Order of Service – Page 4 – Saint Patrick's Cathedral

Welcome

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.

What is Choral Evensong?

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 It may sound old-fashioned, but its meaning is not out of date.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 to sing the

Hymn

1. Take up thy cross, the Saviour said,

If thou wouldst my disciple be;

Deny thyself, the world forsake,

And humbly follow after me.

2. Take up thy cross; let not its weight

Fill thy weak spirit with alarm:

His strength shall bear thy spirit up,

And brace thy heart, and nerve thine arm.

3. Take up thy cross, nor heed the shame,

Nor let thy foolish pride rebel:

Thy Lord for thee the Cross endured,

To save thy soul from death and hell.

4. Take up thy cross then in his strength,

And calmly every danger brave;

’Twill guide thee to a better home,

And lead to victory o’er the grave.

5. Take up thy cross, and follow Christ,

Nor think till death to lay it down;

For only he who bears the cross

May hope to wear the glorious crown.

Charles Everest (1814–77); Melody from As Hymnodus Sacer, Leipzig, 1625

Please remain standing as the Dean of Saint Patrick’s says the

Welcome

Please remain standing whilst 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.

Malcolm Archer (b.1952)

Please sit as the Choir sings the

Psalm

PSALM 70

Deus in adjutorium.

Haste thee, O God, to deliver me: make haste to help me, O Lord. Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward and put to confusion that wish me evil. Let them for their reward be soon brought to shame: that cry over me, There, there. But let all those that seek thee be joyful and glad in thee: and let all such as delight in thy salvation say alway, The Lord be praised. As for me, I am poor and in misery: haste thee unto me, O God. Thou art my helper and my redeemer: O Lord, make no long tarrying.

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

First Lesson

Genesis 32: 9–30

Please stand as the Choir sings

Magnificat

My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his hand-maiden. 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.

Ben Parry (b.1965)

Please sit for the

Second Lesson

Mark 7: 1–23

Please stand as the Choir sings

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.

Ben Parry (b.1965)

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

Collect of the Day

O God, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy; Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal: Grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake our Lord. 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 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.

Please sit whilst the Choir sings the

Anthem

Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King! The heavens are not too high, his praise may thither fly: the earth is not too low, his praises there may grow. The Church with psalms must shout, no door can keep them out; but above all the heart must bear the longest part.

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)

The Minister says

Let us pray.

Please kneel or be 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 the

Hymn

1 Come down, O Love divine,

Seek thou this soul of mine, (glowing;

And visit it with thine own ardour

O Comforter, draw near,

Within my heart appear,

And kindle it,

Thy holy flame bestowing.

2 O let it freely burn,

Till earthly passions turn (consuming;

To dust and ashes in its heat

And let thy glorious light

Shine ever on my sight,

And clothe me round,

The while my path illuming.

3 Let holy charity

Mine outward vesture be, (clothing

And lowliness become mine inner

True lowliness of heart,

Which takes the humbler part,

And o’er its own shortcomings

Weeps with loathing.

4 And so the yearning strong

With which the soul will long (telling;

Shall far outpass the power of human

For none can guess its grace,

Till he become the place

Wherein the Holy Spirit

Makes his dwelling.

Bianco da Siena (d.1434); Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)

During the hymn, a collection of money is made. You can donate online by tapping the Support Us button in the bottom left.

Please remain standing for the

Blessing

Please remain standing as the Choir and Clergy depart.

Please remain at your seat for the duration of the

Organ Voluntary

Acknowledgements

Developed by the Saint Patrick’s Cathedral Education Department.

Translations are provided automatically by Google Translate. Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is not responsible for automatically generated content or for content on external websites.

To report a problem or to send feedback and suggestions, please email: education@stpatrickscathedral.ie

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