Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, June 30, 2024)
Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.
Summer has arrived and with it, extraordinarily hot weather in some places. It is a time to show extra concern for those who are elderly or homebound, to check on how they are doing, and to see that they have adequate means to keep cool.
In this Sunday’s message we look at an important quality of character that Jesus embodied and what it means for believers.
It is recommended that after reading or hearing each lesson to take time to reflect on what you read or heard during the period of silence which follows each lesson. It is also recommended that you do the same thing after reading or hearing the message.
GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
Eternal God, source of all blessing,
help us to worship you
with all our heart and mind and strength;
for you alone are God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Open this link to hear James Quinn’s “Sing All Creation” (Psalm 100).
1 Sing, all creation, sing to God in gladness!
Joyously serve him, singing hymns of homage!
Chanting his praises, come before his presence!
Praise the Almighty!
2 Know that our God is Lord of all the ages!
He is our maker; we are all his creatures,
people he fashioned, sheep he leads to pasture!
Praise the Almighty!
3 Enter his temple, ringing out his praises!
Sing in thanksgiving as you come before him!
Blessing his bounty, glorify his greatness!
Praise the Almighty!
[Instrumental interlude]
4 Great in his goodness is the Lord we worship;
steadfast his kindness, love that knows no ending!
Faithful his word is, changeless, everlasting!
Praise the Almighty!
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 “Lord, Have Mercy” (Kyrie) from Marty Haugen’s Mass of Creation.
Lord, have mercy, Christ have mercy,
Lord, have mercy.
God of all creation, earth and sea and sky,
God of all eternity: hear us, hear us.
Lord, have mercy, Christ have mercy,
(Kyrie, eleison, Christe, eleison,
Lord, have mercy.
Kyrie, eleison, Kyrie, Christe.)
[Instrumental interlude]
Lord, have mercy, Christ have mercy,
(Kyrie, eleison, Christe, eleison,
Lord, have mercy.
Kyrie, eleison, Kyrie, Christe.)
God of our salvation, God of grace and peace,
God of wisdom and of love: hear us, hear us.
Lord, have mercy, Christ have mercy,
(Kyrie, eleison, Christe, eleison,
Lord, have mercy.
Kyrie, eleison, Kyrie, Christe.)
Open this link in a new tab to hear “Glory to God” from Marty Haugen’s Mass of Creation.
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
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 in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
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,
Amen. Amen.
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Let us pray
Silence
Almighty God,
you have taught us through your Son
that love fulfils the law.
May we love you with all our heart,
all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength,
and may we love our neighbour as ourselves;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Book of Wisdom, Chapter 1, Verses 13-15 and Chapter 2, Verses 23-24
…because God did not make death,
and he does not delight in the death of the living.
For he created all things so that they might exist;
the generative forces of the world are wholesome,
and there is no destructive poison in them,
and the dominion of Hades is not on earth.
For righteousness is immortal.
…for God created us for incorruption,
and made us in the image of his own eternity,
but through the devil’s envy death entered the world,
and those who belong to his company experience it.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Tony Alonso’s “I Will Praise You, Lord” (Psalm 30).
I will praise you, Lord, all my days,
for you have rescued me.
I will praise you, Lord, all my days,
for you have rescued me.
1 I will praise you, Lord, for you drew me clear,
and did not let my enemies rejoice over me!
You raised me up and heard my cry.
I call to you!
I will praise you, Lord, all my days,
for you have rescued me.
2 Give thanks to the Lord, you faithful ones.
Praise God’s holy name;
for God’s anger lasts but a moment,
God’s goodness lasts for ever!
I will praise you, Lord, all my days,
for you have rescued me.
3 Hear O Lord, have mercy on me,
O Lord be my helper.
You changed my mourning to dancing.
Forever I give thanks!
I will praise you, Lord, all my days,
for you have rescued me.
A reading from Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 8, Verses 7-15.
Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.
I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. For you know the generous act* of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something—now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have. I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written,
‘The one who had much did not have too much,
and the one who had little did not have too little.’
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Songs for the Masses Songs from the Scriptures’ “Who Will Not Fear You – Revelation 15.”
Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.
Who will not fear you?
Who will not fear you,
O Lord?
And bring glory to your name
You alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you
your judgments made known.
Who will not fear you?
Who will not fear you,
O Lord?
Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.
Who will not fear you?
Who will not fear you,
O Lord?
Who will not fear you?
Who will not fear you,
O Lord?
A reading from the Gospel according to Mark, Chapter 5, Verses 21-43
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered round him; and he was by the lake. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, ‘My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.’ So he went with him.
And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.’ Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ And his disciples said to him, ‘You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, “Who touched me?” ’ He looked all round to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’
While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?’ But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.’ He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, ‘Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha cum’, which means, ‘Little girl, get up!’ And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Silence
What always stands out for me in today’s Gospel reading is the compassion that Jesus show to Jarius, the woman with hemorrhages, and to Jarius’ daughter. Indeed, compassion may be described as one of the defining qualities of Jesus’ character, based not only upon how he treated Jarius, the woman with hemorrhages, and Jarius’ daughter but also upon how he treated others as recorded in the Gospels. Indeed, Jesus may be described as the embodiment of compassion.
As well as being the embodiment of compassion, Jesus was also the model of compassion for his disciples. He not only taught them about being compassionate but practiced what he taught.
What then is compassion?
First, let us consider what it is not. Compassion is not separating undocumented immigrants from their children and then creating all kinds of obstacles to prevent the reunion of the children with their parents. Compassion is not deporting children who were born in the United States or who have lived in the United States from an early age and who speak English to a country whose language they do not speak and where they have no family and friends.
Compassion is not rounding up undocumented immigrants and confining them in prison camps behind razor wire and then returning them to their country of origin where they may suffer further persecution and death.
Compassion is not arresting and jailing homeless people who are forced to sleep “in the rough” in alleys and parks because they have nowhere else to sleep.
Compassion is not refusing to take steps to reduce summer hunger for children in low income households who rely on free and reduced-price school meals during the school year and lose these meals during the summer vacation.
You may be able to think of other examples of what compassion is not.
The Cambridge Dictionary defines compassion as a strong feeling of sympathy and even sadness for the suffering or misfortune of others and a wish to help them. Sympathy is defined as a feeling or expression of understanding and caring for someone else who is suffering or who has problems that have caused unhappiness. It is the opposite of indifference and hostility. Indifference is the lack of interest in someone and their suffering or misfortune. Hostility is unfriendliness and dislike.
In his teaching Jesus instructed his disciples to be merciful as God is merciful (Luke 6: 36). Being merciful as Jesus explained to his disciples involves being compassionate, forgiving, and kind, loving even those whom they regard as their enemies and doing good to them. Being compassionate entails more than feelings of sympathy for those experiencing suffering or misfortune and a willingness to help them. It involves doing something about it.
For example, Jesus himself did not just feel sympathy for the blind beggar Bartimaeus, he gave him sight. He did not just feel compassion for huge crowd of more than five thousand people who gathered to hear him, he fed them.
While we may not be able to perform the kinds of miracles that Jesus performed, we can still do a lot of good like he did. We can be a means of grace, of God’s goodwill and favor, to others. We can follow the example that he set for us.
We tend to understand miracles as unusual and mysterious events or occurrences caused by God and not following the usual laws of nature at least as we understand them. But I think that is a rather limited way of thinking about miracles.
God works through extraordinary events and occurrences. But God also works through ordinary events and occurrences. Miracles are happening every day in our lives, but we do not recognize them for what they are.
God will do all kinds of good through us if we put our trust in him and are open to him working through us. The good deeds that the believer does, call them “acts of mercy” if you like, are one of many ways God shows his grace to others and to us. They are no less miracles because they are God’s doing and we are just the instruments through whom he works.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to ear Marty Haugen’s “Healer of Our Every Ill.”
Healer of our ev’ry ill,
light of each tomorrow,
give us peace beyond our fear,
and hope beyond our sorrow.
1 You who know our fears and sadness,
grace us with your peace and gladness;
Spirit of all comfort, fill our hearts.
Healer of our ev’ry ill,
light of each tomorrow,
give us peace beyond our fear,
and hope beyond our sorrow.
2 In the pain and joy beholding
how your grace is still unfolding,
give us all your vision, God of love.
Healer of our ev’ry ill,
light of each tomorrow,
give us peace beyond our fear,
and hope beyond our sorrow.
3 Give us strength to love each other,
ev’ry sister, ev’ry brother;
Spirit of all kindness, be our guide.
Healer of our ev’ry ill,
light of each tomorrow,
give us peace beyond our fear,
and hope beyond our sorrow.
4 You who know each thought and feeling,
teach us all your way of healing;
Spirit of compassion, fill each heart.
Healer of our ev’ry ill,
light of each tomorrow,
give us peace beyond our fear,
and hope beyond our sorrow.
Let us confess our faith as we say
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.
THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER
In peace we pray to you, Lord God.
Silence
For all people in their daily life and work;
For our families, friends, and neighbours,
and for all those who are alone.
For this community, our country, and the world;
For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.
For the just and proper use of your creation;
For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.
For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble;
For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and needy.
For the peace and unity of the Church of God;
For all who proclaim the gospel, and all who seek the truth.
For N. our bishop, and for all bishops. elders, deacons, and licensed local pastors;
For all who serve God in the Church.
For our own needs and those of others
Silence.
Those present may add their own petitions.
Hear us, Lord.
For your mercy is great.
We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life.
Silence.
Those present may add their own thanksgivings.
We will exalt you, O God our king;
And praise your name for ever and ever.
We pray for those who have died in the peace of Christ,
and for those whose faith is known to you alone,
that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom.
Silence.
Those present may add their own petitions.
Lord, let your loving kindness be upon them;
Who put their trust in you.
Gracious God,
you have heard the prayers of your faithful people;
you know our needs before we ask,
and our ignorance in asking.
Grant our requests as may be best for us.
This we ask in the name of your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Saviour 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, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Marty Hauge’s arrangement of Herbert O'Driscoll’s “Come and Journey with a Saviour.”
1 Come and journey with a Saviour
who has called us from our birth,
who has washed us in the waters,
and who loved us on the earth.
Come and journey, come and journey
with a Saviour who has come.
We are all God's sons and daughters;
in the Spirit we are one,
in the Spirit we are one.
2 Come and journey, journey inward,
come and seek him deep within,
where he meets us in our living,
in our striving and our sin.
Come and journey, come and journey
with a Saviour who has come.
We are all God's sons and daughters;
in the Spirit we are one,
in the Spirit we are one.
*3 Come and journey, journey outward,
telling others of his name,
telling others of his glory,
of his cross and of the shame.
Come and journey, come and journey
with a Saviour who has come.
We are all God's sons and daughters;
in the Spirit we are one,
in the Spirit we are one.
*4 Come and journey, journey outward,
where that cross calls us to care,
where injustice and where hunger
and the poor call us to share.
Come and journey, come and journey
with a Saviour who has come.
We are all God's sons and daughters;
in the Spirit we are one,
in the Spirit we are one.
5 Come and journey, journey upward.
Sing his praises, offer prayer.
In the storm and in the stillness
find his presence everywhere.
Come and journey, come and journey
with a Saviour who has come.
We are all God's sons and daughters;
in the Spirit we are one,
in the Spirit we are one.
6 Come and journey, journey onward;
all our gifts we now shall bring
to the building of a city that is holy,
Christ its King.
Come and journey, come and journey
with a Saviour who has come.
We are all God's sons and daughters;
in the Spirit we are one,
in the Spirit we are one.
*Omitted in the sound file.
THE SENDING OUT 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 Lord bless us and keep us,
May the Lord make his face to shine on us and be gracious to us,
May the Lord look on us with kindness and give us peace. Amen.
The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
Those present may exchange a gesture of peace with these or similar words:
Peace be with you.
for you have rescued me.
2 Give thanks to the Lord, you faithful ones.
Praise God’s holy name;
for God’s anger lasts but a moment,
God’s goodness lasts for ever!
I will praise you, Lord, all my days,
for you have rescued me.
3 Hear O Lord, have mercy on me,
O Lord be my helper.
You changed my mourning to dancing.
Forever I give thanks!
I will praise you, Lord, all my days,
for you have rescued me.
A reading from Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 8, Verses 7-15.
Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.
I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. For you know the generous act* of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something—now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have. I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written,
‘The one who had much did not have too much,
and the one who had little did not have too little.’
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Songs for the Masses Songs from the Scriptures’ “Who Will Not Fear You – Revelation 15.”
Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.
Who will not fear you?
Who will not fear you,
O Lord?
And bring glory to your name
You alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you
your judgments made known.
Who will not fear you?
Who will not fear you,
O Lord?
Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.
Who will not fear you?
Who will not fear you,
O Lord?
Who will not fear you?
Who will not fear you,
O Lord?
A reading from the Gospel according to Mark, Chapter 5, Verses 21-43
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered round him; and he was by the lake. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, ‘My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.’ So he went with him.
And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.’ Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ And his disciples said to him, ‘You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, “Who touched me?” ’ He looked all round to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’
While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?’ But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.’ He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, ‘Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha cum’, which means, ‘Little girl, get up!’ And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Silence
Called to Be Compassionate
What always stands out for me in today’s Gospel reading is the compassion that Jesus show to Jarius, the woman with hemorrhages, and to Jarius’ daughter. Indeed, compassion may be described as one of the defining qualities of Jesus’ character, based not only upon how he treated Jarius, the woman with hemorrhages, and Jarius’ daughter but also upon how he treated others as recorded in the Gospels. Indeed, Jesus may be described as the embodiment of compassion.
As well as being the embodiment of compassion, Jesus was also the model of compassion for his disciples. He not only taught them about being compassionate but practiced what he taught.
What then is compassion?
First, let us consider what it is not. Compassion is not separating undocumented immigrants from their children and then creating all kinds of obstacles to prevent the reunion of the children with their parents. Compassion is not deporting children who were born in the United States or who have lived in the United States from an early age and who speak English to a country whose language they do not speak and where they have no family and friends.
Compassion is not rounding up undocumented immigrants and confining them in prison camps behind razor wire and then returning them to their country of origin where they may suffer further persecution and death.
Compassion is not arresting and jailing homeless people who are forced to sleep “in the rough” in alleys and parks because they have nowhere else to sleep.
Compassion is not refusing to take steps to reduce summer hunger for children in low income households who rely on free and reduced-price school meals during the school year and lose these meals during the summer vacation.
You may be able to think of other examples of what compassion is not.
The Cambridge Dictionary defines compassion as a strong feeling of sympathy and even sadness for the suffering or misfortune of others and a wish to help them. Sympathy is defined as a feeling or expression of understanding and caring for someone else who is suffering or who has problems that have caused unhappiness. It is the opposite of indifference and hostility. Indifference is the lack of interest in someone and their suffering or misfortune. Hostility is unfriendliness and dislike.
In his teaching Jesus instructed his disciples to be merciful as God is merciful (Luke 6: 36). Being merciful as Jesus explained to his disciples involves being compassionate, forgiving, and kind, loving even those whom they regard as their enemies and doing good to them. Being compassionate entails more than feelings of sympathy for those experiencing suffering or misfortune and a willingness to help them. It involves doing something about it.
For example, Jesus himself did not just feel sympathy for the blind beggar Bartimaeus, he gave him sight. He did not just feel compassion for huge crowd of more than five thousand people who gathered to hear him, he fed them.
While we may not be able to perform the kinds of miracles that Jesus performed, we can still do a lot of good like he did. We can be a means of grace, of God’s goodwill and favor, to others. We can follow the example that he set for us.
We tend to understand miracles as unusual and mysterious events or occurrences caused by God and not following the usual laws of nature at least as we understand them. But I think that is a rather limited way of thinking about miracles.
God works through extraordinary events and occurrences. But God also works through ordinary events and occurrences. Miracles are happening every day in our lives, but we do not recognize them for what they are.
God will do all kinds of good through us if we put our trust in him and are open to him working through us. The good deeds that the believer does, call them “acts of mercy” if you like, are one of many ways God shows his grace to others and to us. They are no less miracles because they are God’s doing and we are just the instruments through whom he works.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to ear Marty Haugen’s “Healer of Our Every Ill.”
Healer of our ev’ry ill,
light of each tomorrow,
give us peace beyond our fear,
and hope beyond our sorrow.
1 You who know our fears and sadness,
grace us with your peace and gladness;
Spirit of all comfort, fill our hearts.
Healer of our ev’ry ill,
light of each tomorrow,
give us peace beyond our fear,
and hope beyond our sorrow.
2 In the pain and joy beholding
how your grace is still unfolding,
give us all your vision, God of love.
Healer of our ev’ry ill,
light of each tomorrow,
give us peace beyond our fear,
and hope beyond our sorrow.
3 Give us strength to love each other,
ev’ry sister, ev’ry brother;
Spirit of all kindness, be our guide.
Healer of our ev’ry ill,
light of each tomorrow,
give us peace beyond our fear,
and hope beyond our sorrow.
4 You who know each thought and feeling,
teach us all your way of healing;
Spirit of compassion, fill each heart.
Healer of our ev’ry ill,
light of each tomorrow,
give us peace beyond our fear,
and hope beyond our sorrow.
Let us confess our faith as we say
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.
THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER
In peace we pray to you, Lord God.
Silence
For all people in their daily life and work;
For our families, friends, and neighbours,
and for all those who are alone.
For this community, our country, and the world;
For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.
For the just and proper use of your creation;
For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.
For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble;
For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and needy.
For the peace and unity of the Church of God;
For all who proclaim the gospel, and all who seek the truth.
For N. our bishop, and for all bishops. elders, deacons, and licensed local pastors;
For all who serve God in the Church.
For our own needs and those of others
Silence.
Those present may add their own petitions.
Hear us, Lord.
For your mercy is great.
We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life.
Silence.
Those present may add their own thanksgivings.
We will exalt you, O God our king;
And praise your name for ever and ever.
We pray for those who have died in the peace of Christ,
and for those whose faith is known to you alone,
that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom.
Silence.
Those present may add their own petitions.
Lord, let your loving kindness be upon them;
Who put their trust in you.
Gracious God,
you have heard the prayers of your faithful people;
you know our needs before we ask,
and our ignorance in asking.
Grant our requests as may be best for us.
This we ask in the name of your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray as our Saviour 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, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Marty Hauge’s arrangement of Herbert O'Driscoll’s “Come and Journey with a Saviour.”
1 Come and journey with a Saviour
who has called us from our birth,
who has washed us in the waters,
and who loved us on the earth.
Come and journey, come and journey
with a Saviour who has come.
We are all God's sons and daughters;
in the Spirit we are one,
in the Spirit we are one.
2 Come and journey, journey inward,
come and seek him deep within,
where he meets us in our living,
in our striving and our sin.
Come and journey, come and journey
with a Saviour who has come.
We are all God's sons and daughters;
in the Spirit we are one,
in the Spirit we are one.
*3 Come and journey, journey outward,
telling others of his name,
telling others of his glory,
of his cross and of the shame.
Come and journey, come and journey
with a Saviour who has come.
We are all God's sons and daughters;
in the Spirit we are one,
in the Spirit we are one.
*4 Come and journey, journey outward,
where that cross calls us to care,
where injustice and where hunger
and the poor call us to share.
Come and journey, come and journey
with a Saviour who has come.
We are all God's sons and daughters;
in the Spirit we are one,
in the Spirit we are one.
5 Come and journey, journey upward.
Sing his praises, offer prayer.
In the storm and in the stillness
find his presence everywhere.
Come and journey, come and journey
with a Saviour who has come.
We are all God's sons and daughters;
in the Spirit we are one,
in the Spirit we are one.
6 Come and journey, journey onward;
all our gifts we now shall bring
to the building of a city that is holy,
Christ its King.
Come and journey, come and journey
with a Saviour who has come.
We are all God's sons and daughters;
in the Spirit we are one,
in the Spirit we are one.
*Omitted in the sound file.
THE SENDING OUT 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 Lord bless us and keep us,
May the Lord make his face to shine on us and be gracious to us,
May the Lord look on us with kindness and give us peace. Amen.
The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
Those present may exchange a gesture of peace with these or similar words:
Peace be with you.
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