Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (November 20, 2025)

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

If I were to design a wall hanging for a church, I would incorporate sparrows, swallows, and wildflowers into the design. All are mentioned in the Bible. The sparrow has a home and the swallow, a nest in the courts of the Lord, the Temple at Jerusalem (Psalm 84). Jesus uses sparrows as an example of how God cares for all of his creatures (Matthew 10:29-31; Luke 12:6-7). Psalm 103:15 compares the brevity of human life to that of the wildflower. They bloom one day and are gone the next. Birds and wildflowers are also mentioned in this evening’s reading.

In this evening’s message we reflect on the implications of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:25-34 for disciples of Jesus Christ in our day and time.

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

Open this link in a new tab to hear Brian MacDonald’s arrangement of DRAW ME, MY SAVIOUR for 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 Stephanie Seefeldt’s rendition of “O Gracious Light” (Phos Hilaron).

1 O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the
everliving Father in heaven.
O Jesus, Christ, holy and blessed!

2 Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

3 You are worthy at all times
to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Isaac Watt’s “My Shepherd, You Supply My Need” (Psalm 23).

1 My Shepherd, You supply my need;
most holy is Your name.
In pastures fresh You make me feed,
beside the living stream.
You bring my wand’ring spirit back
when I forsake Your ways,
And lead me, for Your mercy’s sake,
in paths of truth and grace.

2 When I walk through the shades of death,
Your presence is my stay;
One word of Your supporting breath
drives all my fears away.
Your hand, in sight of all my foes,
does still my table spread;
My cup with blessings overflows,
Your oil anoints my head.

3 The sure provisions of my God
attend me all my days;
Oh, may Your house be my abode
and all my work be praise.
Here would I find a settled rest,
while others go and come;
No more a stranger or a guest,
but like a child at home.

Silence

For your name’s sake, O God,
lead us in the paths of righteousness
and let your mercy follow us
that we may dwell with you forever.
Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew.
Matthew 6:25-34

“Therefore, I say to you, don’t worry about your life, what you’ll eat or what you’ll drink, or about your body, what you’ll wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds in the sky. They don’t sow seed or harvest grain or gather crops into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than they are? Who among you by worrying can add a single moment to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? Notice how the lilies in the field grow. They don’t wear themselves out with work, and they don’t spin cloth. But I say to you that even Solomon in all of his splendor wasn’t dressed like one of these. If God dresses grass in the field so beautifully, even though it’s alive today and tomorrow it’s thrown into the furnace, won’t God do much more for you, you people of weak faith? Therefore, don’t worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ Gentiles long for all these things. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. Instead, desire first and foremost God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, stop worrying about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

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

Silence

Birds and Wildflowers

In this evening’s reading from the Gospel of Matthew Jesus uses bird and wildflowers to illustrate what he is teaching his disciples, things that were part of their daily lives and which were familiar to them. Jesus’ use of such illustrations characterized his teaching as did his use of parables.

Whenever I read this passage, I see in my mind’s eye the sparrows that nest in the eaves of a local supermarket and the bright yellow daffodils that line the country roads in the spring. The words of the song, “Look and Learn,” written by the late Na Young-Soo, a former professor emeritus of vocal music at Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea, often called the "Godfather of Korean Choir, come to mind. It was translated and arranged by John L. Bell of the Iona Community and appears in a number of hymnals.

1 Look and learn from the birds of the air,
flying high above worry and fear;
neither sowing nor harvesting seed,
yet they’re given whatever they need.
If the God of earth and heaven
cares for birds as much as this,
won’t he care much more for you,
when you put your trust in him?

2 Look and learn from the flowers of the field,
bringing beauty and color to life;
neither sewing nor tailoring cloth,
yet they’re dressed in the finest attire.
If the God of earth and heaven
cares for flowers as much as this,
won’t he care much more for you,
when you put your trust in him?

3 What God wants should be our will;
where God calls should be our goal.
When we seek the kingdom first,
all we’ve lost is ours again.
Let’s be done with anxious thoughts,
set aside tomorrow’s cares,
live each day that God provides,
putting all our trust in him.

Regrettably I have not found a video of the entire song, just a midi of the tune and an audio recording of the first verse. To hear them, go to https://hymnary.org/tune/look_and_learn_from_the_birds_of_the_na.

Professor Na Young-Soo’s song beautiful captures the essence of what Jesus in teaching his disciples in this evening’s reading.

Both the reading and the song warn us against letting our anxieties crowd our minds and occupy our thoughts so that we think about nothing else.

We can also crowd God out of our live in the same way. Our worries and cares can take God’s place.

Both the reading and the song encourage us wholeheartedly to put our trust in God and God's providential care for us and to devote ourselves to doing God’ will. As Jesus assured the disciples, God knows our needs. We could not be in better hands.

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.

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for
our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn,
and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever
hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have
given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 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 Sydney Carter’s “The Bells of Norwich.”

1 Loud are the bells of Norwich
and the people come and go.
Here by the tower of Julian
I tell them what I know.

Ring out, bells of Norwich,
and let the winter come and go.
All shall be well again, I know.

2 Love, like the yellow daffodil,
is coming through the snow;
Love, like the yellow daffodil,
is Lord of all I know.

Ring out, bells of Norwich,
and let the winter come and go.
All shall be well again, I know.

All shall be well, I'm telling you,
let the winter come and go.
All shall be well again, I know.

3 Ring for the yellow daffodil,
the flower in the snow.
Ring for the yellow daffodil
And tell them what I know.

Ring out, bells of Norwich,
and let the winter come and go.
All shall be well again, I know.

All shall be well, I'm telling you,
let the winter come and go.
All shall be well again, I know.

All shall be well, I'm telling you,
let the winter come and go.
All shall be well again, I know.

All shall be well again, I know

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.

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.