Choral Evensong
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St. Philip’s Episcopal Church of Ardmore presents, a preface to The Feast Day of St. Catherine of Siena Choral Evensong An Anglican Service of Scripture and Sung Prayers with Holy Eucharist The 26th of April 2015 at 5 o’clock in the evening A Brief Introduction to Evensong Evening Prayer is an Anglican liturgy that is celebrated in the late afternoon or evening. When it is mostly sung, it is commonly referred to as Evensong or Choral Evensong. This liturgy, as prescribed by our Book of Common Prayer, consists of a spoken penitential introduction, including the General Confes - sion, Verses and Responses also known as Preces , one or more Psalms conclud - ing with the Gloria Patri , two lessons from the Bible, several prayers and collects, and an anthem. The first Bible lesson is generally taken from the Old Testament and the second from the New Testament. When the service in - cludes a Eucharist, a Gospel lesson must also be included. Two canticles, the Magnificat or Song of Mary and the Nunc dimittis or Song of Simeon, follow the Old and New Testament readings respectively. The service may also in - clude one or more hymns. Evensong developed in the sixteenth century under Thomas Cranmer, Arch - bishop of Canterubury. Cranmer wanted to develop a daily system of worship for the general use. But, the Daily Hours, which were practiced most fully in monasteries, were in spite of their beauty unsuitable. First, there were too many services for laymen to attend. Secondly, they were in Latin. Thirdly, Cranmer felt strongly that more Scripture should be read in each service. And fourthly, the services were much too elaborate for the general population to follow. Cranmer’s solution was to translate the liturgy and the prayers, and to combine aspects of two or more of the Daily Hours into one service. The liturgy of Evening Prayer, or Evensong, combines canticles, Psalms, readings, and other liturgical portions of the Daily Hours of Vespers and Compline. Cranmer’s first Evensong appeared in the English Prayer Book in 1549. While most Evensong services today are sung almost exclusively by choir and can - tors, we have opted to include as much congregational participation as possi - ble. We feel strongly that your participation will enhance the inherent beauty of the service and will allow this liturgy to be more of a blessing to you. Organ Voluntary: Canzona from the Missa della Domenica Girolamo Frescobaldi The people remain standing, as you are able. Presider I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel; my heart teaches me, night after night. I have set the Lord al - ways before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not fall. (Psalm 16:7, 8) Confession of Sin All kneel. The Presider then says Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. Silence may be kept. Presider and People Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. The Presider stands and says Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. 1 The Invitatory and Psalter All stand. O Gracious Light Phos hilaron Hymnal 25 Words: Greek, 3rd cent.; tr. F. Bland Tucker (1895-1984); para. of O Gracious Light Music: The Eighth Tune , Thomas Tallis (1505?-1585); adapt. Hymnal 1982 Words: © The Church Pension Fund. Used with permission. OneLicense.net #718803 2 Psalm 36:5-10 Dixit injustus A “Note” on Singing Anglican Chant: 5 Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens , * • Each verse is sung to half of the and your faithfulness to the clouds . chant. Paired verses are sung to the 6 Your righteousness is like the strong mountains, | entire chant. your justice like the great deep ; * • Bold-faced words are sung to notes you save both man and beast, O LORD . with black note heads. Words not in bold are sung to the white note heads. 7 How priceless is your love, O God ! * your people take refuge under the shadow of your wings . • White note heads are unmeasured, 8 They feast upon the abundance of your house ; * meaning that the length is not deter - you give them drink from the river of your de - lights . mined by the note value, but rather by the time needed to sing the words. 9 For with you is the well of life , * • If you see |, take a breath and come and in your light we see light . back in on the same note. This mark 10 Continue your loving-kindness to those who know you , * indicates a break. and your favor to those who are t rue of heart . Readings A period of silence will follow each reading. The Hebrew Scriptures: Lamentations 3:31-33 For the Lord will not reject for ever. Although he causes grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone. Reader Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s People. People Thanks be to God. 3 Canticle 15: “Song of Mary” Hymnal 438 Words: Timothy Dudley-Smith (b. 1926); based on The Song of Mary Music: Woodlands , Walter Greatorex (1877-1949), alt. Words: Copyright © 1962 by Hope Publishing Company Carol Stream, IL 60188. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. Music: By permission of Oxford University Press. OneLicense.net #718803. The Epistle: 1 John 1:5-2:2 This is the message we have heard from the Son and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. Reader Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s People. People Thanks be to God. 4 Canticle 17: Song of Simeon Nunc dimittis (Luke 2:29-32) Hymnal 499 All stand. During the singing of the Sequence Hymn, the Deacon and Acolytes will process to the center of the Nave with the Gospel. Please turn to face the Gospel during this procession and remain facing the Gospel as it is read. Words: Rae E. Whitney (b. 1927); para. of The Song of Simeon Music: Song 1 , melody and bass Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625); harm. Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) Reprinted under OneLicense.net A-718803. 5 The Gospel: Luke 12:22-24,29-31 Deacon The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. People Glory to you, Lord Christ. Jesus said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well." Presider The Gospel of the Lord. People Praise to you, Lord Christ. The Nicene Creed All stand as your are able. The Presider and the people recite together. We believe in one God, On the third day he rose again the Father, the Almighty, in accordance with the Scriptures; maker of heaven and earth, he ascended into heaven of all that is, seen and unseen. and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ the living and the dead, the only Son of God, and his kingdom will have no end. eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, true God from true God, the giver of life, begotten, not made, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. of one Being with the Father.