Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, July 27, 2025)

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

Did you know that what some homeowners consider a pesky weed, the humble dandelion, was originally brought to the New World by European colonists and grown in their gardens for its culinary and medicinal uses? Did you also know that we can learn a lot from this common wildflower?

In this Sunday’s message we take a look at what it means to be rooted in Christ.

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

Open this link in a new tab to hear Mark Heath’s arrangement of Welyar Kuantu’s “IN HIS PRESENCE” for piano.

When we cry, “Abba, Father!” it is the Spirit of God bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Romans 8:15-16

Let us confess our sins
against God and our neighbour.

Silence is kept.

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.

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 to hear James Quinn’s “Sing All Creation” (Psalm 100).

1 Sing, all creation, sing to God in gladness!
Joyously serve him, singing hymns of homage!
Chanting his praises, come before his presence!
Praise the Almighty!

2 Know that our God is Lord of all the ages!
He is our maker; we are all his creatures,
people he fashioned, sheep he leads to pasture!
Praise the Almighty!

3 Enter his temple, ringing out his praises!
Sing in thanksgiving as you come before him!
Blessing his bounty, glorify his greatness!
Praise the Almighty!

[Instrumental interlude]

4 Great in his goodness is the Lord we worship;
steadfast his kindness, love that knows no ending!
Faithful his word is, changeless, everlasting!
Praise the Almighty!

Open this link in a new tab to hear Mark Haas’ “Psalm 138: Lord, Your Love is Eternal.”

Lord, your love is eternal.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Lord, your love is eternal.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.

1 I will give thanks to you with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in your presence I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple

Lord, your love is eternal.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.

2 I will give thanks to your name.
Because of your kindness and your truth;
When I called you answered me;
you built up strength within me.

Lord, your love is eternal.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.

3 The Lord is exalted, the lowly he sees,
and the proud he knows from afar.
your kindness, O Lord, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.

Lord, your love is eternal.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Silence.

Lord our God, supreme over all things,
look upon the humble and lowly
and put new strength into our souls
to complete your purpose for us
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

A reading from the Book of Genesis.
Genesis 18: 20-32

Then the Lord said to Abraham, “There are terrible accusations against Sodom and Gomorrah, and their sin is very great. I must go down to find out whether or not the accusations which I have heard are true.”

Then the two men left and went on toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham. Abraham approached the Lord and asked, “Are you really going to destroy the innocent with the guilty? If there are fifty innocent people in the city, will you destroy the whole city? Won't you spare it in order to save the fifty? Surely you won't kill the innocent with the guilty. That's impossible! You can't do that. If you did, the innocent would be punished along with the guilty. That is impossible. The judge of all the earth has to act justly.”

The Lord answered, “If I find fifty innocent people in Sodom, I will spare the whole city for their sake.”

Abraham spoke again: “Please forgive my boldness in continuing to speak to you, Lord. I am only a man and have no right to say anything. But perhaps there will be only forty-five innocent people instead of fifty. Will you destroy the whole city because there are five too few?”

The Lord answered, “I will not destroy the city if I find forty-five innocent people.”

Abraham spoke again: “Perhaps there will be only forty.”

He replied, “I will not destroy it if there are forty.”

Abraham said, “Please don't be angry, Lord, but I must speak again. What if there are only thirty?”

He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty.”

Abraham said, “Please forgive my boldness in continuing to speak to you, Lord. Suppose that only twenty are found?”

He said, “I will not destroy the city if I find twenty.”

Abraham said, “Please don't be angry, Lord, and I will speak only once more. What if only ten are found?”

He said, “I will not destroy it if there are ten.”

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God

Silence

Open this link in a new tab to hear Carl P. Daw, Jr.’s “Blessed Be the God of Israel (Benedictus Dominus Deus).”

1 Blessed be the God of Israel
who comes to set us free
and raises up new hope for us:
a Branch from David's tree.
So have the prophets long declared
that with a mighty arm
God would turn back our enemies
and all who wish us harm.

2 With promised mercy will God still
the covenant recall,
the oath once sworn to Abraham,
from foes to save us all;
that we might worship without fear
and offer lives of praise,
in holiness and righteousness
to serve God all our days.

3 My child, as prophet of the Lord,
you will prepare the way,
to tell God's people they are saved
from sin's eternal sway.
Then shall God's mercy from on high
shine forth and never cease
to drive away the gloom of death
and lead us into peace.

A reading from Paul’s Letter to the Colossians.
Colossians 2: 6-15

Since you have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, live in union with him. Keep your roots deep in him, build your lives on him, and become stronger in your faith, as you were taught. And be filled with thanksgiving. See to it, then, that no one enslaves you by means of the worthless deceit of human wisdom, which comes from the teachings handed down by human beings and from the ruling spirits of the universe, and not from Christ. For the full content of divine nature lives in Christ, in his humanity, and you have been given full life in union with him. He is supreme over every spiritual ruler and authority.

In union with Christ you were circumcised, not with the circumcision that is made by human beings, but with the circumcision made by Christ, which consists of being freed from the power of this sinful self. For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ through your faith in the active power of God, who raised him from death. You were at one time spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were Gentiles without the Law. But God has now brought you to life with Christ. God forgave us all our sins; he canceled the unfavorable record of our debts with its binding rules and did away with it completely by nailing it to the cross. And on that cross Christ freed himself from the power of the spiritual rulers and authorities; he made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in his victory procession.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God

Silence

Open this link in a new tab to hear Timothy Dudley Smith’s “God of Gods, We Sound His Praises (Te Deum laudamus).”

1 God of gods, we sound his praises,
highest heaven its homage brings;
earth and all creation raises
glory to the King of kings.
Holy, holy, holy name him,
Lord of all his hosts proclaim him;
to the everlasting Father
every tongue in triumph sings.

2 Christians in their hearts enthrone him,
tell his praises wide abroad;
prophets, priests, apostles own him
martyrs' crown and saints' reward.
Three-in-One his glory sharing,
earth and heaven his praise declaring,
praise the high majestic Father,
praise the everlasting Lord!

3 Hail the Christ, the King of glory,
he whose praise the angels cry;
born to share our human story,
love and labour, grieve and die:
by his cross his work completed,
sinners ransomed, death defeated;
in the glory of the Father
Christ ascended reigns on high.

4 Lord, we look for your returning;
teach us so to walk your ways,
hearts and minds your will discerning,
lives alight with joy and praise:
in your love and care enfold us,
by your constancy uphold us;
may your mercy, Lord and Father,
keep us now and all our days.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to Luke.
Luke 11: 1-13
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

Jesus said to them, “When you pray, say this:

‘Father:
May your holy name be honored;
may your Kingdom come.
Give us day by day the food we need.
Forgive us our sins,
for we forgive everyone who does us wrong.
And do not bring us to hard testing.’”

And Jesus said to his disciples, “Suppose one of you should go to a friend's house at midnight and say, ‘Friend, let me borrow three loaves of bread. A friend of mine who is on a trip has just come to my house, and I don't have any food for him!’ And suppose your friend should answer from inside, ‘Don't bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.’ Well, what then? I tell you that even if he will not get up and give you the bread because you are his friend, yet he will get up and give you everything you need because you are not ashamed to keep on asking. And so I say to you: Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For those who ask will receive, and those who seek will find, and the door will be opened to anyone who knocks. Would any of you who are fathers give your son a snake when he asks for fish? Or would you give him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

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

Deep Roots

Every spring dandelions pop up all over my lawn and my neighbors’ lawns up and down the street. Those who are obsessed with a perfect lawn launch their annual campaign of eradication. I just leave the dandelions be. Their yellow blossoms are a welcome sign of spring like the daffodils and the forsythia.

Dandelions are very beneficial plants. Their flowers provide pollen for the bees. Their tender young leaves can be used in salads. Their roots can be brewed as a herbal tea, or tisane.

Since I was a small child, I have loved their clocks, their puffballs of seeds, each seed at the end of a thread that can carry it through the air.

Dandelions will grow in just about any patch of soil.

And they multiply! Indeed, Christians could take a lesson from the dandelions and multiply like they do.

When I read this Sunday’s second reading, Colossians 2:6-15, I thought of another way we could be like dandelions.

Paul urges the Colossians to keep their roots deep in Christ.

Dandelion roots go down deep into the earth and bring up nutrients for the lawn. Their deep roots are one of the reasons they are difficult to eradicate.

Like the dandelion we should put down deep roots, not into the earth but into Christ, not only drawing up nourishment from him for ourselves but also for others.

How do we grow deep roots into Christ?

We keep on following Christ as our Lord, surrendering our life completely to him and patterning our lives on his teaching and example.

We keep on putting our faith in Christ, believing and trusting in him and his words, and loving others, showing them the same compassion and mercy that God shows us.

We keep on praying for those who treat us badly.

We keep on doing to others as we would have them to do to us. We keep on forgiving others their failings.

We keep on loving one another as Christ loved us. We keep on pointing others to Christ.

We keep on making disciples as Christ instructed.

God will supply us with his grace, the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives, to keep on following Christ as our Lord.

Christians who put down deep roots into Christ endure.

If you have driven around a community after a severe thunderstorm, you may notice some trees have been uprooted and toppled due to the heavy rain and wind. They were not deeply rooted in the earth. The trees that remain standing are the ones that are deeply rooted. They may have suffered damage, but they are still standing.

When we are deeply rooted into Christ, we are like those trees. Our faith may take a battering, but it will survive adversity. We will persevere. Like the humble dandelion with its deep roots our faith will prove difficult to destroy. We will flourish, and yes, we will multiply, pointing others to Christ and making disciples for our Lord.

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.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Sarah Quartel’s choral arrangement of Timothy Dudley Smith’ “Fill You Heart with Joy and Gladness.”

1 Fill your hearts with joy and gladness,
sing and praise your God and mine!
Great the Lord in love and wisdom,
might and majesty divine!
He who framed the starry heavens
knows and names them as they shine!

2 Praise the Lord, his people, praise him!
Wounded souls his comfort know;
those who fear him find his mercies,
peace for pain and joy for woe;
humble hearts are high exalted,
human pride and power laid low.

3 Praise the Lord for times and seasons,
cloud and sunshine, wind and rain;
spring to melt the snows of winter
till the waters flow again;
grass upon the mountain pastures,
golden valleys thick with grain.

4 Fill your hearts with joy and gladness,
peace and plenty crown your days;
love his laws, declare his judgments,
walk in all his words and ways;
he the Lord and we his children:
praise the Lord, all people, praise!

THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER

If a worshiping group celebrating this office has one or more lists of people and concerns for which it desires prayer, it is strongly recommended that such lists be read before the prayers begin as this practice has the advantage of informing those present about particular needs before they join in the prayers. At the appropriate points in the form those present should be given ample opportunity to add their own petitions and thanksgivings.

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 the
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 his Church.

For our own needs and those of others.

Silence. 

The people 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. 

The people may add their own thanksgivings.

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

We pray for all 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. 

The people 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.

O God,
the protector of all who trust in you,
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy,
increase and multiply upon us your mercy,
that with you as our ruler and guide,
we may so pass through things temporal,
that we lose not the things eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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 FORTH OF GOD’S PEOPLE

Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make his face shine
on us and be gracious to us. The Lord look upon us with favour
and grant us peace. Amen.