Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, November 10, 2024)

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

Jesus was a keen observer of everything around him. He not only noticed how people behaved but also discerned their motives. He was able to see beyond people’s outward appearances and to see their true selves.

In this Sunday’s message we reflect upon a poor widow’s act of devotion.

GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME

Our help comes from the Lord
who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121: 2

Let us worship God.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Dustin Kensrue and Stuart Townend’s “Rejoice.”

1 Come and stand before your Maker
Full of wonder, full of fear;
Come behold his power and glory
Yet with confidence draw near,
For the one who holds the heavens
And commands the stars above
Is the God who bends to bless us
With an unrelenting love.

Rejoice!
Come and lift your hands and raise your voice;
He is worthy of all praise,
Rejoice!
Sing the mercies of your King
And with trembling, rejoice.

2 We are children of the promise,
The beloved of the Lord.
Won with everlasting kindness,
Bought with sacrificial blood.
Bringing reconciliation
To a world that longs to know
The affections of a father
Who will never let them go.

Rejoice!
Come and lift your hands and raise your voice;
He is worthy of all praise,
Rejoice!
Sing the mercies of your King
And with trembling, rejoice.

3 All our sickness, all our sorrows
Jesus carried up the hill.
He has walked this path before us,
He is walking with us still;
Turning tragedy to triumph,
Turning agony to praise,
There is blessing in the battle
So take heart and stand amazed.

Rejoice!
Come and lift your hands and raise your voice;
He is worthy of all praise,
Rejoice!
Sing the mercies of your King
And with trembling, rejoice.

Rejoice!
Come and lift your hands and raise your voice;
He is worthy of all praise,
Rejoice!
Sing the mercies of your King
And with trembling, rejoice.

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 confess our sins to God our Father.

Silence

Heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour
in thought and word and deed,
through negligence, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault;
by what we have done
and by what we have failed to do.
We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ who died for us,
forgive us all that is past;
and grant that we may serve you in newness of life
to the glory of your name. 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 to hear Keith Getty and Stuart Townend’s “Hoy Spirit, Living Breath of God.”

1 Holy Spirit, living Breath of God,
Breathe new life into my willing soul.
Bring the presence of the risen Lord
To renew my heart and make me whole.
Cause Your Word to come alive in me;
Give me faith for what I cannot see;
Give me passion for Your purity.
Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me.

2 Holy Spirit, come abide within;
May Your joy be seen in all I do—
Love enough to cover ev’ry sin
In each thought and deed and attitude,
Kindness to the greatest and the least,
Gentleness that sows the path of peace.
Turn my striving into works of grace.
Breath of God, show Christ in all I do.

3 Holy Spirit, from creation’s birth,
Giving life to all that God has made,
Show Your power once again on earth;
Cause Your church to hunger for Your ways.
Let the fragrance of our prayers arise.
Lead us on the road of sacrifice
That in unity the face of Christ
Will be clear for all the world to see.

The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.

Let us pray.

Silence

O God,
whose blessed Son came into the world
that he might destroy the works of evil
and make us your children and heirs of eternal life:
grant that, having this hope,
we may purify ourselves as he is pure;
that when he comes again with power and great glory,
we may be made like him in his eternal
and glorious kingdom;
where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

A reading from the Old Testament: 1 Kings 17: 8-16

Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”

So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”

But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”

But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”

So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days. There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.

Silence

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Kiran Young Wimberly “Hallelujah (Psalm 146).”

Hallelujah, I will praise the Lord as long as I live
I will sing praise to God with all of my being

I will trust not in rulers, they will pass into dust
But I will hope in the Lord our God, the one who will help

Hallelujah, I will praise the Lord as long as I live
I will sing praise to God with all of my being

Happy are those who hope in the God who redeems
The heavens, earth and seas belong to the Maker of all things

Hallelujah, I will praise the Lord as long as I live
I will sing praise to God with all of my being

To the poor God brings justice, to the hungry, a feast
Sets the prisoners free, meets the refugee, sing praise to the Lord

Hallelujah, I will praise the Lord as long as I live
I will sing praise to God with all of my being

The Lord lifts the lowly, to the stranger shows care
The widow and the orphan, God will never forsake

Hallelujah, I will praise the Lord as long as I live
I will sing praise to God with all of my being

God’s goodness and mercy never come to an end
Our God will reign forever, hallelujah, Amen

Hallelujah, I will praise the Lord
Hallelujah, I will praise the Lord
Hallelujah, I will praise the Lord, Hallelujah, Amen

A reading from the New Testament: Mark 12: 38-44

Jesus also taught: “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished.”

Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.

Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”

Silence

This is the word of the Lord/
Thanks be to God

Open this link in a new tab to hear Bernadette Farrell’s paraphrase of the Benedictus Dominus Deus, “Blest Be the Lord, the God of Israel.”

1 Blest be the Lord, the God of Israel,
who brings the dawn and darkest night dispels,
who raises up a mighty Saviour from the earth,
of David's line, a son of royal birth.

2 The prophets tell a story just begun
of vanquished foe and glorious vict'ry won,
of promise made to all who keep the law as guide:
God's faithful love and mercy will abide.

3 This is the oath once sworn to Abraham:
all shall be free to dwell upon the land,
free now to praise, unharmed by the oppressor's rod,
holy and righteous in the sight of God.

4 And you, my child, this day you shall be called
the promised one, the prophet of our God,
for you will go before the Lord to clear the way,
and shepherd all into the light of day.

5 The tender love God promised from our birth
is soon to dawn upon this shadowed earth,
to shine on those whose sorrows seem to never cease,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.

6 All glory be to God, Creator blest,
to Jesus Christ, God's love made manifest,
and to the Holy Spirit, gentle Comforter,
all glory be, both now and ever more.

A Poor Widow’s Act of Devotion

In the first century, in the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, the life of a widow was not an easy one. If a widow was young, she might be able to return to her family or remarry. If she was old, she would have to depend upon her adult children or other kin for her support. A few widows might have property from which they were able derive income. Most widows were poor and had to eke out a living the best way that they could. While the Mosaic Code, the code of laws that God gave to the people of Israel through Moses, made some provision for widows and orphans, it did not offer the kind of social safety net found in a number of modern Western countries.

Among the things with which widows had to contend were unscrupulous teachers of religious law who shamelessly cheated them out of their property. What made the actions of these teachers particularly odious was that the Mosaic Code forbids the exploitation of widows and orphans (Exodus 22:22-23), Indeed, those who denied justice to widows and orphans were accursed (Deuteronomy 27: 19). God speaking through the prophets condemns those who prey on widows and take advantage of orphans (Isaiah 10:2), promises to show mercy to those who stop exploiting foreigners, orphans, and widows (Jeremiah 7:6), and forbids the oppression of widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor (Zechariah 7:10). Through the prophet Malachai God warns that a day is coming when he will hold to account “sorcerers and adulterers and liars” and those who “cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice” (Malachai 3:5). As teachers of religious law, they would have been familiar with these passages from the Bible. They had no excuse for how they mistreated widows. Their behavior was clearly unacceptable. Indeed Malachai 3:5 associates it with the absence of any fear of God.

Two small coins may not seem like a lot of money to us. But for a poor widow they were a great sacrifice. They were everything she had to buy barley and olive oil to make bread. She would have to go hungry. It was her sacrificial giving that Jesus commended to his disciples, not the extravagant giving of the wealthy. It was her giving that Jesus held up as an example for his disciples. It is also her giving that he holds up as an example for us. While the rich people gave only a tiny part of their surplus, the poor widow gave all that she had to live on. What the rich people gave would make no difference in how they lived. It would have no effect on them. The poor widow would have nothing to live on.

If we consider the widow’s giving to be a measure of her devotion to God, it was far greater than that of the rich people. When we consider what Jesus taught earlier about the teachers of religious law, the point Jesus is making is not so much about giving money as it is about devotion to God. What God desires from us is more than a shallow religiosity, one like the teachers of religious law, one which focused upon how others see us, but rather a deep spirituality, a disposition of the heart like that of the poor widow, in which we give our all to God.

Silence

Open this link in a new tab to hear Daniel Justice Snoke’s metrical version of the Apostles Creed, “I Believe in God the Father.”

I believe in God the Father,
maker of all heav’n and earth.
And in Jesus Christ our Saviour,
God’s own Son of matchless worth;
By the Spirit was conceived,
of the virgin, Mary born,
He in whom I have believed,
God almighty, three in one.

Suffered under Pontius Pilate.
crucified for me he died.
Laid within the grave so silent,
gates of hell he opened wide;
For the stone-sealed tomb was empty;
on the third day he arose;
Into heaven made his entry,
mighty conquer’r of his foes.

At God’s right hand he is seated,
till his coming as he said;
Final judgment will be meted
to the living and the dead;
I confess the Holy Spirit,
who was sent through Christ the Son
To apply salvation’s merit:
God the Spirit Three in One.

I believe the church of Jesus,
universal e’er remains;
We are one through all the ages
In communion of the saints.
I believe sins are forgiven,
that our bodies will be raised
To eternal life in glory,
ever let his name be praised.

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 …

Kyrie eleison.

For the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church
and for the unity of all Christian people …

Kyrie eleison.

For all who serve and lead in your Church,
for bishops, elders, deacons, and licensed local pastors …

Kyrie eleison.

For all your people, growing in the faith of Christ,
and passing it on to generations yet to come …

Kyrie eleison.

For all who live and work in this community …

Kyrie eleison.

For families, and for those who live alone …

Kyrie eleison.

For all who are sick in body or in mind,
and for those who care for them …

Kyrie eleison.

For all in authority,
and especially for [Canada Charles our King ][USA our President] …

Kyrie eleison.

For all who have been entrusted with the responsibility of government …
For those who work for peace, justice and righteousness throughout the
world …

Kyrie eleison.

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,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Keath and Kristyn Getty Stuart Townend’s “Hear the Call of the Kingdom.”

Verse 1
Hear the call of the kingdom
Lift your eyes to the King
Let His song rise within you
As a fragrant offering
Of how God rich in mercy
Came in Christ to redeem
All who trust in His unfailing grace

Verse 2
Hear the call of the Kingdom
To be children of light
With the mercy of heaven
The humility of Christ
Walking justly before Him
Loving all that is right
That the life of Christ may shine through us

Chorus
King of Heaven we will answer the call
We will follow bringing hope to the world
Filled with passion, filled with power to proclaim
Salvation in Jesus' name

Verse 3
Hear the call of the Kingdom
To reach out to the lost
With the Father's compassion
In the wonder of the cross
Bringing peace and forgiveness
And a hope yet to come
Let the nations put their trust in Him

Chorus
King of Heaven we will answer the call
We will follow bringing hope to the world
Filled with passion, filled with power to proclaim
Salvation in Jesus' name

[Instrumental interlude]

Final Chorus
O King of Heaven we will answer the call
We will follow bringing hope to the world
Filled with passion, filled with power to proclaim
Salvation in Jesus' name

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.