Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, December 19, 2024)
Have you ever gone to a concert of a favorite singer or band, planning to take photos and record music with your smart phone, only to discover that you forgot to recharge your phone? The battery is dead! Or gone primitive camping, planning to cook your meals over a campfire, only to discover that forgot to bring a lighter or matches? There you are in the backcountry, miles from civilization, with no way to start a fire!
The Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts (the Girl Guides in Canada and the United Kingdom) have a motto, “Be prepared.” As we shall see in this Thursday evening’s message, it is a good motto for Christians too.
GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
Open this link to hear The Hymnal Project’s prelude on MERTON for piano.
Silence
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world; whoever follows me
will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 8:12
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Silence
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins
through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all
goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in
eternal life. Amen.
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as
it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Alleluia.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Carl P. Daw Jr.’s metrical paraphrase of the Phos hilaron, “O Light Whose Splendor Thrills and Gladdens.”
1 O Light whose splendor thrills and gladdens
with radiance brighter than the sun,
pure gleam of God's unending glory,
O Jesus, blest Anointed One.
2 As twilight hovers near at sunset,
and lamps are lit, and children nod,
in evening hymns we lift our voices
to Father, Spirit, Son: one God.
3 In all life's brilliant, timeless moments,
let faithful voices sing your praise,
O Son of God, our Life-bestower,
whose glory lightens endless days.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Marty Haugen’s responsorial setting of Psalm 113, “Blessed Be the Name.”
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the LORD
for ever!
1 Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD!
May the name of the LORD be blest
both now and forevermore!
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the LORD
for ever!
2 From the rising of the sun to its setting,
praised be the name of the LORD!
High above all nations is the LORD,
above the heavens his glory.
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the LORD
for ever!
3 Who is like the LORD, our God,
who dwells on high,
who lowers himself to look down
upon heaven and earth?
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the LORD
for ever!
4 From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
from the ash heap he raises the poor,
to set them in the company of princes,
yes, with the princes of his people.
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the LORD
for ever!
Open this link in a new tab to hear Paul Inwood’s “Holy Is God” (Psalm 117).
Holy is God, holy and strong!
God everliving, alleluia.
Holy is God, holy and strong!
God everliving, alleluia.
1 Sing the Lord’s praise, ev’ry nation,
Give him all honor and glory.
Strong is his love for his people,
His faithfulness is eternal.
Holy is God, holy and strong!
God everliving, alleluia.
(Holy is God, holy and strong!
God everliving, alleluia.)
2 Praise to the Father almighty,
Praise to his Son, Christ the Lord;
Praise to the life giving Spirit;
Both now and forever, Amen
(Praise to the Father almighty,
Praise to his son, Christ the Lord;
Praise to the life giving Spirit;
Both now and forever, Amen)
Holy is God, holy and strong!
God everliving, alleluia.
(Holy is God, holy and strong!
God everliving, alleluia.)
Holy is God, holy and strong!
God everliving, alleluia.
(Holy is God, holy and strong!
God everliving, alleluia.)
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke
Luke 25: 1-13
“At that time the Kingdom of heaven will be like this. Once there were ten young women who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and the other five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any extra oil with them, while the wise ones took containers full of oil for their lamps. The bridegroom was late in coming, so they began to nod and fall asleep.
“It was already midnight when the cry rang out, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come and meet him!’ The ten young women woke up and trimmed their lamps. Then the foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Let us have some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ ‘No, indeed,’ the wise ones answered, ‘there is not enough for you and for us. Go to the store and buy some for yourselves.’ So the foolish ones went off to buy some oil; and while they were gone, the bridegroom arrived. The five who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was closed.
“Later the others arrived. ‘Sir, sir! Let us in!’ they cried out. ‘Certainly not! I don't know you,’ the bridegroom answered.”
And Jesus concluded, “Watch out, then, because you do not know the day or the hour.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Silence
Are You Ready?
Several weeks ago, I came across an illustration of the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins as it has sometimes been known, in which young women, while dressed in costumes of the time, were carrying coal oil or kerosene lanterns, a type of lamp that was not invented until the mid-nineteenth century. It was bright, colorful, and eye catching but was inaccurate in that one critical detail.
Why does the type of lamp the virgins were carrying matter? It is important because it highlights the foolishness of the virgins who did not bring extra oil with them for their lamps. I have a collection of lamps from that period. They are unglazed terra cotta and fit in the palm of your hand. They burn olive oil, and their oil reservoir is not large. They require frequent refilling.
A coal oil or kerosene lantern, on the other hand, typically can burn for 10 to 20 hours on a single filling.
Wedding feasts were at that time held at night, and it was not unusual for the bridegroom to be late. This was common knowledge. It would have made good sense to have brought extra oil in anticipation of a possible long wait. The marketplace where olive oil was sold would have shut down as soon as it had grown dark, and the oil dealers would have closed their shops or stalls. They may have gone to bed by the time the foolish virgins came to buy oil. Once the foolish virgins did find a dealer from whom they could buy oil, they would have had to pay a higher price than they normally would have paid.
Jesus’ audience to whom he originally told the parable would have known this. They were the realities of their daily lives in their part of the ancient world. They were also things that the foolish virgins should have known. Their neglect to bring extra oil with them would have struck that audience as very foolish indeed. Anyone with an ounce of common sense would have brought extra oil with them. It showed very poor judgement on the foolish virgin’s part to not have done.
With the members of Jesus’ original audience, the parable would have had more force as they were familiar with wedding customs and the lamps of the time. They also would not have been surprised that the bridegroom refused to admit the foolish virgins to the wedding. It was the custom for the guests to enter into the wedding feast with the bridegroom in procession, carrying lamps or lit torches. It was like showing your wedding invitation at the door. Anyone who did not have a lamp or lit torch was not recognized as a part of the wedding party.
The thrust of the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins is that Jesus will return at an unexpected hour and his followers must be ready. The wise virgins are given as an example for Jesus’ faithful disciples to help them understand how they should be ready for his return. They are to be prepared for a long wait. At the same time, they are also to be prepared for his imminent return. What happened to the foolish virgins is given as a warning as to what will happen to those who are not prepared. Because they were not ready when the bridegroom arrived, they did not go in with him and the door was shut to them.
All ten virgins were invited to the wedding feast. All ten virgins had lamps to show that they were a part of the wedding party. The difference between them was one group of virgins were prepared; the other was not.
Those who may wondering if they are ready for Jesus’ return, will wish to ask themselves these questions.
Have I put my faith in Jesus? Am I living my life accordingly? Is Jesus the center of my life? Do I live for him, to glorify and honor his name? Do I embody Jesus’ teachings? When people hear my words and see my actions, do they hear Jesus in my words and see him in my actions?
Do I have any unrepented sins to which I am clinging, things which I may have convince do not matter to God but if I am honest with myself are harming my relationship with God?
Am I hanging onto any grudges toward anyone, bitterness and resentment toward them which I need to let go of? Do I need to forgive anyone? Do I need to pursue reconciliation with anyone?
Am I growing in those qualities that the apostle Paul describes as the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control?
Am I using the natural talents and spiritual gifts God has given me to serve Jesus in the Church and in the world? Am I using the skills God has enabled me to learn to serve the same purpose?
Am I making the most of the present time and doing good to others whenever the opportunity arises?
Am I taking full advantage of the means of grace that God has ordained to enliven and strengthen my faith and to nurture my spiritual growth? The means of grace include individual spiritual practices like praying, reading, studying, and meditating upon Scripture, fasting and abstinence, and the pursuit of holiness. They also include collective spiritual practices like corporate worship, listening to Bible talks and sermons, Holy Communion, feeding the hungry, helping those in need, visiting the sick and the imprisoned, and working to uphold justice and to fight oppression.
What could I be doing differently? What changes could I make? How will I go about making those changes? What steps will I take? How will I know that I have accomplished what I set out to do?
These are questions that we will want to ask ourselves on a regular basis. They cover areas of our life on which we will also want to get regular input ad feedback from a mentor, an accountability partner, an anamchara (or soul friend), a spiritual director, a Covenant Discipleship Group, or a Discipleship Band.
Covenant Discipleship Groups and Discipleship Bands or their equivalents are small groups of three to five people that meet in person, on the telephone, or on Zoom or some other video conferencing platform. While both small groups have similar functions, Covenant Discipleship Groups are typically composed of members of an existing congregation. Discipleship Bands, on the other hand, are generally composed of Christians and those exploring the Christian faith and way of life, who may or may not be affiliated with an existing congregation and who wish to start a new congregation.
How well can you answer the question, “Are your ready?”
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Carl P. Daw Jr.’s metrical paraphrase of the Magnificat.
My soul proclaims with wonder
the greatness of the Lord;
rejoicing in God's goodness,
my spirit is restored.
1 For God has looked with favor,
on one the world thought frail;
and blessings through the ages will echo
the angel's first "All hail."
My soul proclaims with wonder
the greatness of the Lord;
rejoicing in God's goodness,
my spirit is restored.
2 God's mercy shields the faithful
and gives them safe retreat
to arms that turns to scatter
the proud in their conceit.
My soul proclaims with wonder
the greatness of the Lord;
rejoicing in God's goodness,
my spirit is restored.
3 The mighty have been vanquished;
the lowly lifted up.
The hungry find abundance;
the rich, an empty cup.
My soul proclaims with wonder
the greatness of the Lord;
rejoicing in God's goodness,
my spirit is restored.
4 To Abraham's descendants
the Lord will steadfast prove,
for God has made with Israel
a covenant of love.
My soul proclaims with wonder
the greatness of the Lord;
rejoicing in God's goodness,
my spirit is restored.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again 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
and also with you.
Let us 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.
That this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful,
We entreat you, O Lord.
That your holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and
goodwill,
We entreat you, O Lord.
That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins
and offenses,
We entreat you, O Lord.
That there may be peace to your Church and to the whole
world,
We entreat you, O Lord.
That we may depart this life in your faith and fear,
and not be condemned before the great judgment seat
of Christ,
We entreat you, O Lord.
That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit in
the communion of all your saints,
entrusting one another and all our life to Christ.
We entreat you, O Lord.
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come
among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins,
let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver
us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and
the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Be our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy
defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love
of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Carl P. Daw Jr.’s translation of Philipp Nicolai’s “’Sleepers, Wake!’ A Voice Astounds Us.”
1 “Sleepers, wake!” A voice astounds us,
the shout of rampart guards surrounds us:
“Awake, Jerusalem, arise!”
Midnight’s peace their cry has broken,
their urgent summons clearly spoken:
“The time has come, O maidens wise!
Rise up, and give us light;
the Bridegroom is in sight.
Alleluia!
Your lamps prepare
and hasten there,
that you the wedding feast may share.”
2 Zion hears the watchmen singing;
her heart with joyful hope is springing,
she wakes and hurries through the night.
Forth he comes, her Bridegroom glorious
in strength of grace, in truth victorious:
her star is risen, her light grows bright.
Now come, most worthy Lord,
God’s Son, Incarnate Word,
Alleluia!
We follow all
and heed your call
to come into the banquet hall.
3 Lamb of God, the heavens adore you;
let saints and angels sing before you,
as harps and cymbals swell the sound.
Twelve great pearls, the city’s portals:
through them we stream to join the immortals
as we with joy your throne surround.
No eye has known the sight,
no ear heard such delight:
Alleluia!
Therefore we sing
to greet our King;
for ever let our praises ring.
[Let us pray for all people according to their needs.]
O God, the creator and preserver of all humankind, we pray for people of every race, and in every kind of need: make your ways known on earth, your saving power among all nations.
[Especially we pray for…]
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
We pray for your Church throughout the world: guide and
govern by your Holy Spirit, that all who profess and call
themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and
hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in
righteousness of life.
[Especially we pray for…]
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
We commend to your fatherly goodness all who are anxious or distressed in mind or body; comfort and relieve them In their need, giving them patience in their sufferings, and bring good things out of their troubles.
[Especially we pray for…]
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Draw your Church together, O Lord, into one great company of disciples, together following our Lord Jesus Christ into every walk of life, together serving him in his mission to the world, and together witnessing to his love on every continent and island. We ask this in his name and for his sake. Amen.
THE SENDING FORTH OF GOD’S PEOPLE
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and
the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore.
Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14
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