Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, July 28, 2024)
We are well into the summer so it may seem rather late to be talking about early spring. However, one of this Sunday’s readings prompted me to think about a wildflower which I associate with the early spring like daffodils and forsythia. Where I live, it is a harbinger of the return of spring and with the returning spring a harbinger of new life.
In this Sunday’s message I take a look at what this wildflower can teach us as well as what we can learn from the three readings appointed for this Sunday in the lectionary.
GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
We thank you, O God, that you have again brought
us together on the Lord’s Day, if not in person, then in spirit,
to praise you for your goodness and to ask your blessing.
Give us grace to see your hand in the week that is past, and
your purpose in the week to come; through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Tim Chester and Bob Kauflin’s “Come Praise and Glorify”
Verse 1
Come praise and glorify our God
The Father of our Lord
In Christ He has in heav’nly realms
His blessings on us poured
For pure and blameless in His sight
He destined us to be
And now we’ve been adopted through
His Son eternally
Chorus
To the praise of Your glory
To the praise of Your mercy and grace
To the praise of Your glory
You are the God who saves
Verse 2
Come praise and glorify our God
Who gives His grace in Christ
In Him our sins are washed away
Redeemed through sacrifice
In Him God has made known to us
The myst’ry of His will
That Christ should be the head of all
His purpose to fulfill
Chorus
To the praise of Your glory
To the praise of Your mercy and grace
To the praise of Your glory
You are the God who saves
Verse 3
Come praise and glorify our God
For we’ve believed the Word
And through our faith we have a seal
The Spirit of the Lord
The Spirit guarantees our hope
Until redemption’s done
Until we join in endless praise
To God, the Three in One
Final Chorus
To the praise of Your glory
To the praise of Your mercy and grace
To the praise of Your glory
You are the God who saves
To the praise of Your glory
To the praise of Your mercy and grace
To the praise of Your glory
You are the God who saves
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 Lynn Deshazo’s “Ancient Words.”
Verse 1
Holy words long preserved
for our walk in this world,
They resound with God's own heart;
Oh, let the ancient words impart.
Verse 2
Words of life, words of hope
give us strength, help us cope;
In this world where'er we roam
ancient words will guide us home.
Chorus
Ancient words ever true,
changing me and changing you;
We have come with open hearts,
oh let the ancient words impart.
Verse 3
Holy words of our faith
handed down to this age,
Came to us through sacrifice;
Oh, heed the faithful words of Christ.
Verse 4
Holy words long preserved
for our walk in this world,
They resound with God's own heart;
Oh, let the ancient words impart.
Final Chorus
Ancient words ever true,
changing me and changing you;
We have come with open hearts,
oh let the ancient words impart.
Ancient words ever true,
changing me and changing you;
We have come with open hearts,
oh let the ancient words impart.
Outro
We have come with open hearts,
oh let the ancient words impart,
oh let the ancient words impart.
Open this link in anew tab to hear Philip Percival, Alanna Glover, and Liv Chapman’s “Your Word.”
Verse 1
Your word is good, it’s ever faithful
Worth more than gold, the heart’s delight
Your word gives life to all who hear and obey
Your word endures forever
Verse 2
Your word is true, it never changes
It formed the earth; sustains it still
Your word defends; providing refuge and strength
Your word endures forever
Chorus
Your word is a lamp unto my feet
Your word is a light unto my path
For your word is my hope, it’s my joy and my song
Your word endures forever
Verse 3
Your word transforms, it lifts the humble
Rebukes the proud, protects the poor
Your word discerns the mind and spirit of all
Your word endures forever
Your word endures forever
Chorus
Your word is a lamp unto my feet
Your word is a light unto my path
For your word is my hope, it’s my joy and my song
Your word endures forever
Bridge
Your word is more than just letters on pages
It’s life and it's love and it's freedom for us
Your word is more than just wisdom of ages
Its treasures are endless, it's always enough
Your word is more than just stories of old
It's the truth and the way and the story of love
Your word is more than just breath into dust
It’s your Son, as a man, come to dwell here with us
Final Chorus
Your word is a lamp unto my feet
Your word is a light unto my path
Your word is a lamp unto my feet
Your word is a light unto my path
For your word is my hope, it’s my joy and my song
Your word endures forever
Your word endures forever
Let us pray
Silence
Almighty God,
who sent your Holy Spirit
to be the life and light of your Church:
Open our hearts to the riches of his grace,
that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit
in love and joy and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Book of 2 Kings, Chapter 4, Verses 42-44
One day a man from Baal-shalishah brought the man of God a sack of fresh grain and twenty loaves of barley bread made from the first grain of his harvest. Elisha said, “Give it to the people so they can eat.”
“What?” his servant exclaimed. “Feed a hundred people with only this?”
But Elisha repeated, “Give it to the people so they can eat, for this is what the Lord says: Everyone will eat, and there will even be some left over!” And when they gave it to the people, there was plenty for all and some left over, just as the Lord had promised.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Chris Muglia’s responsorial setting of Psalm 145.
Intro
The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
He answers all our needs.
Refrain
The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
He answers all our needs.
Verse 1
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
Refrain
The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
He answers all our needs.
Verse 2
The eyes of all look hopefully to you,
and you give them their food in due season;
you open your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
Refrain
The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
He answers all our needs.
Verse 3
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
Refrain
The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs
He answers all our needs.
A reading from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, Chapter 3, Verses14-21.
When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Samuel Trevor Francis and Bob Kauflin’s “Oh the Deep, Deep Love.”
Verse 1
Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me
Underneath me, all around me
Is the current of Your love
Leading onward, leading homeward
To Your glorious rest above
Chorus 1
Oh the deep, deep love
All I need and trust
Is the deep, deep love of Jesus
Verse 2
Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Spread His praise from shore to shore
How He came to pay our ransom
Through the saving cross He bore
How He watches o’er His loved ones
Those He died to make His own
How for them He’s interceding
Pleading now before the throne
Chorus 2
Oh the deep, deep love
All I need and trust
Is the deep, deep love of Jesus
Oh the deep, deep love
All I need and trust
Is the deep, deep love of Jesus
Verse 3
Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Far surpassing all the rest
It’s an ocean full of blessing
In the midst of every test
Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Mighty Savior, precious Friend
You will bring us home to glory
Where Your love will never end
Chorus 3
Oh the deep, deep love
All I need and trust
Is the deep, deep love of Jesus
Oh the deep, deep love
All I need and trust
Is the deep, deep love of Jesus
Oh the deep, deep love
All I need and trust
Is the deep, deep love of Jesus
Oh the deep, deep love
All I need and trust
Is the deep, deep love of Jesus
Outro
Oh the deep, deep love
All I need and trust
Is the deep, deep love of Jesus
A reading from the Gospel according to John, Chapter 6, Verses 1-21
After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him. (It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration.) Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him.
Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.
Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”
Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”
“Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.
When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!” When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.
That evening Jesus’ disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum. Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!” Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!
Silence
Rooted in God's Love
“Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” These words bring to my mind the dandelions whose bright yellow flowers dot my front yard and my neighbors’ front yards every spring. Some dandelions even bloom when snow is still on the ground, their bright yellow flowers a sharp contrast to the dinginess of the melting snow.
Dandelions have very deep roots as those who are obsessed with an immaculate lawn quickly discover in their efforts to eradicate what they consider a pesky weed, an unwelcome arrival with the spring. Cut off the tops of a dandelion but it will spring up again, producing new stems, leaves, flowers, and clocks from its roots deep below the ground.
Just as the dandelion’s roots grown down deep into the earth so should our roots grown down deep into God’s love. Rooted in God’s love, we will be able to persevere whatever comes our way and grow in Christ-likeness.
Christians can learn a lot from the humble dandelion. Dandelions will grow just about anywhere. While their flowers are conspicuous in the early spring, they bloom throughout the year. They are always multiplying. They produce thousands of seeds which float on their gossamer threads wherever the wind blows them. They may be considered a model of how disciples of Jesus should multiply themselves, which God has provided for us in nature. Dandelions also grow from their roots as well as their seeds. The lessons we can learn from the dandelion are one of the many ways God show his love for us. The flowers, leaves, and roots of the dandelion are also edible and have medicinal properties, another gift of God’s kindness. In nineteenth century England, dandelions were cultivated and were a common ingredient in salads.
God’s love is unfathomable. It is beyond our ability to fully understand or measure. God is not just a loving God. God’s very nature is love. We can draw analogies between God’s love and created things such as the vastness of an ocean, comparisons between God’s love and human love, but they will always fall short. A finite mind cannot grasp the infinite.
We may like to think that we understand the world in which we live but our knowledge is limited. We may dismiss the miracles that Jesus performed. The people in the crowd must have had food with them, we tell ourselves. Jesus must have been walking on a sand bar and the disciples thought that he was walking water. Miracles, however, are happening all around us if we open our eyes to see them.
We underestimate the power of God’s grace, the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. It is God’s grace that enables us to see our need for a Savior and it is God’s grace that enables us to turn away from whatever has come between us and God and to trust in Jesus. It is God’s grace that enables us to put down roots deep into God’s love and to grow in God’s love. As we grow in God’s love, God perfects us, and we grow in our love for God and our love for others. We are transformed not only outwardly in our actions but inwardly in our attitudes, our way of thinking, our character. We bear what Paul called the fruit of the Spirit—"love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). We become more and more like Jesus.
John Wesley in his sermon, “The Means of Grace, identifies the reading, study, and reflection upon Scripture and public and private prayer as means of grace, ways that God shows his love for us and influences us, ways that he not only gives fresh vigor and strength to our faith but also changes us both outwardly and inwardly so that we grow closer to God and become the person that God means us to be. Wesley called these means of grace “ordinances” because they were ordained by God for our benefit. A practice which I recommend is praying Scripture, a practice which combines these two means of grace.
Today’s reading from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians is both a prayer for the Ephesians but also a doxology in praise of God. To pray this passage from Scripture, paraphrase Paul’s prayer, praying in your own words for your fellow Christians, those exploring the Christian faith and way of life, and yourself. If you are not comfortable paraphrasing the prayer, use Paul’s words. Conclude the prayer with Paul’s doxology. You may want to make this prayer a regular part of your daily devotions or otherwise pray it on a regular basis.
I also recommend meditating on Paul’s words, reflecting on what they personally mean to you, how you might apply them in your own life, and how you might use their truth for the good of others.
When we read Scripture, study Scripture, mediate on Scripture, pray Scripture, God provides us with spiritual nourishment. God satisfies the needs of our souls as he satisfied the hunger of the multitude on the hillside on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Bazi Baker, Mary Beattie, Andy Campbell, Chloe Williams, and Jason Henderson’s “To Be Like You (Full of Compassion).”
Verse 1
Jesus you delight in showing mercy
You have shared a table with a thief
You embrace the orphan and you say “now follow me...
I am fighting for the least of these”
Verse 2
You have graced this world with your forgiveness
You have turned the tables with a kiss
You have laid your life down and you say “now follow me...
You will find me with the least of these”
Chorus
To be like You, full of compassion
To be like You, Jesus
To do as You do, to love without measure
To be like You, Jesus
Verse 3
You are moved to heal the brokenhearted
You have laid a table for a feast
You invite the outcast and you say “now come and eat...
There’s enough to fill your every need”
You're enough to fill our every need
Chorus
To be like You, full of compassion
To be like You, Jesus
To do as You do, to love without measure
To be like You, Jesus
Bridge
And let our lives be a pure reflection of You God
The thoughts of our hearts
And the words of our mouths be of You
And let our lives be a pure reflection of You God
The thoughts of our hearts
And the words of our mouths be of You
And let our lives be a pure reflection of You God
The thoughts of our hearts
And the words of our mouths be of You
And let our lives be a pure reflection of You God
The thoughts of our hearts
And the words of our mouths be of You
Chorus
To be like You, full of compassion
To be like You, Jesus
To do as You do, to love without measure
To be like You, Jesus
Outro
To do as You do, to love without measure
To be like You, Jesus
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
Almighty and everliving God,
hear the prayers which we offer in faith and love:
For peace, and for your salvation to be known throughout the world …
Silence
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer
For the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church
and for the unity of all Christian people …
Silence
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer
For all who serve and lead in your Church,
for bishops, elders, deacons, licensed local pastors, and other lay ministers …
Silence
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer
For all your people, growing in the faith of Christ,
and passing it on to generations yet to come …
Silence
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer
For all who live and work in this community …
Silence
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer
For families, and for those who live alone …
Silence
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer
For all who are sick in body or in mind,
and for those who care for them …
Silence
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer
For all in authority,
and especially for [Canada: Charles our King] [United States: our President] …
Silence
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer
For all who have been entrusted with the responsibility of government …
Silence
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer
For those who work for peace, justice and righteousness throughout the
world …
Silence
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer
Rejoicing in the fellowship of your holy apostles and martyrs, and of all your servants departed this life in your faith and fear, we commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to you, Lord God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Accept our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord, who 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.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Alanna Glover and’ Niki Shepherd’s “We Give You Thanks.”
Verse 1
Almighty Creator, we give you thanks and praise
For the goodness and kindness that you freely gave
We praise you for your blessings, for mercy and for peace
The love that you have lavished on us; we give you thanks
Verse 2
O merciful Saviour, we give you thanks and praise
For welcome and forgiveness and for the means of grace
We praise you for redemption, through Jesus on the cross
All glory everlasting in Christ; we give you thanks
Chorus
We lift our hearts in thanks and praise for all your gifts to us this day
Hallelujah, Father, Spirit, Son
All the glory, all the fame are yours forever, we proclaim
Hallelujah, Father, Spirit, Son
Verse 3
O faithful companion, we give you thanks and praise
For you know us and lead us by your word each day
O may we truly love you and serve you with our lives
Empowered by your Spirit in us; we give you thanks
Chorus
We lift our hearts in thanks and praise for all your gifts to us this day
Hallelujah, Father, Spirit, Son
All the glory, all the fame are yours forever, we proclaim
Hallelujah, Father, Spirit, Son
Verse 4
O God everlasting, we give you thanks and praise
For the tears sown in sorrow, you will wipe away
We’ll sing your endless praises while gathered 'round the throne
The joy of all creation restored; we give you thanks
Outro
We give you thanks.
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.
The love of the Father enfold us,
the wisdom of the Son enlighten us,
the fire of the Spirit enflame us;
and the blessing of God, the Three in One,
be upon us and abide with us now and for ever. 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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