Choral Evensong

For the First Sunday of Lent Including the blessing of our new hymn books

Sunday 6th March 2022    4.00pm

Welcome

Evensong is based upon a monastic office of the medieval Church. This version, from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, has been a form of corporate prayer and worship for millions of Anglican Christians throughout the world for centuries. Whether you are familiar with these texts or whether this is a new experience for you we hope that through the music and words that are offered you will be able to come close to God.

Please join in with the words in bold type and stand, sit and kneel as you are able, indicated in red type.

Support for those vulnerable to covid attending this service

We would be grateful if you would continue to wear a face mask whilst moving around the building, if you wish to take it off during the service please sit away from others. For those who feel comfortable refreshments are served after the service at the front of church when face masks can be removed allowing those unable to stay to leave the building safely.

Music at All Saints with Holy Trinity Parish Church

Investing in the future of the Choral Tradition

At All Saints, we are very proud of our vibrant choral tradition and continue to invest in the next generation. We are launching a new Junior Choir this month to complement our older children who now make up the newly named Youth Choir. We would also like to launch a pre-school music parent and toddler group as a gift to our local community recognising that lots of activities like this are too expensive for many local families.

To do all this we need the help and support of a bigger team! You don’t have to be musical, we need non-singing volunteers to help with the supervision and welcome of children, young people and families. We safely recruit all those involved with children and young people so would be pleased to hear from anyone who would be interested in applying to be part of these support teams.

If you would like more information please contact [email protected].

The service begins with the introit God so loved the world by John Goss, sung by the choir.

Introit

The minister gives an informal word of welcome, after which we stand to sing the hymn.

Hymn 128 Jesu, lover of my soul

 Jesu, lover of my soul,
             let me to thy bosom fly,
         while the nearer waters roll,
             while the tempest still is high:
         hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
             till the storm of life is past;
         safe into the haven guide,
             O receive my soul at last.

         Other refuge have I none,
hangs my helpless soul on thee;
leave, ah, leave me not alone,
still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed,
all my help from thee I bring;
cover my defenceless head
with the shadow of thy wing.

  Thou, O Christ, art all I want;
more than all in thee I find;
raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is thy name,
I am all unrighteousness;
false and full of sin I am,
thou art full of truth and grace.

  Plenteous grace with thee is found,
grace to cover all my sin;
let the healing streams abound,
make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art:
freely let me take of thee,
spring thou up within my heart,
rise to all eternity.

We remain standing.

Introduction

Beloved, we are come together in the presence of almighty God and of the whole company of heaven to offer unto him through our Lord Jesus Christ our worship and praise and thanksgiving; to make confession of our sins; to pray, as well for others as for our ourselves, that we may know more truly the greatness of God’s love and shew forth in our lives the fruits of his grace; and to ask on behalf of all men such things as their well-being doth require.

Wherefore let us kneel in silence, and remember God’s presence with us now.

We kneel or sit and after a short period of silence we join together in saying

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 mankind in Christ Jesu 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.

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; and 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 let us 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.

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.

For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever.

Amen.

The choir and minister stand for the chanting of the Preces.

Preces

O Lord, open thou our lips

and our mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

O God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us.

The congregation stands.

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 as the choir sings the appointed psalm.

Psalm 119.73-88

THY hands have made me and fashioned me: O give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

They that fear thee will be glad when they see me: because I have put my trust in thy word.

I know, O Lord, that thy judgements are right: and that thou of very faithfulness hast caused me to be troubled.

O let thy merciful kindness be my comfort: according to thy word unto thy servant.

O let thy loving mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.

Let the proud be confounded, for they go wickedly about to destroy me: but I will be occupied in thy commandments.

Let such as fear thee, and have known thy testimonies: be turned unto me.

O let my heart be sound in thy statutes: that I be not ashamed.

MY SOUL hath longed for thy salvation: and I have a good hope because of thy word.

Mine eyes long sore for thy word: saying, O when wilt thou comfort me?

For I am become like a bottle in the smoke: yet do I not forget thy statutes.

How many are the days of thy servant: when wilt thou be avenged of them that persecute me?

The proud have digged pits for me: which are not after thy law.

All thy commandments are true: they persecute me falsely; O be thou my help.

They had almost made an end of me upon earth: but I forsook not thy commandments.

O quicken me after thy loving-kindness: and so shall I keep the testimonies of thy mouth.

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.

First Reading

The first reading comes from Colossians 3.1-11

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator.  In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!

Here ends the first reading.

Thanks be to God.

We remain seated for canticles sung by the choir using the setting Walmisley in Dm

Magnificat

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 shewed 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.

Second Reading

The second reading comes from Mark 16.9-15

Now after he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went out and told those who had been with him, while they were mourning and weeping.  But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table; and he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.

Here ends the second reading.

Thanks be to God.

Nunc Dimittis

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.

We stand to say the statement of Christian belief.

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.

Responses

The Lord be with you. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

The congregation sits or kneels for the prayers of the church.

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.

O Lord, shew 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.

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.

Collect for the First Sunday of Lent

O Lord, who for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights: Give us grace to use such abstinence,

that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit, we may ever obey thy godly motions

in righteousness and true holiness, to thy honour and glory,

who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

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 both, 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.

Collect for Aid

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.

Anthem

We remain seated as the choir sings Thou knowest, Lord by Henry Purcell

Address

We remain seated as the Address is given.

Blessing of the Hymn Books

We hear the names of those in whom memory hymn books have been given and then these prayers are used

Almighty God, everlasting Father,

You created your people to offer thanks and praise to You.

Grant Your blessing upon these hymn books, that they may be for us instruments of praise by which we may worthily magnify Your holy name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

The Lord almighty, the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost, bless these hymn books and those who use them.

Amen.

Notices may be given, after which we stand to sing the final hymn.

Hymn 132 O for a heart to praise my God Blessing

O for a heart to praise my God,
               a heart from sin set free;
          a heart that's sprinkled with the blood
               so freely shed for me:

         A heart resigned, submissive, meek,
               my great Redeemer's throne;
          where only Christ is heard to speak,
               where Jesus reigns alone:

         A humble, lowly, contrite heart,
               believing, true, and clean,
          which neither life nor death can part
               from him that dwells within:

         A heart in every thought renewed,
               and full of love divine;
          perfect and right and pure and good —
               a copy, Lord, of thine.

         Thy nature, gracious Lord, impart,
               come quickly from above;
          write thy new name upon my heart,
               thy new best name of Love.

Christ give you grace to grow in holiness,

to deny yourselves, take up your cross, and follow him; and the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost

be among you and remain with you always

Amen

Organ Voluntary

Please remain standing in your seats until the ministers have passed by and then sit to enjoy the music leaving when you are ready. Refreshments are service for those who feel able to stay.

If you are able to leave a donation tonight that is warmly welcomed and can be given by cash or card.