Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (August 14, 2025)

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

In Kentucky children have already returned to school and the commonwealth’s universities are about to start a new semester. Churches across the commonwealth are asking their attendees to pray for the young people in the church and in the community, for their teachers and instructors, and the schools and institutions of higher learning that they attend.

A worthwhile topic for this time of year is prayer, the subject of this evening’s message.

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

Open this link in a new tab to hear Anne Crosby Gaudet’s composition, “Flight of the Heron” for solo harp.

Silence

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in
spirit and truth. John 4:24

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth
is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God is faithful and
just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8,9

Let us now confess our sins to almighty God.

Silence

Almighty and most merciful Father,
we have strayed from your ways like lost sheep.
We have left undone what we ought to have done,
and we have done what we ought not to have done.
We have followed our own ways and the desires of our own
hearts.
We have broken your holy laws.
Yet, good Lord, have mercy on us;
restore those who are penitent,
according to your promises declared to mankind in Jesus
Christ our Lord.
And grant, merciful Father, for his sake,
that we may live a godly and obedient life,
to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

Merciful Lord, grant to your faithful people pardon
and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their
sins, and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.

Open our lips, O Lord;
And we shall declare your praise.
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
Let us praise the Lord.
The Lord’s name be praised.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Calvin Seerveld and Lee Ann Vermeulen-Roberts’s “You servants of the Lord our God (Psalm 134).”

1 You servants of the Lord our God,
who work and pray both day and night.
In God's own house, lift up your hands,
and praise the Lord with all your might.

2 Lift up your hands in holiness,
come, bless the Lord and give Him praise.
Kneel down before the Lord our God,
and worship Him in all your ways.

[Instrumental interlude]

3 The Lord God bless you from His throne,
shine down upon you with His face.
He who created heaven and earth,
redeem you with His love and grace.
Redeem you with His love and grace.

https://www.Open this link in a new tab to hear David W. Music's setting of Timothy Dudley Smith's "Come Quickly, Lord (Psalm 141)" for SATB choir.

1 Come quickly, Lord, and hear the cries
my heart and hands uplifted raise;
and let my prayer as incense rise,
an evening sacrifice of praise.

Guard now the lips that speak your Name,
lest they, and I, be put to shame.

2 And if my steps should go astray
and from the path of truth I move,
restore me to your narrow way
and in your mercy, Lord, reprove;
from love of self my soul defend,
and wound me as a faithful friend.

4 We fix our eyes upon you, Lord,
and tune our ears to hear your voice;
our hearts by faith receive your word
and in your promises rejoice.
Till morning breaks and night is gone,
in God we trust, and journey on.

Silence

Lord,
from the rising of the sun to its setting
your name is worthy of all praise.
Let our prayer rise before you as incense,
and may the lifting up of our hands
be as an evening sacrifice, acceptable to you,
through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

The Ministry of the Word

A reading from the Letter of James.
James 4:1-12

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,

“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?

May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.

Silence

Open this link in a new tab to hear Timothy Dudley Smith’s “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!

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, his 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 into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father
almighty;
from there he will come 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.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on 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,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Lord, show us your mercy,
and grant us your salvation.
Keep our nation under your care,
and guide us in justice and truth.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness,
and make your chosen people joyful.
Lord, save your people,
and bless your inheritance.
Give peace in our time, O Lord,
for you are our help and strength.
Create in us dean hearts, O God,
and renew us by your Holy Spirit.

Lord God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing
mercy and pity: grant us such a measure of your grace that, running
in the way of your commandments, we may obtain your
promises, and share in your heavenly treasure; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.

Eternal God, from whom all holy desires, all good purposes,
and all just works proceed: give to your servants that peace
which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to
obey your commandments, and that free from the fear of our
enemies we may pass our time in trust and quietness;
through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. 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 Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Open this link in a new tab to hear James Montgomery’s “Prayer Is the Soul’s Sincere Desire.”

1 Prayer is the soul's sincere desire,
unuttered or expressed,
the motion of a hidden fire
that trembles in the breast.

2 Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
the falling of a tear,
the upward glancing of an eye,
when none but God is near.

3 Prayer is the simplest form of speech
that infant lips can try;
prayer the sublimest strains that reach
the Majesty on high.

4 Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,
the Christian's native air;
his watchword at the gates of death;
he enters heav'n with prayer.

5 Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice,
returning from his way,
while angels in their songs rejoice
and cry, "Behold, he prays!"

6 Nor is prayer made on earth alone
the Holy Spirit pleads
and Jesus at the Father’s throne
for sinners intercedes

7 O Thou, by whom we come to God,
the Life, the Truth, the Way;
the path of prayer Thyself hast trod:
Lord, teach us how to pray!

Three Pointers on Prayer from the Letter of James

The Letter of James from which this evening’ reading is taken gives us three valuable pointers on prayer. Th first pointer is found in James 1:5-8. I am quoting from the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) of the Bible.

“Do any of you need wisdom? Ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys giving to everyone. So he will give you wisdom. But when you ask God, you must believe. Don’t doubt him. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is blown up and down by the wind. People like that are thinking two different things at the same time. They can never decide what to do. So they should not think they will receive anything from the Lord.”

In this passage James the Elder, Jesus’ older brother, stresses the importance of believing. God, he tell us, is generous and enjoys giving to those who ask. But those who ask must believe. James warns us against being wavering in our faith as well as being double minded and indecisive. If we are going to ask for something from God, we should pray expectantly and with trust and confidence in God.

The second pointer is found in James 4:1-3, in this evening’s reading.

“Do you know where your fights and arguments come from? They come from the selfish desires that make war inside you. You want things, but you don’t get them. So you kill and are jealous of others. But you still cannot get what you want. So you argue and fight. You don’t get what you want because you don’t ask God. Or when you ask, you don’t receive anything, because the reason you ask is wrong. You only want to use it for your own pleasure.”

In this passage James offers an explanation why we don’t receive anything from God. Firstly, we don’t ask. Secondly, when we do ask, our motives are wrong. They are selfish. What we are asking for is intended for our own gratification.

The third pointer is found in James 5:16-18.

“Anyone who lives the way God wants can pray, and great things will happen. Elijah was a person just like us. He prayed that it would not rain. And it did not rain on the land for three and a half years! Then Elijah prayed that it would rain. And the rain came down from the sky, and the land grew crops again.”

The more our will is aligned with God’s will and the more we live in a manner that is pleasing and acceptable to God, the more effective our prayers will be. The reason for this is that there will be greater likelihood that our prayers, what we ask, will be aligned with God’ will for us or for whomever we are praying. 

On the other hand, if we have unconfessed, unrepented sin in our lives, it can be a hindrance to prayer and make our prayers less effective. The spiritual forces that are opposed to God can and will exploit this sin as a weakness and use it to discourage us from praying and believing that God, if we do pray, will listen to us and grant what we ask.

What do we do about unconfessed, unrepented sin? First, we recognize it for what it is—sin, an attitude we have adopted or something we have thought, said, or done that is causing a rift in our relationship with God. Then we tell God about it and ask God to forgive us. We make an honest commitment to change and ask God to help us to change.

Repentance is an ongoing process—a constant turning away from whatever has caused the rift between us and God and a growing reliance upon God’s grace, the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. It is the continuous realignment of our will with God’s will. 

If faith was one side of a coin, repentance is the reverse side of that coin. The two go together.

Silence

[Let us pray for all people and the Church throughout the world]

If a worship group celebrating the office has a list of people and concerns it is read before this General Intercession. Those present should be given opportunity to add their own petitions at the appropriate points in the General Intercession.

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

The Lord be with you.
And also with you
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.
2 Corinthians 13:14