Sundays at All Hallows (February 8, 2026)

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

What can we learn from sparrows pecking at a half-eaten donut a small child dropped on the ground or orange daylilies growing in a ditch, yellow daffodils on the roadside or wild roses in a hedgerow? According to Jesus, they can teach us a lot. In this Sunday’s message, we take a look at what we can learn from them.

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

Open this link in a new tab to hear David Im’s arrangement of COMPLETE IN THEE for solo guitar.

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

So let us draw near to God with sincerity and confidence, and humbly confess our sins.

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 Timothy Dudley Smith’s “Come Let Us Praise the Lord (Psalm 95).”

1 Come, let us praise the Lord,
with joy our God acclaim,
his greatness tell abroad
and bless his saving Name.
Lift high your songs
before his throne
to whom alone
all praise belongs.

2 Our God of matchless worth,
our King beyond compare,
the deepest bounds of earth,
the hills, are in his care.
He all decrees,
who by his hand
prepared the land
and formed the seas.

3 In worship bow the knee,
our glorious God confess;
the great Creator, he,
the Lord our Righteousness.
He reigns unseen:
his flock he feeds
and gently leads
in pastures green.

4 Come, hear his voice today,
receive what love imparts;
his holy will obey
and harden not your hearts.
His ways are best;
and lead at last,
all troubles past,
to perfect rest.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Psalm 131, “My Heart Not Haughty Is, O Lord,” from the Scottish Metrical Psalter 1650.

1 My heart not haughty is, O Lord,
mine eyes not lofty be;
Nor do I deal in matters great,
or things too high for me.

2 I surely have myself behaved
with quiet sp'rit and mild,
As child of mother weaned: my soul
is like a weanèd child.

3 Upon the Lord let all the hope
of Israel rely,
Ev'n from the time that present is
unto eternity.

Silence

Eternal God,
like a mother you calm and quieten our souls:
keep us humble as we see your wonder
and trusting as we live in your love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Psalm 150, “Sing Hallelujah! Praise the LORD!” from the Trinity Psalter Hymnal (2018).

Organ and piano accompaniment only.

1 Sing hallelujah! Praise the LORD!
Praise God within his sacred courts!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Praise, praise him in his heav’nly height!
Praise, praise him for his deeds of might!
O praise him! O praise him!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

2 Praise God whose majesty abounds!
O praise him with the trumpet sound!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Praise God with lute and harp and strings,
with dance and pipe and tambourine!
O praise him! O praise him!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

3 With sounding cymbals praise the LORD!
With clashing cymbals praise aloud!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Let all that breathes now praise the LORD!
O praise the LORD forevermore!
O praise him! O praise him!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Silence

God of life and love,
whose Son was victorious over sin and death:
make us alive with his life,
that the whole world may resound with your praise;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

A reading from the Book of Isaiah.
Isaiah 49:8-16

This is what the Lord says:

“In the time of my favor I will answer you,
and in the day of salvation I will help you;
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people,
to restore the land
and to reassign its desolate inheritances,
to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’
and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’

“They will feed beside the roads
and find pasture on every barren hill.
They will neither hunger nor thirst,
nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them.
He who has compassion on them will guide them
and lead them beside springs of water.
I will turn all my mountains into roads,
and my highways will be raised up.
See, they will come from afar—
some from the north, some from the west,
some from the region of Aswan.”

Shout for joy, you heavens;
rejoice, you earth;
burst into song, you mountains!
For the Lord comforts his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me,
the Lord has forgotten me.”

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
I will not forget you!
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are ever before me.

Silence

Open this link in a new tab to hear Carl P. Daw, Jr.’s paraphrase of the Benedictus, “Blessed Be the God of Israel.”

1 Blessed be the God of Israel
who comes to set us free
and raises up new hope for us:
a Branch from David's tree.
So have the prophets long declared
that with a mighty arm
God would turn back our enemies
and all who wish us harm.

2 With promised mercy will God still
the covenant recall,
the oath once sworn to Abraham,
from foes to save us all;
that we might worship without fear
and offer lives of praise,
in holiness and righteousness
to serve God all our days.

3 My child, as prophet of the Lord,
you will prepare the way,
to tell God's people they are saved
from sin's eternal sway.
Then shall God's mercy from on high
shine forth and never cease
to drive away the gloom of death
and lead us into peace.

A reading from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 4:1-5

This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.

Silence

Open this link in a new tab to hear Christopher Idle’s paraphrase of the Te Deum, “God We Praise You! God We Bless You!”

1 God, we praise You! God, we bless You!
God, we name You sovereign Lord!
Mighty King Whom angels worship,
Father by Your church adored:
All creation shows Your glory,
Heaven and earth
draw near Your throne,
singing "Holy, holy, holy,"
Lord of hosts and God alone!

2 True apostles, faithful prophets
Saints who set their world ablaze
Martyrs once unknown, unheeded
Join one growing song of praise,
While Your church on earth confesses One majestic Trinity:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
God our hope eternally.

3 Jesus Christ, the King of glory
Everlasting Son of God
Humble was Your virgin mother
Hard the lonely path you trod:
By Your cross is sin defeated,
Hell confronted face to face,
Heaven opened to believers,
Sinners justified by grace.

4 Christ, at God's right hand victorious,
You will judge the world You made.
Lord in mercy, help Your servants
For whose freedom You have paid.
Raise us up from dust to glory,
Guard us from all sin today,
King enthroned above all praises,
Save Your people, God we pray.

Coda:
King enthroned above all praises,
Save Your people, God we pray.

A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew.
Matthew 6:24-34

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Our Trustworthy God

We can look at this Sunday’s Gospel reading in a number of different ways. One of these ways is to look at it from the perspective of Jesus as a pastor speaking to those under his spiritual care. Jesus was not only his disciples’ teacher, but he was also their pastor and spiritual director.

In the reading Jesus offers his disciples encouragement and guidance. Just as God feeds the birds of the air and clothes the flowers of the field, Jesus reassures them, God who knows their needs will provide for them. God can be trusted to care for them.

What Jesus is telling them is as much about God’s character as it is about anything else. God is trustworthy. God is dependable. God is gracious. They can rely upon God’s care.

This explains what Jesus says about not running after food and clothing like the pagans as well as lacking faith. The pagans’ gods were capricious—moody and changeable. They could not be trusted. They did not display the steadfast love toward humanity God displayed.

Jesus shows concern his disciples will harm themselves through fruitless anxiety and worry. Thinking about problems or unpleasant things that might happen and making themselves feel unhappy and frightened will accomplish nothing, he tells them.

Jesus urges them to seek God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness above all else. He assures them God will meet their needs and more if they do.

What Jesus is telling us is not to let our anxieties and worries keep us from making this our aim. God will care for us. We can count on it.

Silence

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.

Heavenly Father, keep your household the Church continually in
your true religion; that those who lean only on the hope of your
heavenly grace may always be defended by your mighty power;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, the author and lover of peace, in knowledge of whom
stands our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom;
defend us your servants in all assaults of our enemies,
that, surely trusting in your defense, we may not fear the power
of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.

Eternal God and Father, by whose power we are created and
by whose love we are redeemed: guide and strengthen us by
your Spirit, that we may give ourselves to your service, and
live every day in love to one another and to you; through Jesus
Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Isaac Watts’ “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need.”

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 through the shades of death I walk,
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.

[Let us pray for the Church]

Almighty and eternal God, you alone work great marvels:
send down your life-giving Spirit of grace on our bishops and other clergy, and on the congregations which they serve; and, in order that they may truly please you, pour upon them the continual dew of your blessing. Grant this, Lord, for the honour of our advocate and mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.

[Let us pray for all people according to their needs]

God of providence, God of love,
we pray for all people: make your way known to them, your saving power
among all nations.
We pray for the welfare of your Church throughout the world: guide and
govern it by your Holy Spirit, that all who call themselves Christians
may be led in the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit,
in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life.
We commend to your fatherly goodness all who are afflicted or distressed
in mind, body, or circumstances (especially…). Relieve them according to their needs, giving them patience in their sufferings, and deliverance in their afflictions. This we ask for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

[Let us pray for ourselves and others.]

Silence

Those present may offer their own prayers and thanksgivings, either silently or aloud.

Eternal God,
grant to us this day and every day
such readiness and delight in following Christ,
that whether our lives are short or long
we shall have lived abundantly. Amen.

[Let us give thanks to God for his goodness.]

Almighty God and merciful Father,
we give you heart-felt thanks
for all your goodness and loving kindness to us
and to all people.
We bless you for our creation and preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we pray, give us such a sense of all your mercies,
that our hearts may be truly thankful,
and that we praise you,
not only with our lips but in our lives,
serving you in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Almighty God, you have promised to hear the petitions of
those who ask in your Son’s name: mercifully accept us who
have now made our prayers to you; and grant us those things
which we have asked in faith according to your will; 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;
enrich it with truths that express your design.
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 lead,
your presence to shield me, whatever my need.

5 Lord of all being, I give you my all,
for if I disown you, I stumble and fall;
but sworn in glad 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.