Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (September 25, 2025)
Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.
It is now officially fall in the Jackson Purchase, the westernmost region of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. After a lengthy dry spell, the autumn rainy season has begun. The ground had become so parched in places that it had begun to crack. The leaves on the trees had become wilted and discolored from the lack of moisture and were falling prematurely.
Christians also experience dry spells, times in their lives when God seems to be absent and they struggle with prayer and other spiritual practices. Yet God has not deserted us during these times. God is with us always even though we may not sense God’s presence. Such times can lead to greater self-awareness and to a deeper spiritual life, in the same way an autumn rainy season follows a summer drought.
In this evening’s message we consider the implications of the outcome of what Church historians call the Council of Jerusalem for the early Church and for today’s Church, for ourselves and those exploring the Christian faith.
GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
Open this link in a new tab to hear Healey Willan’s "Prelude on 'A Rouen Melody'"
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 followed too much
the devices and the desires of our own hearts.
we have offended against your holy laws,
we have left undone what we ought to have done,
and we have done what we ought not to have done.
Yet, good Lord, have mercy on us;
restore those who are penitent,
according to your promises declared
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Grant, most merciful Father, for his sake,
that we may live a godly, righteous, and sober lives,
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.
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 followed too much
the devices and the desires of our own hearts.
we have offended against your holy laws,
we have left undone what we ought to have done,
and we have done what we ought not to have done.
Yet, good Lord, have mercy on us;
restore those who are penitent,
according to your promises declared
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Grant, most merciful Father, for his sake,
that we may live a godly, righteous, and sober lives,
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 in a new tab to hear Tim Nijenhuis’ arrangement of William Helder’s metrical version of Psalm 23 from the Canadian Reformed Churches’ The Book of Praise.
At the end of the Psalm a suggestion for further prayer arising out of the Psalm may be found.
1 The Lord my shepherd in His love defends me;
I shall not want. In pastures green He tends me,
Makes me lie down, His care and mercy showing;
Leads me where peaceful streams are gently flowing.
He for His name’s sake surely will restore me;
In paths of righteousness He goes before me.
2 Though by its gloom and shadows overtaken,
in death’s dark valley I am not forsaken;
I fear no evil: You are there beside me.
Through all the depths of sorrow You will guide me.
You comfort me, O God of my salvation;
Your rod and staff, they are my consolation.
3 Your bounteous table You prepare before me,
And all my foes look on while You restore me.
My head You have with soothing oil anointed;
My cup runs over, for You have appointed
Goodness and mercy to forsake me never,
And in Your house, Lord, I will dwell forever.
Praise: to Jesus the Good Shepherd.
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts 15:1-21
Some men came from Judea to Antioch and started teaching the believers, “You cannot be saved unless you are circumcised as the Law of Moses requires.” Paul and Barnabas got into a fierce argument with them about this, so it was decided that Paul and Barnabas and some of the others in Antioch should go to Jerusalem and see the apostles and elders about this matter.
They were sent on their way by the church; and as they went through Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported how the Gentiles had turned to God; this news brought great joy to all the believers. When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, to whom they told all that God had done through them. But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and told to obey the Law of Moses.”
The apostles and the elders met together to consider this question. After a long debate Peter stood up and said, “My friends, you know that a long time ago God chose me from among you to preach the Good News to the Gentiles, so that they could hear and believe. And God, who knows the thoughts of everyone, showed his approval of the Gentiles by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he had to us. He made no difference between us and them; he forgave their sins because they believed. So then, why do you now want to put God to the test by laying a load on the backs of the believers which neither our ancestors nor we ourselves were able to carry? No! We believe and are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”
The whole group was silent as they heard Barnabas and Paul report all the miracles and wonders that God had performed through them among the Gentiles. When they had finished speaking, James spoke up: “Listen to me, my friends! Simon has just explained how God first showed his care for the Gentiles by taking from among them a people to belong to him. The words of the prophets agree completely with this. As the scripture says,
‘After this I will return, says the Lord,
and restore the kingdom of David.
I will rebuild its ruins
and make it strong again.
And so all the rest of the human race will come to me,
all the Gentiles whom I have called to be my own.
So says the Lord, who made this known long ago.’
“It is my opinion,” James went on, “that we should not trouble the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead, we should write a letter telling them not to eat any food that is ritually unclean because it has been offered to idols; to keep themselves from sexual immorality; and not to eat any animal that has been strangled, or any blood. For the Law of Moses has been read for a very long time in the synagogues every Sabbath, and his words are preached in every town.”
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
Silence
The Council of Jerusalem, the meeting of the apostles and elders convened to consider the question of whether the Gentiles must be circumcised and obey the Law of Moses was a pivotal moment in the history of the early Church. It would determine the direction of the Church both then and now.
If the gathering had agreed with the Pharisee believers, the Church would have become another sect within Judaism like the Sadducees, the Pharisees, the Zealots, and the Essenes. Guided by the Holy Spirit and God’ Word, the gathering chose a different path.
The gathering recognized that God’s grace was not confined to one people, the descendants of the people of Israel, the people with whom God had made a covenant in Old Testament times. God’s grace extended to all the peoples on earth, to every race, nation, and tribe. The gathering recognized that as Simon Peter had put it, both Jews and Gentiles believed and were saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The gathering also heeded Simon Peter’s words and chose not to place upon the Gentile believers the full weight of the Law of Moses. Rather the gathering did as James had advised them to do. They chose two men, Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, to return with Paul and Barabas to Antioch and to bring with them this letter:
“We, the apostles and the elders, your brothers, send greetings to all our brothers of Gentile birth who live in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. We have heard that some who went from our group have troubled and upset you by what they said; they had not, however, received any instruction from us. And so we have met together and have all agreed to choose some messengers and send them to you. They will go with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, who have risked their lives in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. We send you, then, Judas and Silas, who will tell you in person the same things we are writing. The Holy Spirit and we have agreed not to put any other burden on you besides these necessary rules: eat no food that has been offered to idols; eat no blood; eat no animal that has been strangled; and keep yourselves from sexual immorality. You will do well if you take care not to do these things. With our best wishes.”
Luke goes on to tell us:
“The messengers were sent off and went to Antioch, where they gathered the whole group of believers and gave them the letter. When the people read it, they were filled with joy by the message of encouragement. Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, spoke a long time with them, giving them courage and strength. After spending some time there, they were sent off in peace by the believers and went back to those who had sent them.
Paul and Barnabas spent some time in Antioch, and together with many others they taught and preached the word of the Lord.”
What the Council of Jerusalem did not do was set these rules for the wider Church as conditions of salvation. Rather they were intended to serve as a guide to the Gentile believers at Antioch on how they were to conduct their lives.
The good news for believers and those exploring the Christian faith today that comes from the deliberations of the Council of Jerusalem is the Council’s recognition that God graciously offers salvation to all people groups through faith in Jesus Christ and not just one such group. It is also its determination that it is not necessary to be circumcised and to obey the Law of Moses to be saved. Salvation comes not by the means of the Law but by grace through faith.
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 eternal God, grant that we may grow in faith,
hope, and love; and that we may obtain what you promised,
make us love what you command;
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 Ralph Vaughan William’s choral arrangement of George Herbert’s “Let All the World In Every Corner Sing.”
Let all the world in every corner sing,
My God and King!
The heavens are not too high,
His praise may thither fly;
The earth is not too low,
His praises there may grow.
Let all the world in every corner sing,
My God and King!
Let all the world in every corner sing,
My God and King!
The Church with psalms must shout,
No door can keep them out;
But above all the heart
Must bear the longest part.
Let all the world in every corner sing,
My God and King!
Silence may be kept.
Free intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered.
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.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Molly Ijames’ arrangement of
Jeff Nelson and Scott Wesley Brown’s “Grace Alone.”
Every promise we can make
Every prayer and step of faith
Every difference we will make
Is only by His grace
Every mountain we will climb
Every ray of hope we shine
Every blessing left behind
Is only by His grace
Grace alone, which God supplies
Strength unknown He will provide
Christ in us our cornerstone
We will go forth in grace alone
[Instrumental interlude]
Every soul we long to reach
Every heart we hope to teach
Everywhere we share His peace
Is only by His grace
Is only by His grace
Every loving word we say
Every tear we wipe away
Every sorrow turned to praise
Is only by His grace
Grace alone which God supplies
Strength unknown He will provide
Christ in us our cornerstone
Cornerstone
We will go forth in grace alone
We will go forth
We will go forth
We will go forth in grace alone
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
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 in a new tab to hear Tim Nijenhuis’ arrangement of William Helder’s metrical version of Psalm 23 from the Canadian Reformed Churches’ The Book of Praise.
At the end of the Psalm a suggestion for further prayer arising out of the Psalm may be found.
1 The Lord my shepherd in His love defends me;
I shall not want. In pastures green He tends me,
Makes me lie down, His care and mercy showing;
Leads me where peaceful streams are gently flowing.
He for His name’s sake surely will restore me;
In paths of righteousness He goes before me.
2 Though by its gloom and shadows overtaken,
in death’s dark valley I am not forsaken;
I fear no evil: You are there beside me.
Through all the depths of sorrow You will guide me.
You comfort me, O God of my salvation;
Your rod and staff, they are my consolation.
3 Your bounteous table You prepare before me,
And all my foes look on while You restore me.
My head You have with soothing oil anointed;
My cup runs over, for You have appointed
Goodness and mercy to forsake me never,
And in Your house, Lord, I will dwell forever.
Praise: to Jesus the Good Shepherd.
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts 15:1-21
Some men came from Judea to Antioch and started teaching the believers, “You cannot be saved unless you are circumcised as the Law of Moses requires.” Paul and Barnabas got into a fierce argument with them about this, so it was decided that Paul and Barnabas and some of the others in Antioch should go to Jerusalem and see the apostles and elders about this matter.
They were sent on their way by the church; and as they went through Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported how the Gentiles had turned to God; this news brought great joy to all the believers. When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, to whom they told all that God had done through them. But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and told to obey the Law of Moses.”
The apostles and the elders met together to consider this question. After a long debate Peter stood up and said, “My friends, you know that a long time ago God chose me from among you to preach the Good News to the Gentiles, so that they could hear and believe. And God, who knows the thoughts of everyone, showed his approval of the Gentiles by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he had to us. He made no difference between us and them; he forgave their sins because they believed. So then, why do you now want to put God to the test by laying a load on the backs of the believers which neither our ancestors nor we ourselves were able to carry? No! We believe and are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”
The whole group was silent as they heard Barnabas and Paul report all the miracles and wonders that God had performed through them among the Gentiles. When they had finished speaking, James spoke up: “Listen to me, my friends! Simon has just explained how God first showed his care for the Gentiles by taking from among them a people to belong to him. The words of the prophets agree completely with this. As the scripture says,
‘After this I will return, says the Lord,
and restore the kingdom of David.
I will rebuild its ruins
and make it strong again.
And so all the rest of the human race will come to me,
all the Gentiles whom I have called to be my own.
So says the Lord, who made this known long ago.’
“It is my opinion,” James went on, “that we should not trouble the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead, we should write a letter telling them not to eat any food that is ritually unclean because it has been offered to idols; to keep themselves from sexual immorality; and not to eat any animal that has been strangled, or any blood. For the Law of Moses has been read for a very long time in the synagogues every Sabbath, and his words are preached in every town.”
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
Silence
A Momentous Decision
The Council of Jerusalem, the meeting of the apostles and elders convened to consider the question of whether the Gentiles must be circumcised and obey the Law of Moses was a pivotal moment in the history of the early Church. It would determine the direction of the Church both then and now.
If the gathering had agreed with the Pharisee believers, the Church would have become another sect within Judaism like the Sadducees, the Pharisees, the Zealots, and the Essenes. Guided by the Holy Spirit and God’ Word, the gathering chose a different path.
The gathering recognized that God’s grace was not confined to one people, the descendants of the people of Israel, the people with whom God had made a covenant in Old Testament times. God’s grace extended to all the peoples on earth, to every race, nation, and tribe. The gathering recognized that as Simon Peter had put it, both Jews and Gentiles believed and were saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The gathering also heeded Simon Peter’s words and chose not to place upon the Gentile believers the full weight of the Law of Moses. Rather the gathering did as James had advised them to do. They chose two men, Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, to return with Paul and Barabas to Antioch and to bring with them this letter:
“We, the apostles and the elders, your brothers, send greetings to all our brothers of Gentile birth who live in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. We have heard that some who went from our group have troubled and upset you by what they said; they had not, however, received any instruction from us. And so we have met together and have all agreed to choose some messengers and send them to you. They will go with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, who have risked their lives in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. We send you, then, Judas and Silas, who will tell you in person the same things we are writing. The Holy Spirit and we have agreed not to put any other burden on you besides these necessary rules: eat no food that has been offered to idols; eat no blood; eat no animal that has been strangled; and keep yourselves from sexual immorality. You will do well if you take care not to do these things. With our best wishes.”
Luke goes on to tell us:
“The messengers were sent off and went to Antioch, where they gathered the whole group of believers and gave them the letter. When the people read it, they were filled with joy by the message of encouragement. Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, spoke a long time with them, giving them courage and strength. After spending some time there, they were sent off in peace by the believers and went back to those who had sent them.
Paul and Barnabas spent some time in Antioch, and together with many others they taught and preached the word of the Lord.”
What the Council of Jerusalem did not do was set these rules for the wider Church as conditions of salvation. Rather they were intended to serve as a guide to the Gentile believers at Antioch on how they were to conduct their lives.
The good news for believers and those exploring the Christian faith today that comes from the deliberations of the Council of Jerusalem is the Council’s recognition that God graciously offers salvation to all people groups through faith in Jesus Christ and not just one such group. It is also its determination that it is not necessary to be circumcised and to obey the Law of Moses to be saved. Salvation comes not by the means of the Law but by grace through faith.
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 eternal God, grant that we may grow in faith,
hope, and love; and that we may obtain what you promised,
make us love what you command;
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 Ralph Vaughan William’s choral arrangement of George Herbert’s “Let All the World In Every Corner Sing.”
Let all the world in every corner sing,
My God and King!
The heavens are not too high,
His praise may thither fly;
The earth is not too low,
His praises there may grow.
Let all the world in every corner sing,
My God and King!
Let all the world in every corner sing,
My God and King!
The Church with psalms must shout,
No door can keep them out;
But above all the heart
Must bear the longest part.
Let all the world in every corner sing,
My God and King!
Silence may be kept.
Free intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered.
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.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Molly Ijames’ arrangement of
Jeff Nelson and Scott Wesley Brown’s “Grace Alone.”
Every promise we can make
Every prayer and step of faith
Every difference we will make
Is only by His grace
Every mountain we will climb
Every ray of hope we shine
Every blessing left behind
Is only by His grace
Grace alone, which God supplies
Strength unknown He will provide
Christ in us our cornerstone
We will go forth in grace alone
[Instrumental interlude]
Every soul we long to reach
Every heart we hope to teach
Everywhere we share His peace
Is only by His grace
Is only by His grace
Every loving word we say
Every tear we wipe away
Every sorrow turned to praise
Is only by His grace
Grace alone which God supplies
Strength unknown He will provide
Christ in us our cornerstone
Cornerstone
We will go forth in grace alone
We will go forth
We will go forth
We will go forth in grace alone
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
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