Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, July 3, 2025)
This Friday, July 4, Americans across the United States and in its territories, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, will be celebrating the nation’s independence with parades, block parties, picnics, and barbecues. Amidst these festivities, it is important to remember what prompted the American Colonies to seek independence from England—the tyranny of the English King, the oppressive acts and policies of the English Parliament, and the deployment of the British navy and British troops to enforce them.
In 1787 the Constitutional Convention would draft a new constitution for the fledgling nation which limited the powers of the executive branch and set up a system of checks and balances between the three branches of the government—the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch. This constitution enshrined the principle that no one is above the law. It was then ratified by the states and became effective in 1789. While several amendments have been made to that constitution, including a bill of rights, since that time, it is the constitution of the United States of America to this day and which the all the Presidents of the United States have sworn on their honor and before God to “preserve, protect, and defend.” It is also something that we should not forget on Independence Day.
The topic of this evening’s message is the new birth.
GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
Open this link in a new tab to hear Christine Sullivan Robbin’s solo piano hymn arrangement of SCHÖNSTER HERR JESU (also known as ST. ELIZABETH and CRUSADERS’ HYMN).
Thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity,
whose name is Holy, "I dwell in the high and holy place and
also with the one who has a contrite and humble spirit, to
revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the
contrite." Isaiah 57:15
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Silence may be 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 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 to hear Carl P. Daw Jr.’s metrical paraphrase of the Phos hilaron, “O Light Whose Splendor Thrills and Gladdens.
1 O Light whose splendor thrills and gladdens
with radiance brighter than the sun,
pure gleam of God's unending glory,
Jesus, blest Anointed One;
2 As twilight hovers near at sunset,
and lamps are lit, and children nod,
in evening hymns we lift our voices
to Father, Spirit, Son: one God.
3 In all life's brilliant, timeless moments,
let faithful voices sing your praise,
O Son of God, our Life-bestower,
whose glory lightens endless days.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Marty Haugen’s responsorial setting of Psalm 113, “Blessed Be the Name.”
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the LORD
for ever!
1 Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD!
May the name of the LORD be blest
both now and forevermore!
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the LORD
for ever!
2 From the rising of the sun to its setting,
praised be the name of the LORD!
High above all nations is the LORD,
above the heavens his glory.
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the LORD
for ever!
3 Who is like the LORD, our God,
who dwells on high,
who lowers himself to look down
upon heaven and earth?
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the LORD
for ever!
4 From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
from the ash heap he raises the poor,
to set them in the company of princes,
yes, with the princes of his people.
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the LORD
for ever!
Open this link in a new tab to hear Randy Ferris’ arrangement of the Gloria Patri.
Glory to the Father!
Glory to the Son!
Glory to the Spirit!
Glory to the Lord!
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever,
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever.
Amen!
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the First Letter of Peter.
1 Peter 1:3-12
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours made careful search and inquiry, inquiring about the person or time that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated, when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the subsequent glory. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look!
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Silence.
A New Birth
What is this new birth about which the apostle Peter writes in this evening's reading, and which is a consequence of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead?
Jesus himself talked about the new birth when the Jewish leader Nicodemus sought Jesus out late at night. Nicodemus visited Jesus under the cover of darkness because he did not want anyone else to know that he and talked with Jesus. You can read about the visit and what they talked about in John 3. Nicodemus would secretly become a disciple of Jesus and later risk his own life to bury Jesus.
Essentially what Jesus told Nicodemus was that we must experience a spiritual rebirth in order to “enter the kingdom of God.” This spiritual rebirth is the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit regenerates us and begins the work of transforming us into the likeness of Jesus.
Jesus goes on to compare the Holy Spirit to the wind. We cannot see the wind. But we can feel, hear, and see its effect. We can feel a cool breeze on our faces on a hot day. We can hear the wind roaring through the tree leaves before a thunderstorm. We can see the tree branches tossing in the wind. We cannot also see the Holy Spirit, but we can feel, hear, and see the effects of the Holy Spirit. We observe these effects in people’s lives.
As children grow and change after they are born, people who have experienced this spiritual rebirth also grow and change after they are “born again.” Among the changes that they will exhibit is that they will grow more in character like Jesus. They will produce what the apostle Paul called the “fruit of the Spirit.” See Galatians 5:22–23. They will become more loving, more joyful, more peaceable, more patient, kinder, more generous, gentler, and more self-controlled.
They will make choices that are more closely aligned to God’s will as it is revealed in the Holy Scriptures, particularly in Jesus’ teaching and example. They will grow in personal holiness, shunning what Paul described as the “works of the flesh.” See Galatians 5:19-21. As well as seeking to avoid evil, they will seek to do no harm and to do as much good to others as they can.
They will grow in their love of God and their love of others, particularly their love of their fellow Christians, showing themselves to be truly the followers of Jesus by this love.
They will evidence the spiritual gifts. Simply put, the spiritual gifts are manifestations of the Holy Spirit in a Christian for the purpose of building up the church and glorify God through service to others. They are not given to set one Christian apart from another, to draw attention to ourselves, or to impress others. They are gifts to the whole Body of Christ and not just us as individual Christians.
It is this new birth that is the cause for us to have what Peter describes as “a living hope.” This hope is no ordinary hope. It is not just wishful thinking. It is a good reason for us to believe that the salvation for which we yearn to be true and that it will indeed happen.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Carl P. Daw Jr.’s metrical paraphrase of the Magnificat.
My soul proclaims with wonder
the greatness of the Lord;
rejoicing in God's goodness,
my spirit is restored.
1 For God has looked with favor,
on one the world thought frail;
and blessings through the ages will echo
the angel's first "All hail."
My soul proclaims with wonder
the greatness of the Lord;
rejoicing in God's goodness,
my spirit is restored.
2 God's mercy shields the faithful
and gives them safe retreat
to arms that turns to scatter
the proud in their conceit.
My soul proclaims with wonder
the greatness of the Lord;
rejoicing in God's goodness,
my spirit is restored.
3 The mighty have been vanquished;
the lowly lifted up.
The hungry find abundance;
the rich, an empty cup.
My soul proclaims with wonder
the greatness of the Lord;
rejoicing in God's goodness,
my spirit is restored.
4 To Abraham's descendants
the Lord will steadfast prove,
for God has made with Israel
a covenant of love.
My soul proclaims with wonder
the greatness of the Lord;
rejoicing in God's goodness,
my spirit is restored.
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
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,
and 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.
Lord God Almighty, in whose Name the founders of this
country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the
torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant that we and
all the people of this land may have grace to maintain our
liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right
judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that
peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be
fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered
from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness;
through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.
Lighten our darkness, Lord, we pray, 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.
Open this link to hear Shirley Erena Murray’s “As the Wind Song Through the Trees.”
1 As the wind song through the trees,
as the stirring of the breeze,
so it is with the Spirit of God,
as the heart made strangely warm,
as the voice within the storm,
so it is with the Spirit of God.
Never seen, ever known
where this wind has blown
bringing life, bringing power to the world,
as the dancing tongues of fire,
as the soul's most deep desire,
so it is with the Spirit of God.
2 As the rainbow after rain,
as the hope that's born again,
so it is with the Spirit of God,
as the green in the spring,
as a kite on a string,
so it is with the Spirit of God,
making worlds that are new,
making peace come true,
bringing gifts, bringing love to the world,
as the rising of the yeast,
as the wine at the feast,
so it is with the Spirit of God.
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.
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.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely
more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from
generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus
for ever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21
Comments
Post a Comment