Great Paschal Vespers

Great Paschal Vespers
St. Margaret’s Chapel, Duxbury
Sunday, April 7, 2013
four o’clock in the afternoon
PLEASE SILENCE ALL CELL PHONES AND OTHER DEVICES
Great Paschal Vespers is based on the ancient stational liturgies of Rome. The version
used here is taken from The Prayer Book Office, compiled and edited by Howard E.
Galley. In structure, it is informed by the Office of Vespers, with prayers, office hymn,
psalmody, and its regularly appointed canticle, the Magnificat. While maintaining these
essential forms, Great Paschal Vespers adds aspects of the Roman liturgies during which
entire congregations traveled from one place to another. Thus the liturgy literally
provides a moving gloss on the events of Easter and the celebrated post-Easter events of
Christ’s appearance on earth. That the solemnity of this liturgy can ennoble these events
with such economic and austere power is a startling revelation and a major argument in
favor of its celebration.
Monte Mason
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Entrance Rite
At the ringing of the bell, the people stand.
Standing near the Paschal Candle, the Officiant sings:
The Officiant then chants the Prayer for Light
Let us pray. Eternal God, who led your ancient people into freedom by a pillar of cloud
by day and a pillar of fire by night: Grant that we who walk in the light of your presence
may rejoice in the liberty of the children of God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The following anthems are the then sung, during which the Altar candles and other candles
and lamps in the church are lighted from the Paschal Candle.
The Lord is my light and my salvation, alleluia, alleluia.
Whom then shall I fear? Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord is risen from the tomb, alleluia, alleluia.
Who for our sake hung upon the Tree: Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The Lord is risen from the tomb, alleluia, alleluia.
All candles being lighted, this Versicle is then sung by the Officiant:
Hymn
Words:
Music:
Latin, 1632; tr. Robert Campbell (1814-1868), alt.
Salzburg, melody Jakob Hintze (1622-1702); harm. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
All sit while the schola sings the Psalm.
Psalm 111
Antiphon: The Lord has sent redemption to his people, halleluiah.
Hallelujah! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, *
in the assembly of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the deeds of the LORD! *
they are studied by all who delight in them.
His work is full of majesty and splendor, *
and his righteousness endures for ever.
He makes his marvelous works to be remembered; *
the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
He gives food to those who fear him; *
he is ever mindful of his covenant.
He has shown his people the power of his works *
in giving them the lands of the nations.
The works of his hands are faithfulness and justice; *
all his commandments are sure.
They stand fast for ever and ever, *
because they are done in truth and equity.
He sent redemption to his people; he commanded his covenant for ever; *
holy and awesome is his Name.
Procession to the Font
All stand, and the following anthem is sung.
Christ being raised from the dead will never die again;
death no longer has dominion over him, alleluia.
The Procession begins with the Antiphon and Psalm.
Psalm 113
Antiphon: The Lord who is high above all nations, has raised us up with Christ Jesus,
Hallelujah.
Halleluiah! Give praise, you servants of the Lord; *
praise the Name of the Lord, hallelujah.
Let the Name of the Lord be blessed, *
from this time forth for evermore, hallelujah.
From the rising of the sun to its going down *
let the Name of the Lord be praised, hallelujah.
The Lord is high above all nations, *
and his glory above the heavens, hallelujah.
Who is like the Lord our God, who sits enthroned on high *
but stoops to behold the heavens and the earth? hallelujah.
He takes up the weak out of the dust *
and lifts up the poor from the ashes, hallelujah.
He sets them with the princes, *
with the princes of his people, hallelujah.
He makes the woman of a childless house *
to be a joyful mother of children, hallelujah.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit, hallelujah.
As it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever, amen, hallelujah.
The Anthem is then sung, during which the Officiant censes the Font.
O springs of water, seas, and streams, glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever, alleluia.
The Minister appointed sings the Versicle:
The Officiant continues:
Let us pray.
O God, you have united diverse peoples in the confession of your Name: Grant that all
who have been born again in the font of Baptism may also be united in faith and love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Vidi Aquam is sung, during which the Officiant sprinkles the people with water from the Font.
Upon the aspersion, it is appropriate to make the Sign of the Cross.
I beheld water proceeding out of the temple; from the right side it flowed, alleluia;
and all those to whom that water came shall be saved, and shall say, alleluia, alleluia.
Procession to the Rood
The following Psalm is sung in procession to the Rood.
Psalm 114
Antiphon: He has delivered us form the dominion of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of his Son, halleluiah.
When Israel came out of Egypt, *
the house of Jacob from a people of strange speech, hallelujah,
Judah became God’s sanctuary *
and Israel his dominion, hallelujah.
The sea beheld it and fled; *
Jordan turned and went back, hallelujah.
The mountains skipped like rams, *
and the little hills like young sheep, hallelujah.
What ailed you, O sea, that you fled? *
O Jordan, that you turned back? hallelujah.
You mountains, that you skipped like rams? *
you little hills like young sheep? hallelujah.
Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, *
at the presence of the God of Jacob, hallelujah,
Who turned the hard rock into a pool of water *
and flint-stone into a flowing spring, hallelujah.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit, hallelujah.
As it was in the beginning, is now,*
and will be for ever, amen, hallelujah.
The following Anthem is sung, while the Officiant censes the Cross.
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have
redeemed the world. Alleluia.
The Minister appointed sings the Versicle:
The Officiant continues:
Let us pray.
O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross,
and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to
die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The following is sung at the conclusion of the Procession:
On this day the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his mercy endures for ever.
All are seated for the reading.
The Reading
Luke 24:13-35
A period of silence follows the reading.
All stand for the Magnificat
The Song of Mary Magnificat
Antiphon: The same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were
shut where the disciples were assembled, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to
them: Peace be with you, alleluia.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
The Minister appointed leads the Litany, the People responding “Lord, have mercy.”
For the peace of the world, for the welfare of the holy Church of God, and for the unity
of all peoples, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For our Bishops, and for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the newly baptized throughout the world, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the mission of the Church in every place, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For this city and for every city and community, and for those who live in them, let us
pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, and for all the departed, let us pray
to / the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
A brief silence is observed.
The Lord’s Prayer
The Officiant then chants the Collect.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and
opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of
the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.
Hymn
Words:
Music:
Brian A. Wren (b. 1936), rev.
Truro, melody from Psalmodia Evangelica, Part II, 1789; harm. Lowell Mason (1792-1872), alt.
The Priest adds this blessing:
Almighty God, by whose glory Christ was raised from the dead, strengthen you to walk
with him in his risen life; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.
The Minister appointed dismisses the assembly with the following:
Closing anthem Christos anesti
Sung 3 times: 1 – schola, 2 and 3 - all
The Minister appointed concludes the service with the following:
Officiant:
All:
Christ is risen. Alleluia.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
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Immediately following the service, our celebration continues with a reception in the
Convent, out the door and to your left. Please join us.
Those in need of restrooms before or during the service are welcome to go to Bertram
Conference Center, 21 Harden Hill Road, out the door and to the right.
Our next evening service will be Sunday, November 3, 2013 at 4 pm. If you would like to
receive more information about our upcoming events, please fill out the card enclosed in
the bulletin and leave it in the basket in the back.
THE BIBLE & WORSHIP: The Bible plays a role in the liturgy of the church apart from
the actual words it provides for the texts. Biblical images and symbols abound in our
worship. Paschal Vespers makes use of these Biblical symbols in several ways:
LIGHT: Christian worship abounds in lights on the altar, by the lectern and elsewhere
as visible expressions of prayer. The EASTER CANDLE is the pillar of fire that glows to
the honor of God. It symbolizes the Risen Christ present with us. It is lighted for all
services during the Great Fifty Days of Easter.
WATER: The water of the baptismal font suggests, among other things, the crossing of
the Red Sea (Exodus 14), the River Jordan, and the “river of the water of life” in
Revelation 22:1. Liturgical sprinkling with baptismal water reminds Christians of their
baptism, wherein each of us becomes the child of God, a member of Christ, and an
inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.
INCENSE: Incense is a vehicle of adoration and prayer in Psalm 141:2 (“Let my prayer be
counted as incense before you”) and is used as such in Evening Prayer. Incense was
among the gifts the Magi offered to the Christ Child. Revelation mentions “golden bowls
full of incense” representing the prayers of the saints (Rev. 5:8; 8:4). Incense was used in
Jewish prayer. The use of incense in Christian worship dates back to the fourth century
or earlier.
St. Margaret’s Convent
50 Harden Hill Road
P.O. Box C
Duxbury, MA 02331
781-934-9477
www.ssmbos.org
All music used and reprinted by permission. OneLicense.net License #A-709078