Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (August 21, 2025)
Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.
This evening’s order of service is adapted from the First Order for Evening Prayer from two Anglican service books from “Down Under,” from Australia.
The subject of this evening’s message is the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
Open this link in a new tab to hear The Flautadors’ rendition of Claude Goudimel’s ENFANS, QUI LE SEIGNEUR (GENEVAN 113)
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.
Open this link to hear William Helder’s “Come Praise the Lord, His Might Proclaim (Psalm 113).”
1 Come praise the Lord, his might acclaim!
Let all his servants praise his name;
From now forevermore adore him.
From where the sun begins to rise
To where it sets in western skies,
Let all with praises come before him.
2 God far above all nations dwells;
His glory heav’nly heights excels,
For who compares in might and splendor,
With him, the Lord, who from his throne
On earth and heav’n looks down?
Let all to him their praises render.
3 God saves the needy from disgrace
And lift them to an honored place
Among the princes of his nation.
His favor makes the barren spouse
A joyful mother in her house.
Praised be the Lord with exultation.
Silence
From the rising of the sun to its setting
we praise your name, O Lord;
may your promise to raise the poor from the dust
and turn the fortunes of the needy upside down
be fulfilled in our time also,
as it was in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Ministry of the Word
A reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans.
Romans 10: 5-15
For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” In fact, it says,
“The message is very close at hand;
it is on your lips and in your heart.”
And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: if you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
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.
Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear
than we to pray, and constantly give more than either we desire
or deserve: pour down on us the abundance of your mercy,
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.
Open this link to hear William Helder’s “Come Praise the Lord, His Might Proclaim (Psalm 113).”
1 Come praise the Lord, his might acclaim!
Let all his servants praise his name;
From now forevermore adore him.
From where the sun begins to rise
To where it sets in western skies,
Let all with praises come before him.
2 God far above all nations dwells;
His glory heav’nly heights excels,
For who compares in might and splendor,
With him, the Lord, who from his throne
On earth and heav’n looks down?
Let all to him their praises render.
3 God saves the needy from disgrace
And lift them to an honored place
Among the princes of his nation.
His favor makes the barren spouse
A joyful mother in her house.
Praised be the Lord with exultation.
Silence
From the rising of the sun to its setting
we praise your name, O Lord;
may your promise to raise the poor from the dust
and turn the fortunes of the needy upside down
be fulfilled in our time also,
as it was in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Ministry of the Word
A reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans.
Romans 10: 5-15
For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” In fact, it says,
“The message is very close at hand;
it is on your lips and in your heart.”
And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: if you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
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.
Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear
than we to pray, and constantly give more than either we desire
or deserve: pour down on us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving
us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, except
through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, your Son 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 Timothy Dudley Smith’s “To Christ our King.”
1 To Christ our King in songs of praise
lift every heart and mind;
unfading light of all our days,
true life of humankind.
2 O Christ our light, draw near and fill
this shadowed soul of mine;
renew my darkened heart and will
to light and life divine.
3 O Christ our life, from death and sin
my forfeit soul set free;
that life laid down, a world to win,
be life indeed for me.
4 O Christ our King, to whom we give
again the life you gave,
tell out by us that all may live
through Christ who died to save.
5 May Christ, our light, our life, our King,
make all our hearts his own,
join all our lives his praise to sing,
and make his glories known!
The oldest profession of the Christian faith is “Jesus is Lord!” When we acknowledge Jesus as Lord, we are accepting Jesus as the number one head honcho of everything. Jesus is not one lord among many lords. Jesus is the one and only Lord! To Jesus belongs all authority and power over everything. When Jesus says “jump,” we jump!!
We are not a disciple of Jesus if we do not accept his lordship over every area of our lives. If we say, “Jesus can be the Lord of my life except…,” we are not truly his follower. Jesus’ lordship extends to every thought, every desire, every word, every deed!! Nothing is outside his rule!!
Because Jesus is Lord, his teachings and his commandments are not only binding on those who own him as Lord, they are also binding on those who do not admit his lordship over their lives. Because we may not own him as our lord, does not free us from his lordship. We may say to ourselves, “I am not a Christian. I do not have to love my enemies. I don't have to pray for those who persecute me. I can hate them. I can kill them.”
Whether or not we are a Christian does not matter. We are disobeying Jesus who is Lord. One day Jesus will return, and he will sit in judgment of us.
It does not matter if we assert, “This is not my belief” and rail against it, rail against Christians, rail against the Christian faith.
Jesus is Lord!!
We can believe in Jesus and obey him. Or we can disbelieve in Jesus and disobey him. In either case we will reap the consequences of our choice. We cannot be neutral about Jesus.
As for those of us who call ourselves Christians, we have no reason to smug. Calling ourselves Christians and even going to church does not make us disciples of Jesus.
True disciples in a deliberate and vigorous way emulate the life and teaching of the one whom they call teacher or master. They demonstrate in deed as well as word that Jesus truly is the lord of their hearts. Jesus is the lodestone to whom their hearts are drawn. Jesus is the center of their lives.
None of us is perfect. We may aspire to submit to Jesus’ lordship over our lives and to obey him, but our besetting sins, the frailty of human nature, and the experiences of the past and our response to them keep getting in the way.
us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, except
through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, your Son 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 Timothy Dudley Smith’s “To Christ our King.”
1 To Christ our King in songs of praise
lift every heart and mind;
unfading light of all our days,
true life of humankind.
2 O Christ our light, draw near and fill
this shadowed soul of mine;
renew my darkened heart and will
to light and life divine.
3 O Christ our life, from death and sin
my forfeit soul set free;
that life laid down, a world to win,
be life indeed for me.
4 O Christ our King, to whom we give
again the life you gave,
tell out by us that all may live
through Christ who died to save.
5 May Christ, our light, our life, our King,
make all our hearts his own,
join all our lives his praise to sing,
and make his glories known!
Jesus Is Lord!
The oldest profession of the Christian faith is “Jesus is Lord!” When we acknowledge Jesus as Lord, we are accepting Jesus as the number one head honcho of everything. Jesus is not one lord among many lords. Jesus is the one and only Lord! To Jesus belongs all authority and power over everything. When Jesus says “jump,” we jump!!
We are not a disciple of Jesus if we do not accept his lordship over every area of our lives. If we say, “Jesus can be the Lord of my life except…,” we are not truly his follower. Jesus’ lordship extends to every thought, every desire, every word, every deed!! Nothing is outside his rule!!
Because Jesus is Lord, his teachings and his commandments are not only binding on those who own him as Lord, they are also binding on those who do not admit his lordship over their lives. Because we may not own him as our lord, does not free us from his lordship. We may say to ourselves, “I am not a Christian. I do not have to love my enemies. I don't have to pray for those who persecute me. I can hate them. I can kill them.”
Whether or not we are a Christian does not matter. We are disobeying Jesus who is Lord. One day Jesus will return, and he will sit in judgment of us.
It does not matter if we assert, “This is not my belief” and rail against it, rail against Christians, rail against the Christian faith.
Jesus is Lord!!
We can believe in Jesus and obey him. Or we can disbelieve in Jesus and disobey him. In either case we will reap the consequences of our choice. We cannot be neutral about Jesus.
As for those of us who call ourselves Christians, we have no reason to smug. Calling ourselves Christians and even going to church does not make us disciples of Jesus.
True disciples in a deliberate and vigorous way emulate the life and teaching of the one whom they call teacher or master. They demonstrate in deed as well as word that Jesus truly is the lord of their hearts. Jesus is the lodestone to whom their hearts are drawn. Jesus is the center of their lives.
None of us is perfect. We may aspire to submit to Jesus’ lordship over our lives and to obey him, but our besetting sins, the frailty of human nature, and the experiences of the past and our response to them keep getting in the way.
God does not leave us to struggle alone. God fills our lives with his grace, with the power of his presence. In our weakness he gives us strength, the strength which is himself.
God works invisibly in each of us to will and to do what is his good pleasure. God’s good pleasure is that we accept Jesus as Lord and obey him. We live our lives in accordance with Jesus’ teaching and commandments. We become like Jesus himself. Every breath of our lives is lived to God’s own glory.
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
Opening this ink in a new tab to hear Lori True’s arrangement of Brian Wren’ “Go Now in Peace.”
1 Go now in peace; though friends must part,
your presence lives in every heart.
Your gifts to us no words can tell:
go now in peace, in Christ, go well.
2 Go now in hope, and hopeful stay,
though shadowed valleys hide your way;
through good and evil, joy and pain,
with God, in Spirit, you remain.
Chorus:
God works invisibly in each of us to will and to do what is his good pleasure. God’s good pleasure is that we accept Jesus as Lord and obey him. We live our lives in accordance with Jesus’ teaching and commandments. We become like Jesus himself. Every breath of our lives is lived to God’s own glory.
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
Opening this ink in a new tab to hear Lori True’s arrangement of Brian Wren’ “Go Now in Peace.”
1 Go now in peace; though friends must part,
your presence lives in every heart.
Your gifts to us no words can tell:
go now in peace, in Christ, go well.
2 Go now in hope, and hopeful stay,
though shadowed valleys hide your way;
through good and evil, joy and pain,
with God, in Spirit, you remain.
Chorus:
Go now in peace; though friends must part,
your presence lives in every heart.
Your gifts to us no words can tell:
go now in peace, in Christ, go well.
3 Go now in faith, through time and chance,
until we join the wedding dance
as partners of the Three-in-One,
where all is ended and begun.
Chorus:
Go now in peace; though friends must part,
your presence lives in every heart.
Your gifts to us no words can tell:
go now in peace, in Christ, go well.
your presence lives in every heart.
Your gifts to us no words can tell:
go now in peace, in Christ, go well.
3 Go now in faith, through time and chance,
until we join the wedding dance
as partners of the Three-in-One,
where all is ended and begun.
Chorus:
Go now in peace; though friends must part,
your presence lives in every heart.
Your gifts to us no words can tell:
go now in peace, in Christ, go well.
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