Order of Service
Monday, 6th May 2024
17:00
Evensong
Welcome to Westminster Abbey. Daily prayer has been offered in this place for over a thousand years, and your participation in today's service is warmly welcomed. At choral Evensong most of the service is sung by the choir on our behalf. We participate through our presence and our listening, that the words and the music might become a prayer within us and lift us to contemplate God's beauty and glory.
The service always includes one or more psalms. These ancient prayers, taken from the Old Testament, reflect the full range of human emotions and experiences; from the depths of anger, resentment, and abandonment to the heights of ecstatic joy and praise. They were used by Jesus, and have always been at the heart of the Church's daily prayer.
The canticles Magnificat (Luke 1: 46–55) and Nunc dimittis (Luke 2: 29–32) reflect two responses to the Incarnation (God becoming fully human in Jesus Christ). Both speak of the fulfilment of God's promises, not just to 'Abraham and his seed', but also 'to be a light to lighten the Gentiles' (all nations). With their themes of fulfilment and completion, these texts have been given central place for many centuries in the Church's prayers for the evening and at the end of the day.
Please join in saying the words printed in bold type.
The church is served by a hearing loop. Users should turn their hearing aid to the setting marked T.
Photography, filming, and sound recording are not allowed in the Abbey during services. Please ensure that mobile telephones and other electronic devices are silent.
The service is sung by the Choristers of Westminster Abbey.
Following the service a collection will be taken; the money from today's services will be divided equally between The Prince's Trust and the work of the Abbey. The Prince's Trust helps young people from disadvantaged communities and those facing the greatest adversity by supporting them to build the confidence and skills to live, learn, and earn.
Order of Service
All stand as the choir and clergy enter
The choir sings the Introit
Ad coenam Agni providi,
Stolis salutis candidi,
Post transitum maris Rubri
Christo canamus principi.
Cuius corpus sanctissimum
In ara crucis torridum,
Sed et cruorem roseum
Gustando, Deo vivimus.
Consurgit Christus tumulo,
Victor redit de barathro,
Tyrannum trudens vinculo
Et paradisum reserans.
Iesu, tibi sit gloria,
Qui morte victa praenites,
Cum Patre et almo Spiritu,
In sempiterna saecula.
Amen.
After the transit of the Red Sea, let us sing to Christ, our leader, as, in the white robes of salvation, we look forward to the supper of the Lamb,
whose holiest body was parched, on the altar of the cross; but we live by tasting, the roseate blood of God.
Christ rose from the grave, the victor has come back from the abyss, putting down the tyrant with a chain and reopening paradise.
O Jesus, glory be to you, who, death having been conquered, are resplendent with the Father and the nourishing Spirit forever. Amen.
Words: Office hymn at Vespers in Eastertide
Music: plainsong
All remain standing as the officiant introduces the Confession
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 ourselves, that we may know more truly the greatness of God's love and show forth in our lives the fruits of his grace; and to ask on behalf of all people such things as their well-being doth require. Wherefore let us sit or kneel and keep silence, and remember God's presence with us now.
All kneel or sit to say together
O God, our Father,
we have sinned against thee
in thought, word, and deed;
we have not loved thee with all our heart;
we have not loved our neighbour as ourselves.
Have mercy upon us, we beseech thee;
cleanse us from our sins;
and help us to overcome our faults;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The officiant gives the Absolution
May the almighty and merciful Lord grant unto you pardon and remission of all your sins, time for amendment of life, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
All say together the Lord's Prayer
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,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
All stand. The officiant and choir sing the Responses
and to the Holy Ghost;
world without end. Amen.
Music: plainsong
All sit. The choir sings Psalm 69
Save me, O God : for the waters are come in, even unto my soul.
I stick fast in the deep mire, where no ground is : I am come into deep waters, so that the floods run over me.
I am weary of crying; my throat is dry : my sight faileth me for waiting so long upon my God.
They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head : they that are mine enemies, and would destroy me guiltless, are mighty.
I paid them the things that I never took : God, thou knowest my simpleness, and my faults are not hid from thee.
Let not them that trust in thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my cause : let not those that seek thee be confounded through me, O Lord God of Israel.
And why? for thy sake have I suffered reproof : shame hath covered my face.
I am become a stranger unto my brethren : even an alien unto my mother's children.
For the zeal of thine house hath even eaten me : and the rebukes of them that rebuked thee are fallen upon me.
I wept, and chastened myself with fasting : and that was turned to my reproof.
I put on sackcloth also : and they jested upon me.
They that sit in the gate speak against me : and the drunkards make songs upon me.
But, Lord, I make my prayer unto thee : in an acceptable time.
Hear me, O God, in the multitude of thy mercy : even in the truth of thy salvation.
Take me out of the mire, that I sink not : O let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
Let not the water-flood drown me, neither let the deep swallow me up : and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
Hear me, O Lord, for thy loving-kindness is comfortable : turn thee unto me according to the multitude of thy mercies.
And hide not thy face from thy servant, for I am in trouble : O haste thee, and hear me.
Draw nigh unto my soul, and save it : O deliver me, because of mine enemies.
Thou hast known my reproof, my shame, and my dishonour : mine adversaries are all in thy sight.
Thy rebuke hath broken my heart; I am full of heaviness : I looked for some to have pity on me, but there was no man, neither found I any to comfort me.
They gave me gall to eat : and when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink.
Let their table be made a snare to take themselves withal : and let the things that should have been for their wealth be unto them an occasion of falling.
Let their eyes be blinded, that they see not : and ever bow thou down their backs.
Pour out thine indignation upon them : and let thy wrathful displeasure take hold of them.
Let their habitation be void : and no man to dwell in their tents.
For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten : and they talk how they may vex them whom thou hast wounded.
Let them fall from one wickedness to another : and not come into thy righteousness.
Let them be wiped out of the book of the living : and not be written among the righteous.
As for me, when I am poor and in heaviness : thy help, O God, shall lift me up.
I will praise the name of God with a song : and magnify it with thanksgiving.
This also shall please the Lord : better than a bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
The humble shall consider this, and be glad : seek ye after God, and your soul shall live.
For the Lord heareth the poor : and despiseth not his prisoners.
Let heaven and earth praise him : the sea, and all that moveth therein.
For God will save Sion, and build the cities of Judah : that men may dwell there, and have it in possession.
The posterity also of his servants shall inherit it : and they that love his name shall dwell therein.
All stand
and to the Holy Ghost;
world without end. Amen.
Chant: plainsong
All sit for the first Lesson, Proverbs 4: 1–13
Listen, children, to a father's instruction,
and be attentive, that you may gain insight;
for I give you good precepts:
do not forsake my teaching.
When I was a son with my father,
tender, and my mother's favourite,
he taught me, and said to me,
'Let your heart hold fast my words;
keep my commandments, and live.
Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget, nor turn away
from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever else you get, get insight.
Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honour you if you embrace her.
She will place on your head a fair garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.'
Hear, my child, and accept my words,
that the years of your life may be many.
I have taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
When you walk, your step will not be hampered;
and if you run, you will not stumble.
Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
guard her, for she is your life.
Here ends the first lesson.
All stand. The choir sings Magnificat
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
and holy is his name.
throughout all generations.
he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
and hath exalted the humble and meek;
and the rich he hath sent empty away.
hath holpen his servant Israel,
as he promised to our forefathers,
Abraham and his seed, for ever.
and to the Holy Ghost;
world without end. Amen.
Second Service, Philip Moore (b 1943)
All sit for the second Lesson, Philippians 2: 1–11
If there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Here ends the second lesson.
All stand. The choir sings Nunc dimittis
according to thy word;
and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
and to the Holy Ghost;
world without end. Amen.
Second Service, Philip Moore
All face east to say together 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.
Let us pray.
All kneel or sit. The officiant and choir sing the Lesser Litany; the Lord's Prayer and the Responses
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.
The officiant sings the Collects; of the day, for peace, and for aid against all perils
O Lord, from whom all good things do come; grant to us thy humble servants, that by thy holy inspiration we may think those things that be good, and by thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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.
Music: plainsong
All sit. The choir sings the Anthem
Christo resurgenti, Christo triumphanti applaudant sydera. Alleluia!
Fide vindicata, morte superata laetentur omnia. Alleluia!
With Christ risen, with Christ triumphant, the stars clap their hands. Alleluia!
With faith vindicated, with death conquered, all things rejoice. Alleluia!
François Couperin (1668–1733)
All kneel or remain seated for the Intercessions
The officiant says the Prayers; for the Royal Family, and for the Members of the Order of the Bath
Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless our most gracious Sovereign Lord King Charles, Queen Camilla, William Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and all the Royal Family: endue them with thy Holy Spirit; enrich them with thy heavenly grace; prosper them with all happiness; and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
God save our Gracious Sovereign, and all the Members of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath living and departed. Amen.
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.
All stand as the choir and clergy depart
Those who wish to may sit for the remainder of the organ voluntary
CHORISTERSHIPS AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY
Enquiries are welcomed at any time.
If you have a daughter aged 10 or 11 who would like to sing with the St Margaret's Choristers, please contact the Director of Music at St Margaret's, Greg Morris (email). Further details can be found here.
If you have a son who enjoys singing and you would like further details of the world-renowned Abbey Choir and its unique choir school, please click here.
Dr Emma Margrett, Head, Westminster Abbey Choir School, Dean's Yard, London, SW1P 3NY, 020 7222 6151 email
Mr Andrew Nethsingha, Organist and Master of the Choristers, The Chapter Office, 20 Dean's Yard, London, SW1P 3PA, 020 7654 4854 email
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