Have you ever been to Evensong?
Think Evensong isn’t for you? Try it this Sunday at 4pm. Kids encouraged to attend!
If you ever resonate with the choirs’ musical offerings on Sunday morning, you will find Evensong to be an especially rich revelation of the glory and presence of God. With the exception of several hymns in which the congregation joins, Choral Evensong is almost entirely sung by the choir, which means the tone of the service can vary dynamically each time we sing it—it may be overflowing with exuberant praise one time, and rest in contemplative reflection the next. In Evensong the choir offers prayers on behalf of the gathered congregation, allowing you to mediate and move deeper into prayer through the words and music.
Evensong is a uniquely Anglican form of worship, conceived in the sixteenth-century as part of the English Reformation, but its roots are actually the much more ancient daily prayer offices of Vespers and Compline. An enormous portion of the most glorious sacred choral music written in the English language over the past 450 years has been composed specifically for this service. At St. George's we offer Evensong monthly on the third Tuesday of the month (September–May) and quarterly on Sundays during the school year. Evensong lasts just under an hour and provides a great opportunity to “worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” later in the day. It's also a wonderful way to introduce your friends to the St. George's!
This Sunday's Evensong & Moonbounce with District Taco (at 4pm) is an excellent time to bring friends and children to discover this wonderful service and the fellowship that follows. I hope to see you all there!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Ben Keseley, Minister of Music