Sundays at All Hallows (May 17, 2026)
This Sunday, the Sunday after Ascension Day, is the only Sunday in Ascensiontide. It is also known as Expectation Sunday, the Sunday before Whitsun, or Pentecost.
This Sunday’s message examines what the charge the risen Jesus gave the apostles in Acts 1:8 means for believers.
GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME
Open this link in a new tab to hear “Alleluia! Amen!” Karen Lakey Buckwalter’s arrangement of MADRID for handbells.
This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you sent. John 17:3
Open this link in a new tab to hear Michael Saward’s “Christ Triumphant, Ever Reigning.”
1 Christ triumphant, ever reigning,
Saviour, Master, King!
Lord of heaven, our lives sustaining,
hear us as we sing:
Yours the glory and the crown,
the high renown, the eternal name.
2 Word incarnate, truth revealing,
Son of Man on earth!
power and majesty concealing
by your humble birth:
Yours the glory and the crown,
the high renown, the eternal name.
3 Suffering servant, scorned, ill - treated,
victim crucified!
death is through the cross defeated,
sinners justified:
Yours the glory and the crown,
the high renown, the eternal name.
4 Priestly king, enthroned for ever
high in heaven above!
sin and death and hell shall never
stifle hymns of love:
Yours the glory and the crown,
the high renown, the eternal name.
5 So, our hearts and voices raising
through the ages long,
ceaselessly upon you gazing,
this shall be our song:
Yours the glory and the crown,
the high renown, the eternal name.
[Let us confess our sins to God our Father]
Silence
Heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour
in thought and word and deed,
negligence, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault;
by what we have done
and by what we have failed to do.
We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ who died for us,
forgive us all that is past;
and grant that we may serve you in newness of life
to the glory of your 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 this link in a new tab to hear Richard W. Hillert’s arrangement of
“Glory to God in the Highest” (Gloria in Excelsis).
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people
on earth.
Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father:
We worship You, we give You thanks, we praise
You for Your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord
God, Lamb of God:
You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on
us.
You are seated at the right hand of the Father;
receive our prayer.
For You alone are the Holy One, You alone are the
Lord,
You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
[The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.]
[Let us pray.]
Silence
O God the King of Glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
Mercifully give us faith to know
that, as he promised,
he abides with us on earth to the end of time;
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts 1: 6-14
So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
[May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.]
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Lee Ann Vermeulen-Roberts’ “Sing Songs” (Psalm 68).
Sing songs to God
And sing aloud
Praise be to Him
Who rides the clouds
In joyful song adore Him
In joyful song adore Him
He, father to the fatherless,
Cares for the weak and homeless
His holy house our shelter
His holy house our shelter
Blessed is God, the one who saves
Us from the clutches of the grave
Our strength and hope, the Saviour
Who bears our burdens in His arms
Delivers us from death and harm
May God arise forever
May God arise forever
Blessed is God, the one who saves
Us from the clutches of the grave
Blessed is God, the one who saves
Us from the clutches of the grave
Our strength and hope, the Saviour
Who bears our burdens in His arms
Delivers us from death and harm
May God arise forever
May God arise forever
A reading from the First Letter of Peter.
1 Peter 4: 12-14; 5: 6-11
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in so far as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
[May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.]
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear One and All Rejoice’s English version of the traditional Muscogee (Creek) Indian “Heleluyan” (Hallelujah).
Hallelujah, hallelujah;
Halle, hallelujah;
Hallelujah, hallelujah;
Halle, hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah;
Halle, hallelujah;
Hallelujah, hallelujah;
Halle, hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah;
Halle, hallelujah;
Hallelujah, hallelujah;
Halle, hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah;
Halle, hallelujah;
Hallelujah, hallelujah;
Halle, hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah;
(Hallelujah, hallelujah;)
Halle, hallelujah;
(Halle, hallelujah;)
Hallelujah, hallelujah;
Hallelujah, hallelujah;
(Hallelujah, hallelujah;)
Halle, hallelujah.
Halle, hallelujah.
(Halle, hallelujah.)
A reading from the Gospel according to John.
John 17:1-11, 20-24
After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.
‘I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
[May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.]
Silence
According to Luke, before the risen Jesus ascended into heaven he told his disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them and they would be his witnesses, telling people about him everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). A witness as the word is used in this passage is someone who avers, or can aver, what they themselves have seen or heard or knows by any other means. To aver something is “to say that something is certainly true.”
Like the apostles, all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are called to be witnesses for him. Like the apostles we are empowered by the Holy Spirit for that purpose. Unlike the apostles, we cannot testify to what we saw heard, and experienced firsthand when we walked with Jesus. We can, however, tell people about Jesus. We can testify to what we saw, heard, and experienced in our own lives and the lives of other believers.
As his witnesses, we serve him by testimony not only of our words but also of our attitudes and actions. We can demonstrate proof of God’s grace, the power of the Holy Spirit, working in human lives. Those who come into contact with us can see that our faith in Jesus is making a real difference in our lives. And see that such a faith can make a real difference in their lives too.
Just as the apostles were directed to tell people about Jesus everywhere, we are also expected to tell people about Jesus everywhere, in our Jerusalem, in our community, throughout our Judea, to people like ourselves, in our Samaria, to people unlike ourselves, and to peoples of distant lands far from home.
Some of us may be called to a different witness—to share in our Lord’s suffering, resisting the adversary and holding fast to our faith.
While all believers are expected to bear witness to their Lord as individuals, they can have far greater impact when they witness together with other believers. Based upon what he did and said, Jesus understood this. He sent out his disciples in pairs.
On the night of his betrayal and arrest Jesus prayed for the apostles and for those who one day would believe in him through the apostles’ words, for ourselves. He prayed for a special kind of unity for the apostles and ourselves, a unity that would enable the world to know that God sent him and that he loves the apostles and ourselves even as God loves him.
This is the kind of unity which is best shown in the worship, ministry and life of the local church, in the common witness of a gathering of believers who form together a particular expression of the Body of Christ, Christ’s Church, in a particular locality. That locality may be a community, a neighborhood, or a rural district. Their witness can not only have a profound impact upon the people of the locality, the place where God chose to put that church, but also upon the people of the surrounding area and beyond.
As you read the Acts of the Apostles you will learn how God sent different individuals to different places and to different people to be witnesses for Jesus in these places and to these people. God still does that. It may be to be a witness in your own backyard to someone whom you know—a family member, a relative, a neighbor, a coworker, a fellow student, or even someone in your church, someone who needs an encouraging word. Ask God to show you where and who. Join with other believers to pray for God’s guidance together and to follow the Holy Spirit’s prompting together.
Before Hurricane Katrina gutted the building, a seminary student and I made regular visits to the Java Grotto, a café a few hundred yards from Lake Pontchartrain. Only a highway, some green space, and the seawall separated the café from the lake. We mingled with the customers, befriended the owner and the baristas, and helped repaint the café. Our aim was to get to know people and for them to get to know us and to trust the Holy Spirit to provide opportunities for spiritual conversations. This is one way believers are called to witness for Jesus. It involves doing more listening than talking. The storm surge caused by the hurricane, however, brought an unexpected end to our witnessing at that location.
A reading from the Gospel according to John.
John 17:1-11, 20-24
After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.
‘I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
[May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.]
Silence
“You Will Be My Witnesses…”
According to Luke, before the risen Jesus ascended into heaven he told his disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them and they would be his witnesses, telling people about him everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). A witness as the word is used in this passage is someone who avers, or can aver, what they themselves have seen or heard or knows by any other means. To aver something is “to say that something is certainly true.”
Like the apostles, all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are called to be witnesses for him. Like the apostles we are empowered by the Holy Spirit for that purpose. Unlike the apostles, we cannot testify to what we saw heard, and experienced firsthand when we walked with Jesus. We can, however, tell people about Jesus. We can testify to what we saw, heard, and experienced in our own lives and the lives of other believers.
As his witnesses, we serve him by testimony not only of our words but also of our attitudes and actions. We can demonstrate proof of God’s grace, the power of the Holy Spirit, working in human lives. Those who come into contact with us can see that our faith in Jesus is making a real difference in our lives. And see that such a faith can make a real difference in their lives too.
Just as the apostles were directed to tell people about Jesus everywhere, we are also expected to tell people about Jesus everywhere, in our Jerusalem, in our community, throughout our Judea, to people like ourselves, in our Samaria, to people unlike ourselves, and to peoples of distant lands far from home.
Some of us may be called to a different witness—to share in our Lord’s suffering, resisting the adversary and holding fast to our faith.
While all believers are expected to bear witness to their Lord as individuals, they can have far greater impact when they witness together with other believers. Based upon what he did and said, Jesus understood this. He sent out his disciples in pairs.
On the night of his betrayal and arrest Jesus prayed for the apostles and for those who one day would believe in him through the apostles’ words, for ourselves. He prayed for a special kind of unity for the apostles and ourselves, a unity that would enable the world to know that God sent him and that he loves the apostles and ourselves even as God loves him.
This is the kind of unity which is best shown in the worship, ministry and life of the local church, in the common witness of a gathering of believers who form together a particular expression of the Body of Christ, Christ’s Church, in a particular locality. That locality may be a community, a neighborhood, or a rural district. Their witness can not only have a profound impact upon the people of the locality, the place where God chose to put that church, but also upon the people of the surrounding area and beyond.
As you read the Acts of the Apostles you will learn how God sent different individuals to different places and to different people to be witnesses for Jesus in these places and to these people. God still does that. It may be to be a witness in your own backyard to someone whom you know—a family member, a relative, a neighbor, a coworker, a fellow student, or even someone in your church, someone who needs an encouraging word. Ask God to show you where and who. Join with other believers to pray for God’s guidance together and to follow the Holy Spirit’s prompting together.
Before Hurricane Katrina gutted the building, a seminary student and I made regular visits to the Java Grotto, a café a few hundred yards from Lake Pontchartrain. Only a highway, some green space, and the seawall separated the café from the lake. We mingled with the customers, befriended the owner and the baristas, and helped repaint the café. Our aim was to get to know people and for them to get to know us and to trust the Holy Spirit to provide opportunities for spiritual conversations. This is one way believers are called to witness for Jesus. It involves doing more listening than talking. The storm surge caused by the hurricane, however, brought an unexpected end to our witnessing at that location.
While it is not the only way believers are expected to be Jesus’ witnesses, something that all believers can do is to pattern their lives on his teachings and practice what he taught, especially to love one another, showing that they are his true disciples, and not masquerading as his followers for their own ends.
“You will be my witnesses…” is a charge Jesus has given to all who believe in him. It is a command, yes, a command he expects all believers to obey. How we obey it may differ according to our particular circumstances. It is a command that if we truly love our Lord, we will gladly obey.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Donald Fishel’s “Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks” (“Alleluia No. 1”).
Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his Name.
1 Jesus is Lord of all the earth.
He is the King of creation.
Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his Name.
2 Spread the good news o'er all the earth:
Jesus has died and has risen.
Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his Name.
3 We have been crucified with Christ.
Now we shall live for ever.
Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his Name.
4 God has proclaimed his gracious gift:
Life eternal for all who believe.
Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his Name.
5 Come, let us praise the living God,
Joyfully sing to our Saviour.
Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his Name.
[Let us affirm our faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed.]
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
[Let us pray for the Church and the world.]
Father, we pray for your holy catholic Church
that we all may be one.
Grant that every member of your Church may truly and humbly serve you:
“You will be my witnesses…” is a charge Jesus has given to all who believe in him. It is a command, yes, a command he expects all believers to obey. How we obey it may differ according to our particular circumstances. It is a command that if we truly love our Lord, we will gladly obey.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Donald Fishel’s “Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks” (“Alleluia No. 1”).
Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his Name.
1 Jesus is Lord of all the earth.
He is the King of creation.
Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his Name.
2 Spread the good news o'er all the earth:
Jesus has died and has risen.
Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his Name.
3 We have been crucified with Christ.
Now we shall live for ever.
Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his Name.
4 God has proclaimed his gracious gift:
Life eternal for all who believe.
Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his Name.
5 Come, let us praise the living God,
Joyfully sing to our Saviour.
Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his Name.
[Let us affirm our faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed.]
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
[Let us pray for the Church and the world.]
Father, we pray for your holy catholic Church
that we all may be one.
Grant that every member of your Church may truly and humbly serve you:
that your name may be glorified by all people.
We pray for all bishops and other ministers
that they may faithfully preach your word and administer your sacraments.
We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world
We pray for all bishops and other ministers
that they may faithfully preach your word and administer your sacraments.
We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world
that there may be justice and peace on the earth.
Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake
that your glory may be proclaimed through our lives.
Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble
that they may be delivered from their distress.
We praise you for your saints who have entered their eternal joy
may we also come to share in the fulness of your kingdom.
We pray for our own needs and for those of others:
Silence.
Those present may add their own petitions.
Faithful God,
you have promised to hear the prayers
of all who ask in Jesus’ name.
In your mercy, accept our prayers.
Give us what we have asked in faith,
according to your will:
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
[Let us give thanks to God for his goodness.]
Almighty God, we praise you for the blessings
brought to the world through your Church.
We bless you for the grace of the sacraments,
for our fellowship in Christ with you and with
each other, for the teaching of the Scriptures,
and for the preaching of your word. We thank
you for the holy example of your saints, for
your faithful servants departed this life, and
for the memory and example of all that has
been true and good in their lives. Number us
with them in the company of the redeemed in
heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
O Lord God, we pray for your whole Church
throughout the world. May her witness be faithful
and her worship sincere; may her divisions be healed
and her life renewed; and may all her members be bound
together in loving service to one another and in true
devotion to you; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
[And now as our Saviour taught us, we pray]
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.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Bob Gillman’s “Bind Us Together.”
Bind us together, Lord,
Bind us together,
With cords that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord,
Bind us together,
Bind us together with love.
1 There is only one God,
There is only one King;
There is only one Body,
That is why we sing:
Bind us together, Lord,
Bind us together,
With cords that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord,
Bind us together,
Bind us together with love.
2 Made for the glory of God,
Purchased by His precious Son;
Born with the right to be clean,
For Jesus the victory has won.
Bind us together, Lord,
Bind us together,
With cords that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord,
Bind us together,
Bind us together with love.
3 You are the family of God,
You are the promise divine;
You are God's chosen desire,
You are the glorious new wine.
Bind us together, Lord,
Bind us together,
With cords that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord,
Bind us together,
Bind us together with love.
GOING OUT AS GOD’S PEOPLE
Almighty and everlasting God,
you enable us both to will and to do
those things that are good and acceptable.
We offer you our humble supplications,
beseeching you to so lead us in knowledge
of your truth and obedience to your will,
that out of our weakness we may be made
strong, and may bear much fruit to your
glory: through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Lowell Mason’s arrangement of “And the Grace of God” (based on 2 Corinthians 13:14).
And the grace of God, our Father,
and the love of Jesus Christ,
and the Holy Spirit’s union be with us forevermore.
And the grace of God, our Father,
and the love of Jesus Christ,
and the Holy Spirit’s union be with us forevermore.
Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake
that your glory may be proclaimed through our lives.
Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble
that they may be delivered from their distress.
We praise you for your saints who have entered their eternal joy
may we also come to share in the fulness of your kingdom.
We pray for our own needs and for those of others:
Silence.
Those present may add their own petitions.
Faithful God,
you have promised to hear the prayers
of all who ask in Jesus’ name.
In your mercy, accept our prayers.
Give us what we have asked in faith,
according to your will:
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
[Let us give thanks to God for his goodness.]
Almighty God, we praise you for the blessings
brought to the world through your Church.
We bless you for the grace of the sacraments,
for our fellowship in Christ with you and with
each other, for the teaching of the Scriptures,
and for the preaching of your word. We thank
you for the holy example of your saints, for
your faithful servants departed this life, and
for the memory and example of all that has
been true and good in their lives. Number us
with them in the company of the redeemed in
heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
O Lord God, we pray for your whole Church
throughout the world. May her witness be faithful
and her worship sincere; may her divisions be healed
and her life renewed; and may all her members be bound
together in loving service to one another and in true
devotion to you; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
[And now as our Saviour taught us, we pray]
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.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Bob Gillman’s “Bind Us Together.”
Bind us together, Lord,
Bind us together,
With cords that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord,
Bind us together,
Bind us together with love.
1 There is only one God,
There is only one King;
There is only one Body,
That is why we sing:
Bind us together, Lord,
Bind us together,
With cords that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord,
Bind us together,
Bind us together with love.
2 Made for the glory of God,
Purchased by His precious Son;
Born with the right to be clean,
For Jesus the victory has won.
Bind us together, Lord,
Bind us together,
With cords that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord,
Bind us together,
Bind us together with love.
3 You are the family of God,
You are the promise divine;
You are God's chosen desire,
You are the glorious new wine.
Bind us together, Lord,
Bind us together,
With cords that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord,
Bind us together,
Bind us together with love.
GOING OUT AS GOD’S PEOPLE
Almighty and everlasting God,
you enable us both to will and to do
those things that are good and acceptable.
We offer you our humble supplications,
beseeching you to so lead us in knowledge
of your truth and obedience to your will,
that out of our weakness we may be made
strong, and may bear much fruit to your
glory: through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Lowell Mason’s arrangement of “And the Grace of God” (based on 2 Corinthians 13:14).
And the grace of God, our Father,
and the love of Jesus Christ,
and the Holy Spirit’s union be with us forevermore.
And the grace of God, our Father,
and the love of Jesus Christ,
and the Holy Spirit’s union be with us forevermore.
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