Evensong ~ September 7, 2011

• Opening Sentence

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth tremble before him. Psalm 96:9

• Collect of the Day ~ Proper 18

Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

• A Collect for Protection

O God, the life of all who live, the light of the faithful, the strength of those who labor, and the repose of the dead: We thank you for the blessings of the day that is past, and humbly ask for your protection through the coming night. Bring us in safety to the morning hours; through him who died and rose again for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

• Prayer for Mission

O God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let the whole earth also worship you, all nations obey you, all tongues confess and bless you, and men and women everywhere love you and serve you in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

• For Those Who Influence Public Opinion

Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in every age by many voices: Direct, in our time, we pray, those who speak where many listen and write what many read; that they may do their part in making the heart of this people wise, its mind sound, and its will righteous; to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

• Psalm

Sir Edward Elgar's setting of Psalm 48, Great is the Lord, performed by the Choir of the Royal School of Church Music Course for Advanced Trebles with DC-area choir members singing ATB!

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God,
in the mountain of His holiness;
Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth,
is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
God hath made himself known in her palaces for a refuge.
For, lo! the kings assembled themselves, they passed by together.
They saw, then were they amazed; they were dismayed, they hasted away.
Trembling took hold of them there, pain as ofo a woman in travail;
as with the east wind that breaketh the ships of Tarshish.
As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts,
in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever.
We have thought on Thy loving kindness, O God, in the midst of Thy temple.
As is Thy name, O God, so is Thy praise undo the ends of the earth;
Thy right hand is full of righteousness.
Let mount Zion be glad, let the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of Thy judgments.
Walk about Zion and go round about her, tell the towers thereof.
Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces,
that ye may tell it to the generation following.
For this God is our God for ever and ever;
He will be our guide even unto death:
Amen.