Sundays at All Hallows (August 23, 2026)

 

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

This Sunday, August 23, 2026, is the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity. It is the Twenty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time. This year is the sixth year that All Hallows Murray has been online. All Hallows Murray was primarily launched to serve those who are unable to attend a church in their locality for one reason or another and to provide services for small groups gathering for worship in houses, apartments, and other non-traditional settings.

A secondary purpose of Thursday Evenings and Sundays at All Hallows is to introduce small and medium-sized churches to the wide variety of hymns, worship songs, and service music that is available to churches with limited musical resources.

For this Sunday’s Invitatory Psalm you have a choice, the original version of Michael Perry’s metrical paraphrase of the Venite (Psalm 95), “Come Worship God,” or the inclusive language version. The organ accompaniment for both versions is the same-- Joseph Francis Thrupp’s hymn tune EPIPHANY.

Alternative hymn tunes include the seventeenth century French plainchant, O QUANTA QUALIA; Southern Harmony’s shaped note hymn tune, STAR IN THE EAST; and the Irish folk melody, STREETS OF LAREDO (THE BARD OF ARMAGH). You will find recordings of these tunes online.

In this Sunday’s message we take a look at the different ways people answer a question Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say I am?”

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

Open this link in a new tab to hear Egon Petri’s transcription of Johann Sebastian Bach's “Sheep May Safely Graze” for piano.

Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer us. Save your servants who
trust in you. Be gracious to us, O Lord, for to you do we cry all
the day long. Psalm 86:1-3

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 draw near to God with sincerity and confidence, and humbly confess our sins.

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 they may be cleansed from all their
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 Michael Perry’s “Come, Worship God (Psalm 95).

Organ accompaniment only. No vocals.

Original version:

1 Come, worship God who is worthy of honour,
enter his presence with thanks and a song!
He is the rock of his people's salvation,
to whom our jubilant praises belong.

2 Ruled by his might are the heights of the mountains,
held in his hands are the depths of the earth;
his is the sea, his the land, for he made them,
king above all gods, who gave us our birth.

3 We are his people, the sheep of his pasture,
he is our maker and to him we pray;
gladly we kneel in obedience before him
great is the God whom we worship this day!

4 Now let us listen, for God speaks among us,
open our hearts and receive what he says:
peace be to all who remember his goodness,
trust in his word and rejoice in his ways!

[Or inclusive language version:

1 Come worship God who is worthy of honor
enter God's presence with thanks and a song!
You are the rock of your people's salvation.
to whom our jubilant praises belong

2 Ruled by your might are the heights of the mountains,
held in your hands are the depths of the earth.
Yours are the sea, yours the land, for you made them,
God above all gods, who gave us our birth.

3 We are your people, the sheep of your pasture;
you are our Maker, and to you we pray.
Gladly we kneel In obedience before you;
Great is the one whom we worship this day!

4 Now let us listen for you speak among us;
open our hearts to receive what you say.
Peace be to all who remember your goodness
trust in your word, and rejoice in your way!]

Open this link in a new tab to hear Michael’s Joncas’ setting of Psalm 146, “I Will Praise the Lord.”

I will praise the Lord all my days,
make music to my God while I live,
make music to my God while I live.

1 Put no trust in the powerful,
mere mortals in whom there is no help.
Take their breath, they return to clay,
and their plans that day come to nothing.
They are happy who are helped by Jacob’s God,
whose hope is in the Lord their God,
who alone made heaven and earth,
the seas and all they contain.

I will praise the Lord all my days,
make music to my God while I live,
make music to my God while I live.

2 It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever,
who is just to the oppressed.
It is God who gives bread to the hungry,
the Lord, who sets the prisoners free.
It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind,
who raises up those who are bowed down,
the Lord who protects the stranger,
and upholds the widow and the orphan.

I will praise the Lord all my days,
make music to my God while I live,
make music to my God while I live.

3 It is the Lord who loves the just
but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign for ever,
Zion’s God from age to age.

I will praise the Lord all my days,
make music to my God while I live,
make music to my God while I live.

Silence

Lord God, creator of all things,
who in your loving-kindness and care
meet our human needs:
with the dawn of each day
help us to set our hearts and hope upon you,
that we may show you in the world
as the universal and eternal king;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Sarah Quartel’s choral arrangement of Timothy Dudley Smith’ “Fill You Heart with Joy and Gladness” (Psalm 147).

1 Fill your hearts with joy and gladness,
sing and praise your God and mine!
Great the Lord in love and wisdom,
might and majesty divine!
He who framed the starry heavens
knows and names them as they shine!

2 Praise the Lord, his people, praise him!
Wounded souls his comfort know;
those who fear him find his mercies,
peace for pain and joy for woe;
humble hearts are high exalted,
human pride and power laid low.

3 Praise the Lord for times and seasons,
cloud and sunshine, wind and rain;
spring to melt the snows of winter
till the waters flow again;
grass upon the mountain pastures,
golden valleys thick with grain.

4 Fill your hearts with joy and gladness,
peace and plenty crown your days;
love his laws, declare his judgments,
walk in all his words and ways;
he the Lord and we his children:
praise the Lord, all people, praise!

Silence

King of the Universe,
whose wisdom gives order and fruitfulness to the earth:
help us to respond trustfully to your call,
that being drawn into the unity of your kingdom
we may continually praise you
for your providential care;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

A reading from the Book of Isaiah
Isaiah 51: 1-6

‘Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness
and who seek the Lord:
look to the rock from which you were cut
and to the quarry from which you were hewn;
look to Abraham, your father,
and to Sarah, who gave you birth.
When I called him he was only one man,
and I blessed him and made him many.
The Lord will surely comfort Zion
and will look with compassion on all her ruins;
he will make her deserts like Eden,
her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.
Joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and the sound of singing.

‘Listen to me, my people;
hear me, my nation:
instruction will go out from me;
my justice will become a light to the nations.
My righteousness draws near speedily,
my salvation is on the way,
and my arm will bring justice to the nations.
The islands will look to me
and wait in hope for my arm.
Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
look at the earth beneath;
the heavens will vanish like smoke,
the earth will wear out like a garment
and its inhabitants die like flies.
But my salvation will last for ever,
my righteousness will never fail.

Silence

Open this link in a new tab to hear Michael Perry’s "O Bless the God of Israel" (Benedictus)

1 O bless the God of Israel,
who comes to set us free,
who visits and redeems us
and grants us liberty.
The prophets spoke of mercy,
of rescue and release,
God shall fulfil his promise
and bring his people peace.

2 He comes! The Child of David,
the Son whom God has given;
he comes to live among us
and raise us up to heaven.
Before him goes his servant,
forerunner in the way,
the prophet of salvation,
the herald of the Day.

3 Where once were fear and darkness
the sun begins to rise-
the dawning of forgiveness
upon the sinner’s eyes.
He guides the feet of pilgrims
along the paths of peace:
O, bless our God and Saviour,
with songs that never cease!

A reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans.
Romans 12: 1-8

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Silence

Open this link in a new tab to hear Fintan O’Carroll and Christopher Walker’s “Father, We Praise You as Lord” (Te Deum).

Alleluia, Alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia.

1 Father, we praise you as Lord,
all of the earth gives you worship,
for your majesty
fills the heavens, fills the earth.

Alleluia, Alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia.

2 Blessed apostles sing praise;
prophets and martyrs give glory:
“For your majesty
praise the Spirit, praise the Son!”

Alleluia, Alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia.

3 You are the Christ everlasting,
born for us all of a Virgin,
you have conquered death,
opened heaven to all believers.

Alleluia, Alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia.

4 Help those you saved by your blood,
raise them to life with your martyrs.
Save your people, Lord,
as their ruler raise them up.

Alleluia, Alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia.

A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew.
Matthew 16:13-20

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’

They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’

‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’

Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’

Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[c] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Silence

“Who Do You Say I Am?”

“And what about you? Who do you say I am?” Jesus asks his disciples in this Sunday’s Gospel reading. It is a question Jesus asks everyone who hears about him. “What about YOU? Who do YOU say I am?

If you come from a family that thinks of itself as Christian and you have gone to church since you were a child, you may answer like Simon Peter, “You are the Christ! You are the Son of the living God! You may have made this confession in so many words at your baptism or your confirmation, as the case may be. But do you understand what you are saying? And most importantly, do you believe what you are saying?

In this century if someone asks someone else in your hearing, “And what about you? Who do you say Jesus is?” You are likely to hear one of five answers.

Jesus is a myth. He never existed. He is an imaginary character that the early Christians created to mislead themselves and others. Everything about Jesus is one big lie!

Around Christmas and Easter, a spate of articles and videos promoting this view of Jesus appear every year.

You may hear this answer. Jesus was a wandering preacher who taught radical love and fell afoul of the Jewish religious authorities who persuaded the Roman governor to condemn him to death as a threat to public order.

This view of Jesus is encountered in some progressive Christian circles. It is typically accompanied by naturalistic explanations of Jesus’ healing and other miracles.

Or this answer. Jesus and God are distinct from each other, and Jesus is subordinate to God. Jesus was given extraordinary powers by God, but he was not divine.

This view of Jesus is associated with the fourth century theologian Arius and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Arius’ teaching was condemned at the First Council of Nicaea and the Council of Constantinople as heretical, that is, contrary to the accepted teaching of Christianity. This view of Jesus is a surprisingly common belief among self-identified evangelical Christians in the United States.

You may at times hear this answer. “I don’t know who he is, but I would like to learn more about him.” The researchers at Church Answers have found that far more people are curious about Jesus than many Christians realize. They are open to hearing about Jesus, who he is, what he did and what he taught.

The fifth answer you may hear echoes Simon Peter’s, but the individuals who give it both understand and believe what they are saying. They wholeheartedly affirm the truths to which the Scriptures testify. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:1-3). “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19).

Jesus is God’s Anointed One, God incarnate, God become a human being, fully human, fully divine. Savior, Lord, and Friend.

And what about YOU? Who do YOU say Jesus is?

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.
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 are always more ready to hear
than we to pray, and constantly give more than either we desire
or deserve: pour down on us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving
us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving
us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, except
through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, your Son our
Lord. Amen.

O God, the author and lover of peace, in knowledge of whom
stands our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom;
defend us your servants in all assaults of our enemies,
that, surely trusting in your defense, we may not fear the power
of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.

Eternal God and Father, by whose power we are created and
by whose love we are redeemed: guide and strengthen us by
your Spirit, that we may give ourselves to your service, and
live every day in love to one another and to you; through Jesus
Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Samuel J. Stone’s “The Church's One Foundation.”

1 The church's one foundation
is Jesus Christ her Lord;
she is his new creation
by water and the word:
from heaven he came and sought her
to be his holy Bride;
with his own blood he bought her,
and for her life he died.

2 Elect from every nation,
yet one o'er all the earth,
her charter of salvation
one Lord, one faith, one birth;
one holy name she blesses,
partakes one holy food,
and to one hope she presses
with every grace endued.

3 Omitted.

4 'Mid toil and tribulation,
and tumult of her war,
she waits the consummation
of peace for evermore;
till with the vision glorious
her longing eyes are blest,
and the great church victorious
shall be the church at rest.

5 Yet she on earth hath union
with God the Three in One,
and mystic sweet communion
with those whose rest is won:
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we,
like them, the meek and lowly,
on high may dwell with thee.

[Let us pray for all in civil authority.]

Almighty God, you rule over the kingdoms of the world: We
commend to your merciful care the people of this land, that,
being guided by your providence, they may dwell secure in
your peace. Grant to [here the appropriate persons in government
are named] and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know
and to do your will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness,
that they may serve your people faithfully to your honour and glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

[Let us pray for the Church]

Almighty and eternal God, you alone work great marvels:
send down your life-giving Spirit of grace on our bishops and other clergy, and on the congregations which they serve; and, in order that they may truly please you, pour upon them the continual dew of your blessing. Grant this, Lord, for the honour of our advocate and mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.

[Let us pray for all people according to their needs]

God of providence, God of love,
we pray for all people: make your way known to them, your saving power
among all nations.
We pray for the welfare of your Church throughout the world: guide and
govern it by your Holy Spirit, that all who call themselves Christians
may be led in the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit,
in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life.
We commend to your fatherly goodness all who are afflicted or distressed
in mind, body, or circumstances (especially…). Relieve them according to their needs, giving them patience in their sufferings, and deliverance in their afflictions. This we ask for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

[Let us pray for ourselves and others.]

Silence

Those present may offer their own prayers and thanksgivings, either silently or aloud.

O God,
fount of all wisdom,
in the humble witness of the apostle Peter
you have shown the foundation of our faith:
give us the light of your Spirit,
that, recognising in Jesus of Nazareth
the Son of the living God,
we may be living stones
for the building up of your holy Church;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

[Let us give thanks to God for his goodness.]

Almighty God and merciful Father,
we give you heart-felt thanks
for all your goodness and loving kindness to us
and to all people.
We bless you for our creation and preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we pray, give us such a sense of all your mercies,
that our hearts may be truly thankful,
and that we praise you,
not only with our lips but in our lives,
serving you in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Almighty God, you have promised to hear the petitions of
those who ask in your Son’s name: mercifully accept us who
have now made our prayers to you; and grant us those things
which we have asked in faith according to your will; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


Open this link in a new tab to hear Horatius Bonar’s “Fill Thou My Life, O Lord My God.”

1 Fill thou my life, O Lord my God,
in every part with praise;
that my whole being may proclaim
Your being and Your ways.

2 Not for the lip of praise alone,
nor yet the praising heart,
I ask, but for a life made up
of praise in every part.

3 Praise in the common things of life,
its goings out and in;
praise in each duty and each deed,
exalted or unseen.

4 Fill every part of me with praise;
let all my being speak
of thee and of thy love, O Lord,
poor though I be and weak.

5 So shalt thou, Lord, from me, e’en me,
receive the glory due;
and so shall I begin on earth
the song for ever new.

6 So shall no part of day or night
from sacredness be free;
but all my life, in every step,
be fellowship with 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 Rutter’s “A Claire Benediction.”

May the Lord show His mercy upon you;
may the light of His
presence be your guide:
May He guard you and uphold you;
may His spirit be ever by your side.
When you sleep, may His
angels watch over you;
when you wake, may He
fill you with His grace.
May you love Him and
serve Him all your days,
Then in heaven may you see His face.
May the Lord show His mercy upon you;
may the light of His
presence be your guide:
May He guard you and uphold you;
may His spirit be ever by your side.
When you sleep, may His
angels watch over you;
when you wake, may He
fill you with His grace.
May you love Him and
serve Him all your days,
Then in heaven may you see His face.
Then in heaven may you see His face
Then in heaven may you see His face