Evensong

Pentecost
May 19

Featuring a solo organ recital, followed by choral Evensong.

Choral Evensong is a service of scripture, prayer, and music. It has been sung regularly in the Anglican church since the sixteenth century.

The word “Evensong” is a term first used in the 1549 Book of Common Prayer. It refers to the service of Evening Prayer. (Even a completely spoken service of Evening Prayer might be called “Evensong.”) Evening Prayer, a worship service devised by Thomas Cranmer for the 1549 Book of Common Prayer, brings together many elements of the older monastic offices of Vespers and Compline, particularly their respective canticles the Magnificat (Luke 1) and the Nunc dimittis (Luke 2).

Choral Evensong is Evening Prayer where the entire service is prepared by the Choir, while the People (the congregation) may join in saying and singing parts of the service.

We invite you to meditatively listen as the choir sings the service. You may follow the words of the various chants and songs in the bulletin. If you feel so led, you are welcome to join in the call and response chants. The tunes for these chants, called “Service music” (denoted with a ‘S’), are in the blue hymnal in the pew rack and are found in the front of the hymnal.