Choral Evensong: Ascension Day

Thursday 26th May 2022 | 17:30

You must not use a camera or recording equipment during this service and its processions. A hearing-loop system is installed in the Cathedral nave: please select the T setting on your device.

You are invited to say the text in bold.

Order of Service

All stand as the Minister sings Let us pray

Please remain standing

The Minister and Choir sing the Preces and 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.

Composer: Richard Ayleward (1626–1669)

All sit. The Choir sings Psalm 119: 145–160

I call with my whole heart: hear me, O Lord, I will keep thy statutes.  Yea, even unto thee do I call: help me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.  Early in the morning do I cry unto thee: for in thy word is my trust.  Mine eyes prevent the night-watches: that I might be occupied in thy words.  Hear my voice, O Lord, according to thy loving-kindness: quicken me, according as thou art wont.  They draw nigh that of malice persecute me: and are far from thy law.  Be thou nigh at hand, O Lord: for all thy commandments are true.  As concerning thy testimonies, I have known long since: that thou hast grounded them for ever.  O consider mine adversity, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.  Avenge thou my cause, and deliver me: quicken me, according to thy word.  Health is far from the ungodly: for they regard not thy statutes.  Great is thy mercy, O Lord: quicken me, as thou art wont.  Many there are that trouble me, and persecute me: yet do I not swerve from thy testimonies.  It grieveth me when I see the transgressors: because they keep not thy law.  Consider, O Lord, how I love thy commandments: O quicken me, according to thy loving-kindness.  Thy word is true from everlasting: all the judgements of thy righteousness endure for evermore.

All stand

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.

All sit for the first Lesson, Song of the Three: 29-37 OR 2 Kings 2: 1-15

All 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.

Composer: John Amner (1579–1641)

All sit for the second Lesson, Revelation 5 OR Matthew 28: 16-20

All 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.

Composer: John Amner (1579–1641)

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 and Responses

The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.

All 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 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, 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 Collects; of the day, for peace, and for aid against all perils

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thine only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. 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.

Composer: Richard Ayleward (1626–1669)

All sit as the Choir sings the Anthem

Ascendit Deus in iubilatione, et Dominus in voce tubae, alleluia, Dominus in coelo paravit sedem suam. Alleluia!

(God is gone up with a merry noise, and the Lord with the sound of the trumpet. Alleluia!)

Composer: Peter Philips (d.1628)

The Minister says

Let us pray.

All kneel or remain seated for the Occasional Prayers, at the end of which all say The Grace

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. Please remain at your seat for the duration of the Organ Voluntary.

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