watchful; your ears are listening;
Your lips are speaking, friend at my side,
Your lips are speaking, friend at my side.
3 God's way is my way; God's shield is round me;
God's host defends me, saving from ill.
Angels of heaven, drive from me always
All that would harm me; stand by me still,
All that would harm me; stand by me still.
[Instrumental interlude]
4 Rising, I thank you, mighty and strong one,
King of creation, giver of rest;
Firmly confessing threeness of persons,
Oneness of Godhead, Trinity blessed,
Oneness of Godhead, Trinity blessed.
Let us remember the presence of God with us now, and lift up our hearts to:
God the Father, to whom we pray;
God the Son, through whom we pray;
God the Holy Spirit, in whom we pray.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Richard Leach’s “Come, Join the Dance of Trinity.”
1 Come, join the dance of Trinity,
before all worlds begun--
the interweaving of the Three,
the Father, Spirit, Son.
The universe of space and time
did not arise by chance,
but as the Three, in love and hope,
made room within their dance.
2 Come, see the face of Trinity,
newborn in Bethlehem;
then bloodied by a crown of thorns
outside Jerusalem.
The dance of Trinity is meant
for human flesh and bone;
when fear confines the dance in death,
God rolls away the stone.
3 Come, speak aloud of Trinity,
as wind and tongues of flame
set people free at Pentecost
to tell the Savior's name.
We know the yoke of sin and death,
our necks have worn it smooth;
go tell the world of weight and woe
that we are free to move!
4 Within the dance of Trinity,
before all worlds begun,
we sing the praises of the Three,
the Father, Spirit, Son.
Let voices rise and interweave,
by love and hope set free,
to shape in song this joy, this life:
the dance of Trinity.
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
Let us pray.
Silence
God of unchangeable power,
our strength at all times;
guard us from all dangers
and support us in all difficulties
that we may live victoriously now and forever;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen.
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
A reading from the New Testament (Romans 12:9-21).
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,”
says the Lord.
Instead,
“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
burning coals of shame on their heads.”
Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
Silence
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
In today’s reading the apostle Paul lays out some principles to help guide those to whom he wrote the Letter to the Romans in how to act as believers. As well as drawing from our Lord’s own teaching, he also cites two passages from the Hebrew Bible, our Old Testament, Deuteronomy 32: 35 and Proverbs 25: 21-22. The guidance that he offers to this group of believers in ancient Rome we do well to follow in our own day.
If you are a Methodist or Wesleyan or have a Methodist or Wesleyan background, you may recognize that a number of things that Paul wrote in this passage inspired what are called John Wesley’s General Rules for participation in a Methodist Society. For example, holding tight to what is good; working hard and serving the Lord enthusiastically; helping those who are in need, particularly God’s people; not to repay evil with evil; to live peaceably with everyone; and to conquer evil with good. John Wesley believed that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. He compiled the General Rules to help those who wished to participate in a Methodist Society demonstrate that they were “desirous of salvation,” that, in other words, they had an active faith.
We are not saved by keeping a set of rules. We are put right with God by faith and the faith which saves us is a gift from God. It is God’s grace, the power of the Holy Spirit, working in us, which enables us to believe in Jesus Christ. Free will plays a part but that too is a gift from God.
We turn away from our former way of life, a life lived in rebellion against God, to God, putting our trust and confidence in Jesus Christ and his suffering, death, and resurrection because God enables us to have a change of heart. We pattern our lives on his teaching and example out of love for Jesus Christ and in gratitude for what he has done for us.
We evidence what the apostle James called a living faith. We have in the words of the apostle Paul a faith that works through love. It is given expression not only in a deepening love for God but also in a deepening love for others, especially our fellow believers, and the transformation of our character. We exhibit those qualities which the apostle Paul describes as the fruit of the Holy Spirit because it is the Holy Spirit which produces these qualities in us.
In today’s reading the apostle Paul stresses that our love for others must be genuine. I suspect that many of us struggle to genuinely love others. We are burdened by prejudices, preconceived ideas and notions about other people, and negative attitudes toward them. They influence how we think and feel about other people and how we act toward them, often outside our conscious awareness. With the help of God’s grace and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, however, we can overcome these prejudices and negative attitudes and love others more genuinely.
What amazed the Romans and the other inhabitants of the ancient world was the love that the early Christians had for others. It was what set them apart from everyone else. We too can show that kind of love if we open ourselves to God’s grace and live into the principles and truths our Lord taught and the example he set. We can make it an outstanding characteristic of our witness to Jesus Christ and his influence in our lives.
Silence
WE RESPOND
Open this link in a new tab to hear David Lewis’ translation of Anders Frostenson’s hymn “Many Are the Light Beams,” based upon a passage from Cyprian of Carthage’s De Unitat ellesiae.
1 Many are the light beams from the one light.
Our one light is Jesus.
Many are the light beams from the one light;
We are one in Christ.
2 Many are the branches of the one tree.
Our one tree is Jesus.
Many are the branches of the one tree;
We are one in Christ.
3 Many are the gifts given, love is all one.
Love’s the gift of Jesus.
Many are the gifts given, love is all one;
We are one in Christ.
4 Many ways to serve God, the Spirit is one,
Servant spirit of Jesus.
Many ways to serve God, the Spirit is one;
We are one in Christ.
5 Many are the members, the body is one,
Members all of Jesus.
Many are the members, the body is one;
We are one in Christ.
WE PRAY FOR GOD’S WORLD
Periods of silence may be kept.
Heavenly Father,
you have promised to hear when we pray
in the name of your Son.
Therefore in confidence and trust
we pray for the Church:
(Particular intercessions/thanksgivings may be offered.)
Father, enliven the Church for its mission
that we may be salt of the earth and light to the world.
Breathe fresh life into your people.
Give us power to reveal Christ in word and action.
We pray for the world:
(Particular intercessions/thanksgivings may be offered.)
Creator of all,
lead us and every people into ways of justice and peace.
That we may respect one another in freedom and truth.
Awaken in us a sense of wonder for the earth and all that is in it.
Teach us to care creatively for its resources.
We pray for the community:
(Particular intercessions/thanksgivings may be offered.)
God of truth, inspire with your wisdom
those whose decisions affect the lives of others
that all may act with integrity and courage.
Give grace to all whose lives are linked with ours.
May we serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.
We pray for those in need:
(Particular intercessions/thanksgivings may be offered.)
God of hope, comfort and restore
all who suffer in body, mind or spirit.
May they know the power of your healing love.
Make us willing agents of your compassion.
Strengthen us as we share in making people whole.
We remember those who have died and those who mourn:
(Particular intercessions/thanksgivings may be offered.)
We remember with thanksgiving those who have died in the faith
of Christ, and those whose faith is known to you alone.
Father, into your hands we commend them.
Give comfort to those who mourn.
Bring them peace in their time of loss.
We praise you for (N and) all your saints
who have entered your eternal glory.
May their example inspire and encourage us.
We pray for ourselves and our ministries:
(Particular intercessions/thanksgivings may be offered.)
Lord, you have called us to serve you.
Grant that we may walk in your presence:
your love in our hearts,
your truth in our minds,
your strength in our wills;
until, at the end of our journey,
we know the joy of our homecoming
and the welcome of your embrace,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us,
we are bold to say
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
Almighty God,
we thank you for the gift of your holy word.
May it be a lantern to our feet,
a light to our paths,
and strength to our lives.
Take and use us
to love and serve all people
in the power of the Holy Spirit
and in the name of your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
May the Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless and keep us now and forever. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Shirley Erena Murray’s “Fresh as the Morning.”
1 God of the Bible, God in the Gospel,
hope seen in Jesus, hope yet to come,
you are our centre, daylight or darkness,
freedom or prison, you are our home.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
2 God in our struggles, God in our hunger,
suffering with us, taking our part,
still you empow’r us, mothering Spirit,
feeding, sustaining, from your own heart.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
3 Those without status, those who are nothing,
you have made royal, gifted with rights,
chosen as partners, midwives of justice,
birthing new systems, lighting new lights.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
4. Not by your finger, not by your anger
will our world order change in a day,
but by your people, fearless and faithful,
small paper lanterns, lighting the way.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
5 Hope we must carry, shining and certain
through all our turmoil, terror and loss,
bonding us gladly one to the other,
till our world changes facing the Cross.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Those present may exchange a sign of peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
WE GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness:
let the whole earth stand in awe. Psalm 96:9
Open this link in a new tab to hear James Quinn’s morning hymn, “This Day God Gives Me.”
1 This day, God gives me strength of high heaven,
Sun and moon shining, flame in my hearth,
Flashing of lightning, wind in its swiftness,
Deeps of the ocean, firmness of earth,
Deeps of the ocean, firmness of earth.
2 This day, God sends me strength as my steersman,
Might to uphold me, wisdom as guide.
Your eyes are watchful; your ears are listening;
Your lips are speaking, friend at my side,
Your lips are speaking, friend at my side.
3 God's way is my way; God's shield is round me;
God's host defends me, saving from ill.
Angels of heaven, drive from me always
All that would harm me; stand by me still,
All that would harm me; stand by me still.
[Instrumental interlude]
4 Rising, I thank you, mighty and strong one,
King of creation, giver of rest;
Firmly confessing threeness of persons,
Oneness of Godhead, Trinity blessed,
Oneness of Godhead, Trinity blessed.
Let us remember the presence of God with us now, and lift up our hearts to:
God the Father, to whom we pray;
God the Son, through whom we pray;
God the Holy Spirit, in whom we pray.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Richard Leach’s “Come, Join the Dance of Trinity.”
1 Come, join the dance of Trinity,
before all worlds begun--
the interweaving of the Three,
the Father, Spirit, Son.
The universe of space and time
did not arise by chance,
but as the Three, in love and hope,
made room within their dance.
2 Come, see the face of Trinity,
newborn in Bethlehem;
then bloodied by a crown of thorns
outside Jerusalem.
The dance of Trinity is meant
for human flesh and bone;
when fear confines the dance in death,
God rolls away the stone.
3 Come, speak aloud of Trinity,
as wind and tongues of flame
set people free at Pentecost
to tell the Savior's name.
We know the yoke of sin and death,
our necks have worn it smooth;
go tell the world of weight and woe
that we are free to move!
4 Within the dance of Trinity,
before all worlds begun,
we sing the praises of the Three,
the Father, Spirit, Son.
Let voices rise and interweave,
by love and hope set free,
to shape in song this joy, this life:
the dance of Trinity.
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
Let us pray.
Silence
God of unchangeable power,
our strength at all times;
guard us from all dangers
and support us in all difficulties
that we may live victoriously now and forever;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen.
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
A reading from the New Testament (Romans 12:9-21).
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,”
says the Lord.
Instead,
“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
burning coals of shame on their heads.”
Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
Silence
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
Walking in Love
In today’s reading the apostle Paul lays out some principles to help guide those to whom he wrote the Letter to the Romans in how to act as believers. As well as drawing from our Lord’s own teaching, he also cites two passages from the Hebrew Bible, our Old Testament, Deuteronomy 32: 35 and Proverbs 25: 21-22. The guidance that he offers to this group of believers in ancient Rome we do well to follow in our own day.
If you are a Methodist or Wesleyan or have a Methodist or Wesleyan background, you may recognize that a number of things that Paul wrote in this passage inspired what are called John Wesley’s General Rules for participation in a Methodist Society. For example, holding tight to what is good; working hard and serving the Lord enthusiastically; helping those who are in need, particularly God’s people; not to repay evil with evil; to live peaceably with everyone; and to conquer evil with good. John Wesley believed that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. He compiled the General Rules to help those who wished to participate in a Methodist Society demonstrate that they were “desirous of salvation,” that, in other words, they had an active faith.
We are not saved by keeping a set of rules. We are put right with God by faith and the faith which saves us is a gift from God. It is God’s grace, the power of the Holy Spirit, working in us, which enables us to believe in Jesus Christ. Free will plays a part but that too is a gift from God.
We turn away from our former way of life, a life lived in rebellion against God, to God, putting our trust and confidence in Jesus Christ and his suffering, death, and resurrection because God enables us to have a change of heart. We pattern our lives on his teaching and example out of love for Jesus Christ and in gratitude for what he has done for us.
We evidence what the apostle James called a living faith. We have in the words of the apostle Paul a faith that works through love. It is given expression not only in a deepening love for God but also in a deepening love for others, especially our fellow believers, and the transformation of our character. We exhibit those qualities which the apostle Paul describes as the fruit of the Holy Spirit because it is the Holy Spirit which produces these qualities in us.
In today’s reading the apostle Paul stresses that our love for others must be genuine. I suspect that many of us struggle to genuinely love others. We are burdened by prejudices, preconceived ideas and notions about other people, and negative attitudes toward them. They influence how we think and feel about other people and how we act toward them, often outside our conscious awareness. With the help of God’s grace and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, however, we can overcome these prejudices and negative attitudes and love others more genuinely.
What amazed the Romans and the other inhabitants of the ancient world was the love that the early Christians had for others. It was what set them apart from everyone else. We too can show that kind of love if we open ourselves to God’s grace and live into the principles and truths our Lord taught and the example he set. We can make it an outstanding characteristic of our witness to Jesus Christ and his influence in our lives.
Silence
WE RESPOND
Open this link in a new tab to hear David Lewis’ translation of Anders Frostenson’s hymn “Many Are the Light Beams,” based upon a passage from Cyprian of Carthage’s De Unitat ellesiae.
1 Many are the light beams from the one light.
Our one light is Jesus.
Many are the light beams from the one light;
We are one in Christ.
2 Many are the branches of the one tree.
Our one tree is Jesus.
Many are the branches of the one tree;
We are one in Christ.
3 Many are the gifts given, love is all one.
Love’s the gift of Jesus.
Many are the gifts given, love is all one;
We are one in Christ.
4 Many ways to serve God, the Spirit is one,
Servant spirit of Jesus.
Many ways to serve God, the Spirit is one;
We are one in Christ.
5 Many are the members, the body is one,
Members all of Jesus.
Many are the members, the body is one;
We are one in Christ.
WE PRAY FOR GOD’S WORLD
Periods of silence may be kept.
Heavenly Father,
you have promised to hear when we pray
in the name of your Son.
Therefore in confidence and trust
we pray for the Church:
(Particular intercessions/thanksgivings may be offered.)
Father, enliven the Church for its mission
that we may be salt of the earth and light to the world.
Breathe fresh life into your people.
Give us power to reveal Christ in word and action.
We pray for the world:
(Particular intercessions/thanksgivings may be offered.)
Creator of all,
lead us and every people into ways of justice and peace.
That we may respect one another in freedom and truth.
Awaken in us a sense of wonder for the earth and all that is in it.
Teach us to care creatively for its resources.
We pray for the community:
(Particular intercessions/thanksgivings may be offered.)
God of truth, inspire with your wisdom
those whose decisions affect the lives of others
that all may act with integrity and courage.
Give grace to all whose lives are linked with ours.
May we serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.
We pray for those in need:
(Particular intercessions/thanksgivings may be offered.)
God of hope, comfort and restore
all who suffer in body, mind or spirit.
May they know the power of your healing love.
Make us willing agents of your compassion.
Strengthen us as we share in making people whole.
We remember those who have died and those who mourn:
(Particular intercessions/thanksgivings may be offered.)
We remember with thanksgiving those who have died in the faith
of Christ, and those whose faith is known to you alone.
Father, into your hands we commend them.
Give comfort to those who mourn.
Bring them peace in their time of loss.
We praise you for (N and) all your saints
who have entered your eternal glory.
May their example inspire and encourage us.
We pray for ourselves and our ministries:
(Particular intercessions/thanksgivings may be offered.)
Lord, you have called us to serve you.
Grant that we may walk in your presence:
your love in our hearts,
your truth in our minds,
your strength in our wills;
until, at the end of our journey,
we know the joy of our homecoming
and the welcome of your embrace,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us,
we are bold to say
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
Almighty God,
we thank you for the gift of your holy word.
May it be a lantern to our feet,
a light to our paths,
and strength to our lives.
Take and use us
to love and serve all people
in the power of the Holy Spirit
and in the name of your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
May the Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless and keep us now and forever. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Shirley Erena Murray’s “Fresh as the Morning.”
1 God of the Bible, God in the Gospel,
hope seen in Jesus, hope yet to come,
you are our centre, daylight or darkness,
freedom or prison, you are our home.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
2 God in our struggles, God in our hunger,
suffering with us, taking our part,
still you empow’r us, mothering Spirit,
feeding, sustaining, from your own heart.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
3 Those without status, those who are nothing,
you have made royal, gifted with rights,
chosen as partners, midwives of justice,
birthing new systems, lighting new lights.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
4. Not by your finger, not by your anger
will our world order change in a day,
but by your people, fearless and faithful,
small paper lanterns, lighting the way.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
5 Hope we must carry, shining and certain
through all our turmoil, terror and loss,
bonding us gladly one to the other,
till our world changes facing the Cross.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Those present may exchange a sign of peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
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