Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, March 30, 2025)

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday in Lent. It is also known as Laetare Sunday, Mid-Lent Sunday, Refreshment Sunday, and Rose Sunday. Laetare is the Latin word for "rejoice."

In the Church of England, the Church of Ireland, and some other Anglican churches this Sunday is known as Mothering Sunday. This Sunday was so named from the practice of “mothering,” the practice of returning to one’s local mother church for a service held on this particular Sunday. This practice originated in medieval times. One's mother church might be the church where one was baptized, the local parish church, or the nearest cathedral, which may be regarded as the mother church of all the parish churches in a diocese. In modern times Mothering Sunday has become an occasion on which mothers and motherhood is honored like Mother’s Day in the United States and in some places on which the Earth as our mother is celebrated.

Among the traditions associated with Mothering Sunday is the eating of Simnel Cake, a fruit cake, layered and topped with marzipan, and Mothering Buns, iced yeast-raised sweet buns, covered with Hundreds and Thousands sprinkles. Children present their mothers with bouquets of violets.

In some churches that use liturgical colors it is customary to change the color of the day from purple or Lenten array, sackcloth or burlap with black and oxblood orphreys, to rose or pink.

The topic of this Sunday’s message is God’s amazing grace.

GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME

Open this link in a new tab to hear Timothy Seaman’ arrangement of the shape note hymn tune STAR IN THE EAST for hammered dulcimer.

Silence

[The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with you all
And also with you.]

[Let us pray.]

We thank you, O God, that you have again brought
us together on the Lord’s Day to praise you for your
goodness and to ask your blessing. Give us grace to
see your hand in the week that is past, and your
purpose in the week to come; through Christ our
Lord.
Amen.

[Dear friends in Christ,
as we turn our hearts and minds
to worship almighty God,
let us confess our sins.]

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 neighbours 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.

Merciful God,
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,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

[The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

Those present may greet one another in the name of the Lord.]

Open this link in a new tab to hear John L. Bell’s Kyrie Eleison (Bridget).

Kyrie,
Christe, Christe,
Kyrie eleison.

Kyrie eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Kyrie eleison.

Kyrie eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Kyrie eleison.

Kyrie eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Kyrie eleison.

Kyrie,
Christe, Christe,
Kyrie eleison.

[Let us pray.]

Gracious Father,
whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came from heaven
to be the true bread which gives life to the world,
evermore give us this bread,
that he may live in us, and we in him,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

A reading from the Book of Joshua.
Joshua 5:9-12

The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have removed from you the disgrace of being slaves in Egypt.” That is why the place was named Gilgal, the name it still has.

While the Israelites were camping at Gilgal on the plain near Jericho, they observed Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month. The next day was the first time they ate food grown in Canaan: roasted grain and bread made without yeast. The manna stopped falling then, and the Israelites no longer had any. From that time on they ate food grown in Canaan.

[The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.]

Silence

Open this link in a new tab to hear Isaac Watts’ metrical paraphrase of Psalm 32, “Blest Is the Man.”

1 Blest is the man, forever blest,
Whose guilt is pardoned by his God;
Whose sins with sorrow are confessed,
And covered with his Savior’s blood.

2 Blest is the man to whom the Lord
Imputes not his iniquities;
He pleads no merit of reward,
And not on works, but grace relies.

3 From guile his heart and lips are free;
His humble joy, his holy fear,
With deep repentance well agree,
And join to prove his faith sincere.

4 How glorious is that righteousness
That hides and cancels all his sins!
While a bright evidence of grace
Through his whole life appears and shines.

A reading from Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians
2 Corinthians 5:16-21

No longer, then, do we judge anyone by human standards. Even if at one time we judged Christ according to human standards, we no longer do so. Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also. Our message is that God was making all human beings his friends through Christ. God did not keep an account of their sins, and he has given us the message which tells how he makes them his friends.

Here we are, then, speaking for Christ, as though God himself were making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ's behalf: let God change you from enemies into his friends! Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God.

[The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.]

Silence

Open this link in a new tab to hear Bernadette Farrell’s “Praise to You, O Christ, Our Saviour.”

Praise to you, O Christ, our Saviour,
Word of the Father, calling us to life;
Son of God who leads us to freedom:
glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

1 You are the Word who calls us out of darkness;
You are the Word who leads us into light;
You are the Word who brings us through the desert:
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

Praise to you, O Christ, our Saviour,
Word of the Father, calling us to life;
Son of God who leads us to freedom:
glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

4 You are the Word who binds us and unites us;
You are the Word who calls us to be one;
You are the Word who teaches us forgiveness:
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

Praise to you, O Christ, our Saviour,
Word of the Father, calling us to life;
Son of God who leads us to freedom:
glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

[The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to Luke.]
Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-32
[Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.]

One day when many tax collectors and other outcasts came to listen to Jesus, the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law started grumbling, “This man welcomes outcasts and even eats with them!” Jesus told them this parable:

Jesus went on to say, “There was once a man who had two sons. The younger one said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the property now.’ So the man divided his property between his two sons. After a few days the younger son sold his part of the property and left home with the money. He went to a country far away, where he wasted his money in reckless living. He spent everything he had. Then a severe famine spread over that country, and he was left without a thing. So he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him out to his farm to take care of the pigs. He wished he could fill himself with the bean pods the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything to eat. At last he came to his senses and said, ‘All my father's hired workers have more than they can eat, and here I am about to starve! I will get up and go to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up and started back to his father.

“He was still a long way from home when his father saw him; his heart was filled with pity, and he ran, threw his arms around his son, and kissed him. ‘Father,’ the son said, ‘I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.’ But the father called to his servants. ‘Hurry!’ he said. ‘Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet. Then go and get the prize calf and kill it, and let us celebrate with a feast! For this son of mine was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.’ And so the feasting began.

“In the meantime the older son was out in the field. On his way back, when he came close to the house, he heard the music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him, ‘What's going on?’ ‘Your brother has come back home,’ the servant answered, ‘and your father has killed the prize calf, because he got him back safe and sound.’ The older brother was so angry that he would not go into the house; so his father came out and begged him to come in. But he spoke back to his father, ‘Look, all these years I have worked for you like a slave, and I have never disobeyed your orders. What have you given me? Not even a goat for me to have a feast with my friends! But this son of yours wasted all your property on prostitutes, and when he comes back home, you kill the prize calf for him!’ ‘My son,’ the father answered, ‘you are always here with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be happy, because your brother was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.’”

[The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.]

God’s Amazing Grace

Put yourself in the shoes of the Pharisees and the teachers of the religious law in this Sunday’ Gospel reading. In their minds no respectable Jew would hang out with the dregs of Judaea society like Jesus did, particularly a rabbi, a teacher. Those with whom Jesus was hanging out were not only known to have a bad character but also they were ritually unclean. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law could quote Scripture in support of shunning their company.

And the stories Jesus told?! A youngest son who asked his father for a share of his inheritance while his father was still living. This was tantamount to wishing that his father was dead! What’s more, the father gave him what he asked for!

What did the son do with it? He went to a foreign country and squandered it on booze and prostitutes. He deserved to end up like he did—working for someone who most likely was a Gentile, a non-Jew, and taking care of a herd of pigs, unclean animals whose meat no pious Jew would touch.

The way the father acted was outrageous for the patriarch of a family. He not only gave the youngest son his share of his inheritance but also waited for the son’s return instead of disowning him. He ran madly to welcome him when he spied the son far off and celebrated his return with a feast. Unbelievable!

Who could blame the older brother for the way he felt!

The point of the story is God’s amazing grace, God’s goodwill and favor toward us, goodwill and favor we cannot earn and do not deserve, God’s willingness to welcome with open arms and rejoicing those who have a change of heart and turn from what has come between them and God, God’s willingness to show us forgiveness and kindness when in our own way we act like the youngest son and then change our minds.

Jesus by his own actions demonstrated God’s amazing grace.

The apostle Paul got it! He came to realize that God was willing not only to forgive someone like himself who had persecuted Jesus’ followers but also to be his friend. Through Jesus God changes us from enemies to friends.

A passage from C. S. Lewis’ Prince Caspian, the second book he wrote in the Narnia Chronicles, comes to mind.

"And now!" said Aslan in a much louder voice with just a hint of a roar in it, while his tail lashed his flanks. "And now, where is this little Dwarf, this famous swordsman and archer, who doesn't believe in lions? Come here, son of Earth, come HERE!"—and the last word was no longer the hint of a roar but almost the real thing.

"Wraiths and wreckage!" gasped Trumpkin in the ghost of a voice. The children, who knew Aslan well enough to see that he liked the Dwarf very much, were not disturbed; but it was quite another thing for Trumpkin, who had never seen a lion before, let alone this Lion. He did the only sensible thing he could have done; that is, instead of bolting, he tottered towards Aslan.

Aslan pounced. Have you ever seen a very young kitten being carried in the mother cat's mouth? It was like that. The Dwarf, hunched up in a little, miserable ball, hung from Aslan's mouth. The Lion gave him one shake and all his armour rattled like a tinker's pack and then—hey-presto—the Dwarf flew up in the air. He was as safe as if he had been in bed, though he did not feel so. As he came down the huge velvety paws caught him as gently as a mother's arms and set him (right way up, too) on the ground.

"Son of Earth, shall we be friends?" asked Aslan.

"Ye—he—he—hes," panted the Dwarf, for it had not yet got its breath back.

God invites us to be his friends.

God entrust the extending of this invitation not just to priests and pastors, to career evangelists. He entrusts it to all Christians, to all who profess to be Jesus’ disciples.

This too is an expression of God’s amazing grace, a way God shows his goodwill and favor toward us. God not only changes us from enemies into friends but in addition gives us the task of making others God’s friends also.

Who do you know is not yet friends with God? What are you going to do about it?

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.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He 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,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
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

In peace we pray to you, Lord God.

Silence

For all people in their daily life and work;
For our families, friends, and neighbours,
and for all those who are alone.

For this community, our country, and the world;
For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.

For the just and proper use of your creation;
For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.

For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble;
For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and needy.

For the peace and unity of the Church of God;
For all who proclaim the gospel, and all who seek the truth.

For N. our bishop, and for all bishops and other ministers;
For all who serve God in the Church.

For our own needs and those of others.

Silence.

Those present may add their own petitions.

Hear us, Lord.
For your mercy is great.

We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life.

Silence.

Those present may add their own thanksgivings.

We will exalt you, O God our king;
And praise your name for ever and ever.

We pray for those who have died in the peace of Christ,
and for those whose faith is known to you alone,
that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom.

Silence.

Those present may add their own petitions.

Lord, let your loving kindness be upon them;
Who put their trust in you.

Gracious God,
you have heard the prayers of your faithful people;
you know our needs before we ask,
and our ignorance in asking.
Grant our requests as may be best for us.
This we ask in the name of your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Open this link in a new tab to hear John Newton’s “Amazing Grace.”

1 Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found:
was blind, but now I see.

2 'Twas grace first taught my heart to fear
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!

3 Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
'tis grace that brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.

4 The Lord has promised good to me,
his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.

5 When we've been there ten thousand years
bright shining as the sun,
we've no less days to sing God's praise
than when we'd first begun.

[If a collection is taken, it is presented with these words and placed in a suitable place.

Yours, Lord, is the greatness,
the power, the glory, the splendour, and the majesty;
for everything in heaven and on earth is yours.
All things come from you, and of your own do we give you.]

[And now, as our Saviour Christ has taught us,
we are bold to say,]

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.

THE SENDING OUT OF GOD’S PEOPLE

Glory to God
whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine.
Glory to God from generation to generation,

in the Church and in Christ Jesus,
for ever and ever. Amen.

May the God of hope
fill us with all joy and peace in believing
through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.