Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (May 7, 2026)

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

In this Thursday evening’s message, we take a look at one of the “abide” passages of the Gospel of John—John 15: 9-11—and what it tells us about being a disciple of Jesus.

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

Open this link in a new tab to hear a unique arrangement of Sydney Carter’s THE BELLS OF NORWICH for musical water glasses.

Silence

Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

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 anew tab to hear Carl P. Daw Jr.’s “O Light Whose Splendor Thrills and Gladdens” (Phos hilaron).

1 O Light whose splendor thrills and gladdens
with radiance brighter than the sun,
pure gleam of God's unending glory,
O Jesus, blest Anointed One;

2 as twilight hovers near at sunset,
and lamps are lit, and children nod,
in evening hymns we lift our voices
to Father, Spirit, Son: one God.

3 In all life's brilliant, timeless moments,
let faithful voices sing your praise,
O Son of God, our Life-bestower,
whose glory lightens endless days.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Stacey Plays Hymns’ plainsong arrangement of “Sing to the Lord a New Song” (Psalm 96).

Sing to the Lord a new song
Sing to the Lord, all the earth
Sing to the Lord, bless the name of the Lord
Proclaim God's salvation from day to day
Declare God's glory among the nations
And God's wonders among all peoples
For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
More to be feared than all gods
As for all for all of the gods of the nations they are but idols
But you O Lord have made the heavens
Majesty and magnificence are in Your presence
Power and splendour are in your sanctuary
Ascribe to the Lord you families of the peoples
Ascribe to the Lord honour and power
Ascribe the honour due the holy name
Bring offerings and enter the courts of the Lord
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness
Tremble before the Lord all the earth
Tell it out among the nations the Lord is King
The One who made the world so firm that it cannot be moved
Will judge the peoples with equity
Let the heaven's rejoice and let the earth be glad
Let the sea thunder and all that is in it,
Let the field be joyful and all that is therein
Then shall all the tress of the word shout for joy at your coming, O Lord
For You come to judge the earth
You will judge the earth with righteousness
And the people's with your truth

Silence

Heaven and earth, O Lord, are full of your glory
and all creation resounds with your praise.
As your Son has appeared in the likeness of our flesh
so may all creation share in the beauty of holiness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

A reading from the Gospel according to John.
John 15: 9-11

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

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

Silence

“Abide in My Love”

In this evening’s reading from John’s Gospel Jesus makes this promise, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love….” Those who live Jesus’ teaching, whose words, attitudes, and actions are guided by what Jesus taught, can expect to enjoy a sense of Jesus’s love, of his special affection and goodwill toward them.

To this end we should immerse ourselves in what Jesus taught, memorize it, and keep it always in mind. In this way Jesus’ teaching will shape us and the Holy Spirit will use it to transform us into Jesus’ likeness.

Only by God’s grace, the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, are we able to keep Jesus’ commandments, to fashion and frame our lives according to his teaching. Even then our best efforts are likely to fall short and miss the mark like an arrow shot from a bow. When we have done our best, we may need to throw ourselves on God’s mercy. 

We should not, however, let this knowledge prevent us from making any effort at all. God is pleased when we listen to his beloved Son, when we make Jesus’ teaching the rule and pattern of our lives and show every day our desire to please him. In John 14: 21 Jesus testifies that doing so is pleasing to his and our Father in heaven, “They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” And in John 14:23-24: “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.” Those who seek to keep Jesus’ commandments, to live his teaching, God looks upon with approval. They are pleasing in God’s eyes.

Some may argue that this interpretation of John 15: 9-11 is legalistic. It gives too much attention to rules. In making their argument, they ignore what Jesus said in Luke 6:46: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’, and do not do what I tell you?” And in Matthew 7:21: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” In John 14:10 Jesus tells Phillip, “The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works.” Implicit is that what he is teaching is the Father’s will. In John 14: 15 Jesus goes on to say, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” He connects loving him with obeying him.

Fashioning and framing our lives according to Jesus’ teaching is not inconsistent with salvation by grace and justification by faith. It is not a substitute for a personal relationship with our Lord but goes hand in hand with it. The two are interconnected with each other. We show our faith in Jesus by taking his words to heart and acting upon them. We demonstrate that we possess a living faith.

Believers who give careful attention to their words, their attitudes, and their actions, who are consistent in their discipleship, generally will be the happiest. They will experience the same kind of joy that Jesus experienced in obeying the Father, the joy of doing God’s will.

Silence

Opens this link in a new tab to hear Carl P. Daw, Jr.’s “My Soul Proclaims with Wonder” (Magnificat).

My soul proclaims with wonder
the greatness of the Lord;
rejoicing in God's goodness,
my spirit is restored.

1 To me God has shown favor,
to one the world though frail;
and every age will echo
the angel's first "All hail."

My soul proclaims with wonder
the greatness of the Lord;
rejoicing in God's goodness,
my spirit is restored.

2 God's mercy shields the faithful
and saves them from defeat
with strength that turns to scatter
the proud in their conceit.

My soul proclaims with wonder
the greatness of the Lord;
rejoicing in God's goodness,
my spirit is restored.

3 The mighty have been vanquished;
the lowly lifted up.
The hungry find abundance;
the rich, an empty cup.

My soul proclaims with wonder
the greatness of the Lord;
rejoicing in God's goodness,
my spirit is restored.

4 To Abraham's descendants
the Lord will steadfast prove,
for God has made with Israel
a covenant of love.

My soul proclaims with wonder
the greatness of the Lord;
rejoicing in God's goodness,
my spirit is restored.

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.
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.

Lord of all life and power,
who through the mighty resurrection of your Son
overcame the old order of sin and death
to make all things new in him:
Grant that we, being dead to sin
and alive to you in Jesus Christ,
may reign with him in glory;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be praise and honour, glory and might,
now and in all eternity.
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 Sister Susanna Barrett’s “Stubborn Oak.”

I will not be like the stubborn oak
But I will be like the willow tree
I’ll bow and bend unto God’s will
And I will seek his mercy still.

I will not be like the stubborn oak
But I will be like the willow tree
I’ll bow and bend unto God’s will
And I will seek his mercy still.
I’ll bow and bend unto God’s will
And I will seek his mercy still.

Silence is 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 Edwin Hatch’s “Breathe on Me, Breath of God.”

1 Breathe on me, Breath of God
fill me with life anew,
that I may love what thou dost love,
and do what thou wouldst do.

2 Breathe on me, Breath of God,
until my heart is pure;
until my will is one with thine,
to do and to endure.

3 Breathe on me, Breath of God,
till I am wholly thine;
until this earthly part of me
glows with thy fire divine.

4 Breathe on me, Breath of God:
so shall I never die,
but live with thee the perfect life
of thine eternity.

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.