Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, February 9, 2025)
Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.
In his teaching Jesus often drew upon familiar experiences from the daily lives of those to whom he was speaking to illustrate what he was saying. These experiences may not be familiar to us, living as we do more than 2000 years later.
In this Sunday’s message we unpack what Jesus meant when he described his disciples as “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” and what it means for twenty-first century disciples of Jesus.
GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME
Open this link in a new tab to hear Eliana Nesme’s arrangement of Keith Getty and Stuart Townend’s IN CHRIST ALONE for solo flute.
Silence
The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers
will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for such the
Father seeks to worship him. John 4:23
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.
Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
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 Michael Joncas’ metrical setting of the Invitatory Psalm: Psalm 95.
1 O come and sing to God, the Lord,
To him our voices raise;
Let us in our most joyful songs,
The Lord, our Savior praise.
2 Before his presence let us come
With praise and thankful voice;
Let us sing psalms to him with joy,
With grateful hearts rejoice.
3 He is a great and mighty king,
Above all gods his throne;
The depths of earth are in his hand,
The mountains are his own.
4 To him the spacious sea belongs,
He made its waves and tides;
And by his hand the rising land
Was formed and still abides.
5 O come, and bowing down to him
Our worship let us bring;
Yes, let us kneel before the Lord,
Our Maker and our King.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Marty Haugen’s responsorial setting of Psalm 63, “In the Morning I Will Sing.”
In the morning I will sing,
I will sing glad songs to you,
I will sing glad songs of praise to you,
I will sing glad songs of praise to you.
1 O God you are my God, for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting
My body pines for you
like a dry weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
To see your strength and your glory.
In the morning I will sing,
I will sing glad songs to you,
I will sing glad songs of praise to you,
I will sing glad songs of praise to you.
2 For you love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy.
In the morning I will sing,
I will sing glad songs to you,
I will sing glad songs of praise to you,
I will sing glad songs of praise to you.
3 On my bed I remember you.
on you I muse through the night
for you have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
my soul clings to you;
Your right hand holds me fast.
In the morning I will sing,
I will sing glad songs to you,
I will sing glad songs of praise to you,
I will sing glad songs of praise to you.
Silence
To you we come, radiant Lord,
the goal of all our desiring,
beyond all earthly beauty;
gentle protector, strong deliverer,
in the night you are our confidence;
from first light be our joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Marty Haugen’s “Let All the Earth Cry Out (Psalm 66).”
Let all the earth cry out in joy to the Lord.
Let all the earth cry out in joy to the Lord.
Let all the earth cry out in joy to the Lord.
1 Cry out in joy to the Lord, all peoples on earth,
to the praise of his name,
proclaim him forever,
tremendous his deeds for us.
Let all the earth cry out in joy to the Lord.
(Alleluia.)
Let all the earth cry out in joy to the Lord.
2 Leading his people safe through fire and water,
bringing their souls to life,
come sing of his glory,
love is eternal.
Let all the earth cry out in joy to the Lord.
(Alleluia.)
Let all the earth cry out in joy to the Lord.
3 Hearken to me as I sing my love of the Lord,
He answers the prayer of my heart,
he leads me in safety,
from death unto life.
Let all the earth cry out in joy to the Lord
(Alleluia.)
Let all the earth cry out in joy to the Lord
To the Lord.
(Alleluia.)
To the Lord.
(Alleluia.)
To the Lord.
(Alleluia.)
Silence
How generous is your goodness, O God,
how great is your salvation,
how faithful is your love;
help us to trust you in trial
and praise you in deliverance;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew.
Matthew 5: 13-20
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Silence
Go to a Whole Foods or an upscale supermarket in an affluent neighborhood and you will find several different varieties of salt on its shelves, beside regular salt and iodized salt—sea salt, Himalayan pink salt, Kosher salt, Persian blue salt, and kala namak, or black salt, with its sulfurous, pungent smell and eggy flavor. All kinds of health benefits are claimed for these salts. Depending upon your dietary and culinary needs, and your pocketbook, you may choose to purchase one or more of these salts.
In the ancient Mediterranean world, there was not this range of choices. Salt was an important and precious commodity. It was not easy to come by. Since prehistoric times salt had been battered in exchange for other goods. In the first century Roman soldiers were partly paid in salt. Spilling salt was considered to be a sign of impeding misfortune. Salt spilled on the ground cannot be recovered.
Salt was valued not only as a seasoning and a preservative but also for its cleansing and purifying properties. Newborn babes were rubbed with salt. Salt was offered with all the grain offerings in the Tabernacle and subsequently in the Temple. See Leviticus 2:13.
The salt cellar, the container in which salt was stored, would become a sacred object. In wealthier households it was often quite ornate. One’s social standing would be reflected by where one was seated at table in proximity to the salt cellar. Those of high social standing were seated “above the salt” while those of low social standing were seated “below the salt.”
2 Chronicles 3:15 refers to a “covenant of salt” that God made with King David. This is a reference to the practice of two parties eating salt together in the presence of witnesses when they had reached an agreement. This act would bind their contract.
Small quantities of salt were sometimes spread on fields as a kind of fertilizer. In larger quantities, it was done to prevent the use of a field to grow crops. The Romans sowed salt in the fields surrounding Carthage after the city fell into their hands to prevent the Carthaginians from rebuilding the city.
In this Sunday’s reading Jesus describes his disciples as “the salt of the earth.” What he is saying is that they have value in the world in the way that salt does. Just as salt makes a difference in people’s lives in a number of ways so can they. Jesus also warns his disciples that salt which has lost its saltiness is worthless. While it is hard to imagine salt that is not salty as its saltiness is its main characteristic, Jesus’ point is that making a difference in people’s lives is such an important quality that without it someone would not be recognizable as Jesus’ disciple. It characterized the life and ministry of Jesus. Even his suffering and death on the cross would make a difference as would his rising to new life.
How do we make a difference? We make a situation better because of our good actions.
In this Sunday’s reading Jesus also describes his disciples as “the light of the world.” He compares them to a city built on a hill. Such a city can be seen for miles around. It cannot be hidden.
The lamps used in the homes of the ordinary people of that time were small. They are made from terracotta and fit in the palm of a hand. They would be easy to hide under a basket. As Jesus points out, it would not make sense to hide the lamp in that way. The house would be plunged into darkness. Rather it is placed on a lampstand so it can give light to all in the house. The houses of the ordinary people of that time were not large. They consisted of one large room and perhaps a smaller storage room. Jesus’ point is his disciples should not hide their light. Rather they should let it shine before others so that others may see their good deeds ad give glory to God.
What Jesus is not saying is that his disciples should imitate the Pharisees and the teachers of the religious law who did things to draw attention to themselves and to make themselves the center of attention. They acted from the wrong motivations. Rather in the case of his disciples doing good deeds showed that God was working in their lives as the apostle Paul put it in Philippians 2:13, helping them want to do what pleases him, and giving them the power to do it. They were doing good out of a desire to please God, not to garner attention for themselves.
Just as Jesus instructed his first disciples to be salt and light, so are we instructed to do likewise. Something that each of us can do to this end is to look at our particular circumstances and give thought to how we can be salt and light in these circumstances. Do we know someone who might benefit from a encouraging word from us? What needs in our community might we by ourselves or with others meet?
What ways can you think of to be salt and light?
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Ruth Duck’s paraphrase of the Benedictus Dominus Deus, “Now Bless the God of Israel.”
1 Now bless the God of Israel who comes in love and power,
who raises from the royal house deliv’rance in this hour.
Through holy prophets God has sworn to free us from alarm,
to save us from the heavy hand of all who wish us harm.
2 Remembering the covenant, God rescues us from fear,
that we might serve in holiness and peace from year to year.
And you, my child, shall go before, to preach, to prophesy,
that all may know the tender love, the grace of God most high.
[Instrumental interlude]
3 In tender mercy, God will send the dayspring from on high,
our rising sun, the light of life for those who sit and sigh.
God comes to guide our way to peace, that death shall reign no more.
Sing praises to the Holy One, O worship and adore.
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.
Show us your mercy, O Lord;
And grant us your salvation.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
Let your people sing with joy.
Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
For only in you can we live in safety.
Lord, keep this nation under your care;
And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
Let your way be known upon earth;
Your saving health among all nations.
Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.
Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us
the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known
to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns
with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.
O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of
the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord: Give us this
day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week
to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Marty Haugen’s “Bring Forth the Kingdom.”
1 You are salt for the earth, O people:
Salt for the Kingdom of God!
Share the flavor of life, O people:
Life in the Kingdom of God!
Bring forth the Kingdom of mercy,
Bring forth the Kingdom of peace;
Bring forth the Kingdom of justice,
Bring forth the City of God!
2 You are a light on the hill, O people:
Light for the City of God!
Shine so holy and bright, O people:
Shine for the Kingdom of God!
Bring forth the Kingdom of mercy,
Bring forth the Kingdom of peace;
Bring forth the Kingdom of justice,
Bring forth the City of God!
3 You are a seed of the Word, O people:
Bring forth the Kingdom of God!
Seeds of mercy and seeds of justice,
Grow in the Kingdom of God!
Bring forth the Kingdom of mercy,
Bring forth the Kingdom of peace;
Bring forth the Kingdom of justice,
Bring forth the City of God!
4 We are a blest and a pilgrim people:
Bound for the Kingdom of God!
Love our journey and love our homeland:
Love is the Kingdom of God!
Bring forth the Kingdom of mercy,
Bring forth the Kingdom of peace;
Bring forth the Kingdom of justice,
Bring forth the City of God!
[Let us pray for all people.]
God of providence, God of love,
we pray for all people: make your way known to them,
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 call themselves Christians
may be led in 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 afflicted or distressed
in mind, body, or circumstances. Relieve them according to their needs.
Give them patience in their sufferings, and deliverance in their afflictions.
[Especially we pray for…]
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
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.
THE SENDING FORTH OF GOD’S PEOPLE
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The Lord bless us and keep us. Amen.
The Lord make his face to shine upon us
and be gracious to us. Amen.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon us
and give us peace. Amen.
(Alleluia.)
Let all the earth cry out in joy to the Lord.
3 Hearken to me as I sing my love of the Lord,
He answers the prayer of my heart,
he leads me in safety,
from death unto life.
Let all the earth cry out in joy to the Lord
(Alleluia.)
Let all the earth cry out in joy to the Lord
To the Lord.
(Alleluia.)
To the Lord.
(Alleluia.)
To the Lord.
(Alleluia.)
Silence
How generous is your goodness, O God,
how great is your salvation,
how faithful is your love;
help us to trust you in trial
and praise you in deliverance;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew.
Matthew 5: 13-20
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Silence
Salt and Light
Go to a Whole Foods or an upscale supermarket in an affluent neighborhood and you will find several different varieties of salt on its shelves, beside regular salt and iodized salt—sea salt, Himalayan pink salt, Kosher salt, Persian blue salt, and kala namak, or black salt, with its sulfurous, pungent smell and eggy flavor. All kinds of health benefits are claimed for these salts. Depending upon your dietary and culinary needs, and your pocketbook, you may choose to purchase one or more of these salts.
In the ancient Mediterranean world, there was not this range of choices. Salt was an important and precious commodity. It was not easy to come by. Since prehistoric times salt had been battered in exchange for other goods. In the first century Roman soldiers were partly paid in salt. Spilling salt was considered to be a sign of impeding misfortune. Salt spilled on the ground cannot be recovered.
Salt was valued not only as a seasoning and a preservative but also for its cleansing and purifying properties. Newborn babes were rubbed with salt. Salt was offered with all the grain offerings in the Tabernacle and subsequently in the Temple. See Leviticus 2:13.
The salt cellar, the container in which salt was stored, would become a sacred object. In wealthier households it was often quite ornate. One’s social standing would be reflected by where one was seated at table in proximity to the salt cellar. Those of high social standing were seated “above the salt” while those of low social standing were seated “below the salt.”
2 Chronicles 3:15 refers to a “covenant of salt” that God made with King David. This is a reference to the practice of two parties eating salt together in the presence of witnesses when they had reached an agreement. This act would bind their contract.
Small quantities of salt were sometimes spread on fields as a kind of fertilizer. In larger quantities, it was done to prevent the use of a field to grow crops. The Romans sowed salt in the fields surrounding Carthage after the city fell into their hands to prevent the Carthaginians from rebuilding the city.
In this Sunday’s reading Jesus describes his disciples as “the salt of the earth.” What he is saying is that they have value in the world in the way that salt does. Just as salt makes a difference in people’s lives in a number of ways so can they. Jesus also warns his disciples that salt which has lost its saltiness is worthless. While it is hard to imagine salt that is not salty as its saltiness is its main characteristic, Jesus’ point is that making a difference in people’s lives is such an important quality that without it someone would not be recognizable as Jesus’ disciple. It characterized the life and ministry of Jesus. Even his suffering and death on the cross would make a difference as would his rising to new life.
How do we make a difference? We make a situation better because of our good actions.
In this Sunday’s reading Jesus also describes his disciples as “the light of the world.” He compares them to a city built on a hill. Such a city can be seen for miles around. It cannot be hidden.
The lamps used in the homes of the ordinary people of that time were small. They are made from terracotta and fit in the palm of a hand. They would be easy to hide under a basket. As Jesus points out, it would not make sense to hide the lamp in that way. The house would be plunged into darkness. Rather it is placed on a lampstand so it can give light to all in the house. The houses of the ordinary people of that time were not large. They consisted of one large room and perhaps a smaller storage room. Jesus’ point is his disciples should not hide their light. Rather they should let it shine before others so that others may see their good deeds ad give glory to God.
What Jesus is not saying is that his disciples should imitate the Pharisees and the teachers of the religious law who did things to draw attention to themselves and to make themselves the center of attention. They acted from the wrong motivations. Rather in the case of his disciples doing good deeds showed that God was working in their lives as the apostle Paul put it in Philippians 2:13, helping them want to do what pleases him, and giving them the power to do it. They were doing good out of a desire to please God, not to garner attention for themselves.
Just as Jesus instructed his first disciples to be salt and light, so are we instructed to do likewise. Something that each of us can do to this end is to look at our particular circumstances and give thought to how we can be salt and light in these circumstances. Do we know someone who might benefit from a encouraging word from us? What needs in our community might we by ourselves or with others meet?
What ways can you think of to be salt and light?
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Ruth Duck’s paraphrase of the Benedictus Dominus Deus, “Now Bless the God of Israel.”
1 Now bless the God of Israel who comes in love and power,
who raises from the royal house deliv’rance in this hour.
Through holy prophets God has sworn to free us from alarm,
to save us from the heavy hand of all who wish us harm.
2 Remembering the covenant, God rescues us from fear,
that we might serve in holiness and peace from year to year.
And you, my child, shall go before, to preach, to prophesy,
that all may know the tender love, the grace of God most high.
[Instrumental interlude]
3 In tender mercy, God will send the dayspring from on high,
our rising sun, the light of life for those who sit and sigh.
God comes to guide our way to peace, that death shall reign no more.
Sing praises to the Holy One, O worship and adore.
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.
Show us your mercy, O Lord;
And grant us your salvation.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
Let your people sing with joy.
Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
For only in you can we live in safety.
Lord, keep this nation under your care;
And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
Let your way be known upon earth;
Your saving health among all nations.
Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.
Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us
the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known
to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns
with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.
O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of
the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord: Give us this
day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week
to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Marty Haugen’s “Bring Forth the Kingdom.”
1 You are salt for the earth, O people:
Salt for the Kingdom of God!
Share the flavor of life, O people:
Life in the Kingdom of God!
Bring forth the Kingdom of mercy,
Bring forth the Kingdom of peace;
Bring forth the Kingdom of justice,
Bring forth the City of God!
2 You are a light on the hill, O people:
Light for the City of God!
Shine so holy and bright, O people:
Shine for the Kingdom of God!
Bring forth the Kingdom of mercy,
Bring forth the Kingdom of peace;
Bring forth the Kingdom of justice,
Bring forth the City of God!
3 You are a seed of the Word, O people:
Bring forth the Kingdom of God!
Seeds of mercy and seeds of justice,
Grow in the Kingdom of God!
Bring forth the Kingdom of mercy,
Bring forth the Kingdom of peace;
Bring forth the Kingdom of justice,
Bring forth the City of God!
4 We are a blest and a pilgrim people:
Bound for the Kingdom of God!
Love our journey and love our homeland:
Love is the Kingdom of God!
Bring forth the Kingdom of mercy,
Bring forth the Kingdom of peace;
Bring forth the Kingdom of justice,
Bring forth the City of God!
[Let us pray for all people.]
God of providence, God of love,
we pray for all people: make your way known to them,
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 call themselves Christians
may be led in 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 afflicted or distressed
in mind, body, or circumstances. Relieve them according to their needs.
Give them patience in their sufferings, and deliverance in their afflictions.
[Especially we pray for…]
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
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.
THE SENDING FORTH OF GOD’S PEOPLE
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The Lord bless us and keep us. Amen.
The Lord make his face to shine upon us
and be gracious to us. Amen.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon us
and give us peace. Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment