CHORAL EVENSONG

Evensong, a form of prayer that churches and cathedrals have used largely unchanged since 1549, combines the ancient monastic offices of Vespers and Compline into a single service for use at the end of the day. When you attend Evensong, it feels as though you are dropping in on a conversation already in progress—a conversation between God and humankind which began long before you were born and will continue until the end of time.

The text of the service is drawn almost entirely from the Bible. Its primary purpose is to proclaim the wonderful works of God in history and in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Its secondary purpose is to evoke from the worshiper a response of praise, penitence, and prayer.

Evensong can be divided into three parts:

• The first part prepares the worshiper for the story which is to follow.
• The second part is the narrative of God’s redeeming work, beginning in the Old Testament (the Psalms and the First Lesson), proceeding to the New Testament (Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis and the Second Lesson), and reaching its climax in the Affirmation of Faith (the Creed).
• The third part is our prayerful response to God as revealed in history, in Jesus Christ, and in the Church.

During the 2023-2024 season, the All Saints Choir will offer Choral Evensong four times. We hope that you will join us in our evening offering of worship, uniting your prayers with ours.