Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (Thursday, July 24, 2025)
Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.
Among God’s gifts to us is the gift of beautiful church music. The music of this evening’s service is drawn from several different periods in church history. It includes an orchestral prelude based upon a Welsh hymn tune and one of the oldest Christian hymns, set to a tune from the sixteenth century.
This evening’s message is a reflection upon a passage from Paul’s Letter to the Romans.
GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
Open this link in a new tab to hear Ralph Vaughn William’s Prelude on Rhosymedre.
Silence
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
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 Lord,
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. Amen.
O Lord, I call to you; come to me quickly;
Hear my voice when I cry to you.
Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as
incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening
sacrifice.
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 Robert Seymour Bridges’ translation of Phos hilaron, “O Gladsome Light, O Grace.”
1 O gladsome Light, O Grace
of God the Father’s face,
The eternal splendour wearing;
celestial, holy, blest,
our Saviour Jesus Christ,
joyful in Thine appearing.
2 Now, ere day fadeth quite,
we see the evening light,
our wonted hymn outpouring;
Father of might unknown,
Thee, His incarnate Son,
and Holy Ghost adoring.
3 To Thee of right belongs
all praise of holy songs,
O Son of God, Lifegiver;
Thee, therefore, O Most High,
the world doth glorify,
and shall exalt for ever.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Luke Mayernik’s “Psalm 113: Blessed Be the Name of the Lord.”
Blessed be the name of the Lord
for ever, for ever.
1 Praise, you servants of the Lord
praise the name of the Lord.
Blessed be the name of the Lord
both now and for ever.
Blessed be the name of the Lord
for ever, for ever.
2 From the rising to the setting of the sun
is the name of the Lord to be praised.
High above all the nations is the Lord;
above the heavens is his glory.
Blessed be the name of the Lord
for ever, for ever.
3 Who is like the Lord, our God,
who is enthroned on high
and looks upon the heavens
and the earth below?
Blessed be the name of the Lord
for ever, for ever.
4 He raises up the lowly from the dust;
from the dunghill he lifts up the poor
to seat them with princes,
with princes of his own people.
Blessed be the name of the Lord
for ever, for ever.
Silence is kept.
Lord Jesus,
surrendering the brightness of your glory, you became mortal
so that we might be raised from the dust to share your very being.
May the children of God always bless your name from the rising
of the sun to its going down,
for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spiri,
now and forever.
Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans.
Romans 15:1-13
We who are strong in the faith ought to help the weak to carry their burdens. We should not please ourselves. Instead, we should all please other believers for their own good, in order to build them up in the faith. For Christ did not please himself. Instead, as the scripture says, “The insults which are hurled at you have fallen on me.” Everything written in the Scriptures was written to teach us, in order that we might have hope through the patience and encouragement which the Scriptures give us. And may God, the source of patience and encouragement, enable you to have the same point of view among yourselves by following the example of Christ Jesus, so that all of you together may praise with one voice the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Accept one another, then, for the glory of God, as Christ has accepted you. For I tell you that Christ's life of service was on behalf of the Jews, to show that God is faithful, to make his promises to their ancestors come true, and to enable even the Gentiles to praise God for his mercy. As the scripture says,
“And so I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing praises to you.”
Again it says,
“Rejoice, Gentiles, with God's people!”
And again,
“Praise the Lord, all Gentiles;
praise him, all peoples!”
And again, Isaiah says,
“A descendant of Jesse will appear;
he will come to rule the Gentiles,
and they will put their hope in him.”
May God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace by means of your faith in him, so that your hope will continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Silence
Open the link in a new tab to hear Timothy Dudley Smith’s paraphrase of the Magnificat, “Tell Out My Soul.”
1 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice;
Tender to me the promise of his word;
In God my Savior shall my heart rejoice
2 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his Name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
His mercy sure, from age to age to same;
His holy Name--the Lord, the Mighty One
3 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight
The hungry fed, the humble lifted high
4 Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
To children's children and for evermore!
What Paul is talking about in this evening’s reading is the scruples of fellow Christians. Scruples are those feelings that prevent us from doing something that we think is sinful or makes us uncertain about doing it. What he is saying is that we should not disregard other people’s scruples because we ourselves do not have such scruples. Rather we should be mindful of their scruples and deal carefully with them.
Paul is not suggesting that we become a doormat. Nor is he saying that we should steamroller other people, force them to agree with us and prevent any other view beside our own.
What he is saying is particularly applicable to our time where it is all too common for people to show no willingness to put up with behavior and beliefs different from their own and to demonize anyone whose behavior and beliefs with which they do not agree and of which they do not approve.
Paul urges those to whom he is writing to accept one another as Christ has accepted them. He encourages them to work together to overcome their differences and become one in mind and voice. This is also Paul’ message for us today.
Silence
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
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 Lord,
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. Amen.
O Lord, I call to you; come to me quickly;
Hear my voice when I cry to you.
Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as
incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening
sacrifice.
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 Robert Seymour Bridges’ translation of Phos hilaron, “O Gladsome Light, O Grace.”
1 O gladsome Light, O Grace
of God the Father’s face,
The eternal splendour wearing;
celestial, holy, blest,
our Saviour Jesus Christ,
joyful in Thine appearing.
2 Now, ere day fadeth quite,
we see the evening light,
our wonted hymn outpouring;
Father of might unknown,
Thee, His incarnate Son,
and Holy Ghost adoring.
3 To Thee of right belongs
all praise of holy songs,
O Son of God, Lifegiver;
Thee, therefore, O Most High,
the world doth glorify,
and shall exalt for ever.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Luke Mayernik’s “Psalm 113: Blessed Be the Name of the Lord.”
Blessed be the name of the Lord
for ever, for ever.
1 Praise, you servants of the Lord
praise the name of the Lord.
Blessed be the name of the Lord
both now and for ever.
Blessed be the name of the Lord
for ever, for ever.
2 From the rising to the setting of the sun
is the name of the Lord to be praised.
High above all the nations is the Lord;
above the heavens is his glory.
Blessed be the name of the Lord
for ever, for ever.
3 Who is like the Lord, our God,
who is enthroned on high
and looks upon the heavens
and the earth below?
Blessed be the name of the Lord
for ever, for ever.
4 He raises up the lowly from the dust;
from the dunghill he lifts up the poor
to seat them with princes,
with princes of his own people.
Blessed be the name of the Lord
for ever, for ever.
Silence is kept.
Lord Jesus,
surrendering the brightness of your glory, you became mortal
so that we might be raised from the dust to share your very being.
May the children of God always bless your name from the rising
of the sun to its going down,
for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spiri,
now and forever.
Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans.
Romans 15:1-13
We who are strong in the faith ought to help the weak to carry their burdens. We should not please ourselves. Instead, we should all please other believers for their own good, in order to build them up in the faith. For Christ did not please himself. Instead, as the scripture says, “The insults which are hurled at you have fallen on me.” Everything written in the Scriptures was written to teach us, in order that we might have hope through the patience and encouragement which the Scriptures give us. And may God, the source of patience and encouragement, enable you to have the same point of view among yourselves by following the example of Christ Jesus, so that all of you together may praise with one voice the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Accept one another, then, for the glory of God, as Christ has accepted you. For I tell you that Christ's life of service was on behalf of the Jews, to show that God is faithful, to make his promises to their ancestors come true, and to enable even the Gentiles to praise God for his mercy. As the scripture says,
“And so I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing praises to you.”
Again it says,
“Rejoice, Gentiles, with God's people!”
And again,
“Praise the Lord, all Gentiles;
praise him, all peoples!”
And again, Isaiah says,
“A descendant of Jesse will appear;
he will come to rule the Gentiles,
and they will put their hope in him.”
May God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace by means of your faith in him, so that your hope will continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Silence
Open the link in a new tab to hear Timothy Dudley Smith’s paraphrase of the Magnificat, “Tell Out My Soul.”
1 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice;
Tender to me the promise of his word;
In God my Savior shall my heart rejoice
2 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his Name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
His mercy sure, from age to age to same;
His holy Name--the Lord, the Mighty One
3 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight
The hungry fed, the humble lifted high
4 Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
To children's children and for evermore!
A Reflection
What Paul is talking about in this evening’s reading is the scruples of fellow Christians. Scruples are those feelings that prevent us from doing something that we think is sinful or makes us uncertain about doing it. What he is saying is that we should not disregard other people’s scruples because we ourselves do not have such scruples. Rather we should be mindful of their scruples and deal carefully with them.
Paul is not suggesting that we become a doormat. Nor is he saying that we should steamroller other people, force them to agree with us and prevent any other view beside our own.
What he is saying is particularly applicable to our time where it is all too common for people to show no willingness to put up with behavior and beliefs different from their own and to demonize anyone whose behavior and beliefs with which they do not agree and of which they do not approve.
Paul urges those to whom he is writing to accept one another as Christ has accepted them. He encourages them to work together to overcome their differences and become one in mind and voice. This is also Paul’ message for us today.
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, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
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,
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and 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 John Ellerton’s “The Day Thou Gavest Lord is Ended.”
1 The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended;
The darkness fall at Thy behest;
To Thee our morning hymns ascended;
Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.
2 We thank Thee that Thy church, unsleeping
While earth rolls onward into light,
Through all the world her watch is keeping,
And rests not now by day or night.
3 As o’er each continent and island
The dawn leads on another day;
The voice of prayer is never silent,
Nor dies the strain of praise away.
4 The sun, that bids us rest, is waking
Our brethren 'neath the western sky.
And hour by hour fresh lips are making
Thy wondrous doings heard on high.
5 So be it, Lord, Thy throne shall never,
Like earth’s proud empires, pass away;
Thy kingdom stands, and grows forever,
Till all Thy creatures own Thy sway.
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 point in the form those present should be given ample opportunity to add their own petitions.
Father, we pray for your holy catholic Church
that we all may be one.
Grant that every member of your Church may truly and humbly serve you:
that your name may be glorified by all people.
We pray for our bishop N, for all bishops, our pastor N, and all other ministers
that they may be faithful ministers of your word and sacraments.
We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world
that there may be justice and peace on the earth.
Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake
that your glory may be proclaimed through our lives.
Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble
that they may be delivered from their distress.
We praise you for your saints who have entered their eternal joy
may we also come to share in the fulness of your kingdom.
We pray for our own needs and for those of others:
Silence.
Those present may add their own petitions.
Gracious God, grant that the desires of your people’s hearts
may find favour in your sight,
through the intercession of Jesus Christ our Lord. 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.
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
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
Father, we pray for your holy catholic Church
that we all may be one.
Grant that every member of your Church may truly and humbly serve you:
that your name may be glorified by all people.
We pray for our bishop N, for all bishops, our pastor N, and all other ministers
that they may be faithful ministers of your word and sacraments.
We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world
that there may be justice and peace on the earth.
Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake
that your glory may be proclaimed through our lives.
Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble
that they may be delivered from their distress.
We praise you for your saints who have entered their eternal joy
may we also come to share in the fulness of your kingdom.
We pray for our own needs and for those of others:
Silence.
Those present may add their own petitions.
Gracious God, grant that the desires of your people’s hearts
may find favour in your sight,
through the intercession of Jesus Christ our Lord. 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.
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
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.
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