Category: Choral Evensong

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Choral Evensong

Sunday 24th September 2023 – 15:15

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God has been worshipped in this place through the prayers and praises of countless generations. Worship lies at the heart of our life as Christians and we express our theology and belief through our liturgy. It is through these liturgical patterns of words and actions that we are formed and transformed.

Should you wish to translate this order of service into another language, please choose your language in the bottom right. There is a guest wireless network available within the Cathedral for those without a mobile data connection.

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The ministry of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is made possible entirely through the support of individuals like you. The donations which we receive from people all over the world support our worship and music tradition, education programmes, and community outreach work, as well as contributing towards the vast cost of maintaining this historic building. Should you wish to donate online, please tap the donate button. 

Choral Evensong at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is a tiny fragment of something else: it is part of the worship which is offered to God by people every hour of the day and night, in every corner of the world. When you come to Evensong here, it is as if you are dropping in on a conversation already in progress – a conversation between God and his people. So do not be surprised or concerned if there are some parts that you do not understand straight away.

Evensong is drawn almost entirely from the Bible. Much of the language spoken and sung in this service is that spoken by worshippers more than four hundred years ago. It may sound old-fashioned, but its meaning is not out of date. We invite you to allow the music and words to speak to you in the beauty and peace of this place.

You are invited to say the text in bold in English.

Please stand as the Minister, at the West End of the Cathedral, sings

Let us pray. 

Please remain standing whilst the Choir and Clergy enter the stalls

Please remain standing to sing the

Hymn

1. Around the throne of God, a band
Of glorious angels ever stand;
Bright things they see, sweet harps they hold
And on their heads are crowns of gold.

2. Some wait around him, ready still
To sing his praise and do his will;
And some when he commands them, go
To guard his servants here below.

3. Lord, give thy angels every day
Command to guide us on our way,
And bid them every evening keep
Their watch around us while we sleep.

4. So shall no evil thing draw near,
To do us harm, or cause us fear;
And we shall dwell, when life is past,
With angels round thy throne at last.

John Mason Neale (1818–66)

Samuel Webbe the Elder (1740–1816)

Please stand.

The Minister and Choir sing the

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.

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.

Philip Moore (b.1943)

Please sit as the Choir sings the 

PSALM 119 vv 1–16

Beati immaculati.

Blessed are those that are undefiled in the way: and walk in the law of the Lord.  Blessed are they that keep his testimonies: and seek him with their whole heart.  For they who do no wickedness: walk in his ways.  Thou hast charged: that we shall diligently keep thy commandments.  O that my ways were made so direct: that I might keep thy statutes!  So shall I not be confounded: while I have respect unto all thy commandments.  I will thank thee with an unfeigned heart: when I shall have learned the judgements of thy righteousness.  I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.  Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way: even by ruling himself after thy word.  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not go wrong out of thy commandments.  Thy words have I hid within my heart: that I should not sin against thee.  Blessed art thou, O Lord: O teach me thy statutes.  With my lips have I been telling: of all the judgements of thy mouth.  I have had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies: as in all manner of riches.  I will talk of thy commandments: and have respect unto thy ways.  My delight shall be in thy statutes: and I will not forget thy word.

Please stand for

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 sit for the

Ezekiel 33: 30 – 34: 10

Please stand as the Choir sings 

Magnificat

Collegium Regale; Herbert Howells (1892–1983)

Please sit for the 

Mark 9: 30–37

Please stand as the Choir sings 

Nunc Dimittis

Collegium Regale; Herbert Howells (1892–1983)

Please remain standing to say the 

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.

The Minister and Choir sing the 

Suffrages & Responses

The Lord be with you.

And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Please kneel or sit, according to your custom

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

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 those who 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, guide and defend our rulers.

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 Minister intones the 

O Lord, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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 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.

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.

Philip Moore (b.1943)

Please sit as the Choir sings the

Anthem

‘My house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former house,’ saith the Lord God of Hosts, ‘And in this place will I give peace.’

Herbert Howells (1892–1983)

Please remain seated for the 

Sermon

The Reverend P. A. Harvey, M.A., Prebendary of Stagonil

The Minister says 

Let us pray.

Please kneel or remain seated for the 

Prayers

At the end, all say

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.

Please stand to sing

Hymn

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1. Ye holy angels bright,
Who wait at God’s right hand,
Or through the realms of light
Fly at your Lord’s command,
Assist our song,
Or else the theme
Too high doth seem
For mortal tongue.

2. Ye blessèd souls at rest,
Who ran this earthly race,
And now, from sin released,
Behold the Saviour’s face,
God’s praises sound,
As in his sight
With sweet delight
Ye do abound.

3. Ye saints, who toil below,
Adore your heavenly King,
And onward as ye go
Some joyful anthem sing;
Take what he gives
And praise him still,
Through good or ill,
Who ever lives!

4. My soul, bear thou thy part,
Triumph in God above,
And with a well-tuned heart
Sing thou the songs of love!
Let all thy days
Till life shall end,
Whate’er he send,
Be filled with praise.

Richard Baxter (1615–91)

John Darwall (1731–89)

Please remain standing for the

Blessing

Please remain at your seat for the duration of the

Organ Voluntary

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