Thursday Evening at All Hallows (January 22, 2026)
Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.
In the United States truth is becoming a scarce commodity due to a variety of reasons. This makes what Jesus teaches on the matter more important than ever for Christians. The topic of this evening’s message is Jesus’ teaching about lying and deceitfulness. GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
Open this link in a new tab to hear Andre Cavalcante’s arrangement of
AGNUS DEI for solo guitar.
Silence
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in 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 we may be cleansed from all our 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 F. Bland Tucker’s translation of the Phos hilaron, “O Gracious Light.”
1 O Gracious Light, Lord Jesus Christ,
In you the Father’s glory shone.
Immortal, holy, blest is he,
And blest are you, his holy Son.
2 Now sunset comes, but light shines forth,
the lamps are lit to pierce the night.
Praise Father, Son, and Spirit: God
Who dwells in the eternal light.
3 Worthy are you of endless praise,
O Son of God, Life-giving Lord;
Wherefore you are through all the earth
And in the highest heaven adored.
Coda
O Gracious Light!
Open this link in a new tab to Bernadette Farrell’s “O God, You Search Me (Psalm 139).”
1 O God, you search me and you know me
All my thoughts lie open to your gaze
When I walk or lie down you are before me
Ever the maker and keeper of my days
2 You know my resting and my rising
You discern my purpose from afar
And with love everlasting you besiege me
In every moment of life or death, you are
3 Before a word is on my tongue, Lord
You have known its meaning through and through
You are with me beyond my understanding
God of my present, my past, and future, too
4 Although your Spirit is upon me
Still I search for shelter from your light
There is nowhere on earth I can escape you
Even the darkness is radiant in your sight
5 For you created me and shaped me
Gave me life within my mother’s womb
For the wonder of who I am, I praise you
Safe in your hands, all creation is made new
Open this link in a new tab to hear Randy Ferris’ arrangement of the Gloria Patri.
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 we may be cleansed from all our 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 F. Bland Tucker’s translation of the Phos hilaron, “O Gracious Light.”
1 O Gracious Light, Lord Jesus Christ,
In you the Father’s glory shone.
Immortal, holy, blest is he,
And blest are you, his holy Son.
2 Now sunset comes, but light shines forth,
the lamps are lit to pierce the night.
Praise Father, Son, and Spirit: God
Who dwells in the eternal light.
3 Worthy are you of endless praise,
O Son of God, Life-giving Lord;
Wherefore you are through all the earth
And in the highest heaven adored.
Coda
O Gracious Light!
Open this link in a new tab to Bernadette Farrell’s “O God, You Search Me (Psalm 139).”
1 O God, you search me and you know me
All my thoughts lie open to your gaze
When I walk or lie down you are before me
Ever the maker and keeper of my days
2 You know my resting and my rising
You discern my purpose from afar
And with love everlasting you besiege me
In every moment of life or death, you are
3 Before a word is on my tongue, Lord
You have known its meaning through and through
You are with me beyond my understanding
God of my present, my past, and future, too
4 Although your Spirit is upon me
Still I search for shelter from your light
There is nowhere on earth I can escape you
Even the darkness is radiant in your sight
5 For you created me and shaped me
Gave me life within my mother’s womb
For the wonder of who I am, I praise you
Safe in your hands, all creation is made new
Open this link in a new tab to hear Randy Ferris’ arrangement of the Gloria Patri.
Glory to the Father!
Glory to the Son!
Glory to the Spirit!
Glory to the Lord!
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever,
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever.
Amen!
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew.
Matthew 5: 33-37
You know our ancestors were told, “Don't use the Lord's name to make a promise unless you are going to keep it.” But I tell you not to swear by anything when you make a promise! Heaven is God's throne, so don't swear by heaven. The earth is God's footstool, so don't swear by the earth. Jerusalem is the city of the great king, so don't swear by it. Don't swear by your own head. You cannot make one hair white or black. When you make a promise, say only “Yes” or “No.” Anything else comes from the devil.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
Silence
When you were a child did you have a parent who often made promises but seldom kept them to the point you could no longer trust them to keep a promise? They did not do what they said they would do.
Do you have someone in your life who is always letting you down, always disappointing you by failing to do what they agreed to do or were expected to do? You make dates with them, and they cancel at the last minute or don’t show up.
Do you know someone who is always telling lies and half-truths, who talks out of both sides of their mouth, says things the opposite of what they said before, expresses different opinions in different situations, tells people what they want to hear, in a way intended to deceive people, to mislead them? And has a convenient memory, says things and then denies saying them, remember what serves them but may not be the truth? They do not appear to care about other people, only themselves.
In this evening’ reading, Jesus is not just talking about making promises, swearing oaths, but also telling the truth, being honest and not deceitful.
In their Gospel Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell us that Jesus affirmed what are called the “moral commandments.” See Matthew 19:18, Mark10:19, and Luke 18:20. They include the commandment against bearing false witness. The application of this commandment is not limited to testifying falsely in a court of law but extend to all form of lying and deceitfulness.
In his Gospel John tells us that Jesus equated having murderous thought and telling lies with being a child of the devil. See John 8:44. What Jesus is saying in this passage is that those to whom he is speaking are behaving like the devil in the way a child imitates a parent. While Jesus may be speaking figuratively, what he is drawing to their attention is that with their murderous thoughts and lies, they are spiritually aligning themselves with the devil and not God!
In the Revelation to John, in one of the visions, the one sitting on the throne, whom the author of the Book of Revelation identifies as Jesus, numbers those who tell lies with those who will be cast into a lake of fire and burning sulfur and suffer the second death. See Revelation 21:8.
This passage brings to mind the words of Proverb 12:22 and other passages of the Old Testament. The author of Proverbs 12:22 tell us that God tests lying lips but delights in people whose words can be trusted.
John also tells us Jesus told his disciple the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and will guide them in all truth. Implied is the Holy Spirit will not encourage someone to lie and to deceive. This includes repeating someone else’s lies and joining them in misleading others.
True disciples of Jesus, those taking to heart his words and framing and fashioning their lives according to his teaching will be known for their truth-telling, their trustworthiness, and their unlikeliness to steal, cheat, or lie. They will not try to persuade others something false is the truth, or to keep the truth hidden from others for their own advantage. They will test the truth of what they hear or read before repeating it. They will not repeat something simply because they want to believe it is true when it isn’t. They will endeavor to the best of their ability and with God’s help to be wholesome examples and patterns to others, faithful reflections of their Saviour and Lord.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Kate Bluett’s paraphrase of the Magnificat, “Mary’s Hymn of Praise.”
1 My soul proclaims God’s greatness,
rejoicing in the Lord
who looks upon my meekness,
as ages will behold.
Now God does great things for me,
and holy is God’s name.
My spirit sings God’s wonders,
and oh! my soul proclaims!
2 In every generation
God pours such mercy down,
shows might before the nations,
and scatters all the proud.
God lifts up all the humble,
casts princes down in shame.
My spirit sings God’s wonders,
and oh! my soul proclaims!
3 Rejoice now in God’s promise
to Sarah and Abraham
and all of their descendants,
to keep us in God’s hand.
God fills the poor and hungry
and sends the rich away.
My spirit sings God’s wonders,
and oh! my soul proclaims!
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe 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, ruler of all things in heaven and
earth, mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and grant
us your peace all the days of our life; 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 Michael Frye and Kathryn Scott’s
“Be the Centre
1 Jesus, be the centre
Be my source, be my light
Jesus
2 Jesus, be the centre
Be my hope, be my song
Jesus
Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in these sails
Be the reason that I live
Jesus, Jesus
3 Jesus, be my vision
Be my path, be my guide
Jesus
Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in these sails
Be the reason that I live
Jesus, Jesus
Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in these sails
Be the reason that I live
Jesus, Jesus
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 Elizabeth Ann Porter Head and Trevor Hodge’s “O Breath of Life.”
Verse 1
O Breath of life, come sweeping through us
Revive Your church with life and power
O Breath of life, come, cleanse, renew us
And fit Your church to meet this hour
Chorus
O Breath of love, come breathe within
Renewing thought and will and heart
Come, Love of Christ, afresh to win
Revive Your church in every part
Verse 2
O Wind of God, come bend us, break us
Till humbly we confess our need
Then in Your tenderness remake us
Revive, restore, for this we plead
Chorus
O Breath of love, come breathe within
Renewing thought and will and heart
Come, Love of Christ, afresh to win
Revive Your church in every part
Verse 3
While harvest fields are vast and ripe
RRevive us, Lord! Is zeal abating
Glory to the Son!
Glory to the Spirit!
Glory to the Lord!
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever,
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever.
Amen!
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew.
Matthew 5: 33-37
You know our ancestors were told, “Don't use the Lord's name to make a promise unless you are going to keep it.” But I tell you not to swear by anything when you make a promise! Heaven is God's throne, so don't swear by heaven. The earth is God's footstool, so don't swear by the earth. Jerusalem is the city of the great king, so don't swear by it. Don't swear by your own head. You cannot make one hair white or black. When you make a promise, say only “Yes” or “No.” Anything else comes from the devil.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
Silence
“Let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes and your ‘no’ be ‘no’.”
When you were a child did you have a parent who often made promises but seldom kept them to the point you could no longer trust them to keep a promise? They did not do what they said they would do.
Do you have someone in your life who is always letting you down, always disappointing you by failing to do what they agreed to do or were expected to do? You make dates with them, and they cancel at the last minute or don’t show up.
Do you know someone who is always telling lies and half-truths, who talks out of both sides of their mouth, says things the opposite of what they said before, expresses different opinions in different situations, tells people what they want to hear, in a way intended to deceive people, to mislead them? And has a convenient memory, says things and then denies saying them, remember what serves them but may not be the truth? They do not appear to care about other people, only themselves.
In this evening’ reading, Jesus is not just talking about making promises, swearing oaths, but also telling the truth, being honest and not deceitful.
In their Gospel Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell us that Jesus affirmed what are called the “moral commandments.” See Matthew 19:18, Mark10:19, and Luke 18:20. They include the commandment against bearing false witness. The application of this commandment is not limited to testifying falsely in a court of law but extend to all form of lying and deceitfulness.
In his Gospel John tells us that Jesus equated having murderous thought and telling lies with being a child of the devil. See John 8:44. What Jesus is saying in this passage is that those to whom he is speaking are behaving like the devil in the way a child imitates a parent. While Jesus may be speaking figuratively, what he is drawing to their attention is that with their murderous thoughts and lies, they are spiritually aligning themselves with the devil and not God!
In the Revelation to John, in one of the visions, the one sitting on the throne, whom the author of the Book of Revelation identifies as Jesus, numbers those who tell lies with those who will be cast into a lake of fire and burning sulfur and suffer the second death. See Revelation 21:8.
This passage brings to mind the words of Proverb 12:22 and other passages of the Old Testament. The author of Proverbs 12:22 tell us that God tests lying lips but delights in people whose words can be trusted.
John also tells us Jesus told his disciple the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and will guide them in all truth. Implied is the Holy Spirit will not encourage someone to lie and to deceive. This includes repeating someone else’s lies and joining them in misleading others.
True disciples of Jesus, those taking to heart his words and framing and fashioning their lives according to his teaching will be known for their truth-telling, their trustworthiness, and their unlikeliness to steal, cheat, or lie. They will not try to persuade others something false is the truth, or to keep the truth hidden from others for their own advantage. They will test the truth of what they hear or read before repeating it. They will not repeat something simply because they want to believe it is true when it isn’t. They will endeavor to the best of their ability and with God’s help to be wholesome examples and patterns to others, faithful reflections of their Saviour and Lord.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Kate Bluett’s paraphrase of the Magnificat, “Mary’s Hymn of Praise.”
1 My soul proclaims God’s greatness,
rejoicing in the Lord
who looks upon my meekness,
as ages will behold.
Now God does great things for me,
and holy is God’s name.
My spirit sings God’s wonders,
and oh! my soul proclaims!
2 In every generation
God pours such mercy down,
shows might before the nations,
and scatters all the proud.
God lifts up all the humble,
casts princes down in shame.
My spirit sings God’s wonders,
and oh! my soul proclaims!
3 Rejoice now in God’s promise
to Sarah and Abraham
and all of their descendants,
to keep us in God’s hand.
God fills the poor and hungry
and sends the rich away.
My spirit sings God’s wonders,
and oh! my soul proclaims!
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe 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, ruler of all things in heaven and
earth, mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and grant
us your peace all the days of our life; 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 Michael Frye and Kathryn Scott’s
“Be the Centre
1 Jesus, be the centre
Be my source, be my light
Jesus
2 Jesus, be the centre
Be my hope, be my song
Jesus
Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in these sails
Be the reason that I live
Jesus, Jesus
3 Jesus, be my vision
Be my path, be my guide
Jesus
Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in these sails
Be the reason that I live
Jesus, Jesus
Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in these sails
Be the reason that I live
Jesus, Jesus
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 Elizabeth Ann Porter Head and Trevor Hodge’s “O Breath of Life.”
Verse 1
O Breath of life, come sweeping through us
Revive Your church with life and power
O Breath of life, come, cleanse, renew us
And fit Your church to meet this hour
Chorus
O Breath of love, come breathe within
Renewing thought and will and heart
Come, Love of Christ, afresh to win
Revive Your church in every part
Verse 2
O Wind of God, come bend us, break us
Till humbly we confess our need
Then in Your tenderness remake us
Revive, restore, for this we plead
Chorus
O Breath of love, come breathe within
Renewing thought and will and heart
Come, Love of Christ, afresh to win
Revive Your church in every part
Verse 3
While harvest fields are vast and ripe
RRevive us, Lord! Is zeal abating
evive us, Lord, the world is waiting
Equip Your church to spread the light
Final Chorus
O Breath of love, come breathe within
Renewing thought and will and heart
Come, Love of Christ, afresh to win
Revive Your church in every part
O Breath of love, come breathe within
Renewing thought and will and heart
Come, Love of Christ, afresh to win
Revive Your church in every part
Outro
O Breath of life, come sweeping through us
Revive Your church with life and power
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.
Equip Your church to spread the light
Final Chorus
O Breath of love, come breathe within
Renewing thought and will and heart
Come, Love of Christ, afresh to win
Revive Your church in every part
O Breath of love, come breathe within
Renewing thought and will and heart
Come, Love of Christ, afresh to win
Revive Your church in every part
Outro
O Breath of life, come sweeping through us
Revive Your church with life and power
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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