Sundays at All Hallows (October 18, 2026)

Welcome to Sundays at All Hallows.

This Sunday, October 18, 2026, is the Twentieth Sunday after Trinity. It is also the feast day of Saint Luke the Evangelist. Luke wrote one of three Synoptic Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, an account of the New Testament Church, particularly the conversion of the apostle Paul, his missionary efforts, and his arrest and his appeal to the Roman Emperor which led to his imprisonment and subsequent execution in Rome. Luke was one of Paul’s companions at various times on his missionary journeys and travels. In his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles Luke emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit. This emphasis has earned the two documents, which form a single narrative, the description of being “the gospel of the Holy Spirit.”

The topic of this Sunday’s message is Jesus’ command to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.

Just a reminder. The MP3s of the simple piano accompaniment for the metrical versions of the Benedictus and the Te Deum for the remaining Sunday for Trinitytide, the Season after Trinity, contains no vocals, just the tune played on the piano. Each accompaniment begins with a brief introduction. The tunes, KINGSFOLD and TALLIS’ CANON(EIGTH TUNE), were picked for their wide use in hymnals and other collections of sacred music and the greater likelihood of familiarity to the singer.

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

Open this link in a new tab to hear "How Beauteous Are the Feet"
From Victor Freudenburg’s Ten Chorale Preludes for Organ, I.

Silence

How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation.
Isaiah 52:7

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 Timothy Dudley Smith’s “Come Let Us Praise the Lord (Psalm 95).”

1 Come, let us praise the Lord,
with joy our God acclaim,
his greatness tell abroad
and bless his saving Name.
Lift high your songs
before his throne
to whom alone
all praise belongs.

2 Our God of matchless worth,
our King beyond compare,
the deepest bounds of earth,
the hills, are in his care.
He all decrees,
who by his hand
prepared the land
and formed the seas.

3 In worship bow the knee,
our glorious God confess;
the great Creator, he,
the Lord our Righteousness.
He reigns unseen:
his flock he feeds
and gently leads
in pastures green.

4 Come, hear his voice today,
receive what love imparts;
his holy will obey
and harden not your hearts.
His ways are best;
and lead at last,
all troubles past,
to perfect rest.

Open this link in a new tab to hear Paul Mason’s “The Lord Is Kind and Merciful” (Psalm 103).

The Lord is kind and merciful,
the Lord is kind and merciful.

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all within me, his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And never forget all his benefits.

The Lord is kind and merciful,
the Lord is kind and merciful.

2 It is the Lord who forgives all your sins,
who heals every one of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave,
who crowns you with mercy and compassion.

The Lord is kind and merciful,
the Lord is kind and merciful.

3 The Lord does just deeds,
gives full justice to all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
And his deeds to the children of Israel.

The Lord is kind and merciful,
the Lord is kind and merciful.

4 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger and rich in mercy.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so strong his mercy for those who fear him.

The Lord is kind and merciful,
the Lord is kind and merciful.

The Lord is kind and merciful,
the Lord is kind and merciful.

Silence

As your merciful goodness endures for ever, O Lord,
remember the frailty of your children;
deal with us not according to our sins
but, in your compassion, redeem our life
and crown us with your mercy and loving-kindness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

A reading from the Book of Isaiah.
Isaiah 35: 3-6

Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
say to those with fearful hearts,
‘Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you.’

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.

Silence

Open this link to hear a simple piano accompaniment of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ KINGSFOLD, the setting for Ruth Duck’s “Now Bless the God of Israel (Benedictus).

1 Now bless the God of Israel who comes in love and power,
who raises from the royal house deliv’rance in this hour.
Through holy prophets God has sworn to free us from alarm,
to save us from the heavy hand of all who wish us harm.

2 Remembering the covenant, God rescues us from fear,
that we might serve in holiness and peace from year to year.
And you, my child, shall go before, to preach, to prophesy,
that all may know the tender love, the grace of God most high.

3 In tender mercy, God will send the dayspring from on high,
our rising sun, the light of life for those who sit and sigh.
God comes to guide our way to peace, that death shall reign no more.
Sing praises to the Holy One, O worship and adore.

A reading from Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy.
2 Timothy 4: 5-17

But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

At my first defence, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.

Silence

Open this link to hear a simple piano accompaniment of Thomas Tallis’
TALLIS’ CANON (EIGHTH TUNE), the setting of David Mowbray’s
“Great Is the Lord We Now Acclaim” (Te Deum).

1 Great is the Lord we now acclaim
God everlasting is his name:
let heaven and earth with music ring,
and 'Holy, holy, holy' sing!

2 Let prophets and apostles join
with martyrs in triumphant line
to echo the angelic cry
and celebrate God's mystery.

3 We praise God's true and only Son,
for ever with the Father one;
we praise the Spirit at their side,
the Church's advocate and guide.

4 When once the time had fully come
Christ did not scorn the Virgin's womb;
our Lord the sting of death defied
and flung the gate of heaven wide!

5 He shed his blood to pay sin's price,
the full and perfect sacrifice;
as Saviour, reigns eternally,
as Judge of all, presides on high.

6 Lord God, protect us all from sin,
our hearts to love and goodness win;
that we yet firm in faith, shall stay
unshaken in the last great day.

A reading from the Gospel according to Luke.
Luke 10: 1-9

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

‘When you enter a house, first say, “Peace to this house.” If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

‘When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal those there who are ill and tell them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.”

Silence

“Pray to the Lord of the Harvest….”

I live in a largely rural county in Jackson Purchase, in the far southwestern corner of Kentucky, a region bordered by three states, Missouri to the west, Illinois to the north, and Tennessee to the south and separated from the rest of the Commonwealth of Kentucky by the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers and Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley to the east. One of the crops that the region’s farmers grow is winter wheat. By June the wheat is ripe for harvest. The wheat fields golden with ripe wheat always cause me to think of Jesus’ words: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

This command appears twice in the Gospels, in Matthew’s Gospel and Luke’s Gospel. In Matthew 9: 35-38 Jesus gives it to the disciples when he saw the crowds on whom he had compassion “because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” In Luke 10:1-2 Jesus gives this command to the seventy-two others whom he appoints and then sends two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he is about to go. Based on these two incidences it is reasonable to conclude that Jesus gave this instruction on more than one occasion. Luke’s Gospel is the only Gospel, it must be noted, in which the sending out of the seventy-two is mentioned.

I believe that we can safely conclude that this command was meant not only for those to whom he gave it in these two Gospels but also for future generations of his followers. The fact that he repeated the command would appear to support that conclusion. The Great Commission and the sending of the Holy Spirit at the Feast of Pentecost and subsequent occasions would also appear to support the same conclusion. This is the conclusion that the Church has historically drawn. The command was meant for all Christians for all times until Jesus returned. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to his harvest field.

By now, you may be scratching your head and thinking to yourself, “What’s he going on about—the Lord of the harvest, workers, harvest field?!

In these passages Jesus is speaking figuratively. The Lord of the harvest is a metaphor for God. It can also refer to Jesus himself. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a metaphor is “an expression that describes a person or object by referring to something that is considered to possess similar characteristics.” Metaphors are often found in literature. The harvest is a metaphor for the kingdom of God. It can also refer to the evangelizing and gathering of people into God’s kingdom, which bears a similarity to the reaping or cutting of the ripened barley or wheat and its gathering into the farmer’s barn. The harvest can refer to the people themselves who are like ripened barley or wheat in a field ready for harvest. 

Evangelizing people basically involves telling them about Jesus and extending to them Jesus’ call to follow him. It involves building a relationship with them and demonstrating genuine concern for their spiritual wellbeing.

The workers are those cutting the ripened grain and gathering into the barn. They are a metaphor for the disciples of Jesus evangelizing people and gathering them into God’s kingdom. 

In biblical times the barley and wheat harvests required numerous workers as it was reaped and gathered by hand. Harvesting these crops might require the help of the farmer’s entire family, bondservants, and any hired hands or even the farmer’s entire village.

In agriculture a harvest field is an area of land where ripened barley or wheat is growing and is ready for harvesting. As Jesus is using it in these passages, it is also a metaphor for any place where people are.

Where then is the harvest field of the Lord of the harvest? Is it in a distant land? Yes. Is it in our backyard? Yes. Is it in our neighborhood, our community, our district, the place where we work, the school which we attend, our hospitals, our care homes, our prisons. The answer again is “Yes.” The harvest field of the Lord of the harvest spans the whole planet, wherever there are people. It may be three counties or three states away. It also may be in our own home, our dorm, our barracks, or our cellblock.

From where will these workers come? From churches around the world. From your church. From your Sunday school class. From your small group. From your own family and friends. Take a look at yourself in the mirror. You will see one of the workers staring back at you yourself!

All Christians are called to serve as witnesses to their Lord through both their words and actions. While their particular circumstances may limit what they can say and do, and may require creativity on their part, they are still the Lord of the harvest’s workers wherever they find themselves.

One thing every Christian can do is pray. This may be difficult for some Christians due to illness or disability. However, God listens to the prayers of heart as well as those of the lips. Through prayer God also supplies us with grace to strengthen us in our weakness.

As well asking the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field, Christians can also ask God for grace for those already working in his harvest field. They can also ask God for his special, gracious help for themselves as they do what they can to make Jesus known by their words and actions. 

They can give thanks to the Lord of the harvest for the harvest’s yield, for those whom the Holy Spirit has moved to turn away from whatever has been damaging their relationship with God and to turn in faith to Jesus, accepting him as their Saviour and Lord and becoming one of his disciples. 

They can ask God for grace to enable the new disciple to become more like Jesus, to grow in love of God and love of neighbor, to increase in holiness and obedience. 

They can wholeheartedly embrace the new disciple as a brother or sister in Christ.

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 God, who called Luke the physician to be an evangelist
and physician of the soul: grant that through his teaching we may
know the certainty of the things which belong to your kingdom,
and that all the diseases of our souls may be healed; through the
merits of your Son Jesus Christ 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 John S. B. Monsell’s “Fight the Good Fight.”

1 Fight the good fight with all thy might;
Christ is thy strength, and Christ thy right;
lay hold on life, and it shall be
thy joy and crown eternally.

2 Run the straight race through God's good grace,
lift up thine eyes, and seek his face;
life with its way before us lies;
Christ is the path, and Christ the prize.

3 Cast care aside, lean on thy guide;
his boundless mercy will provide;
trust, and thy trusting soul shall prove
Christ is its life, and Christ its love.

4 Faint not nor fear, his arms are near;
he changeth not, and thou art dear;
only believe, and thou shalt see
that Christ is all in all to 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.

Almighty and merciful God, of your bountiful goodness keep us
from everything that may hurt us, that we may be ready in body
and soul cheerfully to accomplish whatever you want us to do;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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 James Seddon’s “Tell All the World of Jesus.”

1 Tell all the world of Jesus ,
our Saviour, Lord and King;
and let the whole creation
of his salvation sing:
proclaim his glorious greatness,
in nature and in grace,
creator and redeemer,
the Lord of time and space.

2 Tell all the world of Jesus,
that everyone may find
the joy of his forgiveness,
true peace of heart and mind.
Proclaim his perfect goodness,
his deep, unfailing care,
his love so rich in mercy,
a love beyond compare.

3 Tell all the world of Jesus,
that everyone may know
of his almighty triumph
defeating every foe.
Proclaim his coming glory,
when sin is overthrown,
and he shall reign in splendour,
the King upon his throne!

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 the Concordia Chöre‎’s metrical version of the Grace, “And the Grace of God our Father.”

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.