Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, March 21, 2024)
Jesus not only came into this world to suffer and die on the cross for the sins of the world and open the way to salvation for all who believe in him but also he came in fulfillment of a promise that God himself would teach his people to be his disciples. For Christians, Jesus’s teaching and example are the God-given standard by which they are to live and measure their lives.
GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Dyla and Larisa Peacock’s setting of Psalm 100, “Make a Joyful Noise.”
Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth
Gladly lift your voice to the Lord all the earth
Come into His presence with singing
For the Lord is good, His love endures forever
For the Lord is good, He is always faithful
Enter in His gates with thankful hearts all the earth
And in His courts with praise on your lips all the earth
Give your thanks to Him and bless His name
For the Lord is good, His love endures forever
For the Lord is good, He is always faithful
For the Lord is good, His love endures forever
For the Lord is good, He is always faithful
Know that the Lord, He is God
And it is He who has made us
We are His, His people
The precious sheep of His pasture
Know that the Lord, He is God
And it is He who has made us
We are His, His people
The precious sheep of His pasture
For the Lord is good, His love endures forever
For the Lord is good, He is always faithful
For the Lord is good, His love endures forever
For the Lord is good, He is always faithful
Open this link in a new tab to hear Sarah Hart’s “Great and Wonderful Lord.”
1 You are holy, you are Lord,
and your works are wonderful,
great and strong Most High almighty.
2 You are Father, you are king,
good and wise, true and living.
You are peace and rest abiding.
You are great and wonderful, Lord.
(You are great and wonderful.)
You are great and wonderful, Lord.
(You are great and wonderful.)
You are great and wonderful, Lord.
(You are great and wonderful.)
Wonderful Lord.
3 You are beauty, you are friend,
our protector, you defend.
You are hope and faith, our Savior.
You are great and wonderful, Lord.
(You are great and wonderful.)
You are great and wonderful, Lord.
(You are great and wonderful.)
You are great and wonderful, Lord.
(You are great and wonderful.)
Oh wonderful Lord
Oh you are wonderful Lord
4 You are mercy, you are love,
all we need, more than enough,
for in you is life everlasting.
Oh you are great and wonderful, Lord.
(You are great and wonderful.)
You are great and wonderful, Lord.
(You are great and wonderful.)
Oh you are great and wonderful, Lord.
(You are great and wonderful.)
Oh wonderful, Lord.
You are great and wonderful, Lord.
(You are great and wonderful.)
You are great and wonderful, Lord.
(You are great and wonderful.)
You are great and wonderful, Lord.
(You are great and wonderful.)
Wonderful Lord,
wonderful Lord
so so wonderful.
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
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 Saviour 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 Saviour. Amen
Merciful Lord,
grant to your faithful people pardon and peace,
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 Marty Haugen’s “Eye Has Not Seen.”
Eye has not seen, ear has not heard
what God has ready for those who love him;
spirit of love, come, give us the mind of Jesus,
teach us the wisdom of God
1 When pain and sorrow weigh us down,
be near to us,
O Lord, forgive the weakness of our faith
and bear us up within your peaceful word
Eye has not seen, ear has not heard
what God has ready for those who love him;
spirit of love, come, give us the mind of Jesus,
teach us the wisdom of God
2 Our lives are but a single breath,
we flower and we fade,
yet all our days are in your hands
so we return in love what love has made
Eye has not seen, ear has not heard
what God has ready for those who love him;
spirit of love, come, give us the mind of Jesus,
teach us the wisdom of God
3 To those who see with eyes of faith,
the Lord is ever near,
reflected in the faces
of all the poor and lowly of the world.
Eye has not seen, ear has not heard
what God has ready for those who love him;
spirit of love, come, give us the mind of Jesus,
teach us the wisdom of God
4 We sing a myst'ry from the past,
in halls where saints have trod,
yet ever new the music rings to Jesus,
living song of God
Eye has not seen, ear has not heard
what God has ready for those who love him;
spirit of love, come, give us the mind of Jesus,
teach us the wisdom of God
Let us pray.
Silence
Most merciful God,
who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ
delivered and saved the world:
Grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross,
we may triumph in the power of his victory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the New Testament (Matthew 5: 1-12)
Jesus saw the crowds and went up a hill, where he sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them:
“Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor;
the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!
“Happy are those who mourn;
God will comfort them!
“Happy are those who are humble;
they will receive what God has promised!
“Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires;
God will satisfy them fully!
“Happy are those who are merciful to others;
God will be merciful to them!
“Happy are the pure in heart;
they will see God!
“Happy are those who work for peace;
God will call them his children!
“Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires;
the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!
“Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers. Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. This is how the prophets who lived before you were persecuted.
Silence
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Should Christians Care about the Wellbeing of Other People?
Christians who take seriously the teaching and example of Jesus recognize that they have a responsibility for the wellbeing of others beside themselves. Jesus expected his disciples to follow his teaching. On at least one occasion Jesus asked those who addressed him as Lord, “Why do you call me Lord when you don’t do what I tell you?” On at least one other occasion he told his disciples that those who loved him would obey his commandments.
When Jesus told the Parable of the Good Samaritan, he made it very clear that we are responsible for the well-being of others, not just ourselves or the members of our immediate family. Jesus’ instruction to the teacher of the Law who asked him, “Who is my neighbor?” to go and do likewise, to imitate the neighborliness of the Samaritan who tended the wounds of the injured Jew, put him on his donkey, took him to a hostelry, and paid the proprietor for the man’s care.
Jesus himself healed the sick, cleansed the leper, gave sight to the blind, and enabled the lame to walk. He showed them compassion and helped them. He did not turn his back on them.
If we are someone's disciple, we are influenced by their teachings and try to follow their example. Whatever we choose to call ourselves, we are not a disciple of Jesus when our attitudes, ways of thinking and behavior do not reflect Jesus’ teaching and we do not follow his example. We may be a churchgoer. We may be a sermon taster. But we are not someone for whom Jesus is truly our Lord.
As both the apostle James and the apostle Paul point to our attention, faith that is expressed in actions is what separates a living faith, a vital faith, from a dead faith. True disciples of Jesus consider the truths and principles Jesus taught in the opinions they form and in the decisions they make. His teachings are reflected in the way they live. Jesus is not only their savior but also their teacher, guide, and exemplar. They call him Lord because he is indeed the Lord of their lives. His influence in their lives is evident to everyone. It is unmistakeable.
The New Testament narrative does not tell us that Jesus stirred up hatred and ill-will in his followers toward people different from themselves, talked about human beings as if they are animals or things, encouraged his followers to commit acts of violence, told one lie after another, repeated the same lies over and over again, belittled and disparaged all kinds of people, played to his followers prejudices and fears and appealed to their worst instincts, riled against critics and threatened retribution for their criticism, nursed grudges, and talked about persecuting and silencing those who opposed him once he gained power. The New Testament narrative tells us that he did nothing of the sort.
Jesus did, however, tell his disciples and the crowds who came to hear him that the evil things people say and the evil things they do come from an evil heart. Most of us do not happily give into our evil urges. We do not feel good about having them. But those who have an evil heart have no scruples. Unless a restraining hand prevents them, they would do much evil and cause much suffering.
Those who walk as true disciples of Jesus are committed to doing as much good as they can and to alleviating as much suffering as they can. They do not intentionally harm others nor do they give free rein to any evil thoughts or desires. They have taken to heart Jesus’ words to treat others with kindness, forgiveness, and compassion and thereby to show themselves to be God’s children. They embody the same kind of love of God and of humanity that Jesus himself embodied.
It is not the Spirit of God that encourages us to feel hate and anger toward other people and regard them as less than human and therefore underserving of kindness, care, and sympathy. It is the unholy spirit, the evil one, and all the spiritual powers of wickedness that rebel against God. They relish human misery. They will exploit every human weakness to blacken the image and reputation of Jesus’ followers and to undo whatever good God may have done through them. They are delighted when a Christian wanders from the path of true discipleship. They are even more pleased when an entire church goes astray.
There is wisdom in the next song. We do need to be on our guard against not only our own desires which the apostle James warns us may tempt us but also the deceitful voices that our Lord and the apostle Paul warn us would lead us away from the light and back into the darkness.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Laura Woodley Osman’s “Wisdom Song.”
The fear of the Lord
Is where wisdom starts
Above all else please guard your heart
For out of your heart flow the issues of life
It matters how you spend your time
There is a path that leads to life
A narrow way only few find
Meditate on God's word in the day in the night
You'll know blessings of every kind
Like a tree planted by water
Shall you be son, daughter
You'll bear fruit in season
You'll prosper, like a tree planted by water
Remember to pray
In everything
Holy Spirit is here
Only believe
Supernatural life is yours everyday
Miracles in Jesus name
Do what is good
Do what is right
Flee from evil with all your might
Guard your ears
Guard your eyes
You have the mind of Christ
Like a tree planted by water
Shall you be son, daughter
You'll bear fruit in season
You'll prosper, like a tree planted by water
Forgive yourself
Forgive your family
Forgive your friends
Forgive your enemies
Do justice, love mercy
Walk humbly with your God
Remove offense
Make peace
Do not judge
Forgive yourself
Forgive your family
Forgive your friends
Forgive your enemies
Do justice, love mercy
Walk humbly with your God
Remove offense
Make peace
Do not judge
Like a tree planted by water
Shall you be son, daughter
You'll bear fruit in season
You'll prosper, like a tree planted by water
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 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 Steve Angrisano and Tom Tomaszek’s “Go Make a Difference”.
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
1 We are the salt of the earth,
called to let the people see
the love of God in you and me.
We are the light of the world,
not to be hidden but be seen.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
2 We are the hands of Christ
reaching out to those in need,
the face of God for all to see.
We are the spirit of hope;
we are the voice of peace.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
3 So let your love shine on,
let it shine for all to see.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
And the spirit of Christ
will be with us as we go.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
Go make a diff’rence
In the world.
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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