Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, May 12, 2024)

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

This Sunday, the Sevent Sunday of Easter, or the Sixth Sunday after Easter, depending upon the liturgical calendar that a church uses, is also known as the Sunday after the Ascension. It is the only Sunday in what was traditionally called Ascentiontide, which begins on Ascension Day and concludes on the Saturday before the Feast of Pentecost, or Whitsunday.

When you read a Scripture reading or the message, it is recommended that you read them aloud, so you hear the words as well as read them. Read the prayers aloud too and join in the songs whenever and wherever you can. In the case of the songs a good place to start is the refrain.

You are encouraged to take advantage of the silence after each reading to reflect upon what you heard and read and to take advantage of the silence after today's message to do the same.

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

Open this link in a new tab to hear Timothy R. Smith’s “Come, Let Us Ring Out.”

Intro
Come, let us ring,
Come, let us ring out our joy to the Lord;
hail the rock who saves us.

Refrain
Come, let us ring,
Come, let us ring out our joy to the Lord;
hail the rock who saves us.

Verse 1
Let us come into his presence giving thanks;
let us hail him with a song of praise.
A mighty God is the Lord,
a great king above all other gods.

Refrain
Come, let us ring,
Come, let us ring out our joy to the Lord;
hail the rock who saves us.

Verse 2
In his hands are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his.
To him belong the sea, for he made it.
And the dry land that he shaped by his hands.

Refrain
Come, let us ring,
Come, let us ring out our joy to the Lord;
hail the rock who saves us.

Verse 3
O come let us bow and bend low.
Let us kneel before the God who made us,
For he is our God and we
the people who belong tohis pasture,
the flock that is led by his hand.

Refrain
Come, let us ring,
Come, let us ring out our joy to the Lord;
hail the rock who saves us.

Coda
Hail the rock who saves us.

The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.

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

In silence we call to mind our sins.

Silence

Let us confess our sins.

Merciful God,
we have sinned
in what we have thought and said,
in the wrong we have done
and in the good we have not done.
We have sinned in ignorance:
we have sinned in weakness:
we have sinned through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry.
We repent and turn to you.
Forgive us, for our Saviour Christ’s sake,
and renew our lives to the glory of your name. Amen.

Almighty God, who pardons all who truly repent,
forgive our sins, strengthen us by the Holy Spirit,
and keep us in life eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Redeemer.
Amen.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Marty Haugen’s “Glory to God” from Beneath the Tree of Life.

Glory to God, glory to God,
glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people,
peace to God’s people,
peace to God’s people on earth.

1 Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.

Glory to God, glory to God,
glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people,
peace to God’s people,
peace to God’s people on earth.

2 Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father,
receive our prayer.

Glory to God, glory to God,
glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people,
peace to God’s people,
peace to God’s people on earth.

3 For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father.

Glory to God, glory to God,
glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people,
peace to God’s people,
peace to God’s people on earth.

Let us pray.

Silence

Almighty God,
your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ
ever lives to make intercession for us;
have pity on our weakness,
and in your mercy give us those good things
which we are not worthy to ask,
except through his merits,
who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

A reading from the New Testament (Acts 1:15–17, 21–26)

During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them. “Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.”

“So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were travelling with the Lord Jesus—from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.”

So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.

Silence

May your word live in us,
and bear much fruit to your glory.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Richard Bruxvoort Colligan’ “Like a Tree” (from Psalm 1).

Refrain:
Like a tree by the flowing water,
growing deeper, stretching high
Like a tree by the flowing water,
connected to the source of life

Verse 1:
Blessed, blessed are we to abide in God’s Word,
Nourished through every season; blessed are we.

Refrain:
Like a tree by the flowing water,
growing deeper, stretching high
Like a tree by the flowing water,
connected to the source of life

Verse 2:
Planted, planted by grace, we are rooted in God’s design
Freely, freely abiding, planted by grace

Refrain:
Like a tree by the flowing water,
growing deeper, stretching high
Like a tree by the flowing water,
connected to the source of life

Verse 3:
Trusting, trusting our lives to the holy way of God,
We will, we will surrender, trusting our lives.

Refrain:
Like a tree by the flowing water,
growing deeper, stretching high
Like a tree by the flowing water,
connected to the source of life

Coda:
Connected to the source of life.

A reading from the New Testament (1 John 5:9–13)

Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son.

And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

Silence

May your word live in us,
and bear much fruit to your glory.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Marty Haugen’s arrangement of “Halle, Halle, Hallelujah.”

Halle, halle, hallelujah.
Halle halle, hallelujah.
Halle halle, hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah.

Halle halle, hallelujah.
Halle halle, hallelujah.
Halle halle, hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah.

Oh God, to who shall we go?
You alone have the words of life.
Let your words be our prayer and the song we sing:
Hallelujah, hallelujah.

Halle, halle, hallelujah.
Halle halle, hallelujah.
Halle halle, hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
Halle, halle, hallelujah.
Halle halle, hallelujah.
Halle halle, hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
Halle, halle, hallelujah.
Halle halle, hallelujah.
Halle halle, hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah.

A reading from the New Testament (John 17:6–19)

“I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.

“My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one heading for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.

“Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

Silence

May your word live in us,
and bear much fruit to your glory.

A High Priestly Prayer

For whom do you pray? Who is praying for you?

Today’s reading from the Gospel of John forms a part of what New Testament scholars call Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. It follows a series of discourses which, according to John’s Gospel, occurred on the night of Jesus’ betrayal and arrest. It is a lengthy prayer, more in the nature of a discourse than a prayer.

In the part of the prayer contained in the reading Jesus intercedes with God on the behalf of his disciples with the exception of Judas who has left their company to betray Jesus. He asks three things from God. First, he asks God to keep his disciples safe so they are one as he and the Father are one. Second, he asks God to keep them safe from the evil one. Third, he asks God to enable them to grow in holiness.

I believe that we can safely assume that this occasion was not the first occasion on which Jesus prayed for his disciples. The Gospels tell us that he on a number of occasions withdrew to a deserted place to pray.

The New Testament tells us that Jesus speaks to the Father on our behalf.

Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Romans 8:34

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 1 John 2: 1

Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. Hebrews 7:25

In the High Priestly Prayer Jesus does not limit the prayer to the eleven disciples who will become his apostles. He also intercedes on behalf of future generations of his disciples.

I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. John 17: 20-21

What then does today’s reading mean for believers? How can believers put the truth of this reading to work for the good of others?

With the High Priestly Prayer Jesus sets an example for believers, for those who believe in him through the message of the apostles, and who seek to follow him as his disciples in their day and time. The example he sets is to pray for their fellow believers, for all believers as well as the community of believers to which they belong, to pray for unity, to pray for protection against, in the words of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and the 1985 Book of Alternative Services, Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God, the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God, and all sinful desires that draw them away from the love of God, as well as all evil-doers who may do them harm; and to pray for God’s grace to help them grow in holiness. Believers can put the truth of this reading to work for the good of others by praying for their fellow believers in these three areas on a frequent and regular basis.

Jesus looked down the corridors of time and prayed for believers who were not yet born. If you are a believer, he prayed for you. He prayed for the believers who preceded you and who followed him in their generation. He prayed for the believers who will come after you and who will follow him in in their generation. He prayed for all believers in every place and in every time. He prayed for those whose faith is weak as well as those whose faith is strong, for those newly come to faith as well as those who have believed in him for the better part of their lives.

Jesus also prayed for those who struggle with doubts and have the tiniest of mustard seeds of faith. His prayer for unity, for protection from all forms of evil, for growth in holiness is also a prayer for that tiniest of mustard seeds of faith to grow and flourish. It is a prayer for hearts and minds that are open to God’s grace. It is a prayer for those on the very threshold of faith as well as those who believe.

Silence

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

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
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
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.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Alanna Glover, Liv Chapman, and Philip Percival’s arrangement of John Newton’ “How Sweet the Name.”

1 How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In the believer’s ear
It soothes our sorrows heals our wounds
And drives away our fear

2 So weak the effort of my heart
And cold my warmest thought
But when I see you as you are
I’ll praise you as I ought

The rock on which I build
My shield and hiding place with treasure filled
The endless source of grace
My shepherd and my king be ever praised

3 Till then I would your love proclaim
With every fleeting breath
And may the music of your name
Refresh my soul in death

The rock on which I build
My shield and hiding place with treasure filled
The endless source of grace
My shepherd and my king be ever praised

Bridge
My prophet my priest my brother and friend
My Lord my life my way and my end

My prophet my priest my brother and friend
My Lord my life my way and my end

The rock on which I build
My shield and hiding place with treasure filled
The endless source of grace
My shepherd and my king be ever praised

The rock on which I build
My shield and hiding place with treasure filled
The endless source of grace
My shepherd and my king be ever praised

THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER

In the course of the silence after each petition, those present may offer their own prayers and thanksgivings, either silently or aloud.

God of heaven and earth, through Jesus Christ you promise to hear
us when we pray to you in faith with thanksgiving.

We pray for one another, for our families and friends, through
whom we learn to love and to be loved. Thank you for all who care
for us. Give us grace to serve Christ by serving our neighbours and
our community, loving others as he loves us.

Silence

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We thank you for the unfailing love you hold out to everyone in
Jesus Christ. Comfort and heal those in sorrow, need, sickness or
any other trouble. Give them courage and hope in their distress,
and bless those who minister to them.

Silence

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We remember with gratitude your many gifts to us in creation and
the rich heritage of this nation. Help us and people everywhere
to share with justice and peace the resources of the earth. Give
wisdom to those in authority among us and to all leaders of the
nations.

Silence

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We pray for your Church throughout the world, thanking you for
all who serve Christ and his kingdom. By your Spirit strengthen
your people for their work and witness in the world. Unite us in
your truth and love, that we who confess your name may also
reflect your glory.

Silence

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We remember with thanksgiving all who have died in Christ, and
we rejoice at the faithful witness of your saints in every age,
praying that we may enter with them into the unending joy of your
heavenly kingdom.

Silence

Merciful God, you look with compassion on all who turn to you.
Hear the prayers of your people.

Grant that what we have asked in faith
we may by your grace receive;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Praise to you, abundant God,
for when we ask, you give;
when we seek, you show the way.
When we knock, you answer.
Praise to you for your unfailing grace.
Make us now your faithful people.
Amen.

Accept our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord who has taught us to 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, and 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.

The almighty and merciful God bless us
and keep us now and for ever. Amen.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Margaret Becker’s “Hear All Creation.”
(Alternately open this link in a new tab to hear the same song.)

Hear all creation lift its voice
Hear mountains sing and rivers rejoice
For the name of Jesus, for His name

And we His people saved by grace
We bow our hearts and we bring our praise
To the sweet redeemer, for His name

So with everything we are
And everything we have
We pour out our offerings
And if ever we should fail
The rocks will rise up
And crown Him the King of Kings

He mends our hearts, He keeps our ways
He lights our nights and He leads our days
All for His glory, for His name

There's nothing greater than to be His
To bring Him glory and to fully live
For the name of Jesus, for His name

So with everything we are
And everything we have
We pour out our offerings
And if ever we should fail
The rocks will rise up
And crown Him the King of Kings

[Instrumental interlude]

So with everything we are
And everything we have
We pour out our offerings
And if ever we should fail
The rocks will rise up
And crown Him the King of Kings

So with everything we are
And everything we have
We pour out our offerings
And if ever we should fail
The rocks will rise up
And crown Him the King of Kings

Those present may exchange a sign of peace.

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