Music and Liturgy for Evening Worship

Join Andy Salmon, Andrew Earis and the HeartEdge Choral Scholars this Monday (13th March) at Sacred Trinity Church or online on the HeartEdge Facebook page for Music and Liturgy for Evening Worship. We'll have some beautiful music and hopefully some inspiring ideas to encourage people to bring fresh life to evening services or even start something new.

Here are the words for the songs and the liturgy:

Music and Liturgy for Evening Worship (Lyrics)

 

Hail Gladdening Light by John Stainer

Hail, gladdening Light, of his pure glory poured

who is the immortal Father, heavenly, blessed,

Holiest of holies, Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Now we have come to the sun's hour of rest;

the lights of evening round us shine;

we hymn the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit divine.

 

Worthiest are you at all times to be sung with uncorrupted tongue,

Son of our God, giver of life alone;

therefore in all the world we make your glories known.

 

“Before the Ending of the Day” - Common Worship version

Before the ending of the day,

Creator of the world, we pray.

Your grace and peace to us allow

and guard and keep your people now.

 

From evil dreams defend our sight,

from all the terrors of the night,

from all deluding thoughts that creep

on heedless minds disarmed by sleep.

 

O Father, this we ask be done

through Jesus Christ, your only Son,

whom with the Spirit we adore

forever and forever more. Amen.

 

“Nunc Dimittis”

Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace: 

your word has been fulfilled.

 

My own eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared in the sight of every people;

 

A light to reveal you to the nations

and the glory of your people Israel.

 

Glory to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning is now

and shall be for ever. Amen.

 

“Now That Evening Falls” by John Bell

Now that evening falls,

gently fades the light:

moon replaces sun and

day takes leave of night.

 

Gratitude we raise

for the day’s that done,

and for what, tomorrow,

waits to be begun.

 

Gladly we commit

to God’s gracious care

those we care and long for,

those whose lives we share.

 

Glory be to God,

glory to God’s Son,

glory to the Spirit

ever three in one.

 

 

Night Has Fallen (Malawian, via John Bell)

* this is a call & response song - the response is found in the parentheses

Night has fallen. (Night has fallen.)

God our maker, guard our sleeping.

 

You have kept us, Lord. (You have kept us, Lord.)

God our maker, guard our sleeping.

 

We will trust in you. (We will trust in you.)

God our maker, guard our sleeping.

 

“God to Enfold You” by John Bell

God to enfold you, Christ to uphold you,

Spirit to keep you in heaven’s sight;

So may God grace you, heal and embrace you,

Lead you through darkness into the light.

 

“Save Us, O Lord” by Ives

Save us, O Lord, waking, guard us sleeping,

that awake we may watch with Christ,

and asleep we may rest in peace.

 

“Now as the Evening Shadows Fall” by Michael Forster

Now as the evening shadows fall,
God our Creator, hear our call:

help us to trust your constant grace,
though darkness seems to hide your face.

Help us to find, in sleep's release,

bodily rest and inner peace;
so may the darkness of the night

refresh our eyes for morning light.

Father almighty, holy Son,

Spirit eternal, Three in One,

grant us the faith that sets us free

to praise you for eternity.

MICHAEL FORSTER (b. 1946)
based on Te lucis ante terminum (Latin, before 11th century)

 

 

“Night Prayers” by Margaret Rizza
Words by David Adam from ‘The Edge of Glory’

 

As I enter into sleep
Keep me Father keep
As I seek a safe repose
Christ my eyelids close

That refreshed I may wake
To work again for thee

God in the night
God at my right
God all the day
God with me stay

God in my heart
Never depart
God with thy might
Keep us in light
Through this dark night

As I take my rest
Spirit keep me with the blest
Holy Blessed Three
Keep me close to thee

 

As I enter into sleep
Keep me Father keep
As I seek a safe repose
Christ my eyelids close

 

“Within our Darkest Night” (Taizé)

(English)

Within our darkest night,

you kindle the fire

that never dies away,

that never dies away.

 

Within our darkest night,

you kindle the fire

that never dies away,

that never dies away.

(Latin)

Dan nos obscurités,

alume le feu qui ne s’étient jamais,

qui ne s’étient jamais

 

Dan nos obscurités,

alume le feu qui ne s’étient jamais,

qui ne s’étient jamais

 

“Magnificat” (Taizé)

 

Magníficat, Magníficat,

Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum.

 

Magníficat, Magníficat,

Magníficat ánima mea.

 

(English)

Sing out my soul, sing out my soul

Sing out and glorify the Lord who sets us free.

 

Sing out my soul, sing out my soul

Sing out and glorify the Lord who sets us free.

 

Evening Prayer

Evening Liturgy C from the Wild Goose Resource Group Wee worship Book 5th Edition.

 

We sing:

Now that evening falls,

gently fades the light:

moon replaces sun and

day takes leave of night.

 

Gratitude we raise

for the day’s that done,

and for what, tomorrow,

waits to be begun.

 

Gladly we commit

to God’s gracious care

those we care and long for,

those whose lives we share.

 

Glory be to God,

glory to God’s Son,

glory to the Spirit

ever three in one.

 

Greeting

Leader: The Lord be with you.

ALL: AND ALSO WITH YOU.

Leader: May this time be good for us

in body, mind and spirit,

for we gather in the presence of God,

who made us and loves us

and will never leave us.

ALL: AMEN.

 

Prayer

Leader: Lord, teach us the silence of humility,

ALL: THE SILENCE OF WISDOM,

Leader: the silence of love,

ALL: THE SILENCE THAT SPEAKS WITHOUT WORDS,

Leader: the silence of faith.

Lord, teach us to silence our own hearts and minds

that we may listen

for the movement of your Spirit within us,

and treasure your presence

in the depths of our being.

ALL: AMEN.

 

We sing: “Magnificat” (Taizé)

 

Magníficat, Magníficat,

Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum.

 

Magníficat, Magníficat,

Magníficat ánima mea.

 

 

Psalm 131

Leader: My heart, put away your false pride;

my eyes, do not look with disdain.

My ambition, forsake things beyond you;

my mind, find your proper proportion.

ALL: LORD, LET ME BE CALM AND QUIETENED,

AND HOLD TO YOU LIKE A CHILD

WHO CLINGS WITH DELIGHT TO HER MOTHER.

 

A reading from Holy Scripture: Hebrews 4.14-16

Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

 

Silence

 

Meditation

(A short silence should be kept after each of the ‘times’)

Leader: There is a time for every purpose under heaven

and a prayer for every person on earth:

. . . a time for those in physical pain or mental anguish;

. . . a time for the emotionally bruised and broken;

. . . a time for those who fear tomorrow;

. . . a time for those who have been blessed by today;

. . . a time for letting go or for picking up;

. . . a time for what we only share with God.

 

We sing:

God to enfold you, Christ to uphold you,

Spirit to keep you in heaven’s sight;

So may God grace you, heal and embrace you,

Lead you through darkness into the light.

 

 

Collect

Leader: Come to us, Holy God,

as you came to Mary,

purposefully.

We cannot offer a womb

to host your child,

but we can make our lives open

to receive your Spirit.

ALL: PLANT IN US WHAT YOU WILL,

CHANGE IN US WHAT YOU MUST,

UNTIL WE BEAR FRUIT TO YOUR GLORY,

THE KIND THAT LASTS FOR EVER.

AMEN.

 

Silence

 

Dismissal

Leader: Let us bless the Lord.

ALL: THANKS BE TO GOD.

 

Resources For Taizé visit their website: https://www.taize.fr/en

A Wee Worship Book by Wild Goose Resource Group published by Wild Goose Publications

Liturgies from Lindisfarne by Ray Simpson published by Kevin Mayhew

The Rhythm of Life: Celtic Daily Prayer by David Adam published by Triangle

Exciting Holiness. Published by Canterbury Press

Celebrating the Saints. Published by Canterbury Press

 

 

Most of the songs can be found in:

Sing Praise (Canterbury Press)

Ancient and Modern: Hymns and Songs for Refreshing Worship (Hymns Ancient and

Modern Ltd)

Margaret Rizza’s Night Prayers is available from RSCM. https://www.rscm.org.uk/