Evensong

[RickardoHolmes]

EVENSONG will be held at the church Next Month I have not been there in a month, and I understand that this is a special event, so I am planning on attending I have never been to Evensong before
I am interested in the music and presentation so I am hopeful that it will be an inspiring and beautiful service

 

[Shane R]

I've been conducting Evensong from time to time at my home chapel. There's a small group of Orthodox who live nearby and their priest suggested they reach out to me if they were interested in Saturday evening Vespers. So when they want it, I have it. I don't usually bother to work up a homily for the occasion. We just pray and read the appointed portions of Scripture.

I feel like most churches are missing out on a healthy dose of prayer. At some point it became faddish to have everything be some kind of study. There's Bible study, book study, men's study, women's study, and whatever else. From what I've seen, these typically stick to the same handful of familiar topics and never really make a lot of progress. The disciples did not ask, "Lord, teach us systematic theology, dogmatic theology, and spiritual laws." They asked, "Lord, teach us to pray."

So when I'm left to do the programming for a church for Advent or Lent or whatever, I choose either Evensong or Compline. We pray and sing a hymn or two. And then we proceed to the dining area to eat the piles of food that were brought in which most likely don't conform to any standard fasting guidelines. Small steps.

 

[seeking.IAM]

While I have been Anglican for well over a decade now, I confess I have never been to Evensong although it's been available -- largely because of timing and what I am willing to commit to. I will be interested in OP's review. Perhaps I'll be inspired to change my ways.

 

[RileyG]

Back in 2015 when I visited England for the first time, the tour guide said we had the opportunity to go to Evensong at an Anglican Church (maybe it was St. Paul's Cathedral?). I think I slept through it, so I regret not going.

I hope you have a great time!

God bless

 

[Paidiske]

I found Evensong an acquired taste; I appreciate it now, but when I first encountered I was a bit, "What on earth is this??"

I'd say the most helpful way to approach it is that this is a time for quietness and stillness while the music and prayer offer you a time of rest at the end of a busy day/week.

 

[RileyG]

I found Evensong an acquired taste; I appreciate it now, but when I first encountered I was a bit, "What on earth is this??"

I'd say the most helpful way to approach it is that this is a time for quietness and stillness while the music and prayer offer you a time of rest at the end of a busy day/week.

Is Evensong and Vespers (evening prayer) essentially the same thing?

If, as clergy, when you pray it on your own, you don't necessarily sing it?

I don't know the difference between the Anglican daily prayer and the Catholic Liturgy of the Hours/Divine Office.

Thanks

 

[Paidiske]

Is Evensong and Vespers (evening prayer) essentially the same thing?

They're both forms of evening prayer. Evensong is a choral service, with much of the liturgy sung. If you're not used to that, being in the congregation can feel a bit like being a spectator rather than a participant (or at least, that's how I felt, at first).

I don't know the difference between the Anglican daily prayer and the Catholic Liturgy of the Hours/Divine Office.

The easiest way to think of Anglican daily prayer is that Cranmer intended that every village or community could gather at the beginning and end of the day in prayer. So the seven services of the Catholic hours became morning and evening prayer, with the idea that this would then bookend the working day for most people.

In reality that has not really been how it's been lived in most places; the exceptions being monastic and college communities. Cathedrals try to maintain the pattern (depending on staff levels), but in ordinary parishes, most clergy say the offices on their own, most of the time.

 

[RileyG]

They're both forms of evening prayer. Evensong is a choral service, with much of the liturgy sung. If you're not used to that, being in the congregation can feel a bit like being a spectator rather than a participant (or at least, that's how I felt, at first).

The easiest way to think of Anglican daily prayer is that Cranmer intended that every village or community could gather at the beginning and end of the day in prayer. So the seven services of the Catholic hours became morning and evening prayer, with the idea that this would then bookend the working day for most people.

In reality that has not really been how it's been lived in most places; the exceptions being monastic and college communities. Cathedrals try to maintain the pattern (depending on staff levels), but in ordinary parishes, most clergy say the offices on their own, most of the time.

Thanks for your clear response!

God bless

 

[RickardoHolmes]

The service was nice It was not as formal as I had expected. The liturgy was (mostly) sung and chanted. The music was delightful, ranging from JS Bach on the organ to some simple yet beautiful and rarely sung hymns.
Readings were from the Book of Wisdom and Revelations (there was not gospel reading) The service was more low key than I expected, which was fine because there is a certain beauty in the sublime.

Afterwards there was a reception/ snacks but I did not stay.

Not a huge crowd, but at least I could find a place to park.

 

[RileyG]

The service was nice It was not as formal as I had expected. The liturgy was (mostly) sung and chanted. The music was delightful, ranging from JS Bach on the organ to some simple yet beautiful and rarely sung hymns.
Readings were from the Book of Wisdom and Revelations (there was not gospel reading) The service was more low key than I expected, which was fine because there is a certain beauty in the sublime.

Afterwards there was a reception/ snacks but I did not stay.

Not a huge crowd, but at least I could find a place to park.

That sounds very nice!

 

[Arcangl86]

I love evensong, but I've only been once since most parishes don't really have the ability to put it on, though I have been at community evening prayer a number of times. Sadly though, Cranmer's idea of Morning and Evening Prayer being said every day in the parish church never really took root the way he wanted. One of the things I regret about the restoration of the Eucharist as the principal Sunday service is that Sunday Morning was in many places the only time communal Morning prayer happened. I did attend a parish once where the rector would do morning prayer every day in the church, but that was mostly because she was doing it anyway as part of her practice and she just did it in a public space so people could join if they wished.

 

[Paidiske]

In the parish where I was a curate (the first one), they did have a pattern of weekday morning prayer being said communally. But it worked there because the parish was on the edge of the CBD and right near a university, and people would come before heading into work or study. We usually had five or six people; a couple of clergy, the parish office admin assistant (if it was a work day for her), and a few laity. The vicar then made it a habit to head across the road to a cafe, and people often joined him, and that was a way of having an informal chat to him about small stuff without having to make an appointment and all that.

But most places would struggle to sustain a pattern like that, and I haven't had it in any subsequent parish.

 

[RileyG]

I love evensong, but I've only been once since most parishes don't really have the ability to put it on, though I have been at community evening prayer a number of times. Sadly though, Cranmer's idea of Morning and Evening Prayer being said every day in the parish church never really took root the way he wanted. One of the things I regret about the restoration of the Eucharist as the principal Sunday service is that Sunday Morning was in many places the only time communal Morning prayer happened. I did attend a parish once where the rector would do morning prayer every day in the church, but that was mostly because she was doing it anyway as part of her practice and she just did it in a public space so people could join if they wished.

When did Sunday Eucharist (if that's the correct terminology) become common in the Anglican world?

@Paidiske might have some insight as well

 

[Paidiske]

When did Sunday Eucharist (if that's the correct terminology) become common in the Anglican world?

@Paidiske might have some insight as well

My memory of Anglican history lectures was that it really began to be more common for the Eucharist to be the principal service every Sunday in about the 50s, (although the push was there beginning with the work of people like Gabriel Hebert in the 30s), and gaining momentum with liturgical changes around the time of Vatican II. Before that, it wasn't unusual for many parishes to celebrate the Eucharist monthly or even quarterly, and more frequent communion was a niche Anglo-catholic thing.

 

[RileyG]

My memory of Anglican history lectures was that it really began to be more common for the Eucharist to be the principal service every Sunday in about the 50s, (although the push was there beginning with the work of people like Gabriel Hebert in the 30s), and gaining momentum with liturgical changes around the time of Vatican II. Before that, it wasn't unusual for many parishes to celebrate the Eucharist monthly or even quarterly, and more frequent communion was a niche Anglo-catholic thing.

Interesting.

Thanks for sharing!

Blessings

 

[Arcangl86]

When did Sunday Eucharist (if that's the correct terminology) become common in the Anglican world?

@Paidiske might have some insight as well

In the Episcopal Church, it became the official norm with the the new BCP in the late 70s. I have no idea how long it took before the reality matched the ideal though.

 

[RileyG]

In the Episcopal Church, it became the official norm with the the new BCP in the late 70s. I have no idea how long it took before the reality matched the ideal though.

Interesting.