Service Leaflet - May 31, 2020 (Choral Evensong)

(Recorded at the Cathedral of St. Philip on May 20, 2018, with the Very Reverend Samuel G. Candler and the Cathedral Choir)

In this traditional season of Pentecost and this newer “season of social distance,” we hope that the music and prayers of this Solemn Evensong (sung Evening Prayer), recorded on the Feast of Pentecost 2018, are a source of comfort, peace, and holy company for your soul.

The Procession

The Opening Sentences

The Invitatory and Psalter

The Cantor and Choir sing

The Preces and Responses

music: Gerre Hancock (1934-2012)

V. O Lord, open thou our lips:

R. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.

V. O God, make speed to save us:

R. O Lord, make haste to help us.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

V. Praise ye the Lord.

R. The Lord’s Name be praised.

You may want to light candles at home during the

Office Hymn 420

music: Engelberg, Charles Villiers Stanford (1852–1924) words: F. Pratt Green (1903-2000)

The Choir sings

Psalm 104:25-35, 37b

Anglican chant: Walter Parratt BCP, p. 736

25 O Lord, how manifold are your works! * in wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

26 Yonder is the great and wide sea with its living things too many to number, * creatures both small and great.

27 There move the ships, and there is that Leviathan, * which you have made for the sport of it.

28 All of them look to you * to give them their food in due season.

29 You give it to them; they gather it; * you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.

30 You hide your face, and they are terrified; * you take away their breath, and they die and return to their dust.

31 You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; * and so you renew the face of the earth.

32 May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; * may the Lord rejoice in all his works.

33 He looks at the earth and it trembles; * he touches the mountains and they smoke.

34 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; * I will praise my God while I have my being.

35 May these words of mine please him; * I will rejoice in the Lord.

37b Hallelujah!

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 Lessons

The First Lesson: Acts 2:1-21

Lector: A Lesson from The Acts of the Apostles.

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ ”

Lector: Here ends the lesson.

The Magnificat

music: Herbert Howells, Gloucester Service words: Song of Mary, Luke 1:46-55

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.

The Second Lesson: John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

Lector: A Lesson from The Gospel of John.

Jesus said to his disciples, “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.

“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But, now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

Lector: Here ends the lesson.

The Nunc Dimittis

music: Herbert Howells, Gloucester Service words: Song of Simeon, 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.

All sing

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 Prayers

The Choir sings

The Preces and Responses

music: Gerre Hancock (1934-2012)

V. The Lord be with you.

R. And with thy spirit.

All stand or kneel.

V. Let us pray.

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

V. O Lord, show thy mercy upon us:

R. And grant us thy salvation.

V. O Lord, save the State:

R. And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.

V. Endue thy ministers with righteousness:

R. And make thy chosen people joyful.

V. O Lord, save thy people:

R. And bless thine inheritance.

V. Give peace in our time, O Lord:

R. Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God.

V. O God, make clean our hearts within us:

R. And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

The Collects

Almighty God, who on this day didst open the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of thy Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: Be ever present with your servants who seek through music to perfect the praises offered by your people on earth; and grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty, and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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 Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Anthem after the Third Collect

Sung on Pentecost 2018 in thanksgiving for the 32-year ministry of David Fishburn at the Cathedral of St. Philip music: Roland Martin (b. 1955), Whitsunday words: George Herbert (1593-1633)

Listen sweet Dove unto my song, And spread thy golden wings in me; Hatching my tender heart so long, Till it get wing, and flie away with thee.

Where is that fire which once descended On thy Apostles? thou didst then Keep open house, richly attended, Feasting all comers by twelve chosen men.

Such glorious gifts thou didst bestow, That th’ earth did like a heav’n appeare; The starres were coming down to know If they might mend their wages, and serve here.

The sunne, which once did shine alone, Hung down his head, and wisht for night, When he beheld twelve sunnes for one Going about the world, and giving light.

But since those pipes of gold, which brought That cordiall water to our ground, Were cut and martyr’d by the fault Of those, who did themselves through their side wound,

Thou shutt’st the doore, and keep’st within; Scarce a good joy creeps through the chink: And if the braves of conqu’ring sinne Did not excite thee, we should wholly sink.

Lord, though we change, thou art the same; The same sweet God of love and light: Restore this day, for thy great name, Unto his ancient and miraculous right.

All sing

Hymn 387

music: Magdalen College, William Hayes (1706–1777) words: Christopher Smart (1722–1771), alt.

The Offertory Sentence

Anthem at the Offering

music: Herbert Howells (1892-1983), Te Deum laudamus (Collegium Regale) words: Canticle 7 from the Book of Common Prayer (p. 52) Sung in thanksgiving for the 32-year ministry of David Fishburn at the Cathedral of St. Philip

We praise thee, O God, we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee, the Father everlasting. To thee all Angels cry aloud, the Heavens and all the Powers therein. To thee Cherubin and Seraphin continually do cry: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth; Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory. The glorious company of the apostles praise thee. The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise thee. The noble army of martyrs praise thee. The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge thee, the Father, of an infinite majesty, thine honourable, true and only Son, also the Holy Ghost the Comforter. Thou art the King of glory, O Christ. Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father. When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man, thou didst not abhor the virgin’s womb. When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father. We believe that thou shalt come to be our judge. We therefore pray thee, help thy servants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood. Make them to be numbered with thy saints in glory everlasting. O Lord, save thy people: and bless thine heritage. Govern them: and lift them up forever. Day by day we magnify thee; and we worship thy Name ever world without end. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin. O Lord, have mercy upon us. O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us: as our trust is in thee. O Lord, in thee have I trusted: let me never be confounded.

All sing

The Closing Hymn

music: Blaenwern, William Penfro Rowlands (1860-1937) words: Charles Wesley (1701-1788)

The Psalm in Procession 150

Anglican chant: George S. Talbot BCP, p. 807

Hallelujah! Praise 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! 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.

All music is reprinted by permission under www.OneLicense.net (license number A-717455). Music from The Hymnal 1982 © Church Publishing, Inc.