Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, January 30, 2025)
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus warned his disciples about false teachers. False teachers are not always glaringly obvious. While some false teachers intentionally seek to mislead people, others are misled themselves. They have fallen under the influence of someone else. They may suffer from distorted ways of thinking that have made them vulnerable to false teaching. One has to look at the larger picture.
This evening’s message asks a very important question.
GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME
Open this link in a new tab to hear The Knitting Harpist’s arrangement of T. Brian Coleman’s AS WATER TO THE THIRSTY for harp.
Silence
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth
tremble before him. Psalm 96:9
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 Keith Duke’s “Sun of Our Night.”
Light of the world in grace and beauty
Mirror of God’s eternal face
Transparent flame of love’s free duty
You bring salvation to our race
Now as we see the lights of evening
We raise our voice in hymns of praise
Worthy are you of endless blessing
Sun of our night, lamp of our day
[Instrumental interlude]
Light of the world in grace and beauty
Mirror of God’s eternal face
Transparent flame of love’s free duty
You bring salvation to our race
Now as we see the lights of evening
We raise our voice in hymns of praise
Worthy are you of endless blessing
Sun of our night, lamp of our day
Open this link in a new tab to hear Liam Lawton’s adaptation of Psalm 84, “How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place.”
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, my God!
How lovely is your dwelling place, is your dwelling place, O God!
1 My soul is thirsting for the Lord,
how it yearns for the courts of the Lord.
My heart and soul ring out for joy to God,
the living God.
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, my God!
How lovely is your dwelling place, is your dwelling place, O God!
2 The sparrow finds herself a home
and the swallow a nest for her brood.
She lays her young by your altars, Lord of hosts,
my King and my God.
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, my God!
How lovely is your dwelling place, is your dwelling place, O God!
3 One day, O Lord, within your courts
is better than a thousand elsewhere.
The threshold of the house of God I prefer
to the household of the wicked.
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, my God!
How lovely is your dwelling place, is your dwelling place, O God!
Lord God,
sustain us in this vale of tears
with the vision of your grace and glory,
that, strengthened by the bread of life,
we may come to your eternal dwelling place;
in the power of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Book of Judges.
Judges 11:1-11, 32-33; 12:1-7
Jephthah, a brave soldier from Gilead, was the son of a prostitute. His father Gilead had other sons by his wife, and when they grew up, they forced Jephthah to leave home. They told him, “You will not inherit anything from our father; you are the son of another woman.” Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob. There he attracted a group of worthless men, and they went around with him.
It was some time later that the Ammonites went to war against Israel. 5 When this happened, the leaders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah back from the land of Tob. They told him, “Come and lead us, so that we can fight the Ammonites.”
But Jephthah answered, “You hated me so much that you forced me to leave my father's house. Why come to me now that you're in trouble?”
They said to Jephthah, “We are turning to you now because we want you to go with us and fight the Ammonites and lead all the people of Gilead.”
Jephthah said to them, “If you take me back home to fight the Ammonites and the Lord gives me victory, I will be your ruler.”
They replied, “We agree. The Lord is our witness.” So Jephthah went with the leaders of Gilead, and the people made him their ruler and leader. Jephthah stated his terms at Mizpah in the presence of the Lord.
So Jephthah crossed the river to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave him victory. He struck at them from Aroer to the area around Minnith, twenty cities in all, and as far as Abel Keramim. There was a great slaughter, and the Ammonites were defeated by Israel.
The men of Ephraim prepared for battle; they crossed the Jordan River to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross the border to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We'll burn the house down over your head!”
But Jephthah told them, “My people and I had a serious quarrel with the Ammonites. I did call you, but you would not rescue me from them. When I saw that you were not going to, I risked my life and crossed the border to fight them, and the Lord gave me victory over them. So why are you coming up to fight me now?” Then Jephthah brought all the men of Gilead together, fought the men of Ephraim and defeated them. (The Ephraimites had said, “You Gileadites in Ephraim and Manasseh, you are deserters from Ephraim!”) In order to keep the Ephraimites from escaping, the Gileadites captured the places where the Jordan could be crossed. When any Ephraimite who was trying to escape would ask permission to cross, the men of Gilead would ask, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he said, “No,” they would tell him to say “Shibboleth.” But he would say “Sibboleth,” because he could not pronounce it correctly. Then they would grab him and kill him there at one of the Jordan River crossings. At that time forty-two thousand of the Ephraimites were killed.
Jephthah led Israel for six years. Then he died and was buried in his hometown in Gilead.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Silence
Who Has Your Loyalty?
A number of internet influencers who identify themselves as Christians are posting on social media memes which express uncritical acceptance of and unqualified support for a particular action taken by the new president of the United States since he took office ten day ago and promoting agreement with that action as a way of identifying those whom they regard as real Christians. In other words, promoting agreement with the particular action as a shibboleth. They are using agreement with the statements of the president in the same way.
In Hebrew language shibboleth means “ear of corn” or ”flood.” In this evening’s reading from the Book of Judges it is used as a password, a way of telling who is a part of a group and who is not. The Ephraimites spoke a different dialect from the Gileadites and they did not pronounce the sh in shibboleth. The Gileadites used their pronunciation of shibboleth to identify the Ephraimites whom they killed.
In the English language shibboleth has come to have several meanings, one of which is something that is used to determine who is a real member of a group. In this case the online influencers in question are promoting uncritical acceptance and unqualified support for whatever new president does and says as a shibboleth for identifying who is really a Christian. They are giving no consideration to the nature of these actions and statements, to the motivations behind these actions and statements, whether the actions were taken for the sake of appearances, whether statements were made to draw attention to the person who made them, to sway public opinion or to distract the public from more important issues such as reducing food prices, to the short-term consequences and long-term ramifications of a particular action, whether it is ethical legal, or constitutional, to the truthfulness and validity of a particular statement.
These internet influencers appear intent upon turning Christianity into a political club, one that is aligned with their views and those of the political figure whom they support, one whose membership is characterized by unquestioning loyalty to that figure. .
Nowhere in the Bible do we find Jesus telling his disciples that the uncritical acceptance and unqualified support of the actions and statements of a political figure, even the head of a state and its government, and leader of the political party in power, is a mark of being his disciple, much less THE mark of being his follower. A Christian’s loyalty before all else is to Jesus. What sets disciples of Jesus apart from those who are not his followers is their devotion to their Lord and their adherence to his teaching. With Jesus is where their ultimate allegiance lies.
True Christianity is rooted in the person, work, and teaching of Jesus. Jesus is the lens through which we look at Scripture. What is written in the books of the Old Testament must be weighed against what Jesus taught. This also applies to the writings of the apostles in the New Testament. For the faithful Christian, Jesus is not only Savior and Lord but also Teacher and Friend. It is to his words that the faithful Christian looks for direction and guidance, not to those of a political figure.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear David Haas’ “Holy Is His Name (Magnificat).”
My soul is filled with joy
as I sing to God my savior;
you have looked upon your servant,
you have visited your people.
And holy is your name.
through all generations!
Everlasting is your mercy
to the people you have chosen,
and holy is your name!
I am lowly as a child,
but I know from this day forward
that my name will be remembered,
for all will call me blessed.
And holy is your name.
through all generations!
Everlasting is your mercy
to the people you have chosen,
and holy is your name!
I proclaim the pow’r of God,
you do marvels for your servants;
though you scatter the proud hearted
and destroy the might of princes.
And holy is your name.
through all generations!
Everlasting is your mercy
to the people you have chosen,
and holy is your name!
To the hungry you give food,
Send the rich away empty;
In your mercy you are mindful
of the people you have chosen.
And holy is your name.
through all generations!
Everlasting is your mercy
to the people you have chosen,
and holy is your name!
In your love you now fulfill
what you promised to your people
I will praise you, Lord my savior
everlasting is your mercy.
And holy is your name.
through all generations!
Everlasting is your mercy
to the people you have chosen,
and holy is your name!
Open this link in a new tab to hear Sylvia Dustan’s metrical paraphrase of the Apostles’ Creed.
1 I believe in God almighty, Author of all things that be,
Maker of the earth and heavens, Keeper of the sky and sea.
I believe in God’s Son, Jesus, now for us both Lord and Christ,
of the Spirit and of Mary born to bring abundant life.
2 I believe that Jesus suffered, scourged and scorned and crucified;
taken from the cross, was buried—true Life there had truly died.
I believe that on the third day Christ was raised up from the grave,
then ascended to God’s right hand. He will come to judge and save.
3 I believe in God’s own Spirit, bonding all the saints within
one church, catholic and holy, where forgiveness frees from sin;
in the body’s resurrection, for the breaking of death’s chain
gives the life that’s everlasting. This the faith that I have claimed.
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.
Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our
Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News
of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive
the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and 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.
O God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore:
Let the whole earth also worship you, all nations obey you,
all tongues confess and bless you, and men and women
everywhere love you and serve you in peace; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Richard Bruxvoort Colligan’s “O Christ, Surround Me.”
1 God be the love to search and keep me
God be the prayer to move my voice
God be the strength to now uphold me
O Christ, surround me
O Christ, surround me
2 Bind to myself the name of Holy
Great cloud of witnesses enfold
Prophets, apostles, angels witness
O Christ, surround me
O Christ, surround me
3 Brightness of sun and glow of moonlight
Flashing of lightning, strength of wind
Depth of the sea to soil of planet
O Christ, surround me
O Christ, surround me
4 Walking behind to hem my journey
Going ahead to light my way
And from beneath, above, and all ways
O Christ, surround me
O Christ, surround me
[Instrumental interlude]
5 Christ in the eyes of all who see me
Christ in the ears who hear my voice
Christ in the hearts of all who know me
O Christ, surround me
O Christ, surround me
Coda
O Christ, surround me
O Christ, surround me
O God,
you have taught us to keep all your commandments
by loving you and our neighbor:
Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit,
that we may both be devoted to you with our whole heart,
and united to each other with a pure affection;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Gracious God,
you have given us much today;
grant us also a thankful spirit.
Into your hands we commend ourselves
and those we love.
Be with us still, and when we take our rest
renew us for the service of your Son Jesus Christ.
Amen.
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.
THE SENDING FORTH OF GOD’S PEOPLE
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The almighty and merciful God bless us
and keep us now and for ever. Amen.
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