* THE HYMN All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night THE BLESSING Officiant: Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. Please be seated as the organ voluntary concludes our service Marianne Kim ORGAN VOLUNTARY All are welcome to the reception in the narthex CHORAL EVENSONG FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT Sunday, March 4, 2018 3:30 p.m. Concert 4:00 p.m. Evensong Service Marianne Kim, Organ and Piano, The Grace Evensong Singers 300 E. Gartner Rd., Naperville, IL 60540 Phone 630-355-1748
WELCOME You have wisely chosen to spend your Sunday afternoon with us, participating in one of the most beautiful ancient customs of worship tradition Choral Evensong. What you are about to experience is a powerful connection between your earthly life and the divine. Although the formal version of this service was established in 1549, the prayers in the service go back even further into antiquity. A statement from Coventry Cathedral, England, reads: Evensong... is a very tiny fragment of something else: It is a fragment of the worship which is offered to God by Christian people every hour of the twenty-four in every part of the world. When you come to Evensong... it is as if you were dropping in on a conversation already in progress a conversation between God and humankind which began long before you were born and will go on long after you are gone. Evensong is drawn almost entirely from the Bible. Its primary purpose is to proclaim the wonderful works of God in history and in the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Your role as a participant is simply to be in a quiet space, allow the prayers of the readers and choir to enter your soul, and sing and recite the portions indicated, as you feel comfortable. Together, we offer this worship to the glory of God alone, that it might make the day we have just shared holy and perfect, and prepare us for the week ahead. THE LORRAINE VAHTRA MEMORIAL EVENSONG PROJECT We are grateful for the opportunity to bring a series of Evensong Services and Recitals in memory of Grace Church Chancel member Lorraine Vahtra. We lost Lorraine much too soon to cancer, but her love for the music and worship traditions of the church are a tribute that is made possible by her bequest. It is our hope that the Lorraine Vahtra Evensong Project will continue as those who value this experience choose to make voluntary contributions to the memorial fund. Offerings are gratefully received near the end of the service, or may be placed at the tea table following Evensong. You may designate gifts to the Vahtra Memorial Fund or the Grace Music Fund. Online direct gifts may be made at www.peopleofgrace.org, choose Giving on the home page, and then choose Music Fund. EVENSONG FOR EASTERTIDE, APRIL 22, 4:30 P.M., STEPHEN BUZARD, GUEST ORGANIST Our next Evensong Service will be held on Sunday, April 22. Please note: due to church scheduling, the pre-service concert will begin at 4:30 and Sung Evensong will begin at 5. Reception will follow SUNG EVENSONG FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT PRELUDE RECITAL MARIANNE KIM (see separate sheet for details) Hymns and Gospel Songs for Keyboard WELCOME AND WORDS OF PREPARATION Dan Wagner, Minister of Music Hail, Gladdening Light (Phos Hilaron) John Stainer Hail, gladdening Light, of his pure glory poured who is the immortal Father, heavenly, blest, hoiiest of holies, Jesus our Lord. Now we are come to the sun's hour of rest, the lights of evening round us shine, we hymn the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit divine. Worthiest art thou at all times to be sung with undefilèd tongue, Son of our God, giver of life, alone: therefore in all the world thy glories, Lord, they own. The people stand for the processional hymn
* THE HYMN O Thou, in Whose Presence THE PRECES (PRAYERS) Richard Shephard 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. 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. Praise ye the Lord. The Lord s name be praised. Amen.
PSALM 51 Miserere Mei, Deus Gregorio Allegri (1582-1652) Sung by the choir Have mercy upon me, O God, after Thy great goodness According to the multitude of Thy mercies do away mine offences. Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness: and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my faults: and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: t hat Thou mightest be justified in Thy saying, and clear when Thou art judged. Behold, I was shapen in wickedness: and in sin hath my mother conceived me. But lo, Thou requirest truth in the inward parts: and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly. Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness: that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice. Turn Thy face from my sins: and put out all my misdeeds. Make me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence: and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. O give me the comfort of Thy help again: and stablish me with Thy free Spirit. Then shall I teach Thy ways unto the wicked: and sinners shall be converted unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou that art the God of my health: and my tongue shall sing of Thy righteousness. Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord: and my mouth shall shew Thy praise. For Thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it Thee: but Thou delightest not in burnt-offerings. The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt Thou not despise. O be favourable and gracious unto Sion: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations: then shall they offer young bullocks upon Thine altar. THE FIRST READING Exodus 20:1-20 20Then God spoke all these words: 2I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery;3you shall have no other gods before me. 4You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. 8Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. 9Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 10But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. 11For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it. 12Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 13You shall not murder.14you shall not commit adultery. 15You shall not steal. 16You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17You shall not covet your neighbor s house; you shall not covet your neighbor s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. 18When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking, they were afraid and trembled and stood at a distance, 19and said to Moses, You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die. 20Moses said to the people, Do not be afraid; for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin. MAGNIFICAT Lector: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour Because He hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. John Ireland
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 Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at 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 Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. (Intoned by all on a single pitch) 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 (INTONED BY ALL ON A SINGLE PITCH) Our Father, which 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. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. O Lord, show thy mercy upon us. And grant us thy salvation. O Lord, save the State. 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 Amen is sung by the choir O God, who hast prepared for those who love thee such good things as pass all understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards thee, that we, loving thee in all things and above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. (: 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 our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee, we, being defended from the fear of all enemies, may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior. (: Amen.). K eep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give thine angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for thy love s sake. (: Amen.).
THE GREETING Rev. Cindy Marino, Senior Pastor During the singing of the following anthem, an offering will be taken to support choral music at Grace United Methodist Church. This evening s service of worship is made directly and solely possible by your contributions. THE ANTHEM Susan LaBarr How can our minds and bodies be grateful enough that we have spent here in this generous room this evening of content? Each one of us has walked through storm and fled the wolves along the road; but here the hearth is wide and warm And for this shelter and this light accept, O Lord, our thanks tonight. (Sara Teasdale) Grace Before Sleep The people stand and say together: * THE GENERAL THANKSGIVING Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all. We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful; and that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen. (The people remain standing) * A PRAYER OF JOHN CHRYSOSTOM (LED BY THE MINISTER) Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life * THE HYMN All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night Tallis Canon (continues on the next page)
* THE HYMN All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night THE BLESSING Officiant: Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. Please be seated as the organ voluntary concludes our service Marianne Kim ORGAN VOLUNTARY All are welcome to the reception in the narthex CHORAL EVENSONG FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT Sunday, March 4, 2018 3:30 p.m. Concert 4:00 p.m. Evensong Service Marianne Kim, Organ and Piano, The Grace Evensong Singers 300 E. Gartner Rd., Naperville, IL 60540 Phone 630-355-1748