Saturday, September 12 First Evensong of the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost With the Society of St. John the Evangelist Opening Acclamation Officiant Light and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord. People Thanks be to God. The Officiant then prays the Prayer for Light to which the People respond “Amen.�
Candle Lighting Anthem The Brothers then sing the Candle Lighting Anthem as the candles on the altar are lit.
Phos Hilaron Ancient Greek hymn meaning “O Gladsome Light�
O gracious Light 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. [Text: Greek, 3rd century, tr. 1982 || Music: Tristram, Kevin Hackett]
The Psalms The Brothers will sing an antiphon at the beginning and end of each psalm
Psalm 147, Part I Lauda, anima mea 1
Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God! * how pleasant it is to honor him with praise!
2
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem; * he gathers the exiles of Israel.
3
He heals the brokenhearted * and binds up their wounds.
4
He counts the number of the stars * and calls them all by their names.
5
Great is our LORD and mighty in power; * there is no limit to his wisdom.
6
The LORD lifts up the lowly, * but casts the wicked to the ground.
7
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; * make music to our God upon the harp.
8
He covers the heavens with clouds * and prepares rain for the earth;
9
He makes grass to grow upon the mountains * and green plants to serve mankind.
10 He provides food for flocks and herds * and for the young ravens when they cry. 11 He is not impressed by the might of a horse; * he has no pleasure in the strength of a man; 12 But the LORD has pleasure in those who fear him, * in those who await his gracious favor. 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.
Psalm 147, Part II Lauda Jerusalem 13 Worship the LORD, O Jerusalem; * praise your God, O Zion; 14 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; * he has blessed your children within you. 15 He has established peace on your borders; * he satisfies you with the finest wheat. 16 He sends out his command to the earth, * and his word runs very swiftly. 17 He gives snow like wool; * he scatters hoarfrost like ashes. 18 He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; * who can stand against his cold? 19 He sends forth his word and melts them; * he blows with his wind, and the waters flow. 20 He declares his word to Jacob, * his statutes and his judgments to Israel. 21 He has not done so to any other nation; * to them he has not revealed his judgments. 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 for ever. Amen. Psalm 148 Laudate Dominum 1
Hallelujah! Praise the LORD from the heavens; * praise him in the heights.
2
Praise him, all you angels of his; * praise him, all his host.
3
Praise him, sun and moon; * praise him, all you shining stars.
4
Praise him, heaven of heavens, * and you waters above the heavens.
5
Let them praise the Name of the LORD; * for he commanded, and they were created.
6
He made them stand fast for ever and ever; * he gave them a law which shall not pass away.
7
Praise the LORD from the earth, * you sea-monsters and all deeps;
8
Fire and hail, snow and fog, * tempestuous wind, doing his will;
9
Mountains and all hills, * fruit trees and all cedars;
10 Wild beasts and all cattle, * creeping things and wingèd birds; 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, * princes and all rulers of the world; 12 Young men and maidens, * old and young together. 13 Let them praise the Name of the LORD, * for his Name only is exalted, his splendor is over earth and heaven. 14 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 for ever. Amen.
First Lesson 1 Kings 18:41—19:8 The Drought Ends Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of rushing rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; there he bowed himself down upon the earth and put his face between his knees. 43 He said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” He went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” Then he said, “Go again seven times.” 44 At the seventh time he said, “Look, a little cloud no bigger than a person’s hand is rising out of the sea.” Then he said, “Go say to Ahab, ‘Harness your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’” 45 In a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind; there was a heavy rain. Ahab rode off and went to Jezreel. 46 But the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; he girded up his loins and ran in front of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. 41
Elijah Flees from Jezebel
19
Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there. 4 But
he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.” 8 He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.
The Song of Mary, The Magnificat [Luke 1:46-55] The Brothers chant an antiphon at the beginning of the Magnificat, and again at the end.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; * for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: * the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him * in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, * he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, * and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, * and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, * for he has remembered his promise of mercy, The promise he made to our fathers, * to Abraham and his children for ever. 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.
Second Lesson Acts 15:22-35 The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers 22 Then
the apostles and the elders, with the consent of the whole church, decided to choose men from among their members and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers, 23 with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the believers of Gentile origin in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard that certain persons who have gone out from us, though with no instructions from us, have said things to disturb you and have unsettled your minds, 25 we have decided unanimously to choose representatives and send them to you, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.� 30 So
they were sent off and went down to Antioch. When they gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 When its members read it, they rejoiced at the exhortation. 32 Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. 33 After they had been there for some time, they were sent off in peace by the believers to those who had sent them. 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, and there, with many others, they taught and proclaimed the word of the Lord.
Nunc Dimittis Hymnal 499
The Apostles’ Creed Officiant and People
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’s Prayer 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. Amen.
Suffrages Cantor People
That this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful, We entreat you, O Lord.
Cantor People
That your holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and goodwill, We entreat you, O Lord.
Cantor People
That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins and offenses, We entreat you, O Lord.
Cantor People
That there may be peace to your Church and to the whole world, We entreat you, O Lord.
Cantor
That we may depart this life in your faith and fear, and not be condemned before the great judgment seat of Christ, We entreat you, O Lord.
People Cantor
People
That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit in the communion of [________ and] all your saints, entrusting one another and all our life to Christ, We entreat you, O Lord.
The Collect
Anthem Abide With Me Abide with Me, fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; come, with Me abide! When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, My Love will never fail, abide with Me. Swift to its close ebbs out life's every day; Earth's joys are gifts, although they pass away; Change and decay in all around you see, I will not ever change, abide with me… You need My Presence every passing hour, What but My grace can foil the tempter's power? Who, like Myself, your guide and stay will be? Always remember, come, abide with Me! Fear not, no foe can curb My gift to bless; Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness. Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory? You'll triumph still if you abide with Me. Hold Calvary's cross before My loving eyes; See how I shine, look up into the skies; Heaven's morning breaks and earth's vain shadows flee; In life, in death my child, abide with Me. Text: Henry Francis Lyte (1793—1847), adapt. Loren Wiebe Music: Eventide, William Henry Monk (1823—1889)
Sermon Prayers
Hymn Hymnal 537
Benedicamus
Concluding Scripture The Officiant then concludes with one of the following: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14 May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13 Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen. Philippians 4.7 May the Lord of peace give us peace in all ways and at all times. Amen.
Romans 15.33