Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (July 2, 2026)

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

We do not know the names of the first Christians who practiced their faith in Britannia, what the Romans called Great Britain and the province that they established in the southern two-thirds of the island. Nor do we know where they gathered and under what circumstances. What we do know is that in the third century the early Church Father Origen recorded in his writings that the influence of Christianity in the island had spread beyond the Roman province. We also know that three British bishops and a number of their clergy attended the Council of Arles in 314. Anglicans, Episcopalians, and Methodists (and Baptists, Congregationalists, Presbyterians and other Christian groups too) can count what Church historians call the Celtic Church as a part of their early Christian heritage.

In this Thursday evening’s message, we examine Romans 15:22-33 for what we can learn from that part of Paul’s letter to the Christian community at Rome and consider how we can apply it to our own life and witness as Christians.

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

Open this link in a new tab to hear Brandon Fletcher’s arrangement of G. A. Young’s “God Leads Us Along” (GOD LEADS US) for mixed instruments.

Silence

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth
stand in awe of him. Psalm 96:9

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 Alan G. McDougall’s translation and Anne LeCroy’s revision of the10th century Mozarabic hymn, “Christ, Mighty Savior.”

1 Christ, mighty Savior, Light of all creation,
you make the daytime radiant with the sunlight,
and to the night give glittering adornment,
stars in the heavens.

2 Now comes the day’s end as the sun is setting,
mirror of daybreak, pledge of resurrection;
while in the heavens choirs of stars appearing
hallow the nightfall.

3 Therefore we come now, evening rites to offer,
joyfully chanting holy hymns to praise you,
with all creation joining hearts and voices
singing your glory.

4 Give heed, we pray you, to our supplication,
that you may grant us pardon for offenses,
strength for our weak hearts, rest for aching bodies,
soothing the weary.

5 Though bodies slumber, hearts shall keep their vigil,
for ever resting in the peace of Jesus,
in light or darkness worshiping our Savior
now and for ever.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Psalm 27 (Dominus illuminatio mea) from the St. Dunstan's Plainsong Psalter.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear : the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh : they stumbled and fell.

3 Though an host of men were laid against me, yet shall not my heart be afraid : and though there rose up war against me, yet will I put my trust in him.

4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, which I will require : even that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the fair beauty of the Lord, and to visit his temple.

5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his tabernacle : yea, in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me, and set me up upon a rock of stone.

6 And now shall he lift up mine head : above mine enemies round about me.

7 Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation with great gladness : I will sing, and speak praises unto the Lord.

8 Hearken unto my voice, O Lord, when I cry unto thee : have mercy upon me, and hear me.

9 My heart hath talked of thee, Seek ye my face : Thy face, Lord, will I seek.

10 O hide not thou thy face from me : nor cast thy servant away in displeasure.

11 Thou hast been my succour : leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

12 When my father and my mother forsake me : the Lord taketh me up.

13 Teach me thy way, O Lord : and lead me in the right way, because of mine enemies.

14 Deliver me not over into the will of mine adversaries : for there are false witnesses risen up against me, and such as speak wrong.

15 I should utterly have fainted : but that I believe verily to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

16 O tarry thou the Lord's leisure : be strong, and he shall comfort thine heart; and put thou thy trust in the Lord.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be:
world without end. Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

A reading from the Book of Nehemiah.
Nehemiah 7:73b-8:18

So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel settled in their towns.

When the seventh month came—the people of Israel being settled in their towns— all the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. The scribe Ezra stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, ‘Amen, Amen’, lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the law, while the people remained in their places. So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, ‘Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.’ And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

On the second day the heads of ancestral houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to the scribe Ezra in order to study the words of the law. And they found it written in the law, which the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the people of Israel should live in booths* during the festival of the seventh month, and that they should publish and proclaim in all their towns and in Jerusalem as follows, ‘Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.’ So the people went out and brought them, and made booths for themselves, each on the roofs of their houses, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in them; for from the days of Jeshua son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing. And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the book of the law of God. They kept the festival for seven days; and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.

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

Silence

Opens this link in a new tab to hear Kate Bluett’s “Mary's Hymn of Praise” (Magnificat).

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!

A reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans.
Romans 15:22-33

This is the reason that I have so often been hindered from coming to you. But now, with no further place for me in these regions, I desire, as I have for many years, to come to you when I go to Spain. For I do hope to see you on my journey and to be sent on by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little while. At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem in a ministry to the saints; for Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to share their resources with the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. They were pleased to do this, and indeed they owe it to them; for if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material things. So, when I have completed this, and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will set out by way of you to Spain; and I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing* of Christ.

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in earnest prayer to God on my behalf, that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. The God of peace be with all of you. Amen.

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

Silence

Open this link in a new tab to hear Janet Sullivan Whitaker’s “Song of Simeon” (Nunc dimittis).

Now, O God, let your servant go.
Let me go in peace, according to your word.
For my eyes behold your saving work: a light for all the world, alleluia.
Now, O God, let your servant go.
Let me go in peace, according to your word.
For my eyes behold your saving work: a light for all the world, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

A Journey Not Made, A Plan Unfulfilled

The reason Paul gives for not visiting the Christian community at Rome was his desire to go to places where Christ was not known and proclaim the gospel there rather than building on someone else’s efforts. In other words, he wanted to break new ground in spreading the good news. He tells those to whom he wrote the letter that he is planning to go to Spain, and he will visit Rome on his way to Spain.

Paul will never go to Spain. He would go to Rome but as a prisoner and not as he planned. Paul would die in Rome, executed at the order of Nero who was the Roman emperor at that time. Those to whom he had written would suffer cruelly at the hands of the same emperor not long after Paul’s death.

Others would go to Spain and tell the people about Jesus. Britain was connected by sea trade routes to North Africa and Spain, and it is highly likely Christianity came to Britain by way of these routes.

Long before Augustine and his monks set foot on the soil of the Saxon Kingdom of Kent, Britannia had its own indigenous church with its own saints, its own rites and ceremonies, its own traditions, and its own bishops.

From the portion of his letter to the Romans, which forms this evening’s New Testament reading, it is evident that Paul was zealous to spread the gospel to those places where Christ was not yet known. At the same he was concerned about the spiritual wellbeing of existing Christian communities. He believed these communities had an obligation to provide material assistance to each other. He was desirous that others join him in praying for the removal of the obstacles he faced to his missionary efforts.

In our time as in Paul’s there are many places where Christ is not known and the gospel has not been heard. In North America, in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, there are segments of the population who have not heard who Jesus is, what he taught, what he did, why it matters, and what it means for them. Christian communities in North America and elsewhere need encouragement and guidance. The need and obligation to help each other has not gone away. Neither has the need to pray for each other, particular for the removal of the obstacles each community faces in spreading the gospel, in telling people about Jesus.

These obstacles vary from Christian community to Christian community. In Canada and the United States, it is too often the particular Christian community itself. An inward focus upon itself; negligible connection to the larger community; an indifference, even an aversion, to evangelism; an unhealthy obsession with the past; and a preoccupation with secular priorities such as politics are a few ways a Christian community can become an obstacle itself to making Christ known. Priorities mandated by the denomination or judicatory - annual conference, diocese, synod, and that sort of thing – which do not take into consideration what the military describes as “the situation on the ground,” the circumstances or conditions in a particular locality, can also become obstacles for a Christian community in that locality.

Prayer is an essential step in not only remedying what is keeping us as individual Christians, a Christian community, and a network of Christian communities from making Christ known but also in discerning what is holding us back. We need to ask for the help of the Holy Spirit in making an honest assessment of our particular circumstances, including what we are doing and what we are not doing. We need to resist the temptation to look everywhere other than at ourselves. After we have identified what is keeping us from spreading the gospel and making disciples, we then decide what we are going to ask God to do, seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit. 

Paul asked the Christian community to join with him in praying for the removal of the obstacles he faced. We may conclude that in our particular circumstances it may be wiser to ask God to make the obstacles we face more manageable. This may involve looking at them differently. We then may ask God to show us how to overcome them, what to do and how to go about it. We may ask for grace to accomplish each step.

While what each individual Christian, Christian community, and network of Christian communities pray for will differ with their particular circumstances, they all will want to pray for more of one thing, zeal, more of what Bishop J. C. Ryle described as “a burning desire to please God, to do His will, and to advance His glory in the world in every possible way,” “a desire, which is not natural to men or women,” “a desire which the Spirit puts in the heart of every believer when they are converted to Christ.” It was what motivated Paul and has motivated generations of Christian since then. It is what we need to do our part to make Christ known.

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.
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.

O God, the protector of all who trust in you,
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy:
Increase and multiply upon us your mercy;
that with you as our ruler and guide,
we may so pass through things temporal
that we finally lose not the things eternal:
Grant this, heavenly Father,
for Jesus Christ's sake, 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 Kate Barclay Wilkinson’s “May the Mind of Christ, My Savior.”

1 May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
live in me from day to day,
by His love and pow'r controlling
all I do and say.

2 May the word of God dwell richly
in my heart from hour to hour,
so that all may see I triumph
only through His pow'r.

3 May the peace of God my Father
rule my life in everything,
that I may be calm to comfort
sick and sorrowing.

4 May the love of Jesus fill me
as the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing:
this is victory.

5 May I run the race before me,
strong and brave to face the foe,
looking only unto Jesus
as I onward go.

6 May His beauty rest upon me
as I seek the lost to win,
and may they forget the channel,
seeing only Him.

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 J. R. Peacey and the editors of New English Hymnal (1986)’s “Go Forth for God.”

1 Go forth for God, go forth to the world in peace;
be of good courage, armed with heavenly grace,
in God's good Spirit, daily to increase,
till in his kingdom we behold his face.

2 Go forth for God, go forth to the world in strength;
hold fast the good, be urgent for the right;
render to no one evil; Christ at length
shall overcome all darkness with his light.

3 Go forth for God, go forth to the world in love;
strengthen the faint, give courage to the weak;
help the afflicted; richly from above
his love supplies the grace and power we seek.

4 Go forth for God, go forth to the world in joy,
to serve God's people every day and hour,
and serving Christ, his every gift employ,
rejoicing in the Holy Spirit's power.

5 Sing praise to him who brought us on our way,
sing praise to him who bought us with his blood,
sing praise to him who sanctifies each day,
sing praise to him who reigns one Lord and God.

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 Keith Judson’s arrangement of “Columba’s Blessing” from Northumbria Community’s Evening Prayer.

See that you be at peace among yourselves, my children,
and love one another.
Follow the example of the wise and good
and God will comfort you and help you,
both in this world
and in the world which is to come.

See that you be at peace among yourselves, my children,
and love one another.
Follow the example of the wise and good
and God will comfort you and help you,
both in this world
and in the world which is to come.

See that you be at peace among yourselves, my children,
and love one another.
Follow the example of the wise and good
and God will comfort you and help you,
both in this world
and in the world which is to come.