Thursday Evening at All Hallows (February 19, 2026)
Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.
Yesterday was the first day of Lent, traditionally called Ash Wednesday. Some churches observed the occasion with a penitential service. Depending upon the customs of the church, this service may have included the imposition of ashes on the foreheads of those present, a reminder of our mortality, the shortness of life and the need for repentance. In this evening’s message we will be taking a look at what John Wesley, a leading figure of the eighteenth century Evangelical Revival and founder of the Methodist movement, taught were the means of grace essential to pursuing a Christian life.
GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
Open this link in a new tab to hear Josh Snodgrass’ arrangement of LANDÅS for solo guitar.
Silence
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
he does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor requite us according to our iniquities.
Psalm I03:8a,10
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 Brent Chambers’ “Let Our Praise to You Be As Incense.”
Let our praise to You be as incense
Let our praise to You be as pillars of Your throne
Let our praise to You be as incense
As we come before You and worship You alone
As we see You in Your splendor
As we gaze upon Your majesty
As we join the host of angels
And proclaim together Your holiness
Let our praise to You be as incense
Let our praise to You be as pillars of Your throne
Let our praise to You be as incense
As we come before You and worship You alone
As we see You in Your splendor
As we gaze upon Your majesty
As we join the host of angels
And proclaim together Your holiness
Holy, holy, holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy, holy, holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy, holy, holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy, holy, holy
Holy is the Lord
As we see You in Your splendor
As we gaze upon Your majesty
As we join the host of angels
And proclaim together Your holiness
Holy, holy, holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy, holy, holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy, holy, holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy, holy, holy
Holy is the Lord
Open this link in a new tab to hear Marty Haugen’s “Be Merciful, O Lord” (Psalm 51).
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
1 Have mercy on me God in your kindness
In your compassion blot out my offense
Oh wash me more and more
From my guilt and my sorrow
And cleanse me from all of my sin
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
2 My offenses, I truly know them,
and my sins are always before me;
against you alone have I sinned, O Lord,
what is evil in your sight I have done.
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
3 Create in me a clean heart O God
Put your steadfast spirit in my soul
Cast me not away from your presence O Lord
And take not your Spirit from me
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
4 Give back to me the joy of your salvation
let your willing spirit bear me up
and I shall teach your way to the ones who have wandered
And bring them all home to your side
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
Silence
Take away, O Lord, the sin that corrupts us;
restore by grace your own image within us;
give us the sorrow that heals
and the joy that praises,
that we may take our place among your people,
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew.
Matthew 6.1-21
‘Be careful not to practise your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
‘So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honoured by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
‘And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
‘This, then, is how you should pray:
‘“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
‘When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
John Wesley, an eighteenth century Anglican priest and Christian leader who founded the Methodist movement, urged the early Methodists to “attend the ordinances” in his General Rules for Methodist Societies. What Wesley meant by “attend the ordinances” was to employ what are called the means of grace, the ways that God invigorates, strengthens, and confirms our faith. The Holy Spirit works in our lives through these means as well as directly in us. The Holy Spirit enables us not only to trust God more whole heartedly but also to obey God more fully.
Wesley’s understanding of the means of grace is rooted and grounded in the Bible. In this message we will explore what Wesley identified as the means of grace in the General Rules, his sermons, and his journals. We will also touch on how we can employ them in a personal rule of life. A rule of life is “is an intentional pattern of spiritual disciplines that provides structure and direction for growth in holiness.”
In the General Rules Wesley identifies six “ordinances,” means of grace ordained by God. They are the public worship of God; the ministry of the Word, either read or expounded; the Supper of the Lord; family and private prayer; searching the Scriptures; and fasting or abstinence. Let’s look at each of these six ordinances in turn and then look at the two ordinances Wesley identifies in his sermons and journals—acts of mercy and holy conferencing.
By “attending” the ordinance of the public worship of God, Wesley means more than being simply present at a service of public worship or regularly going to such a service. He means actively engaging in the worship of God at the service, joining in the congregational responses, reciting the Psalms, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Creeds, listening attentively to the Scripture readings and the sermon or homily, and singing the hymns. Wesley understood that only through enthusiastic, expectant participation is the heart stirred and drawn closer to God.
Note that Wesley treats the ministry of the Word as a separate ordinance from the public worship of God. The reason is that while the Word is typically read and expounded as a part of a service of public worship, the Word may also be read and expounded in other settings—lecture halls, public squares, barns, fields, commons. Wesley frequently preached in the open air as he was often barred from preaching in parish churches. He understood what matters is hearing the Word read and expounded not where.
In his sermons "The Means of Grace" and "The Duty of Constant Communion," Wesley urged the early Methodists to practice this means of grace at every opportunity He pointed to their attention that the more often they partook the Lord’s Supper, the greater the likelihood they would be to enjoy a "constant communion" with God. Wesley himself received Holy Communion frequently and regularly and encouraged the early Methodists to do the same.
Prayer was also high on the list of means of grace Wesley urged his followers to practice at every opportunity. So was “searching the Scriptures.” Just as we cannot have a personal relationship with someone to whom we never speak, we also cannot have a personal relationship with God to whom we never pray. By “searching the Scriptures,” Wesley means not only to read and study the Holy Scriptures, the Old Testament and the New Testament, but also to meditate upon a particular passage or verse or even word.
By fasting and abstinence, Wesley is referring to acts of self-denial that we might practice for a season or on a more regular basis. Wesley himself practiced a weekly fast from sundown on Thursday to sundown on Friday. During this fast he did not eat any food. He did, however, drink tea and water. He devoted much of the time to prayer and reading Scripture.
Wesley preached that acts of mercy were an essential means of grace like prayer and “searching the Scriptures.” What he had in mind was what the righteous had done the “least of these” in Matthew 25:35-40. Both those who show compassion and kindness to others and those to whom compassion and kindness are shown experience God’s grace.
Wesley mentions “holy conferencing” in his journal. The spiritual conversations that we have with a pastor, a spiritual director, or a fellow Christian are a channel of God’s grace not only to us but also to the other party or parties. A part of loving one another as Jesus commanded is providing spiritual care to each other. We build up one other’s faith, spur one another on toward love and good deeds, and encourage one another.
We tend to think of the season of Lent as a time for prayer, repentance, and self-denial. It can also be a time for spiritual growth. One step we can take in that direction is to adopt a personal rule of life, a doable plan for employing the means of grace in our own lives, a plan which gives careful thought to how we can use these spiritual disciplines to foster our own spiritual growth. An important consideration is our willingness to make time for these spiritual disciplines and to allow sufficient time to benefit from them.
During the season of Lent, I will be taking a closer look at these means of grace and how we might employ them not only for our own benefit but also for the good of others. May this Lenten season be a profitable one for all of us.
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, you hate nothing that you have
made, and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent: create and
make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain from you, the
God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; 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 Charles Wesley and Alanna Glover’s “Love Divine All Loves Excelling.”
1 Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heav'n, to earth come down
Fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown
Jesus, thou art all compassion; pure, unbounded love Thou art
Visit us with thy salvation; enter ev'ry trembling heart
2 Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit into ev'ry troubled breast!
Let us all in thee inherit; let us find the promised rest
Take away the love of sinning; Alpha and Omega be
End of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty
3 Come, Almighty, to deliver; let us all thy life receive
Suddenly return and never, nevermore thy temples leave
Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above
Pray and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love
4 Finish then thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be
Let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee
Changed from glory into glory, till in heav'n we take our place
Till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise
Changed from glory into glory, till in heav'n we take our place
Till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise
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 Rob Smith’s “Undivided.”
1 Give me an undivided heart
That I might fear your name
Teach me to walk in righteous paths
And follow in your ways
For you are gracious and forgiving
Hear, O Lord, and answer me
2 Give me an undivided mind
That I might love your word
Help me to hunger for your voice
And know your Spirit’s sword
For you are good, your truth unchanging
Life is found in serving you
Undivided – I want to live for you
Single-minded – all that I say, all that I do
Sanctify me, take me and make me new
That I might live for Christ, my Lord
3 Give me an undivided love
For all that you desire
Make me a living sacrifice
Ignite in me your fire
For you, O Lord, are God eternal
All my ways are known to you
Undivided – counting my gains as loss
Single-minded – whatever the pain, whatever the cost
Sanctify me, help me take up my cross
And live for him who died for me
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.
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 Brent Chambers’ “Let Our Praise to You Be As Incense.”
Let our praise to You be as incense
Let our praise to You be as pillars of Your throne
Let our praise to You be as incense
As we come before You and worship You alone
As we see You in Your splendor
As we gaze upon Your majesty
As we join the host of angels
And proclaim together Your holiness
Let our praise to You be as incense
Let our praise to You be as pillars of Your throne
Let our praise to You be as incense
As we come before You and worship You alone
As we see You in Your splendor
As we gaze upon Your majesty
As we join the host of angels
And proclaim together Your holiness
Holy, holy, holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy, holy, holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy, holy, holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy, holy, holy
Holy is the Lord
As we see You in Your splendor
As we gaze upon Your majesty
As we join the host of angels
And proclaim together Your holiness
Holy, holy, holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy, holy, holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy, holy, holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy, holy, holy
Holy is the Lord
Open this link in a new tab to hear Marty Haugen’s “Be Merciful, O Lord” (Psalm 51).
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
1 Have mercy on me God in your kindness
In your compassion blot out my offense
Oh wash me more and more
From my guilt and my sorrow
And cleanse me from all of my sin
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
2 My offenses, I truly know them,
and my sins are always before me;
against you alone have I sinned, O Lord,
what is evil in your sight I have done.
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
3 Create in me a clean heart O God
Put your steadfast spirit in my soul
Cast me not away from your presence O Lord
And take not your Spirit from me
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
4 Give back to me the joy of your salvation
let your willing spirit bear me up
and I shall teach your way to the ones who have wandered
And bring them all home to your side
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
Be merciful, O Lord for we have sinned
Silence
Take away, O Lord, the sin that corrupts us;
restore by grace your own image within us;
give us the sorrow that heals
and the joy that praises,
that we may take our place among your people,
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew.
Matthew 6.1-21
‘Be careful not to practise your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
‘So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honoured by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
‘And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
‘This, then, is how you should pray:
‘“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
‘When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
Attend the Ordinances
John Wesley, an eighteenth century Anglican priest and Christian leader who founded the Methodist movement, urged the early Methodists to “attend the ordinances” in his General Rules for Methodist Societies. What Wesley meant by “attend the ordinances” was to employ what are called the means of grace, the ways that God invigorates, strengthens, and confirms our faith. The Holy Spirit works in our lives through these means as well as directly in us. The Holy Spirit enables us not only to trust God more whole heartedly but also to obey God more fully.
Wesley’s understanding of the means of grace is rooted and grounded in the Bible. In this message we will explore what Wesley identified as the means of grace in the General Rules, his sermons, and his journals. We will also touch on how we can employ them in a personal rule of life. A rule of life is “is an intentional pattern of spiritual disciplines that provides structure and direction for growth in holiness.”
In the General Rules Wesley identifies six “ordinances,” means of grace ordained by God. They are the public worship of God; the ministry of the Word, either read or expounded; the Supper of the Lord; family and private prayer; searching the Scriptures; and fasting or abstinence. Let’s look at each of these six ordinances in turn and then look at the two ordinances Wesley identifies in his sermons and journals—acts of mercy and holy conferencing.
By “attending” the ordinance of the public worship of God, Wesley means more than being simply present at a service of public worship or regularly going to such a service. He means actively engaging in the worship of God at the service, joining in the congregational responses, reciting the Psalms, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Creeds, listening attentively to the Scripture readings and the sermon or homily, and singing the hymns. Wesley understood that only through enthusiastic, expectant participation is the heart stirred and drawn closer to God.
Note that Wesley treats the ministry of the Word as a separate ordinance from the public worship of God. The reason is that while the Word is typically read and expounded as a part of a service of public worship, the Word may also be read and expounded in other settings—lecture halls, public squares, barns, fields, commons. Wesley frequently preached in the open air as he was often barred from preaching in parish churches. He understood what matters is hearing the Word read and expounded not where.
In his sermons "The Means of Grace" and "The Duty of Constant Communion," Wesley urged the early Methodists to practice this means of grace at every opportunity He pointed to their attention that the more often they partook the Lord’s Supper, the greater the likelihood they would be to enjoy a "constant communion" with God. Wesley himself received Holy Communion frequently and regularly and encouraged the early Methodists to do the same.
Prayer was also high on the list of means of grace Wesley urged his followers to practice at every opportunity. So was “searching the Scriptures.” Just as we cannot have a personal relationship with someone to whom we never speak, we also cannot have a personal relationship with God to whom we never pray. By “searching the Scriptures,” Wesley means not only to read and study the Holy Scriptures, the Old Testament and the New Testament, but also to meditate upon a particular passage or verse or even word.
By fasting and abstinence, Wesley is referring to acts of self-denial that we might practice for a season or on a more regular basis. Wesley himself practiced a weekly fast from sundown on Thursday to sundown on Friday. During this fast he did not eat any food. He did, however, drink tea and water. He devoted much of the time to prayer and reading Scripture.
Wesley preached that acts of mercy were an essential means of grace like prayer and “searching the Scriptures.” What he had in mind was what the righteous had done the “least of these” in Matthew 25:35-40. Both those who show compassion and kindness to others and those to whom compassion and kindness are shown experience God’s grace.
Wesley mentions “holy conferencing” in his journal. The spiritual conversations that we have with a pastor, a spiritual director, or a fellow Christian are a channel of God’s grace not only to us but also to the other party or parties. A part of loving one another as Jesus commanded is providing spiritual care to each other. We build up one other’s faith, spur one another on toward love and good deeds, and encourage one another.
We tend to think of the season of Lent as a time for prayer, repentance, and self-denial. It can also be a time for spiritual growth. One step we can take in that direction is to adopt a personal rule of life, a doable plan for employing the means of grace in our own lives, a plan which gives careful thought to how we can use these spiritual disciplines to foster our own spiritual growth. An important consideration is our willingness to make time for these spiritual disciplines and to allow sufficient time to benefit from them.
During the season of Lent, I will be taking a closer look at these means of grace and how we might employ them not only for our own benefit but also for the good of others. May this Lenten season be a profitable one for all of us.
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, you hate nothing that you have
made, and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent: create and
make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain from you, the
God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; 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 Charles Wesley and Alanna Glover’s “Love Divine All Loves Excelling.”
1 Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heav'n, to earth come down
Fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown
Jesus, thou art all compassion; pure, unbounded love Thou art
Visit us with thy salvation; enter ev'ry trembling heart
2 Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit into ev'ry troubled breast!
Let us all in thee inherit; let us find the promised rest
Take away the love of sinning; Alpha and Omega be
End of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty
3 Come, Almighty, to deliver; let us all thy life receive
Suddenly return and never, nevermore thy temples leave
Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above
Pray and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love
4 Finish then thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be
Let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee
Changed from glory into glory, till in heav'n we take our place
Till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise
Changed from glory into glory, till in heav'n we take our place
Till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise
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 Rob Smith’s “Undivided.”
1 Give me an undivided heart
That I might fear your name
Teach me to walk in righteous paths
And follow in your ways
For you are gracious and forgiving
Hear, O Lord, and answer me
2 Give me an undivided mind
That I might love your word
Help me to hunger for your voice
And know your Spirit’s sword
For you are good, your truth unchanging
Life is found in serving you
Undivided – I want to live for you
Single-minded – all that I say, all that I do
Sanctify me, take me and make me new
That I might live for Christ, my Lord
3 Give me an undivided love
For all that you desire
Make me a living sacrifice
Ignite in me your fire
For you, O Lord, are God eternal
All my ways are known to you
Undivided – counting my gains as loss
Single-minded – whatever the pain, whatever the cost
Sanctify me, help me take up my cross
And live for him who died for me
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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