CLARE COLLEGE CHAPEL
Choral Evensong Christ the King
Sunday 22 November 2020 6.00 p.m.
Please be aware that congregations are not permitted to sing at this time and we politely remind you that the wearing of face coverings is mandatory. Please observe social distancing, sanitise your hands on arrival and take this Order of Service away with you at the end. Please note that the use of cameras, recording equipment, video cameras and mobile phones is not permitted in Chapel.
Voluntary Six Short Pieces: No. 5. Chorale Herbert Howells (1892–1983)
All stand as the choir and clergy enter
The Introit is sung
Introit A Hymn for St Cecilia
Sing for the morning’s joy, Cecilia, sing, in words of youth and phrases of the spring, walk the bright colonnades by fountains’ spray, and sing as sunlight fills the waking day; till angels, voyaging in upper air pause on a wing, and gather the clear sound into celestial joy, wound and unwound, a silver chain or golden as your hair.
Sing for your loves of heaven and of earth, in words of music, and each word a truth; marriage of heart and longings that aspire, a bond of roses and a ring of fire. Your summertime grows short and fades away, terror must gather to a martyr’s death; but never tremble, the last indrawn breath remembers music as an echo may.
Through the cold aftermath of centuries Cecilia’s music dances in the skies, lend us a fragment of the immortal air, that with your choiring angels we may share, a word to light us thro’ time-fettered night, water of life, a rose of paradise so from the earth another song shall rise to meet your own in heaven’s long delight.
Words Ursula Vaughan Williams (1911–2007) Music Herbert Howells
Welcome The Minister
Responses (sung by the choir) Music Janet Wheeler (b. 1957)
O Lord, open thou our lips; And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.
O God, make speed to save us; O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
Praise ye the Lord; The Lord’s Name be praised.
All sit
Psalm 55 Chant Joseph Barnby (1838–96); John Goss (1800–80)
Hear my prayer, O God : and hide not thyself from my petition. Take heed unto me, and hear me : how I mourn in my prayer, and am vexed. The enemy crieth so, and the ungodly cometh on so fast : for they are minded to do me some mischief; so maliciously are they set against me. My heart is disquieted within me : and the fear of death is fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me : and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me. And I said, O that I had wings like a dove : for then would I flee away, and be at rest. Lo, then would I get me away far off : and remain in the wilderness. I would make haste to escape : because of the stormy wind and tempest. Destroy their tongues, O Lord, and divide them : for I have spied unrighteousness and strife in the city. Day and night they go about within the walls thereof : mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. Wickedness is therein : deceit and guile go not out of their streets. For it is not an open enemy, that hath done me this dishonour : for then I could have borne it. Neither was it mine adversary, that did magnify himself against me : for then peradventure I would have hid myself from him. But it was even thou, my companion : my guide, and mine own familiar friend. We took sweet counsel together : and walked in the house of God as friends. Let death come hastily upon them, and let them go down quick into hell : for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. As for me, I will call upon God : and the Lord shall save me. In the evening, and morning, and at noon-day will I pray, and that instantly : and he shall hear my voice. It is he that hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me : for there were many with me.
Yea, even God, that endureth for ever, shall hear me, and bring them down : for they will not turn, nor fear God. He laid his hands upon such as be at peace with him : and he brake his covenant. The words of his mouth were softer than butter, having war in his heart : his words were smoother than oil, and yet be they very swords. O cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall nourish thee : and shall not suffer the righteous to fall for ever. And as for them : thou, O God, shalt bring them into the pit of destruction. The blood-thirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days : nevertheless, my trust shall be in thee, O Lord. All stand Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
All sit
Reading Isaiah 65: 17–25
Here begins the 17th verse of the 65th chapter of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.
17 For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice for ever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress. 20 No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime; for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labour in vain, or bear children for calamity; for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord— and their descendants as well. 24 Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent—its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the Lord.
Here ends the first lesson.
All stand
Magnificat (sung by the Choir) My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his Name. And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations. He hath showed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away. He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, for ever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Words Luke 1: 46–55 Music Herbert Howells, St Augustine’s Service
All sit
Reading Revelation 21: 1–5
Here begins the 21st chapter of the Book of Revelation.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; 4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’
5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’
Here ends the second lesson.
All stand
Nunc dimittis (sung by the choir)
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace: according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen: thy salvation; Which thou hast prepared: before the face of all people; To be a light to lighten the Gentiles: and to be the glory of thy people Israel. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
Words Luke 2: 29–32 Music Herbert Howells, St Augustine’s Service
The Apostles’ Creed (All turn towards the East)
I believe All in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy Catholic Church; The Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the Life everlasting. Amen.
The Lesser Litany and Responses (sung by the choir) The Lord be with you And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
All kneel or sit Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.
Our Father, which art in heaven…
O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us; And grant us thy salvation.
O Lord, save the Queen; And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.
Endue thy Ministers with righteousness; And make thy chosen people joyful.
O Lord, save thy people; And bless thine inheritance.
Give peace in our time, O Lord; Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God.
O God, make clean our hearts within us; And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.
The Collects The First Collect, for the Day: Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Second Collect, for Peace: O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed: Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee we being defended from the fear of our enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
The Third Collect, for Aid against all Perils: Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Music Janet Wheeler
All kneel or sit
The Prayers, which conclude with the Grace
All The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, evermore. Amen.
All remain seated
Anthem Lord, thou hast been our refuge from one generation to another. Before the mountains were brought forth or ever the earth and the world were made, thou art God from everlasting and world without end. Thou turnest man to destruction; again thou sayest: Come again, ye children of men. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday; seeing that is past as a watch in the night.
O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home.
As soon as thou scatterest them they are even as a sleep and fade away suddenly like the grass. In the morning it is green, and groweth up, but in the evening it is cut down, dried up and withered. For we consume away in thy displeasure, and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation. For when thou art angry all our days are gone; we bring our years to an end, as a tale that is told. The years of our age are three-score years and ten, and though men be so strong that they come to four-score years, yet is their strength but labour and sorrow. So passeth it away, and we are gone. Turn thee again, O Lord, at the last. Be gracious unto thy servants. O satisfy us with thy mercy and that soon. So shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
Lord, thou hast been our refuge from one generation to another. Before the mountains were brought forth or ever the earth and the world were made, thou art God from everlasting and world without end.
And the glorious majesty of the Lord be upon us. Prosper thou, O prosper thou the work of our hands, O prosper thou our handywork.
Words Psalm 90 Music Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)
Sermon Hope for the future
All stand
Hymn 271 (sung by the choir)
Alleluya, sing to Jesus, His the sceptre, his the throne; Alleluya, his the triumph, His the victory alone: Hark the songs of peaceful Sion Thunder like a mighty flood; Jesus out of every nation, Hath redeemed us by his blood.
Alleluya, not as orphans Are we left in sorrow now; Alleluya, he is near us, Faith believes, nor questions how; Though the cloud from sight received him When the forty days were o’er, Shall our hearts forget his promise, ‘I am with you evermore’?
Alleluya, Bread of Angels, Thou on earth our food, our stay; Alleluya, here the sinful Flee to thee from day to day; Intercessor, Friend of sinners, Earth’s Redeemer, plead for me, Where the songs of all the sinless Sweep across the crystal sea.
Alleluya, King eternal, Thee the Lord of lords we own; Alleluya, born of Mary, Earth thy footstool, heaven thy throne: Thou within the veil hast entered, Robed in flesh, our great High Priest; Thou on earth both Priest and Victim In the Eucharistic Feast.
Words William Chatterton Dix (1837–98) Music ‘Hyfrydol’, Melody by Richard Huw Pritchard (1811–87)
The Blessing
All remain standing as the choir and clergy leave the chapel
Voluntary Paean Herbert Howells
SERVICES AND EVENTS THIS WEEK:
Wednesday 25th 3.30pm Choral Evensong (this service will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 but not open to visitors)
Thursday 26th 6.15 p.m. Choral Evensong (this service will be recorded by the BBC but not open to visitors)
Sunday 29th 9.30 a.m. Exploring Christianity (via Zoom) 6.00 p.m. Advent Carol Service (this service will be live streamed but not open to visitors)
BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION The Dean would be delighted to hear from anyone thinking about exploring Baptism or Confirmation
The Revd Dr Mark Smith Dean Mr Graham Ross Director of Music Miss Hannah Grady Decani Scholar George Gillow Sir William McKie Senior Organ Scholar Samuel Jones Junior Organ Scholar