Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, November 2, 2023)
Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.
The faith of some people grows weaker as they grow older. The faith of others grows stronger as they age. Rather than dimming, their light shines brighter. They do much good in the remaining years of their life. They do not let their age or disability become an impediment to doing good. WE GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
A lamp or a candle may be lit.
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised:
there is no end of his greatness.
One generation shall praise your work to another:
and shall declare your power.
All your works praise you, Lord:
and your faithful servants bless you.
They make known the glory of your kingdom:
and speak of your power.
My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord:
let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
As this evening hymn is sung, more lamps and candles may be lit.
Open this link in a new tab to hear F. Bland Tucker’s paraphrase of the Phos hilaron, “O Gracious Light.”
O gracious Light,
Lord Jesus Christ,
in you the Father's glory shone.
Immortal, holy, blest is he,
and blest are you, his holy Son.
Now sunset comes,
but light shines forth,
the lamps are lit to pierce the night.
Praise Father, Son, and Spirit; God
who dwells in the eternal light.
Worthy are you of endless praise,
O Son of God, Life-giving Lord;
wherefore you are
through all the earth
and in the highest heaven adored.
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, Sovereign God of all,
to you be glory and praise for ever!
In the darkness of this passing age,
your saints proclaim the glory of your kingdom,
revealed among us in Christ, our light.
Open our eyes to behold your presence
and join our song with that of the saints
in praise of all your marvellous deeds,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever!
Open this link in a new tab to hear the paraphrase of Psalm 141, “O Lord, I Call to You,” from the Free Church of Scotland’s Sing Psalms (2003)
1 O Lord, I call to you.
Come quickly! I’m in need!
And, when I cry to you for help,
to my appeal give heed.
2 Like incense may my prayer
before your face arise—
The raising of my hands be like
the evening sacrifice.
3 Keep watch, Lord, on my mouth
and guard my lips, I pray;
Let not my heart to evil thoughts
be drawn and led astray.
4 Keep me from taking part
in what the evil do;
Let me not taste their choices food,
lest I be false to you.
Silence
Lord God, our protector and guide,
who made us knowing both good and evil,
help us to desire all that is good,
that the offering of our lives may be acceptable to you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Matt Searles’ paraphrase of Psalm 84, “How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place.”
How lovely is your dwelling place
O Lord of hosts to me
My heart cries out and even faints
The courts of God to see
The sparrow finds a place to nest
Beside your throne of grace
Oh how I long to find my rest
And dwell with you always
A pilgrim now for all my days
My gaze is set above
The desert blooms with autumn rains
You bless the ones you love
Your people go from strength to strength
Until we see your face
Your eyes are turned to us in love
You hear us when we pray
I'd rather live for just one day
And gaze upon my Lord
Than spend a lifetime far away
From where your praise is heard
There's no good thing you will withhold
For those who follow you
O Lord my sun and mighty shield
My soul will trust in you
For those who follow you
O Lord my sun and mighty shield
My soul will trust in you
Silence
Lord God,
sustain us in this vale of tears
with the vision of your grace and glory,
that, strengthened by the bread of life,
we may come to your eternal dwelling place;
in the power of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
My soul will trust in you
For those who follow you
O Lord my sun and mighty shield
My soul will trust in you
Silence
Lord God,
sustain us in this vale of tears
with the vision of your grace and glory,
that, strengthened by the bread of life,
we may come to your eternal dwelling place;
in the power of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear William Walsham Howe’s “For All the Saints.”
1 For all the saints who from their labors rest,
Who you by faith before the world confessed,
Your Name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia, alleluia!
2 O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one within your great design.
Alleluia, alleluia!
3 The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon to the loyal faithful comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of Paradise so blest.
Alleluia, alleluia!
4 But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in the bright array;
The King of Glory passes on his way.
Alleluia, alleluia!
5 From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of heav’n streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia!
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Old Testament (Daniel 6:1-23)
Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests. Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.
Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.”
So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions. And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” So King Darius signed the law.
But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. So they went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions?”
“Yes,” the king replied, “that decision stands; it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.”
Then they told the king, “That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a day.”
Hearing this, the king was deeply troubled, and he tried to think of a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament.
In the evening the men went together to the king and said, “Your Majesty, you know that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed.”
So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.”
A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night.
Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den. When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?”
Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”
The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.
Silence
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Kate Bluett’s paraphrase of the Magnificat, “Mary’s Hymn of Praise.”
1 My soul proclaims God’s greatness,
rejoicing in the Lord
who looks upon my meekness,
as ages will behold.
Now God does great things for me,
and holy is God’s name.
My spirit sings God’s wonders,
and oh! my soul proclaims!
2 In every generation
God pours such mercy down,
shows might before the nations,
and scatters all the proud.
God lifts up all the humble,
casts princes down in shame.
My spirit sings God’s wonders,
and oh! my soul proclaims!
3 Rejoice now in God’s promise
to Sarah and Abraham
and all of their descendants,
to keep us in God’s hand.
God fills the poor and hungry
and sends the rich away.
My spirit sings God’s wonders,
and oh! my soul proclaims!
A reading from the New Testament (Hebrews11:32, 39-12:2)
How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death.
But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
Silence
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Randall De Bruyn’s arrangement of the nunc dimittis, “Canticle of Simeon.”
Christ is the light of all the nations
and the glory of his people Israel.
1 Now, Lord, you have kept your word:
let your servant go in peace.
Christ is the light of all the nations
and the glory of his people Israel.
2 With my own eyes I have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of us all.
Christ is the light of all the nations
and the glory of his people Israel.
3 A light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.
Christ is the light of all the nations
and the glory of his people Israel.
Instruments of God’s Grace
Two older women with whom I sang in the chancel choir of the parish church which my family attended after we immigrated to the United States immediately come to my mind. They invited me to join their prayer group. I accepted their invitation and the time I spent in their prayer group would profoundly impact my prayer life. I am convinced that God places people in our lives like these two women as instruments of his grace. It is Christians like them who are God’s saints, his holy ones.
A third saint comes to mind—a elderly man who was wheelchair-bound and who was a resident of a local nursing home. A volunteer brought him to church every Sundays. He read prayers for the other residents of the nursing home. My two youngest nieces often sat with him at church.
A fourth saint had been a schoolteacher, but he had suffered a disabling stroke. He worked at the school board’s media center where I also had a summer job. He was also a member of my church. He visited the prisoners in the county jail.
Ordinary people. Instruments of God’s grace. Ways which God shows his loving kindness to us.
You may have had people in your life like these people. Take a few minutes this day to thank God for them. Ask God to enable you to be like them, an instrument of his grace.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Michael Perry’s “I Believe in God the Father.”
I believe in God the Father
who created heaven and earth,
holding all things in his power,
bringing light and life to birth.
I believe in God the Savior,
Son of Man and Lord most high,
crucified to be redeemer,
raised to life that death may die.
I believe in God the Spirit,
wind of heaven and flame of fire,
pledge of all that we inherit,
sent to comfort and inspire.
Honor, glory, might and merit
be to God, and God alone!
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
One-in-Three and Three-in-One.
THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER
United in the company of all the faithful and looking for the
coming of the kingdom, let us offer our prayers to God.
Merciful Lord, strengthen all Christian people by your Holy Spirit, that we may live as a royal priesthood and a holy nation to the praise of Christ Jesus our Saviour.
Lord, have mercy.
Bless..…. our pastor, and all ministers, of your Church, that by
faithful proclamation of your word we may be built on the
foundation of the apostles and prophets into a holy temple in
the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Empower us by the gift of your Holy and Life-giving Spirit that
we may be transformed into the likeness of Christ from glory
to glory.
Lord, have mercy.
Give to the world and its peoples the peace that comes from
above, that they may find Christ’s way of freedom and life.
Lord, have mercy.
Hold in your embrace all who witness to your love in the
service of the poor and needy; all those who minister to the sick
and dying; and all who bring light to those in darkness.
Lord, have mercy.
Touch and heal al those whose lives are scarred by sin
or disfigured by pain, that, raised from death to life in Christ, their
sorrow may be turned to eternal joy.
Lord, have mercy.
Remember in your mercy those who have gone before us
who have been well-pleasing to you; preserve us who live here
in your faith, guide us to your kingdom and grant us your
peace at all times.
Lord, have mercy.
Hasten the day when those who fear you in every nation will
come from east and west, from north and south, and sit at table
in your kingdom.
Lord, have mercy.
And so we give you thanks for……and for the whole company of
your saints in glory, with whom in fellowship we join our prayers and praises; by your grace may we, like them, be made
perfect in your love.
Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honour and power,
Be to our God for ever and ever. Amen.
We praise you, heavenly Father, that you have knit together your
elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of
your Son Christ our Lord; give us grace so to follow your blessed
saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those inexpressible joys that you have prepared for those who love you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In darkness and in light,
in trouble and in joy,
help us, heavenly Father,
to trust your love,
to serve your purpose,
and to praise your name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let us join together in the prayer 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, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
THE SENDING FORTH OF GOD’S PEOPLE
Open this link in a new tab to hear Lesbia’s Scott’s “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God.”
1 I sing a song of the saints of God,
patient and brave and true,
who toiled and fought and lived and died
for the Lord they loved and knew.
And one was a doctor, and one was a queen,
and one was a shepherdess on the green:
they were all of them saints of God, and I mean,
God helping, to be one too.
2 They loved their Lord so dear, so dear,
and God’s love made them strong;
and they followed the right, for Jesus’ sake,
the whole of their good lives long.
And one was a soldier, and one was a priest,
and one was slain by a fierce wild beast:
and there’s not any reason, no, not the least,
why I shouldn’t be one too.
3 They lived not only in ages past;
there are hundreds of thousands still;
the world is bright with the joyous saints
who love to do Jesus’ will.
You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea,
in church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea;
for the saints of God are just folk like me,
and I mean to be one too.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Open this link to hear the One and All Rejoice Benediction.
The Lord bless you
The Lord keep you
The Lord make his face to shine upon you
And be gracious
And be gracious
The Lord look upon you with favor
and give you peace
Amen.
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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