What is Evensong?

Evensong is a combination of two of the seven offices (services) that made up the daily round of monastic prayer. These were the evening offices of Vespers and Compline which consisted of responses, psalms, canticles, readings and prayers. The liturgy of Evensong was first written down in 1549 in Archbishop Thomas Cranmer’s Book of Common Prayer. Several revisions to the book were made over subsequent years with the definitive version published in 1662. Widely known for the beauty and richness of its language, including Myles Coverdale’s translation of the psalms, the 1662 edition of the Book of Common Prayer remains the official prayer book of the Church of England.

The service of Evensong is renowned for its choral music. Several sections of the liturgy are sung by the choir though there are various ways in which everyone can participate. For example, it is an ancient custom in the Magnificat and the Nunc Dimittis as the choir sings the first two lines of the Gloria (‘Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost’) to make the sign of the cross and to bow one’s head in honour of God the Holy Trinity.

Ever since its foundation this church has been a house of prayer. The first recorded priest of St Mary’s Whitkirk was Paulinus who was the priest here in 1185 AD. The worship we share today gives a powerful sense of connecting the present with the past and of being part of a great, and continuing, tradition. Thank you for being part of this act of worship as we join our prayers and praises with those that have been offered here at St Mary’s for over eight hundred and thirty years.

The Service of Choral Evensong

Our worship begins at the sound of the bell, please stand as the sacred ministers enter, during which the introit hymn is sung.

Hymn

Light’s abode, celestial Salem,
vision whence true peace doth spring,
brighter than the heart can fancy,
mansion of the highest King;
O how glorious are the praises
which of thee the prophets sing!

There no cloud or passing vapour
dims the brightness of the air;
endless noon-day, glorious noon-day,
from the Sun of suns is there;
there no night brings rest from labour,
for unknown are toil and care.

O how glorious and resplendent,
fragile body, shalt thou be,
when endued with so much beauty,
full of health, and strong, and free,
full of vigour, full of pleasure
that shall last eternally.

Now with gladness, now with courage,
bear the burden on thee laid,
that hereafter these thy labours
may with endless gifts be paid:
and in everlasting glory
thou with brightness be arrayed.

Laud and honour to the Father,
laud and honour to the Son,
laud and honour to the Spirit,
ever Three and ever One,
consubstantial, co-eternal,
while unending ages run.

Words: ascribed to Thomas à Kempis (c. 1379-1471)
translated by John Mason Neale (1818-1866)
Music: Henry Smart (1813-1879)
Hymn Tune: REGENT SQUARE

Sentences of the Scriptures

Enter not into judgement with thy servant, O Lord; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

Psalm 143.2

Please remain standing.

Dearly beloved brethren,
the scripture moveth us in sundry places
to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness;
and that we should not dissemble nor cloke them
before the face of Almighty God our heavenly Father;
but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient heart;
to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same,
by his infinite goodness and mercy.
And although we ought at all times
humbly to acknowledge our sins before God;
yet ought we most chiefly so to do,
when we assemble and meet together
to render thanks for the great benefits
that we have received at his hands,
to set forth his most worthy praise,
to hear his most holy Word,
and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary,
as well for the body as the soul.
Wherefore I pray and beseech you,
as many as are here present,
to accompany me with a pure heart, and humble voice,
unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying after me;

Please kneel or sit.

The General Confession

Almighty and most merciful Father;
we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much the devices
and desires of our own hearts.
We have offended against thy holy laws.
We have left undone those things
which we ought to have done;
and we have done those things
which we ought not to have done;
and there is no health in us.
But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders.
Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults,
restore thou them that are penitent;
according to thy promises declared unto mankind
in Christ Jesu our Lord.
And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake;
that we may hereafter live a godly,
righteous, and sober life,
to the glory of thy holy Name.
Amen.

The Absolution

Almighty God,
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who desireth not the death of a sinner,
but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live;  
and hath given power, and commandment, to his Ministers,
to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent,
the Absolution and Remission of their sins:
He pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent,
and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel.
Wherefore let us beseech him
to grant us true repentance, and his holy Spirit,
that those things may please him, which we do at this present;
and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure, and holy;
so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Preces

The Preces (short petitions) are sung alternately by the cantor and the choir.

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.

Please stand.

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 Choir sings the psalm appointed for today.

Please sit.

Psalm 150

The psalms are sacred poems from the Old Testament dating back over three thousand years. The music for the psalm is known as Anglican chant, a short repeating tune.

O praise God in his holiness :
Praise him in the firmament of his power.

Praise him in his noble acts :
Praise him according to his excellent greatness.

Praise him in the sound of the trumpet :
Praise him upon the lute and harp.

Praise him in the cymbals and dances :
Praise him upon the strings and pipe.

Praise him upon the well-tuned cymbals :
Praise him upon the loud cymbals.

Let everything that hath breath :
Praise the Lord.

Please stand.

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.

Old Testament Lesson

Please sit.

The First Lesson is taken from the sixty-fifth chapter of the book of the prophet Isaiah, beginning to read at the seventeenth verse.

I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice for ever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress. No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime; for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred
will be considered accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, or bear children for calamity; for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord – and their descendants as well. Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent – its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the Lord.

Isaiah 65.17-end

At the end the reader says:

Here endeth the First Lesson.

After a short silence, please stand.

Magnificat

The Magnificat is the song of praise Mary sang after learning that she would give birth to Jesus, as recounted in Luke’s gospel. During the singing of the Magnificat the altar will be censed.

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 blessèd.
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.

Luke 1.46-55

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.

Please sit.

New Testament Lesson

The Second Lesson is taken from the eleventh chapter of the letter to the Hebrews beginning to read at the thirty-second verse.

What more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered

mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented – of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, without us, be made perfect.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 11.32-12.2

At the end the reader says:

Here endeth the Second Lesson.

After a short silence, please stand.

Nunc Dimittis

The Nunc Dimittis is also known as the Song of Simeon. Luke’s gospel tells us that old Simeon, a devout Jew, had been promised that he would not die until he had seen the promised Saviour. When Jesus was presented to him at the temple in Jerusalem, he at once recognised the Messiah and uttered these words of farewell.

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.

Luke 2.29-32

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.

Please remain standing.

The Apostles’ Creed

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 and the Responses

These prayers bind together themes of praise, mercy and the desire for God’s protection as night draws in. The Lesser Litany, the Lord’s Prayer and the Responses are sung alternately by the cantor and the choir.

The Lord be with you.

And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Please kneel or sit.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father

which art in heav’n,
hallowed be thy name.
thy kingdom come.
thy will be done,
in earth as it is in heav’n.
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.

And grant us thy salvation.

O Lord, save the King.

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 Collect of the Day

O Almighty God,
who hast knit together thine elect
in one communion and fellowship,
in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord:
Grant us grace so to follow thy blessèd Saints
in all virtuous and godly living,
that we may come to those unspeakable joys,
which thou hast prepared for them that unfeignedly love thee,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The 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.

Amen.

The Collect for Aid against all 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.

Amen.

Please sit as the Choir sings the anthem.

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
this live-long night.

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

Words: verse 1 – Reginald Heber (1783-1826)
Words: verse 2 – Richard Whately (1787-1863)
Music: Welsh traditional melody
arranged by David Thorne (b. 1950)

Please remain seated.

Sermon

Hymn

Please stand.

O sweet and blessèd country,
O Paradise of joy,
eternal fount of radiance
no evil can destroy;
they stand those halls of Sion,
all jubilant with song,
and bright with many an angel
and all the martyr throng;
and there the throne of David,
and there, from care released,
the song of them that triumph,
the shout of them that feast.

What ecstasy of music
within those courts is found,
what glorious alleluias
supernal choirs resound;
their psalms in holy chorus
seraphic voices raise,
and cherubim make answer
in antiphons of praise;
O home of fadeless splendour,
of radiancy unpriced,
O sweet and blessèd country,
thy cornerstone is Christ.

Words: John Mason Neale (1818-1866)
and Harrison Oxley (1933-2009)
from Bernard of Cluny (12th century)
Music: Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
Hymn Tune: THAXTED

Prayers

Please kneel or sit.

Offertory Hymn

Please stand.  During this hymn a collection, our financial offering in support of the work of the church both at St. Mary’s and across our diocese, is taken.

You can place cash or giving envelopes in the collection plates as they are passed around. If you would prefer, or if you miss the plate, you can also give by tapping your contactless card or device on the giving kiosk by the door as you leave, or on our donations page.

Love divine, all loves excelling, 
joy of heav’n, to earth come down, 
fix in us thy humble dwelling, 
all thy faithful mercies crown. 
Jesu, thou art all compassion, 
pure unbounded love thou art; 
visit us with thy salvation, 
enter ev’ry trembling heart.

Come, almighty to deliver, 
let us all thy life receive; 
suddenly return, and never, 
never more thy temples leave. 
Thee we would be always blessing, 
serve thee as thy hosts above; 
pray, and praise thee, without ceasing, 
glory in thy perfect love.

Finish then thy new creation, 
pure and spotless let us be; 
let us see thy great salvation, 
perfectly restored in thee. 
changed from glory into glory, 
till in heav’n we take our place, 
till we cast our crowns before thee, 
lost in wonder, love, and praise!

Words: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Music: William Penfro Rowlands (1860-1937)
Hymn Tune: BLAENWERN

The Blessing

Thank you for being part of this evening’s act of worship. This year Advent Sunday falls on Sunday 1 December.  To mark the beginning of this special season there will be an Advent Carol Service (instead of Evensong) at St Mary’s Whitkirk on Sunday 1 December at 6.00 pm.  This service combines seasonal Bible readings, anthems sung by the choir, and congregational hymns as we move from darkness into light, anticipating the light which is coming into the world at Christmas. All are welcome.