Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (July 30, 2026)

Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.

In his parables Jesus took things from everyday life and used them to direct people’s attention to things of God. In the Parable of the Seine Net he used a scene from the daily lives of Galilean fishermen to teach the multitudes about Judgment Day. In this evening’s message we unpack that parable.

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

Open this link in a new tab to hear Kathleen Dugan-Cavanagh’s performance of AG CRIOST AN SIOL (CH RIST’S IS THE SEED) on the Uilleann Pipes.

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 Christopher Idle’s “Light of Gladness, Lord of Glory.”

1 Light of gladness, Lord of glory,
Jesus Christ our king most holy,
shine among us in your mercy:
earth and heaven join their hymn.

2 Let us sing at sun's descending
as we see the lights of evening,
Father, Son, and Spirit praising
with the holy seraphim.

3 Son of God, through all the ages
worthy of our holiest praises,
yours the life that never ceases,
light which never shall grow dim.

Open this link to hear Bob Chilcott’s choral arrangement of “The Lord's My Shepherd,” Psalm 23 from The Psalms of David in Meeter (1650).

The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want.
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green: he leadeth me
The quiet waters by.

My soul he doth restore again;
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
E'en for his own name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through death's dark vale,
Yet will I fear no ill;
For you are with me and they rod
And staff me comfort still.

My table thou has furnished
In presence of my foes;
My head thou dost with oil anoint,
And my cup overflows.

Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me:
And in my Father's heart always
My dwelling-place shall be.

Silence

For your Name’s sake, O God,
lead us in the paths of righteousness
and let your mercy follow us
that we may dwell with you for ever. Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

A reading from the First Book of Kings.
1 Kings 3: 5-12

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’

Solomon answered, ‘You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

‘Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?’

The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, ‘Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.

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

Silence

Opens this link in a new tab to hear Timothy Dudley Smith’s “Tell Out, My Soul” (Magnificat).

1 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise of his Word;
in God my Savior shall my heart rejoice.

2 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
his mercy sure, from age to age the same;
his holy name, the Lord, the Mighty One.

3 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by.
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.

4 Tell out, my soul, the glories of his Word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
to children's children and forevermore!

A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew.
Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-52

He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.’

He told them still another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about thirty kilograms of flour until it worked all through the dough.’

‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

‘Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

‘Have you understood all these things?’ Jesus asked.

‘Yes,’ they replied.


He said to them, ‘Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.’

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

Silence

Open this link in a new tab to hear Timothy Dudley Smith’s "Faithful Vigil Ended" (Nunc dimittis).

1 Faithful vigil ended,
watching, waiting cease
Master, grant your servant
his discharge in peace.

2 All the Spirit promised,
all the Father willed
now these eyes behold it
perfectly fulfilled.

3 This your great deliverance
sets your people free
Christ their light uplifted
all the nations see.

4 Christ, your people's glory!
Watching, doubting cease
grant to us your servants
our discharge in peace.

The Way of Righteousness

This evening’s New Testament reading comes from a chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, which contains a number of Jesus’ parables. We have already looked at two of these parables, the Parable of the Sower and the Parable of the Weeds, their meaning, and their application. In this evening’s message we are going to take a look at the fifth parable in a series of five parables, the Parable of the Seine Net, what it means, and how it applies to ourselves.

The Parable of the Seine Net differs in its focus from the four parables that precede it. All five parables are about the kingdom of heaven, God’s kingdom, the righteous reign, or rule, of God in people’s hearts, their innermost selves, and in their lives. The focus of the first two parables, the Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Parable of the Yeast, is the dynamic nature of God’s Kingdom. It begins small like a tiny seed and expands like rising bread dough. The focus of the second two parables, the Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Parable of the Pearl of Great Value, is inestimable value of the Kingdom that those who recognize that its value is beyond measure will go to great lengths to possess it, even selling everything that they own. They will relinquish all of their material possessions to gain it.

The focus of the Parable of the Seine Net, on the other hand, is the day of judgment and the separation of the righteous from the wicked. It alludes to the practice of Jewish fishermen sorting their catch and discarding the fish with no fins and scales and other sea creatures that the Jewish dietary regulations forbid Jews from eating. Jesus does not offer his disciples or us an explanation of who the righteous and the wicked are. We do find some clues elsewhere in Matthew’s Gospel.

In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus does emphasize the pursuit of righteousness. At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, he declares that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled (Matthew 5: 6). Implicit is whatever righteousness we may attain in this life will be ultimately God’s doing. Jesus goes onto declare that those who are persecuted because of righteousness, God’s kingdom is theirs (Matthew 5: 10). He warns against following the example of the Pharisees and teachers of the religious law and practicing our righteousness before others to be seen by them, in other words, making a public display of how righteous we are, at least in our own estimation, to garner the admiration and praise of others (Matthew 6: 1). Jesus emphasizes seeking God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness before everything else and trusting God to make provision for our needs (Matthew 6: 31-33).

Jesus does point out that the pursuit of righteousness takes effort on our part (Matthew 7: 13-14). He warns that only those who call him “Lord” and do the will of the Father’s will enter God’s kingdom (Matthew 7: 21-23).

In Matthew 12: 33-37 Jesus further warns:

“ ‘Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognised by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.’”

Jesus identifies material wealth in its various forms as presenting a near insurmountable obstacle to entering God’s kingdom. What is impossible for human beings, he points to the attention of his disciples, however, is not impossible for God (Matthew 19: 16-26). What Jesus is implying is that our salvation (and our sanctification) is a work of God’s grace.

In the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats Jesus ties the way we will be treated on the day of judgment to how we treat others in this life. In how we treat them, we are treating Christ and will be judged according to what we do and what we do not do (Matthew 25: 31-46).

In giving the Great Commission to his disciples (and future generations of his disciples, including ourselves), the risen Jesus emphasizes teaching his commandments to the new disciples that we make, in other words, teaching to them what he taught as he taught it (Matthew 28:16-20). We teach them in two different ways: first and most importantly by our example, lives fashioned and framed according to his teaching. And secondly by the spoken and written word.

When we consider these passages together, I believe that we have a fair idea of who the righteous are. They are those who, by God’s grace, believe in Jesus and live in accordance with what he called “the way of righteousness,” the path which he taught his disciples to follow, and which he revealed as God’s beloved Son as the way of life that is pleasing to God. It is a humble way of life, a life of devotion to God, of caring for others, of servanthood. It is the path that he himself walked and which generations of the faithful have walked in his footsteps.

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.

Almighty God, whose never-failing providence governs all things
in heaven and earth: we humbly ask you to put away from us all
hurtful things, and to give us whatever may be profitable for us;
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 Ephrem Feeley’s “To Christ, the Seed.”

To Christ, the seed;
to Christ, the harvest;
may we be gathered
into the barns of God.
To Christ, the sea,
and all within it.
May we be captured
within God’s net.

From growth to age,
from age to death,
your arms, O Christ,
surround us.
From our death to the end,
not end but rebirth;
in Blessed Paradise
may we be!

To Christ, our lives;
to Christ, our being.
In Christ we live,
and have our being.

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 to hear Frances Ridley Havergal’s “Take My Life, and Let It Be.”

1 Take my life, and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee;
take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.

2 Take my hands, and let them move
at the impulse of thy love;
take my feet, and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee.

3 Take my voice, and let me sing
always, only, for my King;
take my lips, and let them be
filled with messages from thee.

4 Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold;
take my intellect, and use
every power as thou shalt choose.

5 Take my will, and make it thine:
it shall be no longer mine;
take my heart: it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.

6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure-store;
take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.

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 John A. Behnke’s “Benediction.”

The Lord bless you
The Lord keep you
The Lord make his face to shine upon you
And be gracious
And be gracious
The Lord look upon you with favor
And give you peace.
The Lord bless you
The Lord keep you
The Lord make his face to shine upon you
And be gracious
And be gracious
The Lord look upon you with favor
And give you peace.
Amen. Amen.
Amen. Amen.
Amen. Amen.