Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, January 11, 2024)
Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.
Faced as we are with uncertainty that a new year brings, we can take comfort in the changelessness of Christ. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
Blessed is our God for all time,
now and forever. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Mark Friedman and Janet Vogt’s “Enter the Journey.”
Enter the journey. Come to the song.
By God you are chosen,
by name you are called
to follow the vision, carry the cross.
Enter the journey of faith
as the family of God.
1 Enter the journey, the way may be long.
Enter the journey, yet we are made strong.
God’s spirit will guide us,
God’s gifts will unfold.
Enter the journey of hope!
Enter the journey. Come to the song.
By God you are chosen,
by name you are called
to follow the vision, carry the cross.
Enter the journey of faith
as the family of God.
2 Enter the journey, though lost and unsure.
Enter the journey, God’s peace will be yours.
And all who are thirsting be filled with God’s grace.
Enter the journey of faith!
Enter the journey. Come to the song.
By God you are chosen,
by name you are called
to follow the vision, carry the cross.
Enter the journey of faith
as the family of God.
3 Enter the journey, though dark is the way.
Enter the journey, do not be afraid,
for God’s great compassion will give you new sight.
Enter the journey of light!
Enter the journey. Come to the song.
By God you are chosen,
by name you are called
to follow the vision, carry the cross.
Enter the journey of faith
as the family of God.
4. Enter the journey, the old and the young.
Enter the journey, the kingdom is won.
By faith now united, as servants we come.
Enter the journey of love!
Enter the journey. Come to the song.
By God you are chosen,
by name you are called
to follow the vision, carry the cross.
Enter the journey of faith
as the family of God.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins,
God is faithful and just, and will forgive us our
sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
[Let us confess our sins to almighty God.]
Silence
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you,
through our own fault,
in thought word, and deed,
and in what we have left undo.
For your Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake,
forgive us all that is past;
and grant that we may serve you I newness
of life
to the glory of your name. Amen.
God is slow to anger and full of compassion. He forgives all who humbly repent
and turn to his Son Jesus Christ, in whom there is no condemnation. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear F. Bland Tucker and Zac Hick’s “O Gracious Light (Phos Hilaron).”
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.
Light of the World,
Shine on our darkness;
Holy and blest are you.
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.
Light of the World,
Shine on our darkness;
Holy and blest are you
Light of the World,
Shine on our darkness;
Holy and blest are you
Light of the World,
Shine on our darkness;
Holy and blest are you
[The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.]
[Let us pray.]
Silence
Eternal Father,
who at the baptism of Jesus
revealed him to be your Son,
anointing him with the Holy Spirit;
Grant to us, who are born of water and the Spirit,
that we may be faithful to our calling as your adopted children;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Old Testament (Nehemiah 7:73-8:12)
In October, when the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people assembled with a unified purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given for Israel to obey.
So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the Book of the Law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand. He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law.
Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform that had been made for the occasion. To his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. To his left stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people. When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet.
Then Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people chanted, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—then instructed the people in the Law while everyone remained in their places. They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage.
Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”
And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, “Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.” So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.
Silence
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
A reading from the New Testament (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
…you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
Silence
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Open this link in a new tab to hear Ruth Duck’s paraphrase of the Magnificat, “My Heart Sings Out with Joyful Praise.”
My heart sings out with joyful praise
to God who raises me,
Who came to me when I was low
and changed my destiny.
The Holy One, the Living God,
is always full of grace
To those who seek their Maker's will
in every time and place.
The arm of God is strong and just
to scatter all the proud.
The tyrants tumble from their thrones
and vanish like a cloud.
The hungry all are satisfied;
the rich are sent away.
The poor of earth who suffer long
will welcome God's new day.
The promise made in ages past
at last has come to be,
for God has come in power to save,
to set all people free.
Remembering those who wait to see
salvation's dawning day,
Our Savior comes to all who weep
to wipe their tears away.
In last Thursday evening’s message, we touched on one of what John Wesley called “the ordinances of God,” the means of grace, the ways that God gives life to our faith, makes it stronger, and shows that it is true.
In his general rules for Methodist Societies Wesley lists seven of these ordinances. Second on that list is “the ministry of the Word, either read or expounded.” This refers to the practice of the reading of a passage of the Bible aloud and then giving a detailed explanation of one or more verses of that passage, helping those to whom the passage has been read to understand what the verse or verses mean and how the verse or verses apply to their lives. This explanation may take the form of a sermon in a service of public worship, a lecture in a Sunday school class, or a talk in a less formal setting.
If you are not familiar with John Wesley, he was an ordained Anglican minister and a leading figure in the Evangelical Revival In the Church of England in the eighteenth century. He was the founder of the Methodist movement, which began as a spiritual renewal movement in the Church of England and later became a separate church from that church. He pioneered field preaching, open-air services, and what we now call small group ministry.
Open this link in a new tab to hear F. Bland Tucker and Zac Hick’s “O Gracious Light (Phos Hilaron).”
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.
Light of the World,
Shine on our darkness;
Holy and blest are you.
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.
Light of the World,
Shine on our darkness;
Holy and blest are you
Light of the World,
Shine on our darkness;
Holy and blest are you
Light of the World,
Shine on our darkness;
Holy and blest are you
[The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.]
[Let us pray.]
Silence
Eternal Father,
who at the baptism of Jesus
revealed him to be your Son,
anointing him with the Holy Spirit;
Grant to us, who are born of water and the Spirit,
that we may be faithful to our calling as your adopted children;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Old Testament (Nehemiah 7:73-8:12)
In October, when the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people assembled with a unified purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given for Israel to obey.
So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the Book of the Law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand. He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law.
Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform that had been made for the occasion. To his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. To his left stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people. When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet.
Then Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people chanted, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—then instructed the people in the Law while everyone remained in their places. They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage.
Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”
And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, “Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.” So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.
Silence
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
A reading from the New Testament (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
…you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
Silence
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Open this link in a new tab to hear Ruth Duck’s paraphrase of the Magnificat, “My Heart Sings Out with Joyful Praise.”
My heart sings out with joyful praise
to God who raises me,
Who came to me when I was low
and changed my destiny.
The Holy One, the Living God,
is always full of grace
To those who seek their Maker's will
in every time and place.
The arm of God is strong and just
to scatter all the proud.
The tyrants tumble from their thrones
and vanish like a cloud.
The hungry all are satisfied;
the rich are sent away.
The poor of earth who suffer long
will welcome God's new day.
The promise made in ages past
at last has come to be,
for God has come in power to save,
to set all people free.
Remembering those who wait to see
salvation's dawning day,
Our Savior comes to all who weep
to wipe their tears away.
The Ministry of the Word
In last Thursday evening’s message, we touched on one of what John Wesley called “the ordinances of God,” the means of grace, the ways that God gives life to our faith, makes it stronger, and shows that it is true.
In his general rules for Methodist Societies Wesley lists seven of these ordinances. Second on that list is “the ministry of the Word, either read or expounded.” This refers to the practice of the reading of a passage of the Bible aloud and then giving a detailed explanation of one or more verses of that passage, helping those to whom the passage has been read to understand what the verse or verses mean and how the verse or verses apply to their lives. This explanation may take the form of a sermon in a service of public worship, a lecture in a Sunday school class, or a talk in a less formal setting.
If you are not familiar with John Wesley, he was an ordained Anglican minister and a leading figure in the Evangelical Revival In the Church of England in the eighteenth century. He was the founder of the Methodist movement, which began as a spiritual renewal movement in the Church of England and later became a separate church from that church. He pioneered field preaching, open-air services, and what we now call small group ministry.
The Methodist movement would reach thousands of the people whom the Church of England had not been successfully in reaching, particularly in the poor, working class segment of the English population.
The Methodist movement would spread from the Great Britain to North America as Methodists immigrated from England to her colonies. After the colonies gained independence, the Methodists would play a key role in the spread of the gospel westward on the frontier. At one time Methodists boasted at least one Methodist church in every county of the United States.
Through the means of grace like the ministry of the Word, God helps us to grow as disciples of Jesus, transforming our attitudes, ways of thinking, character, and conduct. God provides us with direction, encouragement guidance, and hope.
As we can see from this evening’s first reading the ministry of the Word has been around for a long time. By the time of the Second Temple, the Temple built by Herod, Jews were gathering to read the Hebrew Bible and to pray, not only in Judaea but also wherever they had settled. Since many Jews no longer understood Hebrew, the reading of the Hebrew Bible was followed by an explanation of what had been read in Aramaic or Greek, whatever the language that was commonly spoken in the community. There might also be additional commentary upon what had been read. That is what Jesus did after he read from the Book of Isaiah at the synagogue at Nazareth. His comments, however, infuriated the people in the synagogue and they tried to kill him (Luke 4: 14-30).
The ministry of the Word is not to be confused with what Wesley described as “searching the Scriptures,” that is privately by oneself or with others reading, studying, and meditating upon passages of the Bible. This is also a means of grace. While both involve the Bible, one is done in public, and the other is done in private. The ministry of the Word generally involves the reading of a passage of Scripture to a gathering of people, followed by an explanation of what one or more verses in the passage mean and how they apply to those to whom the passage was read. Verses from other passages of Scripture that are connected to these verses may be cited and explained.
When we search the Scriptures, we seek to understand what a passage of Scripture is saying without someone else explaining it to us. We think carefully about the passage and how it applies to us. We look for principles and truths which are contained in the passage, and which have a bearing on our relationship with God, our understanding of ourselves, and our relationship with other people. We listen for the voice of God speaking through the passage.
The Holy Spirit operates in several different ways in the ministry of the Word. For example, the Holy Spirit assists the preacher or teacher in understanding a text and applying it when a preacher or teach prepares a sermon, lecture, or talk. Just as the Holy Spirit gives life to our faith, the Holy Spirit can give life to a text, a verse or passage of Scripture, so that has a particular influence upon us. The Holy Spirit can draw our attention to a text, prompt us to apply the principle or truth it contains to ourselves, and give it force when we do.
To get the maximum benefit from an exposition of a passage of Scripture, I recommend praying beforehand and then takin notes. Review the notes afterwards and pray over them. Ask yourself, “What is God saying to me?” “How can I put into practice what God is telling me?” Jot down some action steps. Ask God to help you take them. Review your notes again later in the week. Also review your action steps. Did you do what you planned to do? If not, what happened? You may need to change your action steps. Ask God to show you what you need to do.
The purpose of the ministry of the Word is to do more than increase our knowledge. It is to transform us, to bring about changes in our attitudes, ways of thinking, character, and conduct so that we become more and more like the person God meant us to be every day. Such a transformation does not happen on its own. We must do our part.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Mark Patterson‘s setting of the Prayer of St. Richard of Chichester, “Guide Us, Lord.”
Guide us through these days. O Lord;
help us seek your way,
trusting you as you lead us with love,
teach us again to pray.
Help us to know you more clearly,
help us to love you more dearly,
help us to follow you more nearly, day by day, day by day.
Guide us, Lord, we pray.
Guide us through these days. O Lord;
help us seek your way,
seeking wisdom from your word,
strengthen our tender faith.
Help us to know you more clearly,
help us to love you more dearly,
help us to follow you more nearly, day by day, day by day.
Guide us, Lord, we pray.
Bridge
Whe we stray and fall to sin
help us find your path again;
draw us closer in your fellowship of love.
Help us to know you more clearly,
help us to love you more dearly,
help us to follow you more nearly, day by day, day by day.
Guide us, Lord, we pray.
Ending
Lead us, teach us.
Guide us, Lord, we pray.
Let us affirm our faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father;
from there he will come to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER
Let us pray to the Lord with all our heart and with all our soul.
Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray for all Christian people, that they may live in love and truth.
Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray for all ministers of the Church, and for our brothers and
sisters in Christ.
Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray for peace throughout the world, and for all governments.
Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray for our neighbours and for all our friends.
Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray for those who hate us as we pray for those who love us.
Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray for refugees and prisoners, and for all who are exposed to the
dangers of travel.
Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray for all sick people, for the sorrowful and the dying.
Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray for the abundance of the fruits of the earth, and that the
poor and hungry may receive a just share.
Lord, have mercy.
Let us remember our brothers and sisters who have entered into eternal
rest.
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.
Let us continue praying in a time of open prayer.
A period of open prayer follows.
The leader brings the period of open prayer to an end saying
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father,
you have promised to hear
what we ask in the name of your Son:
we pray you to accept and answer our prayers,
not as we ask in our ignorance,
nor as we deserve in our sinfulness,
but as you know and love us in your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
As our Savior taught his disciples, we 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,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
THE SENDING FORTH OF GOD’S PEOPLE
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 bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May the almighty and merciful God,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
bless us and keep us
now and forever. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Shirley Erena Murray’s “Go Gently, Go Lightly.”
Go gently, go lightly,
go safe in the Spirit,
live simply, don't carry
much more than you need:
go trusting God's goodness,
go spreading God's kindness,
stay centered on Jesus
and where he will lead.
Go singing, go bringing
the gifts of the Spirit,
go hopefully searching
for things that are true:
in living, in loving,
whatever befalls you,
God keep you, God bless you
in all that you do.
[Instrumental interlude]
Go gently, go lightly,
go safe in the Spirit,
live simply, don't carry
much more than you need:
go trusting God's goodness,
go spreading God's kindness,
stay centered on Jesus
and where he will lead.
Those present may exchange a sign of peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Through the means of grace like the ministry of the Word, God helps us to grow as disciples of Jesus, transforming our attitudes, ways of thinking, character, and conduct. God provides us with direction, encouragement guidance, and hope.
As we can see from this evening’s first reading the ministry of the Word has been around for a long time. By the time of the Second Temple, the Temple built by Herod, Jews were gathering to read the Hebrew Bible and to pray, not only in Judaea but also wherever they had settled. Since many Jews no longer understood Hebrew, the reading of the Hebrew Bible was followed by an explanation of what had been read in Aramaic or Greek, whatever the language that was commonly spoken in the community. There might also be additional commentary upon what had been read. That is what Jesus did after he read from the Book of Isaiah at the synagogue at Nazareth. His comments, however, infuriated the people in the synagogue and they tried to kill him (Luke 4: 14-30).
The ministry of the Word is not to be confused with what Wesley described as “searching the Scriptures,” that is privately by oneself or with others reading, studying, and meditating upon passages of the Bible. This is also a means of grace. While both involve the Bible, one is done in public, and the other is done in private. The ministry of the Word generally involves the reading of a passage of Scripture to a gathering of people, followed by an explanation of what one or more verses in the passage mean and how they apply to those to whom the passage was read. Verses from other passages of Scripture that are connected to these verses may be cited and explained.
When we search the Scriptures, we seek to understand what a passage of Scripture is saying without someone else explaining it to us. We think carefully about the passage and how it applies to us. We look for principles and truths which are contained in the passage, and which have a bearing on our relationship with God, our understanding of ourselves, and our relationship with other people. We listen for the voice of God speaking through the passage.
The Holy Spirit operates in several different ways in the ministry of the Word. For example, the Holy Spirit assists the preacher or teacher in understanding a text and applying it when a preacher or teach prepares a sermon, lecture, or talk. Just as the Holy Spirit gives life to our faith, the Holy Spirit can give life to a text, a verse or passage of Scripture, so that has a particular influence upon us. The Holy Spirit can draw our attention to a text, prompt us to apply the principle or truth it contains to ourselves, and give it force when we do.
To get the maximum benefit from an exposition of a passage of Scripture, I recommend praying beforehand and then takin notes. Review the notes afterwards and pray over them. Ask yourself, “What is God saying to me?” “How can I put into practice what God is telling me?” Jot down some action steps. Ask God to help you take them. Review your notes again later in the week. Also review your action steps. Did you do what you planned to do? If not, what happened? You may need to change your action steps. Ask God to show you what you need to do.
The purpose of the ministry of the Word is to do more than increase our knowledge. It is to transform us, to bring about changes in our attitudes, ways of thinking, character, and conduct so that we become more and more like the person God meant us to be every day. Such a transformation does not happen on its own. We must do our part.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Mark Patterson‘s setting of the Prayer of St. Richard of Chichester, “Guide Us, Lord.”
Guide us through these days. O Lord;
help us seek your way,
trusting you as you lead us with love,
teach us again to pray.
Help us to know you more clearly,
help us to love you more dearly,
help us to follow you more nearly, day by day, day by day.
Guide us, Lord, we pray.
Guide us through these days. O Lord;
help us seek your way,
seeking wisdom from your word,
strengthen our tender faith.
Help us to know you more clearly,
help us to love you more dearly,
help us to follow you more nearly, day by day, day by day.
Guide us, Lord, we pray.
Bridge
Whe we stray and fall to sin
help us find your path again;
draw us closer in your fellowship of love.
Help us to know you more clearly,
help us to love you more dearly,
help us to follow you more nearly, day by day, day by day.
Guide us, Lord, we pray.
Ending
Lead us, teach us.
Guide us, Lord, we pray.
Let us affirm our faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father;
from there he will come to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER
Let us pray to the Lord with all our heart and with all our soul.
Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray for all Christian people, that they may live in love and truth.
Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray for all ministers of the Church, and for our brothers and
sisters in Christ.
Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray for peace throughout the world, and for all governments.
Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray for our neighbours and for all our friends.
Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray for those who hate us as we pray for those who love us.
Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray for refugees and prisoners, and for all who are exposed to the
dangers of travel.
Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray for all sick people, for the sorrowful and the dying.
Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray for the abundance of the fruits of the earth, and that the
poor and hungry may receive a just share.
Lord, have mercy.
Let us remember our brothers and sisters who have entered into eternal
rest.
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.
Let us continue praying in a time of open prayer.
A period of open prayer follows.
The leader brings the period of open prayer to an end saying
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father,
you have promised to hear
what we ask in the name of your Son:
we pray you to accept and answer our prayers,
not as we ask in our ignorance,
nor as we deserve in our sinfulness,
but as you know and love us in your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
As our Savior taught his disciples, we 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,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
THE SENDING FORTH OF GOD’S PEOPLE
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 bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May the almighty and merciful God,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
bless us and keep us
now and forever. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Shirley Erena Murray’s “Go Gently, Go Lightly.”
Go gently, go lightly,
go safe in the Spirit,
live simply, don't carry
much more than you need:
go trusting God's goodness,
go spreading God's kindness,
stay centered on Jesus
and where he will lead.
Go singing, go bringing
the gifts of the Spirit,
go hopefully searching
for things that are true:
in living, in loving,
whatever befalls you,
God keep you, God bless you
in all that you do.
[Instrumental interlude]
Go gently, go lightly,
go safe in the Spirit,
live simply, don't carry
much more than you need:
go trusting God's goodness,
go spreading God's kindness,
stay centered on Jesus
and where he will lead.
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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