Sundays at All Hallows (October 4, 2026)
This Sunday, October 4, 2026, is the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity. It is also the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi. Francis was a preacher, a friar, and the founder of the religious order of Friars Minor, or Lesser Brothers, also known as the Franciscans.
A friar is a member of a religious group of men whose members take a vow of poverty, promising to stay poor throughout their lives, but unlike monks do not live and work in a monastery. Rather they live and work in the larger community, helping the poor in various ways.
Francis also founded the Poor Clares, a similar religious order for women.
Most of my own knowledge of Saint Francis comes from The Little Flowers of Saint Francis, a collection of popular tales about Saint Francis and his companions, originally written in Latin and later translated into Italian and English. As I recollect, it was one of the first books of a religious nature, which I read as a youngster.
As well as his preaching, his miracles, and his works of mercy, Saint Francis is famous for his poem, "Canticle of the Sun" (Canticum Solis). Several translations of this poem have been set to music and included in hymnals and other collections of sacred music. The two translations commonly found in Anglican and Episcopal hymnals are William Henry Draper’s “All Creatures of Our God and King” and Howard Chandler Robbins’ “Most High, Omnipotent, Good Lord.”
In recent times a number of Anglican, Episcopal, Methodist, and mainline Lutheran churches have adopted the practice of blessing pets and farm animals on Saint Francis’ feast day. Roman Catholics traditionally celebrate the feast day with Masses, processions, and pilgrimages to Assisi, the birthplace of Saint Francis and Saint Clare.
If you are new to Sundays at All Hallows the MP3 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.
The topic of this Sunday’s message is the Ten Commandments.
GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
Open this link in a new tab to hear an unidentified arrangement of Alfred Morton Smith’s hymn tune ASSISI for piano and cello.
Silence
The Lord is the king who rules over all things, the universe is in his power and there is no one who can oppose him. He has made heaven and earth and he is Lord of all. See Esther 13: 9-11
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 Scott Soper’s “I Will Praise Your Name” (Psalm 145).
I will praise your name forever, my King and my God,
my King and my God.
1 I will praise you, God and King;
I will bless your name forever.
Every day I will bless you,
praise your name forever.
I will praise your name forever, my King and my God,
my King and my God.
2 You are grace and mercy, Lord,
slow to anger, filled with kindness.
You are good to all your children,
loving all creation.
I will praise your name forever, my King and my God,
my King and my God.
3 Let your works give thanks to you;
let your faithful ever bless you;
let them praise your strength, your glory,
and proclaim your kingdom.
I will praise your name forever, my King and my God,
my King and my God.
4 Ev’ry word you speak in faith,
ev’ry work you do is holy.
You lift up all who stumble,
raise up the lowly.
I will praise your name forever, my King and my God,
my King and my God.
Silence
Lord God, King of the Universe,
you show the bright glory of your reign
in acts of mercy and enduring love:
raise the spirits of the downcast
and restore those who have fallen away,
that your Church may continually sing of your saving help;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Ministry of the Word
A reading from the Book of Exodus.
Exodus 20: 1-5, 7-20
And God spoke all these words:
‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
‘You shall have no other gods before [or besides] me.
‘You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God….
‘You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
‘Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work,0 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
‘Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
‘You shall not murder.
‘You shall not commit adultery.
‘You shall not steal.
‘You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour.
‘You shall not covet your neighbour’s house. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.’
When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, ‘Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not let God speak to us or we will die.’
Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.’
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 Letter to the Philippians.
Philippians 3: 4b-14
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.
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 Matthew.
Matthew 21: 33-46
‘Listen to another parable: there was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall round it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.
‘The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them in the same way. Last of all, he sent his son to them. “They will respect my son,” he said.
‘But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, “This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.” So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
‘Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’
‘He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,’ they replied, ‘and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.’
Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the Scriptures:
‘“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvellous in our eyes”?
‘Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.’
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.
Silence
The Ten Commandments have been the focus of controversy since 1978 when the Kentucky state legislature enacted into law a statute requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools. The US Supreme Court struck down the statute in 1980, ruling that it violated the separation of church and state mandated by the US Constitution. Since that time a number of state and local governments have tried to wiggle their way around this US Supreme Court decision. Most recently in 2024 the Louisiana state legislature passed, and Louisiana’s governor signed legislation also requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools, precipitating a fresh round of lawsuits in federal courts.
I am not going to delve into the pros and cons of whether the Ten Commandments should be posted in public schools. Rather I am going to take a look at what has historically been the Anglican position on the place of the Ten Commandments in the life of a Christian. It is a view of the Ten Commandments that John Wesley who founded the Methodist movement also held.
Article 7 of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion of 1571 states (I am quoting from Philip Edgcumbe Hughes’ A Re-Statement of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, which, according to Hughes, was “designed simply to clarify the language and meaning of the Articles for the benefit of the modern reader.”)
“The Old Testament is not contrary to the New Testament. In the Old as well as in the New Testament, everlasting life is offered to mankind through Christ; for Christ, who is both God and man, is the only Mediator between God and man. Therefore we must not pay attention to any who say that in the Old Testament the patriarchs and others were limited in their expectation to transitory promises. Although the ceremonies and rites of the Law which God gave through Moses are not binding on Christians, and the civil precepts of the Law are not essential for the organization of any state or commonwealth, yet no Christian at all is free from obedience to the commandments known as moral.”
For those who are not familiar with Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion of 1571, they are a major historical formulary of the Anglican Church of Australia, the Church of England, the Church of Ireland, and other Anglican province, setting forth the official position of these churches on a number of key issues affecting their faith and practice.
A formulary is a collection of texts that set out the core doctrines of a particular Christian tradition. It may also prescribe or limit the practices of that tradition. It establishes the boundaries of what a Christian in that tradition may believe and do and belong to that tradition.
What are widely recognized as the primary Anglican historical formularies are the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion of 1571, The Book of Common Prayer of 1662, the Ordinal of 1660, and the two Books of Homilies. These formularies define what the late James Packer described as the central Anglican theological tradition—what Anglicans share with other Protestants and what sets them apart from other Protestants.
Note that Article 7 takes the position that Christians are bound to obey the moral commandments which God gave through Moses.
John Wesley reduced the number of articles to twenty-five when he abridged the 1662 Prayer Book for Methodists in North America. Wesley’s sixth article is almost word for word Article 7 of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion and like Article 7 maintains the position that Christians are bound by the moral commandments.
The moral commandments are those which Jesus emphasizes in his teaching. While Jesus does not refer to the Ten Commandments, he does allude to specific commandments, for example, in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel. In Mark’s Gospel he alludes to a number of these commandments in his teaching about what really defiles a person.
In the prayer that Jesus taught the disciples and which we call the Lord’s Prayer, he also alludes to one of the Ten Commandments in the petition, “Hallowed be thy name….”
A second important historical formulary for Anglicans is The Book of Common Prayer of 1662. A litany with the Ten Commandments forming its petitions is a prominent feature of the opening rite of the Communion Service. The first nine commandments are followed by a short prayer, said by the people, “Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.” The tenth commandment is followed by a different prayer, also said by the people, “Lord, have mercy upon us, and write all these thy laws in our hearts, we beseech thee.”
The Ten Commandments comprise one of four sections into which the contents of the Prayer Book Catechism are divided. The Lord’s Prayer, the Apostles Creed, and the two gospel sacraments—Baptism and Holy Communion—comprise the other three section. The Ten Commandments section concludes with these questions and answers:
“Question. What dost thou chiefly learn by these Commandments?
Answer. I learn two things: my duty towards God, and my duty towards my Neighbour.
Question. What is thy duty towards God?
Answer. My duty towards God is to believe in him, to fear him, and to love him, with all my heart, with all my mind, with all my soul, and with all my strength; to worship him, to give him thanks, to put my whole trust in him, to call upon him, to honour his holy Name and his Word, and to serve him truly all the days of my life.
Question. What is thy duty towards thy Neighbour?
Answer. My duty towards my Neighbour is to love him as myself, and to do to all men as I would they should do unto me: To love, honour, and succour my father and mother: To honour and obey the King, and all that are put in authority under him: To submit myself to all my governors, teachers, spiritual pastors and masters: To order myself lowly and reverently to all my betters: To hurt nobody by word nor deed: To be true and just in all my dealing: To bear no malice nor hatred in my heart: To keep my hands from picking and stealing, and my tongue from evil-speaking, lying, and slandering: To keep my body in temperance, soberness, and chastity: Not to covet nor desire other men's goods; but to learn and labour truly to get mine own living, and to do my duty in that state of life, unto which it shall please God to call me.
Catechist. My good child, know this, that thou art not able to do these things of thyself, nor to walk in the commandments of God, and to serve him, without his special grace; which thou must learn at all times to call for by diligent prayer. Let me hear therefore if thou canst say the Lord's Prayer.”
Note how obeying the Ten Commandments is interpreted largely in accordance with the teachings of Jesus and the apostles.
The rubrics that conclude the catechism and precede the Confirmation Service include this requirement:
“So soon as Children are come to a competent age, and can say, in their mother tongue, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments; and also can answer to the other questions of this short Catechism; they shall be brought to the Bishop: And every one shall have a Godfather, or a Godmother, as a witness of their Confirmation.”
In his abridgement of the 1662 Prayer Book, The Sunday Service of the Methodists, Wesley omits the Prayer Book Catechism and the Confirmation Service.
One might conclude from how large that the Ten Commandments appear to loom in the 1662 Prayer Book, that it teaches salvation by good works. However, the doctrine of the Prayer Book is subject to the teaching of the Holy Scriptures and the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion which derive their authority from Scripture and are authoritative wherever they agree with Scripture. Both Scripture and the Articles teach that we are saved by the grace of God alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Article 11 states (I am again quoting from Philip Edgcumbe Hughes’ A Re-Statement of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion):
“It is not because of any good works or deservings on our part, but only by faith which rests on the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, that we are accounted righteous before God. Therefore the doctrine of our justification by faith alone is most edifying and full of strength and comfort. (This doctrine is more fully explained in the Homily on Justification.)”
Article 12 further states:
“Although good works, which are the fruits of faith and follow after our justification, cannot put away our sins, and are subject to the severity of God’s judgment, yet, inasmuch as they are done in Christ and for His sake, they are pleasing and acceptable to God; for they spring necessarily from a true and vital faith, and are indeed the evidence of a vital faith, just as a tree is recognized by its fruit.”
In his sermon, “Salvation by Faith,” the first sermon of his standard sermons, Wesley teaches salvation by God’s grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Both biblically orthodox Anglicanism and Methodism subscribe to this doctrine which the apostle Paul summarizes in Ephesians 2:8-10.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
For both Anglicans and Methodists, providing a guide to godly living and personal holiness, which both traditions have historically emphasized, is not the sole purpose of the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments make us notice the sin in our lives, where we are not right with God, how we are disobeying God. They show us that we are incapable of acting in ways pleasing and acceptable to God by our own efforts. We are disobedient by nature, and we cannot make ourselves right with God. God, however, has provided us with a way that we be put right with him—through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus has done what we cannot do and when we believe in him, what he has done is credited to our account. We are made right with God. But it does not stop there. God works in us to transform us into the likeness of Jesus Christ, not his physical appearance but his attitudes and character. It is a process that requires our cooperation. It is in this process, a process which theologians call “sanctification,” which the moral commandments play a part. They point us in the right direction.
When the people pray after each commandment at the beginning of the Communion Service, they are praying for the special grace for which the catechist instructs the child to pray diligently in the Prayer Book Catechism. It is the grace which God supplies through the sacrament of Holy Communion and other means.
Most of my own knowledge of Saint Francis comes from The Little Flowers of Saint Francis, a collection of popular tales about Saint Francis and his companions, originally written in Latin and later translated into Italian and English. As I recollect, it was one of the first books of a religious nature, which I read as a youngster.
As well as his preaching, his miracles, and his works of mercy, Saint Francis is famous for his poem, "Canticle of the Sun" (Canticum Solis). Several translations of this poem have been set to music and included in hymnals and other collections of sacred music. The two translations commonly found in Anglican and Episcopal hymnals are William Henry Draper’s “All Creatures of Our God and King” and Howard Chandler Robbins’ “Most High, Omnipotent, Good Lord.”
In recent times a number of Anglican, Episcopal, Methodist, and mainline Lutheran churches have adopted the practice of blessing pets and farm animals on Saint Francis’ feast day. Roman Catholics traditionally celebrate the feast day with Masses, processions, and pilgrimages to Assisi, the birthplace of Saint Francis and Saint Clare.
If you are new to Sundays at All Hallows the MP3 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.
The topic of this Sunday’s message is the Ten Commandments.
GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
Open this link in a new tab to hear an unidentified arrangement of Alfred Morton Smith’s hymn tune ASSISI for piano and cello.
Silence
The Lord is the king who rules over all things, the universe is in his power and there is no one who can oppose him. He has made heaven and earth and he is Lord of all. See Esther 13: 9-11
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 Scott Soper’s “I Will Praise Your Name” (Psalm 145).
I will praise your name forever, my King and my God,
my King and my God.
1 I will praise you, God and King;
I will bless your name forever.
Every day I will bless you,
praise your name forever.
I will praise your name forever, my King and my God,
my King and my God.
2 You are grace and mercy, Lord,
slow to anger, filled with kindness.
You are good to all your children,
loving all creation.
I will praise your name forever, my King and my God,
my King and my God.
3 Let your works give thanks to you;
let your faithful ever bless you;
let them praise your strength, your glory,
and proclaim your kingdom.
I will praise your name forever, my King and my God,
my King and my God.
4 Ev’ry word you speak in faith,
ev’ry work you do is holy.
You lift up all who stumble,
raise up the lowly.
I will praise your name forever, my King and my God,
my King and my God.
Silence
Lord God, King of the Universe,
you show the bright glory of your reign
in acts of mercy and enduring love:
raise the spirits of the downcast
and restore those who have fallen away,
that your Church may continually sing of your saving help;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Ministry of the Word
A reading from the Book of Exodus.
Exodus 20: 1-5, 7-20
And God spoke all these words:
‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
‘You shall have no other gods before [or besides] me.
‘You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God….
‘You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
‘Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work,0 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
‘Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
‘You shall not murder.
‘You shall not commit adultery.
‘You shall not steal.
‘You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour.
‘You shall not covet your neighbour’s house. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.’
When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, ‘Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not let God speak to us or we will die.’
Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.’
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 Letter to the Philippians.
Philippians 3: 4b-14
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.
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 Matthew.
Matthew 21: 33-46
‘Listen to another parable: there was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall round it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.
‘The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them in the same way. Last of all, he sent his son to them. “They will respect my son,” he said.
‘But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, “This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.” So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
‘Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’
‘He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,’ they replied, ‘and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.’
Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the Scriptures:
‘“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvellous in our eyes”?
‘Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.’
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.
Silence
“Thou Shalt….”
The Ten Commandments have been the focus of controversy since 1978 when the Kentucky state legislature enacted into law a statute requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools. The US Supreme Court struck down the statute in 1980, ruling that it violated the separation of church and state mandated by the US Constitution. Since that time a number of state and local governments have tried to wiggle their way around this US Supreme Court decision. Most recently in 2024 the Louisiana state legislature passed, and Louisiana’s governor signed legislation also requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools, precipitating a fresh round of lawsuits in federal courts.
I am not going to delve into the pros and cons of whether the Ten Commandments should be posted in public schools. Rather I am going to take a look at what has historically been the Anglican position on the place of the Ten Commandments in the life of a Christian. It is a view of the Ten Commandments that John Wesley who founded the Methodist movement also held.
Article 7 of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion of 1571 states (I am quoting from Philip Edgcumbe Hughes’ A Re-Statement of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, which, according to Hughes, was “designed simply to clarify the language and meaning of the Articles for the benefit of the modern reader.”)
“The Old Testament is not contrary to the New Testament. In the Old as well as in the New Testament, everlasting life is offered to mankind through Christ; for Christ, who is both God and man, is the only Mediator between God and man. Therefore we must not pay attention to any who say that in the Old Testament the patriarchs and others were limited in their expectation to transitory promises. Although the ceremonies and rites of the Law which God gave through Moses are not binding on Christians, and the civil precepts of the Law are not essential for the organization of any state or commonwealth, yet no Christian at all is free from obedience to the commandments known as moral.”
For those who are not familiar with Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion of 1571, they are a major historical formulary of the Anglican Church of Australia, the Church of England, the Church of Ireland, and other Anglican province, setting forth the official position of these churches on a number of key issues affecting their faith and practice.
A formulary is a collection of texts that set out the core doctrines of a particular Christian tradition. It may also prescribe or limit the practices of that tradition. It establishes the boundaries of what a Christian in that tradition may believe and do and belong to that tradition.
What are widely recognized as the primary Anglican historical formularies are the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion of 1571, The Book of Common Prayer of 1662, the Ordinal of 1660, and the two Books of Homilies. These formularies define what the late James Packer described as the central Anglican theological tradition—what Anglicans share with other Protestants and what sets them apart from other Protestants.
Note that Article 7 takes the position that Christians are bound to obey the moral commandments which God gave through Moses.
John Wesley reduced the number of articles to twenty-five when he abridged the 1662 Prayer Book for Methodists in North America. Wesley’s sixth article is almost word for word Article 7 of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion and like Article 7 maintains the position that Christians are bound by the moral commandments.
The moral commandments are those which Jesus emphasizes in his teaching. While Jesus does not refer to the Ten Commandments, he does allude to specific commandments, for example, in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel. In Mark’s Gospel he alludes to a number of these commandments in his teaching about what really defiles a person.
In the prayer that Jesus taught the disciples and which we call the Lord’s Prayer, he also alludes to one of the Ten Commandments in the petition, “Hallowed be thy name….”
A second important historical formulary for Anglicans is The Book of Common Prayer of 1662. A litany with the Ten Commandments forming its petitions is a prominent feature of the opening rite of the Communion Service. The first nine commandments are followed by a short prayer, said by the people, “Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.” The tenth commandment is followed by a different prayer, also said by the people, “Lord, have mercy upon us, and write all these thy laws in our hearts, we beseech thee.”
The Ten Commandments comprise one of four sections into which the contents of the Prayer Book Catechism are divided. The Lord’s Prayer, the Apostles Creed, and the two gospel sacraments—Baptism and Holy Communion—comprise the other three section. The Ten Commandments section concludes with these questions and answers:
“Question. What dost thou chiefly learn by these Commandments?
Answer. I learn two things: my duty towards God, and my duty towards my Neighbour.
Question. What is thy duty towards God?
Answer. My duty towards God is to believe in him, to fear him, and to love him, with all my heart, with all my mind, with all my soul, and with all my strength; to worship him, to give him thanks, to put my whole trust in him, to call upon him, to honour his holy Name and his Word, and to serve him truly all the days of my life.
Question. What is thy duty towards thy Neighbour?
Answer. My duty towards my Neighbour is to love him as myself, and to do to all men as I would they should do unto me: To love, honour, and succour my father and mother: To honour and obey the King, and all that are put in authority under him: To submit myself to all my governors, teachers, spiritual pastors and masters: To order myself lowly and reverently to all my betters: To hurt nobody by word nor deed: To be true and just in all my dealing: To bear no malice nor hatred in my heart: To keep my hands from picking and stealing, and my tongue from evil-speaking, lying, and slandering: To keep my body in temperance, soberness, and chastity: Not to covet nor desire other men's goods; but to learn and labour truly to get mine own living, and to do my duty in that state of life, unto which it shall please God to call me.
Catechist. My good child, know this, that thou art not able to do these things of thyself, nor to walk in the commandments of God, and to serve him, without his special grace; which thou must learn at all times to call for by diligent prayer. Let me hear therefore if thou canst say the Lord's Prayer.”
Note how obeying the Ten Commandments is interpreted largely in accordance with the teachings of Jesus and the apostles.
The rubrics that conclude the catechism and precede the Confirmation Service include this requirement:
“So soon as Children are come to a competent age, and can say, in their mother tongue, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments; and also can answer to the other questions of this short Catechism; they shall be brought to the Bishop: And every one shall have a Godfather, or a Godmother, as a witness of their Confirmation.”
In his abridgement of the 1662 Prayer Book, The Sunday Service of the Methodists, Wesley omits the Prayer Book Catechism and the Confirmation Service.
One might conclude from how large that the Ten Commandments appear to loom in the 1662 Prayer Book, that it teaches salvation by good works. However, the doctrine of the Prayer Book is subject to the teaching of the Holy Scriptures and the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion which derive their authority from Scripture and are authoritative wherever they agree with Scripture. Both Scripture and the Articles teach that we are saved by the grace of God alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Article 11 states (I am again quoting from Philip Edgcumbe Hughes’ A Re-Statement of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion):
“It is not because of any good works or deservings on our part, but only by faith which rests on the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, that we are accounted righteous before God. Therefore the doctrine of our justification by faith alone is most edifying and full of strength and comfort. (This doctrine is more fully explained in the Homily on Justification.)”
Article 12 further states:
“Although good works, which are the fruits of faith and follow after our justification, cannot put away our sins, and are subject to the severity of God’s judgment, yet, inasmuch as they are done in Christ and for His sake, they are pleasing and acceptable to God; for they spring necessarily from a true and vital faith, and are indeed the evidence of a vital faith, just as a tree is recognized by its fruit.”
In his sermon, “Salvation by Faith,” the first sermon of his standard sermons, Wesley teaches salvation by God’s grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Both biblically orthodox Anglicanism and Methodism subscribe to this doctrine which the apostle Paul summarizes in Ephesians 2:8-10.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
For both Anglicans and Methodists, providing a guide to godly living and personal holiness, which both traditions have historically emphasized, is not the sole purpose of the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments make us notice the sin in our lives, where we are not right with God, how we are disobeying God. They show us that we are incapable of acting in ways pleasing and acceptable to God by our own efforts. We are disobedient by nature, and we cannot make ourselves right with God. God, however, has provided us with a way that we be put right with him—through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus has done what we cannot do and when we believe in him, what he has done is credited to our account. We are made right with God. But it does not stop there. God works in us to transform us into the likeness of Jesus Christ, not his physical appearance but his attitudes and character. It is a process that requires our cooperation. It is in this process, a process which theologians call “sanctification,” which the moral commandments play a part. They point us in the right direction.
When the people pray after each commandment at the beginning of the Communion Service, they are praying for the special grace for which the catechist instructs the child to pray diligently in the Prayer Book Catechism. It is the grace which God supplies through the sacrament of Holy Communion and other means.
The third rule of Wesley’s three general rules for Methodist Societies identifies a number of these means and urges Methodists to employ them. Like the Prayer Book Catechism, Wesley recognized that we need God’s help to do the various things which the catechism identifies as a Christian’s duty to God and as a Christian’s duty to their neighbor.
Wesley’s first rule and second rule perform a similar function to the catechism when it comes to these duties. They draw to the attention of the members of each Methodist Society what is required of them. All of these requirements are found in Scripture or can be proved from Scripture.
Anglicans and Methodists do have their differences. For example, a number of Methodist denominations license deacons and lay people to administer the sacrament of Holy Communion, not just assist in its administration but to consecrate the elements of bread and wine as well as distribute them. When it comes to the place of the Ten Commandments in the life of a Christian, however, they share a common view, a view grounded in the teaching of Scripture.
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.
Lord, give your people grace to withstand the temptations of the
world, the flesh, and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds
to follow you the only God; through 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 William Henry Draper’s translation of Saint Francis of Assisi’s "Canticle of the Sun" (Canticum Solis), “All Creatures of Our God and King.”
1 All creatures of our God and King,
lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia, alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
thou silver moon with softer gleam:
O praise him, O praise him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
2 Thou rushing wind that art so strong,
ye clouds that sail in heaven along,
O praise him, alleluia!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice;
ye lights of evening, find a voice:
O praise him, O praise him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
3 Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
make music for thy Lord to hear,
Alleluia, alleluia!
Thou fire, so masterful and bright,
that givest us both warmth and light:
O praise him, O praise him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
*4 Dear mother earth, who day by day
unfoldest blessings on our way,
O praise him, alleluia!
The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,
let them his glory also show:
O praise him, O praise him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
*5 All ye that are of tender heart,
forgiving others, take your part,
O sing ye, alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
praise God, and on him cast your care:
O praise him, O praise him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
*6 And thou, most kind and gentle death,
waiting to hush our latest breath,
O praise him, alleluia!
Thou leadest home the child of God,
and Christ our Lord the way has trod:
O praise him, O praise him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
7 Let all things their creator bless,
and worship him in humbleness;
O praise him, alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
and praise the Spirit, Three in One:
O praise him, O praise him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
*Omitted on the video.
[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 God,
your Son Jesus was the stone rejected by the builders,
and, by your doing, he has been made the chief cornerstone:
grant that, by the power of his Spirit working in us,
we may become living stones built up into your dwelling place,
a temple holy and acceptable to you;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and 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 Cyril Alington’s “Ye That Know the Lord Is Gracious.”
1 Ye that know the Lord is gracious,
Ye for whom a Corner-stone
Stands, of God elect and precious,
Laid that ye may build thereon,
See that on that sure foundation
Ye a living temple raise,
Towers that may tell forth salvation,
Walls that may re-echo praise.
2 Living stones, by God appointed
Each to his allotted place,
Kings and priests, by God anointed,
Shall ye not declare his grace?
Ye, a royal generation,
Tell the tidings of your birth,
Tidings of a new creation
To an old and weary earth.
3 Tell the praise of him who called you
Out of darkness into light,
Broke the fetters that enthralled you,
Gave you freedom, peace and sight:
Tell the tale of sins forgiven,
Strength renewed and hope restored,
Till the earth, in tune with heaven,
Praise and magnify the Lord.
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 parting benediction, “May the Lord, Mighty God.”
1 May the Lord, mighty God,
bless and keep you forever;
grant you peace, perfect peace,
courage in every endeavor.
2 Lift up your eyes and see God's face,
full of grace forever;
may the Lord, mighty God,
bless and keep you forever.
3 May the Lord, mighty God,
bless and keep you forever;
grant you peace, perfect peace,
courage in every endeavor.
Anglicans and Methodists do have their differences. For example, a number of Methodist denominations license deacons and lay people to administer the sacrament of Holy Communion, not just assist in its administration but to consecrate the elements of bread and wine as well as distribute them. When it comes to the place of the Ten Commandments in the life of a Christian, however, they share a common view, a view grounded in the teaching of Scripture.
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.
Lord, give your people grace to withstand the temptations of the
world, the flesh, and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds
to follow you the only God; through 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 William Henry Draper’s translation of Saint Francis of Assisi’s "Canticle of the Sun" (Canticum Solis), “All Creatures of Our God and King.”
1 All creatures of our God and King,
lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia, alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
thou silver moon with softer gleam:
O praise him, O praise him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
2 Thou rushing wind that art so strong,
ye clouds that sail in heaven along,
O praise him, alleluia!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice;
ye lights of evening, find a voice:
O praise him, O praise him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
3 Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
make music for thy Lord to hear,
Alleluia, alleluia!
Thou fire, so masterful and bright,
that givest us both warmth and light:
O praise him, O praise him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
*4 Dear mother earth, who day by day
unfoldest blessings on our way,
O praise him, alleluia!
The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,
let them his glory also show:
O praise him, O praise him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
*5 All ye that are of tender heart,
forgiving others, take your part,
O sing ye, alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
praise God, and on him cast your care:
O praise him, O praise him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
*6 And thou, most kind and gentle death,
waiting to hush our latest breath,
O praise him, alleluia!
Thou leadest home the child of God,
and Christ our Lord the way has trod:
O praise him, O praise him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
7 Let all things their creator bless,
and worship him in humbleness;
O praise him, alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
and praise the Spirit, Three in One:
O praise him, O praise him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
*Omitted on the video.
[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 God,
your Son Jesus was the stone rejected by the builders,
and, by your doing, he has been made the chief cornerstone:
grant that, by the power of his Spirit working in us,
we may become living stones built up into your dwelling place,
a temple holy and acceptable to you;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and 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 Cyril Alington’s “Ye That Know the Lord Is Gracious.”
1 Ye that know the Lord is gracious,
Ye for whom a Corner-stone
Stands, of God elect and precious,
Laid that ye may build thereon,
See that on that sure foundation
Ye a living temple raise,
Towers that may tell forth salvation,
Walls that may re-echo praise.
2 Living stones, by God appointed
Each to his allotted place,
Kings and priests, by God anointed,
Shall ye not declare his grace?
Ye, a royal generation,
Tell the tidings of your birth,
Tidings of a new creation
To an old and weary earth.
3 Tell the praise of him who called you
Out of darkness into light,
Broke the fetters that enthralled you,
Gave you freedom, peace and sight:
Tell the tale of sins forgiven,
Strength renewed and hope restored,
Till the earth, in tune with heaven,
Praise and magnify the Lord.
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 parting benediction, “May the Lord, Mighty God.”
1 May the Lord, mighty God,
bless and keep you forever;
grant you peace, perfect peace,
courage in every endeavor.
2 Lift up your eyes and see God's face,
full of grace forever;
may the Lord, mighty God,
bless and keep you forever.
3 May the Lord, mighty God,
bless and keep you forever;
grant you peace, perfect peace,
courage in every endeavor.
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