Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, June 13, 2024)

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

Our spiritual growth is not something to leave to chance. Taking stock of our spiritual progress at regular intervals can help us to identify both our strengths and weaknesses. We can build on our strengths and work on our weaknesses. Being methodical in our spiritual life can help us to grow as a Christian.

In this evening’s message we look at the part that grace plays in the faith and life of a Christian.

GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME

The Lord is here.
His Spirit is with us.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Joel Payne’s “In the Name of God the Father.”

Verse 1
In the name of God the Father,
for the glory of the Son,
in the power of the Spirit,
now in faith we come.
We are gathered in your presence
as the people of the King
and you raise our hearts to heaven as we sing.

Chorus
We lift up your name, O God,
you are worthy of our praise,
so great in power and glorious in grace,
so high and holy
the mighty three-in-one:
in your name we come.

Verse 2
We will call upon your mercy
as we celebrate your grace,
and we’ll bring our joys and troubles
as we seek your face.
We will share the peace you’ve given
as we feast upon your word;
and you make us into light for all the world.

Chorus
We lift up your name, O God,
you are worthy of our praise,
so great in power and glorious in grace,
so high and holy
the mighty three-in-one:
in your name we come.

Bridge
Open our lips, open our lips,
and we shall declare your praises.
Open our eyes, open our eyes to you.
Open our hearts, open our minds,
we’re trusting you to change us,
open our lives, let Jesus shine anew.

Chorus
We lift up your name, O God,
you are worthy of our praise,
so great in power and glorious in grace,
so high and holy
the mighty three-in-one:
in your name we come.

We lift up your name, O God,
you are worthy of our praise,
so great in power and glorious in grace,
so high and holy
the mighty three-in-one:
in your name we come.

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 Ed Baggett’s “We Really Want to Thank You, Lord.”

We really want to thank you, Lord.
We really want to bless your name.
Alleluia, Jesus is our King.
We really want to thank you, Lord.
We really want to bless your name.
Alleluia, Jesus is our King.

1 We thank you Lord, for your gift to us,
Your life so rich, beyond compare,
The gift of your body, here on earth
of which we sing and share.

We really want to thank you, Lord.
We really want to bless your name.
Alleluia, Jesus is our King.
We really want to thank you, Lord.
We really want to bless your name.
Alleluia, Jesus is our King.

2 We thank you, Lord, for our life together,
to live and move in the love of Christ,
your tenderness which sets us free,
to serve you with our lives.

We really want to thank you, Lord.
We really want to bless your name.
Alleluia, Jesus is our King.
We really want to thank you, Lord.
We really want to bless your name.
Alleluia, Jesus is our King.

3 Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
praise him all creatures here, below,
praise him above, you heavenly host,
praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

We really want to thank you, Lord.
We really want to bless your name.
Alleluia, Jesus is our King.
We really want to thank you, Lord.
We really want to bless your name.
Alleluia, Jesus is our King.
Alleluia, Jesus is our King.
Alleluia, Jesus is our King.

Let us pray

Silence

O Lord, from whom alone all good things come:
grant that by your holy inspiration
we may think those things that are good,
and by your merciful guiding
may perform them;
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

Open this link in a new tab to hear Timothy Dudley Smith’s paraphrase of Psalm 91, “The Stars Declare His Glory.”

1 The stars declare his glory;
the vault of heaven springs
mute witness of the Master's hand
in all created things,
and through the silences of space
their soundless music sings.

2 The dawn returns in splendour,
the heavens burn and blaze,
the rising sun renews the race
that measures all our days,
and writes in fire across the skies
God's majesty and praise.

3 So shine the Lord's commandments
to make the simple wise;
more sweet than honey to the taste,
more rich than any prize,
a law of love within our hearts,
a light before our eyes.

4 So order too this life of mine,
direct it all my days;
the meditations of my heart
be innocence and praise,
my Rock, and my redeeming Lord,
in all my words and ways.

A reading from te Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 11, Verses 1-8.

Send out your bread upon the waters,
for after many days you will get it back.
Divide your means seven ways, or even eight,
for you do not know what disaster may happen on earth.
When clouds are full,
they empty rain on the earth;
whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
Whoever observes the wind will not sow;
and whoever regards the clouds will not reap.

Just as you do not know how the breath comes to the bones in the mother’s womb, so you do not know the work of God, who makes everything.

In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hands be idle; for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.

Even those who live for many years should rejoice in them all; yet let them remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.

Silence

A reading from Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, Chapter 5, Verses16-24

Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

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

Open this link in a new tab to hear Timothy Dudley Smith’s “Tell Out, My Soul.”

1 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice;
Tender to me the promise of his word;
In God my Savior shall my heart rejoice

2 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his Name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
His mercy sure, from age to age to same;
His holy Name--the Lord, the Mighty One

3 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight
The hungry fed, the humble lifted high

4 Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
To children's children and for evermore!

What Does Grace Got to Do with It?!

You may have heard the word “grace” often mentioned in church, in sermons, in Sunday school lessons, in small group discussions. You may have read about grace in articles or heard about it in podcasts. Grace plays a key role in the Christian faith and way of life. It is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ that we are justified, restored to a right relationship with God. It is by grace we are sanctified, transformed into the image of Christ. What then is grace?

As defined in the Bible, grace is the goodwill, love, kindness, and forgiveness that God shows to humanity. It is also the favor that God shows us, the kind of favor that a master would show to a servant. It is favor that was undeserved, not earned or otherwise merited. The servant did not do or say anything to get it. Grace is the support and approval that we receive from God because God is who God is.

Grace is also the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. As the apostle Paul wrote the church at Philippi, “for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13). The Holy Spirit awakens us spiritually and enables us not only to believe in Jesus but also to follow him as is disciple. Jesus described this spiritual awakening as being “born again.”

The gift of the Holy Spirit, God himself dwelling in us, is a gift of God’s grace as are the spiritual gifts, the various ways that the Holy Spirit is manifest in us. In this evening’s New Testament reading Paul lists what he describes as “the fruit of the Spirit.” They are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” They are qualities of character that the Holy Spirit produces in us. They too are a gift of God’s grace.

Paul also lists what he describes as “the works of the flesh.” This list is only a partial one. They are the ways that our natural inclination to be self-centered; to do whatever pleases us, without giving thought to God or others; and do things, even good things, for own advantage and not from faith or love of God, manifest itself. The works of the flesh stand in sharp contrast to the fruit of the Spirit. Even in those who are believers and have the Holy Spirit, this inclination wars against the Holy Spirit.

Susanna Wesley, mother to John and Charles Wesley, offers us helpful advice in our own struggle with this predilection. "Whatever weakens your reasoning, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes away your relish for spiritual things, in short—if anything increases the authority and the power of the flesh over the Spirit, that to you becomes sin however good it is in itself.” In other words, whatever impairs our relationship with God becomes a form of rebellion against God. We are effectively saying “No” to God.

The works of the flesh are not always obvious as the ones Paul lists. For this reason, it is a good idea to regularly scrutinize our actions and our motivations. It is also a good idea to have one or more accountability partners who will regularly ask us about our spiritual progress.

An analogy that I have found helpful is derived from a meme I saw on Facebook. It showed a row of potted plants with these words, “Whatever you water will grow.” The same thing can be said for our spiritual lives. What we water in our spiritual lives will grow. Another way of putting it, is those things to which we give the most attention will grow. Those which we ignore or neglect will wither away and die. When we live by Spirit, we water the things of the Spirit in our lives. We choose them over our natural tendency to gratify ourselves. When we make this choice, we take another step toward becoming like Jesus.

Silence

Open this link in a new tab to hear Molly Ijames’ arrangement of
Jeff Nelson and Scott Wesley Brown’s “Grace Alone.”

Every promise we can make
Every prayer and step of faith
Every difference we will make
Is only by His grace

Every mountain we will climb
Every ray of hope we shine
Every blessing left behind
Is only by His grace

Grace alone, which God supplies
Strength unknown He will provide
Christ in us our cornerstone
We will go forth in grace alone

[Instrumental interlude]

Every soul we long to reach
Every heart we hope to teach
Everywhere we share His peace
Is only by His grace
Is only by His grace

Every loving word we say
Every tear we wipe away
Every sorrow turned to praise
Is only by His grace

Grace alone which God supplies
Strength unknown He will provide
Christ in us our cornerstone
Cornerstone
We will go forth in grace alone
We will go forth
We will go forth
We will go forth in grace alone

Let us confess the faith of the Church.

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

Let us pray for all people and for the Church throughout 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 bishops, elders, deacons, and licensed local pastors
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 

Those present  may add their own petitions

Faithful God,
you have promised to hear the prayers
of all who ask in Jesus’ name.
In your mercy, accept our prayers.
Give us what we have asked in faith,
according to your will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us sum up our prayers and praises in the words our Saviour Christ has taught us and say:

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 Matt Osgood’s “Send Us Out.”

Verse 1
Send us out in the power of your Spirit,
to shine your light in the way we live.
Send us out in the power of your Spirit,
as we’ve received, may we freely give.

Chorus
Send us out,
send us out,
send us out for your glory.
Let all we do
be praise to you;
send us out for your glory

Verse 2
Send us out in the power of your Spirit
to show your love everywhere we go.
Send us out in the power of your Spirit,
Lord, fill us up so we overflow.

Chorus
Send us out,
send us out,
send us out for your glory.
Let all we do
be praise to you;
send us out for your glory

Bridge
We're laying down our lives,
a living sacrifice,
we're living for your glory and your praise.
We’re taking up our cross,
we’ve counted up the cost,
we're living for your glory and your praise.

Final Chorus
Send us out,
send us out,
send us out for your glory.
Let all we do
be praise to you;
send us out for your glory
Send us out,
send us out,
send us out for your glory.
Let all we do
be praise to you;
send us out for your glory
send us out for your glory
send us out for your glory

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.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Mark Bradford’s “May the Grace of Jesus Christ.”

May the grace of Jesus Christ
and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Spirit
be with us.

May the grace of Jesus Christ
and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Spirit
be with us.

The Lord bless us and keep us,
his face shine upon us,
his grace and his peace rest on us.

The Lord bless us and keep us,
his face shine upon us,
his grace and his peace rest on us.

[Instrumental interlude]

The Lord bless us and keep us,
his face shine upon us,
his grace and his peace rest on us.

The Lord bless us and keep us,
his face shine upon us,
his grace and his peace rest on us.

May the grace of Jesus Christ
and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Spirit
be with us.

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.