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Choral Evensong CHORAL EVENSONG November 15, 2020 5:00 P.M. WELCOME TO CHORAL EVENSONG The American Cathedral of the Holy Trinity welcomes all people. Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, whatever your questions, whatever your situation, we are glad you are here and invite you to find out more about our life together. The American Cathedral in Paris 23, Avenue George V 75008 PARIS CHORAL EVENSONG Choral Evensong (Evening Prayer/Vêpres Chantées) is one of the real jewels of the Anglican tradition, and has been so for over 400 years. A service of timeless beauty and heritage, it dates from the English Reformation, when the medieval Latin monastic offices of Vespers and Compline were translated into English to be used in all parish and cathedral churches. Along with sung Mattins (Morning Prayer), Evensong was one of the principal Sunday services of the Anglican Church until the late nineteenth-century, when the Eucharist became increasingly prevalent. The service as we have it today is essentially unchanged from Archbishop Thomas Cranmer’s 1549 Book of Common Prayer -- from which the current Episcopal Prayer Book draws its origins. The style of English language (Rite I) used is similar to the language of Shakespeare, dating from the sixteenth century. Much of Evensong is sung by the choir -- giving the congregation the opportunity to listen to the fine Anglican choral tradition of music, and to be inspired and uplifted in worship. It is a musical offering of praise to God. The text of Evensong is taken almost entirely from the Scripture. A portion of the psalter is beautifully chanted by the choir. There are readings from the Old Testament and the New. Then there are the two great songs: the Magnificat, the song of Mary when she heard that she was to become the mother of our Lord; and the Nunc Dimittis, the words of the old prophet Simeon as he held the infant Jesus in his arms and recognized Him as the Messiah. Incense is used by the Church as a symbol of our prayers rising to heaven: “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you” (Psalm 141). We find in the book of Revelation that incense symbolizes the prayers of the saints in heaven -- “the golden bowl full of incense are the prayers of the saints” (5:8; 8:3) -- which rise towards the altar of God. At Evensong, incense is used at the opening procession, and at the Magnificat, to bless the altar and mark it as the sacramental heart of the parish. The clergy lead the congregation in prayer and intercession. Several collects (prayers) are chanted. You are invited to join in singing the hymns, the creeds, and in prayer. INTROIT: Thou visitest the earth Maurice Greene (1695-1755) Thou visitest the earth and blessest it. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness. (Text, Psalm 65: 9a, 12a) HYMN (sung by all): “The stars declare His glory” ALDINE THE INVITATORY AND PSALTER THE PRECES David Hogan (1949-1996) Officiant: O Lord, open thou our lips. Choir: And our mouth shall show forth thy praise. Officiant: O God, make speed to save us. Choir: O Lord, make haste to help us. Officiant: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Choir: As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Officiant: Praise ye the Lord. Choir: The Lord's name be praised. THE PSALM: 90 Saint Anne, John Bertalot (b.1931) 1 Lord, you have been our refuge * from one generation to another. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or the land and the earth were born, * from age to age you are God. 3 You turn us back to the dust and say, * "Go back, O child of earth." 4 For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past * and like a watch in the night. 5 You sweep us away like a dream; * we fade away suddenly like the grass. 6 In the morning it is green and flourishes; * in the evening it is dried up and withered. 7 For we consume away in your displeasure; * we are afraid because of your wrathful indignation. 3 8 Our iniquities you have set before you, * and our secret sins in the light of your countenance. 9 When you are angry, all our days are gone; * we bring our years to an end like a sigh. 10 The span of our life is seventy years, perhaps in strength even eighty; * yet the sum of them is but labor and sorrow, for they pass away quickly and we are gone. 11 Who regards the power of your wrath? * who rightly fears your indignation? 12 So teach us to number our days * that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen THE LESSONS THE FIRST LESSON: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing. The Word of the Lord. All respond Thanks be to God. MAGNIFICAT Sung by the Choir Third Service, Philip Moore (b.1943) 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 4 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: Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus said, “It is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest.
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