Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, February 4, 2024)

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

Jesus has certain expectations of those who respond to his call to follow him. One of these expectations is to be his witnesses to those around them where they live and work. In this Sunday’s message we look at a key principle which is found in the Bible, and which will help us do just that.

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Lee Ann Vermeulen-Roberts’ “Praise the Lord (Psalm 150).”

1 Praise God, in His holy place,
praise Him for His wondrous ways.
Praise Him under open skies,
praise Him for His power and might.
Praise the Lord of all creation.

2 Praise Him with a trumpet blast,
praise Him with a cymbal crash.
Praise Him with your tambourines,
praise Him, dance with flutes and strings.
Praise the Lord with celebration.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
praise the Lord our God and Saviour.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
praise the Lord our God and Saviour.

3. Every creature with a voice;
praise the living God, rejoice!
All creation far and near
make a joyful noise and cheer!
Praise the Lord, our God and Saviour.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
praise the Lord our God and Savior.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
praise the Lord our God and Saviour.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
praise the Lord our God and Savior.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
praise the Lord our God and Saviour.

[Instrumental interlude]

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
praise the Lord our God and Savior.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
praise the Lord our God and Saviour.

God has promised forgiveness
to all who truly repent,
turn to Christ in faith
and are themselves forgiving.

Let us confess our sins to God our Father.

Silence

Heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour
in thought and word and deed,
through negligence, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault;
by what we have done
and by what we have failed to do.
We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ who died for us,
forgive us all that is past;
and grant that we may serve you in newness of life
to the glory of your name. Amen.

Merciful Lord,
grant to your faithful people pardon and peace, t
that we may be cleansed from all our sins,
and serve you with a quiet mind;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Jim Cooper and Brian Wooten’s "Song of Moses, Rev. 15:3-4."

Great and marvelous are Your deeds
Oh, Lord God Almighty
Great and marvelous are Your deeds
Oh, Lord God Almighty
Just and true are Your ways
Oh, King of the Ages
Who shall not fear, oh Lord
And glorify Your name

For You alone
You alone are Holy
All nations will come
And worship before You, Lord
For You alone
You alone are Holy
All nations will come
And worship before You, Lord
(Your righteousness has been revealed)
You alone are Holy
Holy

Great and marvelous are Your deeds
Oh, Lord God Almighty
Great and marvelous are Your deeds
Oh, Lord God Almighty
Just and true are Your ways
Oh, King of the Ages
Who shall not fear, oh Lord
And glorify Your name

For You alone
You alone are Holy
All nations will come
And worship before You, Lord
For You alone
You alone are Holy
All nations will come
And worship before You, Lord
(Your righteousness has been revealed)
You alone are Holy
Holy

Let us pray.

Silence

Almighty God,
you have called us to serve you,
yet without your grace
we are not able to please you;
mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit
may in all things direct and rule our hearts;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

A reading from the New Testament (1 Corinthians 9:16–23)

Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!

If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.

Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.

When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

Silence

May your word live in us
And bear much fruit to your glory

A Key Principle for Telling Others about Jesus

In today’s reading from his first letter to the Corinthians the apostle Paul explains a key principle for telling people about Jesus Christ and persuading them to become his followers. He sought to find common ground with those with whom he was sharing the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus He spoke to them in a language that they understood. He did not use unfamiliar words and concepts. He used points of reference, things that were familiar to them, to help him to communicate with them and to help them understand him.

Paul did not mistakenly assume that they would understand him as we are apt to do. He took time to acquaint himself with the people whom he was seeking to evangelize, their culture, their beliefs, and their values. He used this knowledge to establish a bridge of communication with them.

Paul well understood that mission that Jesus had entrusted to the disciples was tell people about him, make them disciples, baptize them, and teach them what he had commanded. As we can tell from today’s reading, Paul took this mission with great seriousness.

We can learn two things from Paul from today’s reading. The first is to adopt an attitude like Paul’s toward what is called the Great Commission, the mission that Jesus entrusted not just to his first disciples but also to all his followers until he returned, including ourselves.

The second thing we can learn from Paul is to find common ground with those with whom we hope to tell about Jesus. To do this, we must form relationships with them and get to know them really well.

We may already have common ground with some people that we are hoping to tell about Jesus. For example, we may belong to the same community group or organization. We may enjoy the same kind of recreational and sports activities or pursue the same hobbies.

What we don’t want to do is expect them to adopt the way we speak, the way we dress, and things like that before we tell them about Jesus. We meet them where they are rather than expecting them to meet us where we are.

Even if circumstances such as being homebound prevent us from meeting new people, we can still pray for those who are able to do so and for the new people they meet. Paul in his letters often asked for the prayers of those to whom he was writing.

Every follower of Jesus can do their part in the mission which Jesus has entrusted to us. They can do their part in showing and sharing the love of Jesus.

Silence

Open this link in a new tab to hear Rusty Edward’s “We All Are One in Mission.”

1 We all are one in mission,
We all are one in call,
Our varied gifts united
By Christ, the Lord of all.
A single, great commission
Compels us from above
To plan and work together
That all may know Christ's love.

2 We all are called for service
To witness in God's name.
Our ministries are diff'rent,
Our purpose is the same:
To touch the lives of others
With God's surprising grace
So ev'ry folk and nation
May feel God's warm embrace.

3 Now let us be united
And let our song be heard.
Now let us be a vessel
For God's redeeming Word.
We all are one in mission,
We all are one in call,
Our varied gifts united
By Christ, the Lord of all.

Let us affirm with Christians across the ages what we believe about God
and his love for us.

We believe in one God,
who made us and loves all that is.
We believe in Jesus Christ,
God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was born, lived, died and rose again,
and is coming to call all to account.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
who calls, equips and sends out God’s people,
and brings all things to their true end.

This is our faith, the faith of the Church:

We believe in one God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER

Let us pray for the Church and the world.

Father, we pray for your holy catholic Church
that we all may be one.

Grant that every member of your Church may truly and humbly serve you:
that your name may be glorified by all people.

We pray for all ordaied and licensed ministers of the Church
that they may be faithful ministers of your word and sacraments.

We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world
that there may be justice and peace on the earth.

Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake
that your glory may be proclaimed through our lives.

Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble
that they may be delivered from their distress.

We praise you for your saints who have entered their eternal joy
may we also come to share in the fulness of your kingdom.

We pray for our own needs and for those of others:

Silence. 

The people may add their own petitions.

Gracious God, grant that the desires of your people’s hearts
may find favour in your sight,
through the intercession of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught 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

THE SENDING FORTH OF GOD’S PEOPLE

Holy and everliving God,
by your power we are created
and by your love we are redeemed;
guide and strengthen us by your Spirit,
that we may give ourselves to your service,
and live each day in love to one another and to you,
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 Marty Haugen’s “We Are Many Parts.”

We are many parts
We are all one body
And the gifts we have
We are given to share
May the spirit of love, make us one indeed
One, the love that we share
One, our hope in despair
One, the cross that we bear

1 God of all, we look to You
We would be Your servants true
Let us be Your love for all the world

We are many parts
We are all one body
And the gifts we have
We are given to share
May the spirit of love, make us one indeed
One, the love that we share
One, our hope in despair
One, the cross that we bear

2 So my pain is pain for you
In my joy is my joy too;
All is brought together in the Lord

We are many parts
We are all one body
And the gifts we have
We are given to share
May the spirit of love, make us one indeed
One, the love that we share
One, our hope in despair
One, the cross that we bear

3 All you seekers great and small
Seek the greatest gift of all
If you love, then you will know the Lord

We are many parts
We are all one body
And the gifts we have
We are given to share
May the spirit of love, make us one indeed
One, the love that we share
One, our hope in despair
One, the cross that we bear

Those present may exchange a sign of peace.

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