Welcome to the first Lady Chapel evensong. Evensong is an Episcopal / Anglican service of evening prayer that follows a set order of hymns, psalms, readings, and prayers. You can listen via the audio player above or wherever you get your podcasts.
If you want to follow along in the Book of Common Prayer, we’re on page 117. Or you can follow the order of service below. This might be really new to some of you, so feel free to ask questions if you want! Glad you are here :) - Allie
Order of Service for Evensong
A brief welcome from my daughter
Opening Responses (also called Preces, which in Latin means prayers)
Then follows
Evening Hymn: O Gracious Light (Phos hilaron)
Then follows
The Psalm (read by Rev. Casey Andrews Perkins)
Psalm 126
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, then we were like those who dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with shouts of joy.
3 Then they said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them. “
4 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad indeed.
5 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses of the Negev
6 Those who sowed with tears will reap with songs of joy.
7 Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.
Then follows
The Lesson (read by Rev. Murdock Jones)
A Reading from the second letter to Peter
Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.
Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.
Here ends the Reading.
Then follows
The Song of Mary (Magnificat)
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living 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.
The Prayers
The Lord’s Prayer - Sung to the tune of "Lifting Up the Lowly" (music coming soon) 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. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Collect for Advent by Rev. Claire Brown
O God in whom we live and move and have our being, will you also hold our waiting? Give us the grace and grit to keep watch for your presence; renew in us your love and freedom in the coming of your Son Jesus Christ; in whom with you and the Holy Spirit we entrust all our hearts and hopes. Amen.
A hymn is sung. Intercessions can be offered aloud or in silence.
The service closes with
Amen.
Rev. Claire Brown of St. Paul’s Athens, TN wrote our collect for Advent. You can learn more about her here. Be sure to check out her Advent devotional, Keep Watch With Me.
This podcast was mixed by Meg Settle and mastered by Edsel Holden. It was recorded at the downtown branch of the Chattanooga Public Library.
Thank you to Chase Floyd for playing guitar and harmonica on O Gracious Light and Lifting Up the Lowly.
Thank you to Rev. Claire Brown, Rev. Dr. Zac Settle, Rev. Murdock Jones, Rev. Casey Andrew Perkins, and Chase Floyd for sharing your beautiful voices in this service.
Thank you to Mary Erskine for notating these charts.
One final note: the liturgical nerds will notice some pieces of the service missing - I’m working on it. You can pray for my soul in the meantime :)
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