Choral Evensong. St. John s Anglican Church. Rector s Message. Rector: Archdeacon Rev. Michael H. Mitchell. April 3, 2016.

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1 Choral Evensong St. John s Anglican Church Lunenburg, Nova Scotia April 3, 2016 Rector: Archdeacon Rev. Michael H. Mitchell Organist/Choir Director - Barbara Butler St. John s Chancel Choir & Guests Guest Director - Edmund Brownless Soloist - Judith Burdett To all who mourn or need comfort, To all who are weary and need rest, To all who seek friendship, To all who desire to grow in relationship with God To all who yearn to pray, To all who need a Saviour, And to all whoever will worship, This Church of St. John s opens wide its doors and in the name of Christ our Lord, says - WELCOME. Rector s Message It is a delight to welcome parishioners and friends to Choral Evensong on this April Spring Sunday. I am copying an excerpt from Evensong Explained by W.K. Lowther Clarke, London UK in the year EVENSONG is a popular service in the true sense of the term "popular." Especially when the psalms and lessons have a clear and appropriate message, it appeals to the people in a wonderful way, refreshing the soul and informing the mind... THE ORIGIN OF EVENSONG. It is sometimes said that Matins and Evensong came from the monks. In a sense this is true, but the offices from which our modern services are derived were used by other priests than those in monasteries, and in a simpler form by pious layfolk in their private devotions. The great Churchman mainly responsible for our Service of Holy Communion, Morning and Evening Prayer was Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury in the reigns of Henry VIII., Edward VI., and Mary; under Mary, as every schoolboy knows, he was burned to death at Oxford. Where did the monks get their services? The services used in the monasteries had been altered in the course of time, but were, nevertheless, essentially the same as those used in monasteries 1,200 years before, and these in their turn go back to the earliest age of the Church. The Apostles themselves had services consisting of psalms, Scripture readings and prayers, out of which was formed the first part of the primitive Liturgy. But where did the Apostles get their services? They were the very services which they had attended in company with our Lord in the synagogues at Capernaum and elsewhere. And if we push our inquiries still further back, we reach the time when the Jews were exiled to Babylon, far away from their beloved temple, and learned to sing the Lord's song in a strange land, without an altar or sacrifice. Of course, the Church gave a Christian turn to the old Jewish worship, but the framework of the service was the same. The Eucharist which Christ bade us do in remembrance of Him is the greatest possible act of worship, but Matins and Evensong must be reverenced and loved because they are a modern form of the worship which Christ and His Apostles offered to God. CRANMER'S WORK. Matins and Evensong, though dating from the Reformation in their present form, are yet derived from services which go back to the very first age of the Church, and even beyond that to the Jewish Synagogue. Evensong was made up from the old Latin services of Vespers and Compline. Tonight we savour the beautiful prayers, prose and music at the heart of Evensong. Let us rejoice and be glad. Michael+ 2

2 Prelude: Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise - Archer Interoit: O Gracious Light, Lord Jesus Christ Please Stand for the Hymn Processional Hymn #328 Crown Him with Many Crowns Introductory Sentences O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: let the whole earth stand in awe of him. Psalm I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. Psalm The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia! St Luke The Penitential Rite Let us humbly confess our sins to Almighty God. DEARLY beloved brothers and sisters, 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. A general Confession to be said of the whole Congregation, all kneeling. 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 humankind in Christ Jesus 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, to be pronounced by the alone, standing: the people still kneeling. 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, 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 we 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. Preces & Responses : O LORD, open thou our lips; : And our mouth shall show forth thy praise. : O God, make speed to save us; : O Lord, make haste to help us. Here, all standing up, the Minister shall sing: 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 congregation sits after the choir sings the first verse of the Psalm 3 4

3 THE PSALMS Psalm 111 Confitebor tibi. Please stand for the Gloria Patri The Lessons will be read from the historic bible published by John Basket Bible in Commonly called The Vinegar Bible, it was originally brought to St. John s by the Rev. Robert Vincent. The bible was used in this Church from It was returned to St. John s, 242 years later, in Please be seated for The First Lesson is taken from the 43 rd Chapter of the Prophet Isaiah, reading verses 8-13 Reader: Peter Matthews At the end of the lesson is said: Here endeth the First Lesson. Please stand for the OFFICE HYMN #330 O Praise Ye the Lord 1 I WILL give thanks unto the LORD with my whole heart, * in the council of the faithful and in the congre gation. 2 The works of the LORD are great, * sought out of all them that have pleasure there in. 3 His work is worthy to be praised and had in honour; * and his righteousness en dureth for ever. 4 The merciful and gracious LORD hath so done his marvellous works, * that they ought to be had in re membrance. 5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him; *he shall ever be mindful of his covenant. 6 He hath showed his people the power of his works, *in giving them the heri-tage of the nations. 7 The works of his hands are verity and judgement; * all his precepts are sure; 8 They stand fast for ever and ever, * and are done in truth and equity. 9 He sent redemption unto his people; *he hath commanded his covenant for ever; holy and reverend is his Name. 10 The fear of the LORD is the be ginning of wisdom; * a good understanding have all they that do thereafter; his praise en dureth 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. A- men. Please remain standing for the THE MAGNIFICAT St Luke Magnifcat in C by C V Stanford (Sung by the Choir) MY soul doth magnify the Lord, / and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 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. Please be seated for the Lesson. The Second Lesson is taken from the 14 4h Chapter of Gospel of John, reading verses 1-7 Reader: Hazel Oliver At the end of the lesson is said: Here endeth the Second Lesson. 5 6

4 Please stand for the NUNC DIMITTIS. St Luke 2.29 Nunc Dimittis by C V Stanford (Sung by the Choir) 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. Then shall be said the Confession of the Faith, called the Apostles Creed. All 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. And after the Creed these prayers following, all devoutly kneeling, the Minister first pronouncing: 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. Lord s Prayer - Chanted 7 OUR Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on 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. Then the standing up shall say: O Lord, show 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; And evermore mightily defend us. O God, make clean our hearts within us; And take not thy Holy Spirit from us. The Collect Let us pray. The community prays silently. The celebrant sings the collect. ALMIGHTY God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Second 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 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 Third 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. 8

5 Please sit for the Choir Anthem: Laudate Dominum - Mozart Laudate Dominum omnes gentes Laudate eum, omnes populi Quoniam confirmata est Super nos misericordia eius, Et veritas Domini manet in aeternum. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper. Et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Praise the Lord, all nations; Praise Him, all people. For He has bestowed His mercy upon us, And the truth of the Lord endures forever. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and forever, and for generations of generations. Amen. Offertory Hymn #29 The Day Thou Gavest Your offering to God for the work and ministry of the Church is greatly appreciated. A Bidding Prayer LET us pray for Christ s holy Catholic Church; that is, for the whole congregation of Christian people dispersed throughout the world; that it may please God to confirm and strengthen it in purity of faith, in holiness of life, and in perfectness of love, and to restore to it the witness of visible unity; and more especially for that branch of it to which we belong; that in all things it may work according to God s will, serve him faithfully, and worship him acceptably. And herein let us pray most especially for our Sovereign Lady ELIZABETH, Queen of Canada, and her other realms and territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. Let us pray for our Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau and our Premier Stephen MacNeil and all who share in the governance of this country and province. Let us pray for the Ministers of God s holy Word and Sacraments, as well the Archbishops and Bishops especially the Primate of all Canada, Fred Hiltz and Ron Cutler, Bishop of this Diocese and other pastors and teachers, that they may minister faithfully and wisely, and in all things may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour. Let us pray for all that are set in authority over us; that all of them in their several callings may serve truly and faithfully to the glory of God, 9 and the edifying and well-governing of his people; remembering always the strict and solemn account which they must one day give before the judgement-seat of Christ. Let us likewise pray for all municipal authorities, especially those who bear office in this town of Lunenburg. Let us pray for this Parish of St. John s; that it may continue to be a Mission minded, Christ centred Community of faith. We give thanks for its storeyed history; for its restoration and rising from the ashes; and for all who come to worship here, that they may be still and know that You are a good and loving God. Guard us as the apple of an eye and bless the ministry we share together. Let us pray for all the people of this Country, Canada, that they may live in the true faith and fear of God, in humble obedience to the Queen, and in charity with one to another; and particularly for all who travel by land, water, or air; for all prisoners and captives; for all who are in sickness or in sorrow; for all who have fallen into grievous sin; for all who, through temptation, ignorance, helplessness, grief, trouble, dread, or the near approach of death, specially need our prayers. Finally, let us yield unto God most high praise and hearty thanks for all those who are departed out of this life in the faith of Christ; and for the wonderful grace and virtue declared in all his saints, especially St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, our Patron Saint, who have been the chosen vessels of his grace, and lights of the world in their several generations; and let us pray unto God that we may have grace to direct our lives after their good example, that, this life ended, we may be partakers with them of the glorious resurrection in the life everlasting. Amen. Then is said together, A Prayer of Saint Chrysostom ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee; and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their requests: Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen. The Grace is said together 2 Corinthians 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. Filled with the Spirit's power, go into the world, with the light and peace of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia. Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia. 10

6 Recessional Hymn #211 Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing Please remain seated for the Postlude Postlude: Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing - Willan A Word of thanks to everyone who has helped to make this Evensong possible. NOTICES Installation of Parish Council: Next Sunday, April 10 th. Please hold the Council and all the parish leadership in your prayers. Welcoming party for the Ayash Family: Sunday, April 17 at 2PM - 4PM at St. John s Parish Hall. The Lunenburg and Area Refugee Committee is hosting this Meet and Greet opportunity for supporters of the LARC initiative. Please join us in welcoming our new family to the community. RSVP to larc.syria@gmail.com THE GARDEN GAZETTE You have probably noticed a little publication named The Garden Gazette placed in both the church and Parish Hall over the last couple months. This little booklet is free of charge and everyone is welcome to take one home. We would like to draw your attention to an article in this month s paper entitled Generosity & Love in Lunenburg. Please pick up your copy and see what the story is all about. Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610 Saturday April 16th at 4:00 p.m. at St John's Church, Lunenburg: A revolutionary and now iconic Baroque masterwork. Directed by Paul Halley and featuring the University of King's College Chapel Choir, 14 period instruments, British tenor Charles Daniels, five other early music soloists from across Canada, and the boy sopranos of Capella Regalis Men & Boys Choir. This is your chance to see Monteverdi's masterwork right here in Lunenburg! Tickets available from Musique Royale: , and at Shop on the Corner, Lunenburg. To purchase a raffle ticket for a Monteverdi Vespa scooter (2015 Vespa 'Primavera' 150cc, value $7,000), contact Barbara Butler at barbara.butler@ns.sumpatico.ca or Only 500 tickets will be sold. $20 each. Draw date April 17th at 8:00 p.m., Dalhousie University Club. Purchaser need not be present to win. This is a fundraiser for the Monteverdi Vespers project. Parish Contacts RECTOR: Archdeacon Michael H. Mitchell rectorlunenburg@eastlink.ca SECRETARY: Mary Wagner PARISH OFFICE: stjohnslunenburg@bellaliant.com; WEB: PRIEST ASSISTANT: (on leave) Rev. Louis Quennelle louisq@eastlink.ca HONORARY ASSOCIATES: Rev. Linda Macdonald , Rev. Oliver Osmond , Rev. Alvin Westgate PARISH WARDENS Heather Eisenhauer Duncan Crowdis CHAIR OF PARISH COUNCIL Heather Eisenhauer ORGANIST/CHOIR DIRECTOR Barbara Butler HAND BELLS Sharon Hill HONORARY ORGANIST James Aulenbach CHIMER Peter Allen TREASURER Cammy Tibbo ALTAR GUILD Joyce Creaser PASTORAL VISITATION Rev Alvin Westgate PRAYER & HEALING MINISTRY Holly Mitchell SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT HERITAGE Roger Demone MUSIC Jane Ritcey Moore PROPERTY Wayne Dodge LADIES GUILD Susan MacMillan ACW Barbara Nowe ACW CATERING Patty Tanner LAY READERS Roger Demone SERVERS Sheila Morris SUNDAY SCHOOL & NURSERY Rena Demone TOURS Peter Allen CONGREGATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Mary Meisner FOOD BANK Laura Roblee MEALS ON WHEELS Laura Roblee , Barbara Simonds PLANNED GIVING Jim Eisenhauer PWRDF Velvet Eliuk REGIONAL COUNCIL Mary Meisner, Velvet Eliuk, Betty Lou Olivier SAFER CHURCH Duncan Crowdis SYNOD DELEGATES Holly Mitchell, Mary Wagner CUSTODIAN Paul Woodley SEXTON Paul Woodley NEWSLETTER Janice & Brian Kenefick WEBSITE Grant Dixon