Choral Evensong For the Fifth Sunday of Easter May 6, 2012 5:00 PM The Rev. Judith L. Rhodes, Rector The Reverend Dr. Paul J. Carling, Associate Rector The Reverend Kristin K. Miles, Assistant for Formation The Saint Paul’s Choir, John Abdenour, Director Joseph Ripka, Organ Welcome to this service of Choral Evening Prayer, or Evensong. In the Episcopal Church, the Daily Office—that is , services of Morning and Evening Prayer—celebrate the sacramental nature of the movement of time. Rooted in ancient monastic tradition, the services focus on the Word of God as it is revealed through the Lessons (scripture readings), the Canticle(s) (at Evening Prayer drawn from the Gospel of Luke), the Psalm, and the prayers, which are always grounded in Scripture. This service will be conducted as a ‘choir’ service, that is, a service being held in the choir—or chancel—of the church, and sung primarily by the choir and Precentor (cantor). The congregation is invited to sing the hymns and to participate through listening, contemplation, and prayer. Hymns may be found in the blue Hymnal 1982 in the pew rack in front of you. Order of Service Organ Voluntary Adagio e dolce from Sonata III BWV 527 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) The People stand as the Choir and Officiant enter. Introit John Abdenour (b. 1962) I will bless the Lord at all times * his praise shall ever be in my mouth. Look upon him and be radiant, * Nor let your faces be ashamed. Taste and see that the Lord is good; * Happy are they that trust in him. —from Psalm 34 Invitatory Sentences Responses by Gerre Hancock (1934-2012) Psalm 22 Deus, Deus meus Chant by Edward John Hopkins (1818-1901) sung by the choir, the People seated 25 My praise is of thee in the great congregation : my vows will I perform in the sight of them that fear him. 26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied : they that seek after the Lord shall praise him; your heart shall live for ever. 27 All the ends of the world shall remember themselves, and be turned unto the Lord : and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before him. 28 For the kingdom is the Lord's : and he is the Governor among the people. 29 All such as be fat upon earth : have eaten and worshipped. 30 All they that go down into the dust shall kneel before him : and no man hath quickened his own soul. 31 My seed shall serve him : they shall be counted unto the Lord for a generation. 32 They shall come, and the heavens shall declare his righteousness : unto a people that shall be born, whom the Lord hath made. 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. The First Lesson Acts 8:26-40 An angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. Reader The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God. Hymn 24 “The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended” St. Clement Magnificat St. Paul’s Cathedral Herbert Howells (1893-1982) My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoicèd in God my Savior. 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 showèd strength with his arm: he hath scatterèd 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 forever. 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. The Second Lesson John 15:1-8 Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” Reader The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God. Nunc Dimittis 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. Sung by the Officiant and People together, all standing I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again 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. Officiant The Lord be with you. Choir (sung) And also with you. Officiant Let us pray . The People kneel or sit. Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. Sung by the Officiant and People, together 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, the power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen. The Suffrages and the Collects Officiant and Choir V. O Lord, show thy mercy upon us; R. And grant us thy salvation. V. O Lord, save the state, R. And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee. V. Endue thy ministers with righteousness. R. And make thy chosen people joyful. V. O Lord, save thy people, R. And bless thine inheritance. V. Give peace in our time, O Lord, R. Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God.