Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, October 27, 2024)
This Sunday, October 27, 2024, is Bible Sunday, a Sunday on which Christians around the world celebrate God’s gift of his written Word, the Bible.
In this Sunday’s message we consider the question, “Why celebrate Bible Sunday?”
GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME
Thus says the high and lofty One
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the humble,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Isaiah 57:15
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
and the truth is not in us.
But if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just,
and will forgive our sins
and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:8-9
Let us now confess our sins to almighty God.
Silence
God of all mercy,
we humbly admit that we need your help.
We have wandered from your ways.
We have sinned in thought, word, and deed,
and have failed to do what is right.
You alone can save us.
Have mercy on us,
wipe out our sins and teach us to forgive others.
Bring forth in us the fruit of your Spirit that
we may live the new life to your glory.
This we ask in the name of 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 our lips, O Lord,
and we shall declare your praise.
Glory to God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
as in the beginning, so now, and forever. Amen.
Let us praise the Lord.
The Lord’s name be praised.
Open a link in a new tab to hear Dale A. Witte’s arrangement of the Venite, “Come, O Come, Let Us Sing to the Lord Our Savior!”
Come, O come, let us sing to the Lord our Savior!
Come, O come, let us sing to the Lord!
1 Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving.
Let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise.
Come, O come, let us sing to the Lord our Savior!
Come, O come, let us sing to the Lord!
2 For the Lord is a great God and great King above all gods.
The deep places of the earth are in his hands.
The heights of the hills are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it,
and his and formed the dry land.
Come, O come, let us sing to the Lord our Savior!
Come, O come, let us sing to the Lord!
3 Oh, come let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before our Maker.
For he is our God, and we are his people,
the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.
Come, O come, let us sing to the Lord our Savior!
Come, O come, let us sing to the Lord!
Open this link in a new tab to hear Timothy Dudley Smith’s “The Stars Declare His Glory” (Psalm 19)
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 splendor,
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.
Open this link in in a new tab to hear Margaret Old’s “Spirit of God, Unseen as the Wind.”
Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
gentle as is the dove:
teach us the truth and help us believe,
show us the Saviour's love!
1 You spoke to us - long, long ago -
gave us the written word;
we read it still, needing its truth,
through it God's voice is heard.
Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
gentle as is the dove:
teach us the truth and help us believe,
show us the Saviour's love!
[Instrumental interlude]
Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
gentle as is the dove:
teach us the truth and help us believe,
show us the Saviour's love!
2 Without your help we fail our Lord,
we cannot live his way;
we need your power, we need your strength,
following Christ each day.
Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
gentle as is the dove:
teach us the truth and help us believe,
show us the Saviour's love!
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Old Testament: Isaiah 55: 1-11
“Is anyone thirsty?
Come and drink—
even if you have no money!
Come, take your choice of wine or milk—
it’s all free!
Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength?
Why pay for food that does you no good?
Listen to me, and you will eat what is good.
You will enjoy the finest food.
“Come to me with your ears wide open.
Listen, and you will find life.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.
See how I used him to display my power among the peoples.
I made him a leader among the nations.
You also will command nations you do not know,
and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey,
because I, the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious.”
Seek the Lord while you can find him.
Call on him now while he is near.
Let the wicked change their ways
and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.
Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
“The rain and snow come down from the heavens
and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
producing seed for the farmer
and bread for the hungry.
It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
Silence
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Timothy-Dudley Smith’s “The Glory of Our God and King” (Revelation 15:3-4).
1 The glory of our God and King,
the splendour of his throne,
let heaven and earth unite to sing
and all creation own.
2 The one eternal Father bless
before whose state and crown,
whose reign of perfect righteousness,
the nations all bow down.
3 His mercies shown, his triumphs won,
unnumbered saints proclaim,
the deeds his mighty arm has done,
his great and glorious Name.
4 In honour throned, in love adored,
how just and true his ways:
of all the ages King and Lord,
to everlasting days!
A reading from the New Testament: 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.
Silence
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Michael Perry’s paraphrase of the Benedictus, “Blessed Be the God of Israel.”
1 Blessed be the God of Israel
who comes to set us free;
who visits and redeems us,
who grants us liberty.
The prophets spoke of mercy,
of rescue and release:
God shall fulfill the promise
to bring our people peace.
2 Now from the house of David
a child of grace is given;
a Savior who comes among us
to raise us up to heaven
Before him goes the herald,
forerunner in the way,
the prophet of salvation,
the harbinger of day.
3 On prisoners of darkness
the sun begins to rise,
the dawning of forgiveness
upon the sinner's eyes;
to guide the feet of pilgrims
along the paths of peace:
O bless our God and Savior,
with songs that never cease!
Why Celebrate Bible Sunday?
If you live in the United States or Canada, you can go to a bookstore and buy a Bible. You can even buy a Bible at your local Walmart. You can purchase a Bible online. You can download a Bible app onto your smart phone. You can visit the website Biblegateway.com and read 150 translations of the Bible. The site also has audio versions of a number of the Bibles. You can also find a number of tools for studying the Bible online.
While many Christians in the United States own a Bible or a Bible app, a surprisingly large number of them are not well-acquainted with its contents. They are not as familiar as they might be with the Bible’s account of God’s faithfulness to the people of Israel, how God delivered them from slavery in Egypt, how he did not abandon them despite their rebelliousness, God’s promise to send a Saviour, how God fulfilled that promise in Jesus of Nazareth, and the amazing news that the promised Saviour God sent was not just for the descendants of the people of Israel but for all the peoples of the earth and that God was in Jesus reconciling the world to himself.
In stark contrast, a number of people groups around the world have yet to hear this good news. They do not have the Bible in their own language. In some parts of the world possessing a Bible is a crime. In North Korea anyone caught with a Bible faces arrest, torture, imprisonment, and death.
The English-speaking people of the world did not always have a translation of the Bible in the English language. For many years the Bible in the Western Church was written solely in Latin. Anyone who might wish to read the Bible would have to learn to read Latin and even then people were not encouraged to read the Bible. They were expected to accept what the Church’s hierarchy said was in Bible and not to discover what was in the Bible for themselves. Indeed, all rites and services of the Church were conducted in Latin. Some clergy were poorly educated and simply memorized the Latin words of the rites and services without really knowing what they meant and then recited them from memory as someone might recite a magical incantation.
The earliest translation of the Bible into English was in the fourteenth century and is associated with the English theologian and reformer John Wycliffe and the Lollards, as Wycliffe’s followers were derisively named. Wycliffe himself may have played only a minor role in its translation from the Latin Vulgate, as the Latin Bible was called. Dubbed the “Poor Man’s Bible,” Wycliffe’s followers were often called “Bible men” by their opponents. Wycliffe would be posthumously declared a heretic, and his corpse was dug up, burned, and the ashes cast into a river.
The Lollards were also declared heretics, and their books were ordered to be handed over and burned. Anyone who refused to hand over their Lollard books and to declare in public that their Lollard beliefs were wrong, and they no longer agreed with them could also be burned.
The University of Oxford would adopt a constitution which declared Lollard books to be heretical and decreed that any translation of Scripture into English should be first authorized by a Bishop.
In later years Wycliffe would be honored as “the Morning Star of the Reformation” because his beliefs were akin to those of the Protestant Reformers.
The invention of the printing press in the fifteenth century would have a huge impact upon society in England and on continental Europe. It would enable the mass production of books on a scale that had not previously been possible when books had to be laboriously copied by hand. It would also make being literate, able to read, more desirable, and would encourage the translation of books from Latin and other languages into English, as well as the writing of books in English.
William Tyndale was the first translator of the Bible into English who worked from the Hebrew and Greek texts and who took advantage of the printing press to publish his work. He ran afoul of King Henry VIII when he opposed the king seeking an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragorn on Scriptural grounds. He was forced to flee to the continent where he was arrested and imprisoned, and eventually tried as a heretic, strangled to death, and his body burned at the stake.
In 1539 Henry VIII would authorize the public reading of a English translation of the Bible in the church services of the Church of England. This translation was the Great Bible It was prepared by Myles Coverdale ad incorporated much of Tyndale’s work. As Tyndale’s Bible was incomplete, Coverdale translated the remaining books of Old Testament and the Apocrypha, working from the Latin Vulgate and German translations. English clergy were directed to obtain "one book of the Bible of the largest volume in English, and the same set up in some convenient place within the said church that ye have care of, whereas your parishioners may most commodiously resort to the same and read it." It was to be chained to prevent its removal from the church, earning it the epithet, “the Chained Bible.”
In 1569 the Bishops’ Bible would supersede the Great Bible as the authorized Bible of the Church of England, and in 1611 the King James Bible would supersede the Bishops’ Bible.
It is noteworthy that the Scripture readings printed in the 1552, 1559, and 1604 Books of Common Prayer were taken from the Great Bible and the psalms printed in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer are also taken from that source.
In the late nineteenth century, a team of British scholars, working in consultation with a number of American scholars, produced the only officially authorized and recognized revision of the King James Bible, the Revised Version. The American scholars disagreed with the British scholars on a number of points, and they published their own revision, the American Standard Version. Since that time the number of English translations of the Bible has proliferated.
The Scripture readings for this Sunday's service are taken from the New Living Translation, which translates “entire thoughts, rather than just words, into natural, everyday English” with the aim of creating “a translation that is easy to read and understand and that accurately communicates the meaning of the original text.”
The translation of the Bible into a language that more than a few people could understand would lead to “the rediscovery of the gospel of divine grace to which the pages of Holy Scripture bear testimony.” This is turn would spark the spiritual movement of the Reformation.
The Western Church’s doctrine of salvation by sacraments and good works was found to have no basis in Scripture. Rather the Holy Scriptures testified that salvation is solely by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. God works in believers, giving them the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Everything that is necessary for a person’s salvation is contained in the Bible.
Scripture emphasized that prayer should be in a language easily understood by those hearing the prayers so that they would be edified and could add their “Amen” to the prayers. It also emphasized that faith came through hearing God’s Word, and that everything done when believers gathered should build up their faith.
This knowledge, the message and teaching of Christ, and the teaching of the apostles, as set forth in the Bible, coupled with the desire to live a life that pleased God, would transform the Church.
We have good reason this Sunday to celebrate the God’s gift of the Bible. Like the wooden poles that have been erected along the pilgrims’ path across the mud flats to the holy Island of Lindisfarne, the Bible provides us with guideposts to keep us from wandering from the right path. In its pages we not only learn about the person and work of Christ, his message and his teaching, but we also by the power of the Holy Spirit encounter the risen Christ himself. The Living Word is present to us in the written Word. He speaks to us from its pages. Our faith is given new vigor and strength. We are renewed and transformed. We certainly have reason to celebrate!
Silence
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
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
Let us join with Christians in every place and in every time in the prayer that Jesus gave 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,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Be exalted, Lord, above the heavens,
let your glory cover the earth.
Keep our nation under your care,
and guide us in justice and truth.
Let your way be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
Send out your light and your truth,
that we may tell of your saving works.
Have mercy on the poor and the oppressed.
hear the cry of those in need.
Hear our prayers, O Lord,
for we put our trust in you.
Blessed Lord,
who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
Help us to hear them,
to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them
that, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word,
we may embrace and for ever hold fast
the blessed hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
We have good reason this Sunday to celebrate the God’s gift of the Bible. Like the wooden poles that have been erected along the pilgrims’ path across the mud flats to the holy Island of Lindisfarne, the Bible provides us with guideposts to keep us from wandering from the right path. In its pages we not only learn about the person and work of Christ, his message and his teaching, but we also by the power of the Holy Spirit encounter the risen Christ himself. The Living Word is present to us in the written Word. He speaks to us from its pages. Our faith is given new vigor and strength. We are renewed and transformed. We certainly have reason to celebrate!
Silence
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
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
Let us join with Christians in every place and in every time in the prayer that Jesus gave 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,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Be exalted, Lord, above the heavens,
let your glory cover the earth.
Keep our nation under your care,
and guide us in justice and truth.
Let your way be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
Send out your light and your truth,
that we may tell of your saving works.
Have mercy on the poor and the oppressed.
hear the cry of those in need.
Hear our prayers, O Lord,
for we put our trust in you.
Blessed Lord,
who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
Help us to hear them,
to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them
that, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word,
we may embrace and for ever hold fast
the blessed hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Let your requests be made know unto God,
in everything give thanks.
Prayers and thanksgivings may be offered
For the whole created order, especially…
For the nations and the peoples of the earth…
For those in authority in this land…
For the Church, its leaders and members…
For our community, families and friends…
For those who are in need…
For particular situations…
After each prayer, the following response may be used.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
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.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Liv Chapman, Alanna Glover, and Philip Percival’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
Your word endures forever
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.
Those present may extend their palms toward each other in a gesture of blessing.
May the Lord bless you
and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor
and give you his peace.
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.
in everything give thanks.
Prayers and thanksgivings may be offered
For the whole created order, especially…
For the nations and the peoples of the earth…
For those in authority in this land…
For the Church, its leaders and members…
For our community, families and friends…
For those who are in need…
For particular situations…
After each prayer, the following response may be used.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
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.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Liv Chapman, Alanna Glover, and Philip Percival’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
Your word endures forever
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.
Those present may extend their palms toward each other in a gesture of blessing.
May the Lord bless you
and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor
and give you his peace.
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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