Choral Evensong

Music before the service

played by Peter Harland

Opening Hymn

God is Love: let heav'n adore him;
God is Love: let earth rejoice;
let creation sing before him,
and exalt him with one voice.
He who laid the earth's foundation,
he who spread the heav'ns above,
he who breathes through all creation,
he is Love, eternal Love.

God is Love: and he enfoldeth
all the world in one embrace;
with unfailing grasp he holdeth
every child of every race.
And when human hearts are breaking
under sorrow's iron rod,
then they find that selfsame aching
deep within the heart of God.

God is Love: and though with blindness
sin afflicts the souls of all,
God's eternal loving-kindness
holds and guides us when we fall.
Sin and death and hell shall never
o'er us final triumph gain;
God is Love, so Love for ever
o'er the universe must reign.

Introduction

Beloved, we are come together
in the presence of almighty God
and of the whole company of heaven
to offer unto him through our Lord Jesus Christ
our worship and praise and thanksgiving;
to pray, as well for others as for ourselves,
that we may know more truly the greatness of God's love
and shew forth in our lives the fruits of his grace;
and to ask on behalf of all people
such things as their well-being doth require.
Wherefore let us remember God's presence with us now.

The Preces

O Lord, open thou our lips.
And our mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

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

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.

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

The Psalm (verses from Psalm 107)

1  O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious *
 and his mercy endureth for ever.
2  Let them give thanks whom the Lord hath redeemed *
 and delivered from the hand of the enemy;
3  And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west *
 from the north, and from the south.
4  They went astray in the wilderness out of the way *
 and found no city to dwell in;
5  Hungry and thirsty *
 their soul fainted in them.
6  So they cried unto the Lord in their trouble *
 and he delivered them from their distress.
7  He led them forth by the right way *
 that they might go to the city where they dwelt.
8  O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness *
 and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men!
9  For he satisfieth the empty soul *
 and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
10  Such as sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death *
 being fast bound in misery and iron;
11  Because they rebelled against the words of the Lord *
 and lightly regarded the counsel of the most Highest;
12  He also brought down their heart through heaviness *
 they fell down, and there was none to help them.
13  So when they cried unto the Lord in their trouble *
 he delivered them out of their distress.
14  For he brought them out of darkness, and out of the shadow of death *
 and brake their bonds in sunder.
15  O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness *
 and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men !
16  For he hath broken the gates of brass *
 and smitten the bars of iron in sunder.
17  Foolish men are plagued for their offence *
 and because of their wickedness.
18  Their soul abhorred all manner of meat *
 and they were even hard at death’s door.
19  So when they cried unto the Lord in their trouble *
 he delivered them out of their distress.
20  He sent his word, and healed them *
 and they were saved from their destruction.
21  O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness *
 and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men!
22  That they would offer unto him the sacrifice of thanksgiving *
 and tell out his works with gladness!

The First Lesson

The first lesson is written in the book of Numbers, chapter twenty-one, beginning to read at the fourth verse.

From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.’ Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, ‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.’ So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.’ So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

Here endeth the first lesson.

The Magnificat

This term the musical settings will be simple, using a very small number of voices, to enable us to keep the Chapel as safe as possible. 

MY soul doth magnify the Lord :
  and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he hath regarded :
  the lowliness of his hand-maiden.

For behold, from henceforth :
  all generations shall call me blesséd.

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.

The Second Lesson

The second lesson is written in the Gospel according to St John, chapter three, beginning to read at the fourteenth verse.

And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.’

Here endeth the second lesson.
 

The 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.

The Apostles’ Creed

Please join the Chaplain in saying the creed, if you wish to do so.

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 Catholick Church;
The Communion of Saints;
The Forgiveness of sins;
The Resurrection of the body,
And the Life everlasting. Amen.

The Prayers

The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ have mercy upon us. 
Lord, have mercy upon us.

The Lord’s Prayer

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.

The Suffrages

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

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

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

O Lord, save thy people    
And bless thine inheritance.

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

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

The Collects

We beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty to be our defence against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen,

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

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. 
Amen.

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.
Amen.

Anthem

O Lord in thy wrath by Orlando Gibbons

Reflective Homily

Given by Lex Bradley-Stow (ordinand from Ridley Hall)

Intercessions

At the end of the intercessions, please join in saying the College Collect if you wish to do so:

The College Collect

O Everlasting God,
with whom a thousand years are but as one day,
and in whose name are treasured here
the memorials of many generations:
grant to us whom thou hast made members of this College,
such measures of grace and wisdom,
that we may neglect no portion of our manifold inheritance,
but may guard and use it to thy glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Grace

The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost,
be with us all evermore. Amen.

The Hymn

God, that madest earth and heaven,
darkness and light;
who the day for toil hast given,
for rest the night;
may thine angel guards defend us,
slumber sweet thy mercy send us;
holy dreams and hopes attend us,
all through the night.

Guard us waking, guard us sleeping,
and when we die,
may we in thy mighty keeping
all peaceful lie;
when the last dread call shall wake us,
do not thou, our God, forsake us,
but to reign in glory take us
with Thee on high.

The Blessing

The peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God
and of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.

The Organ Voluntary

C M Widor, Toccata from the IV symphony
Played by Peter Harland

Thank you for attending this service of Choral Evensong. 
Please do stay after the voluntary has ended for some time of fellowship and conversation. 
Details of all Chapel services (in person and online) are on the Chapel Services page.
The Chaplain is available to all members of the Catz community for pastoral care or spiritual support, prayer, or just a chat.