CHORAL EVENSONG 4 OCTOBER O 5PM O 2020 francis of assisi friar, 1226 Christ Church Cathedral 318 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio ABOUT EVENSONG In the monastic tradition of the western church, the TERMS “hours” are appointed times for prayer throughout the ANTIPHON day. A verse sung before and usually after a psalm, canticle, or hymn text. It is • matins/lauds, in the middle of the night; often drawn from scripture (especial- • prime, sunrise; ly the psalms) and is appropriate to the • terce, 9 a.m.; liturgical season or occasion. • sext, noon; CANTICLE • none, 3 p.m.; A non-metrical song used in liturgical • vespers, sunset; worship. Latin for a “little song.” • compline, bedtime. RESPONSORY A prayer(s) with responses. This cycle of prayer, known as the Daily Office, PRECES includes psalms, canticles, antiphons, responsories, (Latin preces, plural of prex, “prayer”). hymns, versicles and responses, readings, and prayers. Brief responsive prayers which are of- ten based on verses of scripture, espe- Archbishop Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) simplified cially the Psalter. and reduced these hours into the liturgies Morning VERSICLE Prayer (Matins) and Evening Prayer (Evensong). The first half of a set of preces, said or sung by an officiant or cantor and an- Choral Evensong is sung Evening Prayer; the choir sings swered with a spoken or sung response the psalmody, the canticles (Magnificat & Nunc dim- by the congregation or choir. ittis) and an anthem while the congregation participates SUFFraGE vicariously—listening attentively to the choir’s and A series of intercessory prayers or precentor’s offering of music and to the proclamation of petitions. the Scriptures. ¶ The People’s responses are in bold. Voluntary Saraband and Interlude Herbert Sumsion (1899-1995) ¶ The People stand Opening Sentences Confession of Sin and Absolution Dear friends in Christ, here in the presence of Almighty God, let us kneel in silence, and with pen- itent and obedient hearts confess our sins, so that we may obtain forgiveness by his infinite goodness and mercy. ¶ Officiant and People together, all kneeling ost merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and M 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. ¶ Silence may be kept. The Priest 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. ¶ The People stand O God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia. 3 O Gracious Light Phos hilaron ¶ sung by the choir O gracious light, pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven, O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed! Now as we come to the setting of the sun, and our eyes behold the vesper light, we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices, O Son of God, O Giver of Life, and to be glorified through all the worlds. ¶ The People sit Psalm 148 Chant: Hezekiah West ¶ sung by the choir allelujah! HPraise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights. Praise him, all you angels of his; praise him, all his host. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, heaven of heavens, and you waters above the heavens. Let them praise the Name of the LORD; for he commanded, and they were created. He made them stand fast for ever and ever; he gave them a law which shall not pass away. Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea-monsters and all deeps; Fire and hail, snow and fog, tempestuous wind, doing his will; Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars; Wild beasts and all cattle, creeping things and wingèd birds; Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the world; Young men and maidens, old and young together. Let them praise the Name of the LORD, for his Name only is exalted, his splendor is over earth and heaven. He has raised up strength for his people and praise for all his loyal servants, the children of Israel, a people who are near him. Hallelujah! Glory 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. 4 Psalm 150 Chant: Charles Villiers Stanford ¶ sung by the choir allelujah! HPraise God in his holy temple; praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts; praise him for his excellent greatness. Praise him with the blast of the ram’s-horn; praise him with lyre and harp. Praise him with timbrel and dance; praise him with strings and pipe. Praise him with resounding cymbals; praise him with loud-clanging cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Hallelujah! The First Lesson Jeremiah 22:13-16 (NRSV) WOE to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice; who makes his neighbors work for nothing, and does not give them their wages; who says, ‘I will build myself a spacious house with large upper rooms’, and who cuts out windows for it, paneling it with cedar, and painting it with vermilion. Are you a king because you compete in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me? says the Lord. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Canticle: Magnificat Setting: Thomas Attwood Walmisley (1814-1856) My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced 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 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. 5 The Second Lesson Galatians 6:14-18 (NRSV) May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Canticle: Nunc Dimittis Setting: Thomas Attwood Walmisley 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. The Sermon ¶ The People stand The Apostles’ Creed 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. The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. 6 Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever.