Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (October 30, 2025)
Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.
In the Jackson Purchase the autumn rainy season has finally begun in earnest. We have had several wet days. The leaves have also begun to change color, turning yellow, gold, orange, and various shades of red.
Like the year, our lives have seasons too. We grow older and, God willing, we also grow in our love of God and the Christlikeness of our character.
In this evening’s message we take a look at how Nathaniel became a disciple of Jesus and what we can learn from it.
GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
Open this link in a new tab to hear Mark Hayes’ arrangement of James Moore’s TASTE AND SEE for solo piano.
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.
In this evening’s message we take a look at how Nathaniel became a disciple of Jesus and what we can learn from it.
GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
Open this link in a new tab to hear Mark Hayes’ arrangement of James Moore’s TASTE AND SEE for solo piano.
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).”
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.
At the end of this Psalm a suggestion for further prayer arising out of the Psalm is printed.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Francis Patrick O'Brien’s responsorial setting of Psalm 121, "Our Help is from the Lord."
Our help is from the Lord, the maker of heaven,
the maker of heaven and earth.
Our help is from the Lord, the maker of heaven,
the maker of heaven and earth.
1 I lift my eyes to the mountains,
from where shall come my help?
My help shall come from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.
Our help is from the Lord, the maker of heaven,
the maker of heaven and earth.
2 May our God, ever wakeful,
not allow you to fall.
No, he sleeps not nor slumbers;
for Israel God is at guard.
Our help is from the Lord, the maker of heaven,
the maker of heaven and earth.
3 God is your guard and protection;
by your side God shall stand.
By day the sun shall not harm you,
nor the moon in the night.
Our help is from the Lord, the maker of heaven,
the maker of heaven and earth.
4 The Lord will shelter you from evil;
God will guard your soul,
will guard your coming and your going
both now and forever more.
Our help is from the Lord, the maker of heaven,
the maker of heaven and earth.
Prayer: for all in anxiety, danger, tribulation.
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Gospel according to John.
John 1:43-51
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come with me!” (Philip was from Bethsaida, the town where Andrew and Peter lived.) Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one whom Moses wrote about in the book of the Law and whom the prophets also wrote about. He is Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”
“Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” answered Philip.
When Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, he said about him, “Here is a real Israelite; there is nothing false in him!”
Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered, “I saw you when you were under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
“Teacher,” answered Nathanael, “you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
Jesus said, “Do you believe just because I told you I saw you when you were under the fig tree? You will see much greater things than this!” And he said to them, “I am telling you the truth: you will see heaven open and God's angels going up and coming down on the Son of Man.”
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
Silence
In this evening’s reading we learn that a man, named Philip, has become a disciple of Jesus. From the text we gather that Philip was called directly by Jesus himself. The narrative does not tell us how they met. It does suggest that Jesus had foreknowledge of Philip and intentionally sought him. Human agency was not involved.
Nathanial, on the other hand, became a disciple of Jesus in a different manner from Philip. Nathaniel is sought by Philip who tells him that he has found the one foretold by Moses and the prophets. Nathaniel is skeptical. Note that Philip does not argue with Nathaniel, try to convince him what he said is true. Rather he invites Nathaniel to come and see for himself.
God already appear to be working in Nataniel’s life. For one thing Philip goes looking for him. For another, even though he is skeptical, he agrees to go with Philip and to meet Jesus. In what is a remarkably short conversation with Jesus, in which Jesus tells Nathaniel that he saw him under a fig tree, Nathaniel is convinced that Jesus is the Son of God, the King of Israel.
What we learn from this evening’s reading is the way each person becomes a disciple of Jesus will differ with the individual. We will not all have the same experiences. For this reason, we should be wary of measuring other people’s experiences by our own or our experiences by theirs.
What matters is that each person comes to recognize their sinfulness and their need of a Savior; that they genuinely turn away from their sins, those things in their life which have come between them and God, in repentance; that they turn to Jesus in faith, and that they make a serious effort to lead a holy life, a life framed and fashioned upon Jesus’ teaching and example.
Philip sets a good example for modern-day followers of Jesus. While we cannot seek those who do not yet know Jesus and invite them to come and see Jesus for themselves as Philip did Nathaniel, we can seek them, befriend them, and invite them to come and see him as reflected in a local community of disciples. This is why it is so important that each such community be a faithful embodiment of their Lord, a concrete expression of his compassion, forgiveness, generosity, holiness, kindness, love, patience, and selflessness, in order that those who accept our invitation can indeed “taste and see the goodness of the Lord.”
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, without you we are not able to please you; mercifully
grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our
hearts; 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 Ruth Duck’s “God of the Ages.”
1 God of the ages, now and past.
thankful of heart, we turn to you.
God of the faithful, year by year
grant us your mercies ever new.
God of the ages, hear our prayer;
all generations know your care.
God of the ages, hear our prayer;
all generations know your care.
2 God of our parents, teachers, friends,
You give them grace to walk your way.
May we, like them, arise to meet
challenges, risks of our new day.
God of the ages, hear our prayer;
all generations know your care.
God of the ages, hear our prayer;
all generations know your care.
3 God of our present, guide us now;
send us your Spirit’s holy flame.
Acting with courage, speaking love,
may we bring honor to your name.
God of the ages, hear our prayer;
all generations know your care.
God of the ages, hear our prayer;
all generations know your care.
4 God of the future, grant us faith,
courage for ventures yet unknown.
God to the church your love has built
now to their labors add our own.
God of the ages, hear our prayer;
all generations know your care.
God of the ages, hear our prayer;
all generations know your care.
Silence may be kept.
Those present may offer their own prayers and thanksgivings, either silently or aloud.
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 Jack Copley Winslow’s “Lord of Creation, to You Be All Praise!"
1 Lord of creation, to you be all praise!
Most mighty your working, most wondrous your ways!
Your glory and might are beyond us to tell,
and yet in the heart of the humble you dwell.
2 Lord of all power, I give you my will,
in joyful obedience your tasks to fulfill.
Your bondage is freedom, your service is song;
and, held in your keeping, my weakness is strong.
3 Lord of all wisdom, I give you my mind,
rich truth that surpasses my knowledge to find.
What eye has not seen and what ear has not heard
is taught by your Spirit and shines from your Word.
4 Lord of all bounty, I give you my heart;
I praise and adore you for all you impart;
your love to inspire me, your counsel to guide,
your presence to cheer me, whatever betide.
5 Lord of all being, I give you my all;
if I should disown you, I stumble and fall;
but, lead in your service your word to obey,
I walk in your freedom to the end of the way.
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.
Open this link in a new tab to hear St. Aidan’s Community’s “The Grace (2 Corinthians 13:14).”
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God our Father,
and the fellowship, the fellowship
of the Holy Spirit be with us
for evermore and evermore and evermore. Amen.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God our Father,
and the fellowship, the fellowship
of the Holy Spirit be with us
for evermore and evermore and evermore. Amen.
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.
At the end of this Psalm a suggestion for further prayer arising out of the Psalm is printed.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Francis Patrick O'Brien’s responsorial setting of Psalm 121, "Our Help is from the Lord."
Our help is from the Lord, the maker of heaven,
the maker of heaven and earth.
Our help is from the Lord, the maker of heaven,
the maker of heaven and earth.
1 I lift my eyes to the mountains,
from where shall come my help?
My help shall come from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.
Our help is from the Lord, the maker of heaven,
the maker of heaven and earth.
2 May our God, ever wakeful,
not allow you to fall.
No, he sleeps not nor slumbers;
for Israel God is at guard.
Our help is from the Lord, the maker of heaven,
the maker of heaven and earth.
3 God is your guard and protection;
by your side God shall stand.
By day the sun shall not harm you,
nor the moon in the night.
Our help is from the Lord, the maker of heaven,
the maker of heaven and earth.
4 The Lord will shelter you from evil;
God will guard your soul,
will guard your coming and your going
both now and forever more.
Our help is from the Lord, the maker of heaven,
the maker of heaven and earth.
Prayer: for all in anxiety, danger, tribulation.
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Gospel according to John.
John 1:43-51
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come with me!” (Philip was from Bethsaida, the town where Andrew and Peter lived.) Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one whom Moses wrote about in the book of the Law and whom the prophets also wrote about. He is Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”
“Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” answered Philip.
When Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, he said about him, “Here is a real Israelite; there is nothing false in him!”
Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered, “I saw you when you were under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
“Teacher,” answered Nathanael, “you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
Jesus said, “Do you believe just because I told you I saw you when you were under the fig tree? You will see much greater things than this!” And he said to them, “I am telling you the truth: you will see heaven open and God's angels going up and coming down on the Son of Man.”
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
Silence
Come and See
In this evening’s reading we learn that a man, named Philip, has become a disciple of Jesus. From the text we gather that Philip was called directly by Jesus himself. The narrative does not tell us how they met. It does suggest that Jesus had foreknowledge of Philip and intentionally sought him. Human agency was not involved.
Nathanial, on the other hand, became a disciple of Jesus in a different manner from Philip. Nathaniel is sought by Philip who tells him that he has found the one foretold by Moses and the prophets. Nathaniel is skeptical. Note that Philip does not argue with Nathaniel, try to convince him what he said is true. Rather he invites Nathaniel to come and see for himself.
God already appear to be working in Nataniel’s life. For one thing Philip goes looking for him. For another, even though he is skeptical, he agrees to go with Philip and to meet Jesus. In what is a remarkably short conversation with Jesus, in which Jesus tells Nathaniel that he saw him under a fig tree, Nathaniel is convinced that Jesus is the Son of God, the King of Israel.
What we learn from this evening’s reading is the way each person becomes a disciple of Jesus will differ with the individual. We will not all have the same experiences. For this reason, we should be wary of measuring other people’s experiences by our own or our experiences by theirs.
What matters is that each person comes to recognize their sinfulness and their need of a Savior; that they genuinely turn away from their sins, those things in their life which have come between them and God, in repentance; that they turn to Jesus in faith, and that they make a serious effort to lead a holy life, a life framed and fashioned upon Jesus’ teaching and example.
Philip sets a good example for modern-day followers of Jesus. While we cannot seek those who do not yet know Jesus and invite them to come and see Jesus for themselves as Philip did Nathaniel, we can seek them, befriend them, and invite them to come and see him as reflected in a local community of disciples. This is why it is so important that each such community be a faithful embodiment of their Lord, a concrete expression of his compassion, forgiveness, generosity, holiness, kindness, love, patience, and selflessness, in order that those who accept our invitation can indeed “taste and see the goodness of the Lord.”
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, without you we are not able to please you; mercifully
grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our
hearts; 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 Ruth Duck’s “God of the Ages.”
1 God of the ages, now and past.
thankful of heart, we turn to you.
God of the faithful, year by year
grant us your mercies ever new.
God of the ages, hear our prayer;
all generations know your care.
God of the ages, hear our prayer;
all generations know your care.
2 God of our parents, teachers, friends,
You give them grace to walk your way.
May we, like them, arise to meet
challenges, risks of our new day.
God of the ages, hear our prayer;
all generations know your care.
God of the ages, hear our prayer;
all generations know your care.
3 God of our present, guide us now;
send us your Spirit’s holy flame.
Acting with courage, speaking love,
may we bring honor to your name.
God of the ages, hear our prayer;
all generations know your care.
God of the ages, hear our prayer;
all generations know your care.
4 God of the future, grant us faith,
courage for ventures yet unknown.
God to the church your love has built
now to their labors add our own.
God of the ages, hear our prayer;
all generations know your care.
God of the ages, hear our prayer;
all generations know your care.
Silence may be kept.
Those present may offer their own prayers and thanksgivings, either silently or aloud.
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 Jack Copley Winslow’s “Lord of Creation, to You Be All Praise!"
1 Lord of creation, to you be all praise!
Most mighty your working, most wondrous your ways!
Your glory and might are beyond us to tell,
and yet in the heart of the humble you dwell.
2 Lord of all power, I give you my will,
in joyful obedience your tasks to fulfill.
Your bondage is freedom, your service is song;
and, held in your keeping, my weakness is strong.
3 Lord of all wisdom, I give you my mind,
rich truth that surpasses my knowledge to find.
What eye has not seen and what ear has not heard
is taught by your Spirit and shines from your Word.
4 Lord of all bounty, I give you my heart;
I praise and adore you for all you impart;
your love to inspire me, your counsel to guide,
your presence to cheer me, whatever betide.
5 Lord of all being, I give you my all;
if I should disown you, I stumble and fall;
but, lead in your service your word to obey,
I walk in your freedom to the end of the way.
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.
Open this link in a new tab to hear St. Aidan’s Community’s “The Grace (2 Corinthians 13:14).”
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God our Father,
and the fellowship, the fellowship
of the Holy Spirit be with us
for evermore and evermore and evermore. Amen.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God our Father,
and the fellowship, the fellowship
of the Holy Spirit be with us
for evermore and evermore and evermore. Amen.
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