ST EDMUND HALL

Choral Evensong Feast of Christ the King

‘Striving for the Kingdom’ Speaker: The Chaplain 22 November 2020 6.30 pm

What is Evensong? Evensong is one of the Church of England’s ancient services. It provides an open and generous space for quiet and reflection, for song and speech and prayer, as it draws from biblical readings, canticles, and the Church’s long tradition of hymns. All are welcome.

Many have said, “Prayer is the key to the day and the lock to the night.” In the Anglican tradition, daily prayer is set at morning and evening for precisely this purpose: to give the opportunity to greet each new day as a divine gift and to prepare our hearts and minds for rest each night. It is founded in a sense of gratitude and wonder, and centred on the faith of Jesus Christ. We invite everyone to join in, as they are able, by listening attentively to the choir, readers, and ministers, and by saying together with us those prayers that are marked in bold: the Lord’s Prayer, the Grace, and the Amens.

This year, we are meeting in many locations, not just in the Chapel. Space is primarily limited to the choir and readers. Those who cannot join us in person may do so by Zoom at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87112377996?pwd=bm9zMWZreEl4M1RiK2to OXNvNW9aZz09

Speaker The Revd Dr Zachary Guiliano is Chaplain and Career Development Fellow in Early Medieval History at St Edmund Hall. A former journalist, he is the author of various articles, essays, and reviews and the editor of two volumes in the series Studies in Episcopal and Anglican Theology. His academic work focuses on the history of biblical interpretation, and his first book on the topic will be published in early 2021 as The Homiliary of Paul the Deacon: Religious and Cultural Reform in Carolingian Europe. ORGAN VOLUNTARY

The choir sings the INTROIT:

O nata lux de lumine, Jesu redemptor saeculi, dignare clemens supplicum laudes precesque sumere, qui carne quondam contegi dignatus es pro perditis, nos membra confer effici tui beati corporis.

O Light born of Light, Jesus the Redeemer of the world, in your mercy be pleased to receive the praises and prayers of beggars. You once were pleased to be clothed in flesh for the lost, grant that we be made members of your blessed body.

Words: Medieval Hymn for Lauds at the Feast of the Transfiguration Music: Thomas Tallis (1505-1585) The PRECES & RESPONSES:

+O Lord, open thou our lips Choir: and our mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

O God make speed to save us. Choir: O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; Choir: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Praise ye the Lord. Choir: The Lord’s name be praised.

Music: William Smith (1603-1645) The chaplain offers words of welcome, after which the choir sings PSALM 93:

1 The Lord is King, and hath put on glorious apparel: the Lord hath put on his apparel, and girded himself with strength. 2 He hath made the round world so sure: that it cannot be moved. 3 Ever since the world began hath thy seat been prepared: thou art from everlasting. 4 The floods are risen, O Lord, the floods have lift up their voice: the floods lift up their waves. 5 The waves of the sea are mighty, and rage horribly: but yet the Lord, who dwelleth on high, is mightier. 6 Thy testimonies, O Lord, are very sure: holiness becometh thine house 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.

The FIRST LESSON (2 Samuel 23:1-5):

Now these are the last words of David:

The oracle of David, son of Jesse, the oracle of the man whom God exalted, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the favorite of the Strong One of Israel:

The spirit of the Lord speaks through me, his word is upon my tongue. The God of Israel has spoken, the Rock of Israel has said to me: One who rules over people justly, ruling in the fear of God, is like the light of morning, like the sun rising on a cloudless morning, gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.

Is not my house like this with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. Will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire?.

The choir sings the MAGNIFICAT (Luke 1:46-55):

+ 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 shewed 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.

Music: Magnificat in F, George Dyson (1883-1964)

The SECOND LESSON (Matthew 28:16-20):

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The NUNC DIMITTIS (LUKE 2:29-32):

+ 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. Music: Nunc Dimittis in F, George Dyson (1883-1964)

The APOSTLES’ CREED:

All: I believe 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:

The Lord be with you. Choir: And with thy spirit.

Let us pray. Choir: Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. Choir: Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us. Choir: And grant us thy salvation.

O Lord, save the Queen. Choir: And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.

Endue thy ministers with righteousness. Choir: And make thy chosen people joyful.

O Lord, save thy people. Choir: And bless thine inheritance.

Give peace in our time, O Lord. Choir: Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God.

O God, make clean our hearts within us. Choir: And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

COLLECT OF THE DAY:

ETERNAL FATHER,whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven that he might rule over all things as Lord and King:keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit And in the bond of peace, and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Choir: Amen.

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. Choir: Amen.

COLLECT FOR AID AGAINST 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. Choir: Amen.

Music: William Smith (1603-1645)

All sit for the ADDRESS

“Striving for the Kingdom” The Chaplain

The Chaplain gives NOTICES and the choir then sings the Hymn THY KINGDOM COME, O GOD (NEH 499):

Thy kingdom come, O God, thy rule, O Christ, begin; break with thine iron rod the tyrannies of sin.

Where is thy reign of peace and purity and love? When shall all hatred cease, as in the realms above?

When comes the promised time that war shall be no more, and lust, oppression, crime shall flee thy face before?

We pray thee, Lord, arise, and come in thy great might; revive our longing eyes, which languish for thy sight.

Men scorn thy sacred name, and wolves devour thy fold; by many deeds of shame we learn that love grows cold.

O'er lands both near and far thick darkness broodeth yet: arise, O Morning Star, arise, and never set!

Words: Lewis Hensley, 1824-1905 Music: St Cecilia by L.G. Hayne (1836-1883)

The BLESSING

The ORGAN VOLUNTARY

The COLLECTIONS this term will go to support the Locality Response Centres, the Oxford Hub, and the charity Shelter, providing relief to those hit hardest by the Covid-19 outbreak. We invite all who can to give generously.

UPCOMING EVENTS

3 December Carols in the Quad:

UPCOMING SUNDAY SERVICES

29 November Advent Carol Service