Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, June 1, 2025)
Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.
This Sunday is the Seventh Sunday of Easter, also known as the Sunday after the Ascension. In the older Church calendar, it is the only Sunday in Ascensiontide, a brief season between Ascension Day and Whitsun. Next Sunday, June 8, is Whitsun or Whitsunday, also known as the Feast of Pentecost. The topic of this Sunday’s message is the calling that all Christians share.
GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
Open this link in a new tab to hear John A. Behnke’s Prelude on THAXTED for handbells.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Edward Perronet’s “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!”
1 All hail the power of Jesus' Name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all!
bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all!
2 Crown him ye martyrs of our God,
who from his altar call:
praise him whose way of pain ye trod,
and crown him Lord of all!
praise him whose way of pain ye trod,
and crown him Lord of all!
3 Hail him, the Heir of David's line,
whom David Lord did call,
the God incarnate, Man divine,
and crown him Lord of all!
the God incarnate, Man divine,
and crown him Lord of all!
4 Ye heirs of Israel's chosen race,
ye ransomed of the fall,
hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all!
hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all!
5 Sinners, whose love can ne'er forget
the wormwood and the gall,
go, spread your trophies at his feet,
and crown him Lord of all!
go, spread your trophies at his feet,
and crown him Lord of all!
6 Let every kindred, every tribe,
on this terrestrial ball,
to him all majesty ascribe,
and crown him Lord of all!
to him all majesty ascribe,
and crown him Lord of all!
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Jesus said, "The first commandment is this: Hear, O Israel:
The Lord your God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your
God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your
mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: Love
your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment
greater than these." Mark 12:29-31
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.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Christoper Idle’s “Glory in the Highest.”
1 Glory in the highest to the God of heaven!
Peace to all your people through the earth be given!
Mighty God and Father, thanks and praise we bring,
singing Hallelujah to our heavenly king.
2 Jesus Christ is risen, God the Father's Son!
With the Holy Spirit you are Lord alone!
Lamb once killed for sinners, all our guilt to bear,
show us now your mercy, now receive our prayer.
3 Christ the world's true Saviour, high and holy One,
seated now and reigning from your Father's throne:
Lord and God, we praise you! Highest heaven adores:
in the Father's glory, all the praise be yours;
in the Father's glory, all the praise be yours!
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Silence
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son
Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to
strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior
Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 16:16-34
One day, when we were on the way to the place for prayer, we met a slave woman. She had a spirit that enabled her to predict the future. She made a lot of money for her owners through fortune-telling. She began following Paul and us, shouting, “These people are servants of the Most High God! They are proclaiming a way of salvation to you!” She did this for many days.
This annoyed Paul so much that he finally turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to leave her!” It left her at that very moment.
Her owners realized that their hope for making money was gone. They grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the officials in the city center. When her owners approached the legal authorities, they said, “These people are causing an uproar in our city. They are Jews who promote customs that we Romans can’t accept or practice.” The crowd joined in the attacks against Paul and Silas, so the authorities ordered that they be stripped of their clothes and beaten with a rod. When Paul and Silas had been severely beaten, the authorities threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to secure them with great care. When he received these instructions, he threw them into the innermost cell and secured their feet in stocks.
Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. All at once there was such a violent earthquake that it shook the prison’s foundations. The doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose. When the jailer awoke and saw the open doors of the prison, he thought the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul shouted loudly, “Don’t harm yourself! We’re all here!”
The jailer called for some lights, rushed in, and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He led them outside and asked, “Honorable masters, what must I do to be rescued?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your entire household.” They spoke the Lord’s word to him and everyone else in his house. Right then, in the middle of the night, the jailer welcomed them and washed their wounds. He and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his home and gave them a meal. He was overjoyed because he and everyone in his household had come to believe in God.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Songs in Presence’s responsorial setting of Psalm 97, "The Lord Is King, the Most High over All the Earth.”
The Lord is king,
the most high over all the earth.
The Lord is king,
the most high over all the earth.
The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many islands be glad.
Clouds and darkness are round about him.
Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
The Lord is king,
the most high over all the earth.
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
The Lord is king (the Lord is king),
the most high over all the earth.
Because you, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth,
exalted far above all gods.
The Lord is king (the Lord is king),
the most high over all the earth.
A reading from the Revelation to John.
Revelation 22: 12-21
“Look! I’m coming soon. My reward is with me, to repay all people as their actions deserve. I am the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Favored are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right of access to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs, the drug users and spell-casters, those who commit sexual immorality, the murderers, the idolaters, and all who love and practice deception.
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to bear witness to all of you about these things for the churches. I’m the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star. The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who is thirsty come! Let the one who wishes receive life-giving water as a gift.”
Now I bear witness to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy contained in this scroll: If anyone adds to them, God will add to that person the plagues that are written in this scroll. If anyone takes away from the words of this scroll of prophecy, God will take away that person’s share in the tree of life and the holy city, which are described in this scroll.
The one who bears witness to these things says, “Yes, I’m coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Caroline M. Noel’s “At the Name of Jesus.”
1 At the Name of Jesus
Ev'ry knee shall bow,
Ev'ry tongue confess him
King of glory now.
’Tis the Father’s pleasure
We should call him Lord,
Who from the beginning
Was the mighty Word.
2 Humbled for a season,
To receive a Name
From the lips of sinners,
Unto whom he came,
Faithfully he bore it
Spotless to the last,
Brought it back victorious,
When through death he passed.
3 Bore it up triumphant
With its human light,
Through all ranks of creatures,
To the central height,
To the throne of Godhead,
To the Father’s breast;
Filled it with the glory
Of that perfect rest.
4 In your hearts enthrone him;
There let him subdue
All that is not holy,
All that is not true:
Crown him as your Captain
In temptation's hour;
Let his will enfold you
In its light and power.
5 Jesus, Lord and Savior,
Shall return again,
With his Father's glory
O'er the earth to reign;
For all wreaths of empire
Meet upon his brow,
And our hearts confess him
King of glory now.
For all wreaths of empire
Meet upon his brow,
And our hearts confess him
King of glory now.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
John 17:20-26
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
“I’m not praying only for them but also for those who believe in me because of their word. I pray they will be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. I pray that they also will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me. I’ve given them the glory that you gave me so that they can be one just as we are one. I’m in them and you are in me so that they will be made perfectly one. Then the world will know that you sent me and that you have loved them just as you loved me.
“Father, I want those you gave me to be with me where I am. Then they can see my glory, which you gave me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
“Righteous Father, even the world didn’t know you, but I’ve known you, and these believers know that you sent me. I’ve made your name known to them and will continue to make it known so that your love for me will be in them, and I myself will be in them.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Every Christian Has the Same Calling
What must have been Paul and Silas' immediate reaction when a violent earthquake shook their prison's foundations?
I live in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, the most active seismic area in the United States, east of the Rocky Mountains.
I live in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, the most active seismic area in the United States, east of the Rocky Mountains.
One tremor was large enough to tilt my bed and almost tip me onto the floor.
The last major earthquakes, a series of three quakes, occurred in 1811 and 1812.
The Mississippi River flowed backwards.
In some places geysers of sand shot from the ground.
Dust so filled the air that it was dark even at noon.
In other places the ground broke open and swallowed up buildings and livestock, including teams of oxen and the wagons to which they were hitched.
The local inhabitants were terrified, believing that the world was coming to a end.
What must have Paul and Silas felt?
What must have Paul and Silas felt?
What must they have thought?
In the first reading appointed for this Sunday, Acts 16: 16-34, Luke recounts how Paul and Silas found themselves in a very difficult situation, a situation which, however, provide them with an opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ with an entire household who believed and were baptized.
What we learn from this reading is that even in a situation like the one in which Paul and Silas found themselves, there will be opportunities to have spiritual conversations with others, to share our faith with them, and to invite them to entrust themselves to Christ.
We also learn that people in crisis are receptive to hearing the good news and turning to Christ.
The implication is that we do not have to wait until things are going well in our own lives to engage in these activities nor do we have to restrict ourselves to engaging in these activities only with people for whom things are going well in their lives.
John Wesley, a leading figure in the eighteenth century Evangelical revival in the United Kingdom and founder of the Methodist movement, enjoyed greater success in preaching to the working classes and the poor whose lives were hard than he did to the middle and upper classes whose lives were more comfortable.
Barred from preaching in parish churches, he often preached outdoors, drawing large crowds of people.
On a number of occasions he was attacked by mobs of ruffians set on him by those who opposed his ministry.
He, however, persevered as did the apostles despite the opposition that they faced.
Through his ministry and the ministry of his followers more than one generation would come to know Christ.
The apostles and ministers of the gospel like John Wesley set an example not just for clergy, religious orders, and missionaries but for all Christians.
All who follow Christ are called to spread the good news and to make disciples.
Every Christian has the same calling although they may exercise it differently.
Here are some things that we can do:
We can invest in relationships with people who don’t know Christ.
We can pray for them.
We can learn more about the best ways to engage in spiritual conversations with others, to share our faith with them, and to invite them to become disciples of Jesus and put what we learn into practice.
We can offer them encouragement.
We can be there for them when they need someone.
What other things do you think that we can do?
Silence
[Let us affirm our faith in the words of the Nicene Creed]
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER
Let us pray for the Church and for the world.
Particular intentions may be mentioned before this litany, or petitions added at appropriate points.
Grant, Almighty God, that all who confess your Name may
be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal
your glory in the world.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Guide the people of this land, and of all the nations, in the
ways of justice and peace; that we may honor one another
and serve the common good.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation,
that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others
and to your honor and glory.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant
that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as he
loves us.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or
spirit; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and
bring them the joy of your salvation.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
We commend to your mercy all who have died, that your will
for them may be fulfilled; and we pray that we may share
with all your saints in your eternal kingdom.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, you have promised to hear what we ask in
the Name of your Son: Accept and fulfill our petitions, we
pray, not as we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our
sinfulness, but as you know and love us in your Son Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Jubilate Hymn’s modernized version of Henry W. Baker’s “O Holy Spirit, come to bless (O Holy Ghost, thy people bless).”
What we learn from this reading is that even in a situation like the one in which Paul and Silas found themselves, there will be opportunities to have spiritual conversations with others, to share our faith with them, and to invite them to entrust themselves to Christ.
We also learn that people in crisis are receptive to hearing the good news and turning to Christ.
The implication is that we do not have to wait until things are going well in our own lives to engage in these activities nor do we have to restrict ourselves to engaging in these activities only with people for whom things are going well in their lives.
John Wesley, a leading figure in the eighteenth century Evangelical revival in the United Kingdom and founder of the Methodist movement, enjoyed greater success in preaching to the working classes and the poor whose lives were hard than he did to the middle and upper classes whose lives were more comfortable.
Barred from preaching in parish churches, he often preached outdoors, drawing large crowds of people.
On a number of occasions he was attacked by mobs of ruffians set on him by those who opposed his ministry.
He, however, persevered as did the apostles despite the opposition that they faced.
Through his ministry and the ministry of his followers more than one generation would come to know Christ.
The apostles and ministers of the gospel like John Wesley set an example not just for clergy, religious orders, and missionaries but for all Christians.
All who follow Christ are called to spread the good news and to make disciples.
Every Christian has the same calling although they may exercise it differently.
Here are some things that we can do:
We can invest in relationships with people who don’t know Christ.
We can pray for them.
We can learn more about the best ways to engage in spiritual conversations with others, to share our faith with them, and to invite them to become disciples of Jesus and put what we learn into practice.
We can offer them encouragement.
We can be there for them when they need someone.
What other things do you think that we can do?
Silence
[Let us affirm our faith in the words of the Nicene Creed]
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER
Let us pray for the Church and for the world.
Particular intentions may be mentioned before this litany, or petitions added at appropriate points.
Grant, Almighty God, that all who confess your Name may
be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal
your glory in the world.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Guide the people of this land, and of all the nations, in the
ways of justice and peace; that we may honor one another
and serve the common good.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation,
that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others
and to your honor and glory.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant
that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as he
loves us.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or
spirit; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and
bring them the joy of your salvation.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
We commend to your mercy all who have died, that your will
for them may be fulfilled; and we pray that we may share
with all your saints in your eternal kingdom.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, you have promised to hear what we ask in
the Name of your Son: Accept and fulfill our petitions, we
pray, not as we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our
sinfulness, but as you know and love us in your Son Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Jubilate Hymn’s modernized version of Henry W. Baker’s “O Holy Spirit, come to bless (O Holy Ghost, thy people bless).”
1 O Holy Spirit, come to bless
your waiting church, we pray:
we long to grow in holiness
as children of the day.
2 Great Gift of our ascended king,
his saving truth reveal,
our tongues inspire his praise to sing,
our hearts his love to feel.
3 O come, creator Spirit, move
as on the formless deep;
give life and order, light and love,
where now is death or sleep.
4 We offer up to you, O Lord,
ourselves to be your throne,
our every thought and deed and word
to make your glory known.
5 O Holy Spirit, Lord of might,
through you all grace is given:
grant us to know and serve aright
one God in earth and heaven.
THE SENDING FORTH OF GOD’S PEOPLE
[Let us pray in the words our Savior Christ has taught us.]
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 grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and
the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us. Amen.
or
The peace of the Lord be with you.
And also with you.
All greet one another in the name of the Lord.
your waiting church, we pray:
we long to grow in holiness
as children of the day.
2 Great Gift of our ascended king,
his saving truth reveal,
our tongues inspire his praise to sing,
our hearts his love to feel.
3 O come, creator Spirit, move
as on the formless deep;
give life and order, light and love,
where now is death or sleep.
4 We offer up to you, O Lord,
ourselves to be your throne,
our every thought and deed and word
to make your glory known.
5 O Holy Spirit, Lord of might,
through you all grace is given:
grant us to know and serve aright
one God in earth and heaven.
THE SENDING FORTH OF GOD’S PEOPLE
[Let us pray in the words our Savior Christ has taught us.]
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 grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and
the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us. Amen.
or
The peace of the Lord be with you.
And also with you.
All greet one another in the name of the Lord.
Comments
Post a Comment