EDIT, FRIDAY AFTERNOON: It turns out St Paul’s are having Evensong tonight after all, but didn’t tell anyone about it until late morning. While I don’t wish to compete with them, I think we should go ahead and have Evensong outside anyway.
END OF EDIT
On Friday we will have Evensong outside St Paul’s. While the Cathedral has said they will be open for worship, I don’t believe they are having Evensong tomorrow, so I want to go ahead with this. It’s the day for St Simon and St Jude, apostles.
Meet at 6.15pm for 6.30; outside M&S seems to be a reasonable place for it, although we may need to move (especially if there are enough of us to obstruct the walkway).
You can print a copy of the liturgy from here ON THE DAY or from here today (Thursday). Alternately you can follow along online using the same links on a smartphone or using one of the various Common Worship smartphone apps.
The really simple way to do it will be to bring a Book of Common Prayer, though. I have a small number of spares. The Psalm will be Psalm 119.1-16. The Old Testament reading will be 1 Maccabees 2.42-66 and the New Testament reading will be Jude 1-4,17-25.
I did not choose these readings; I want to use the same ones that will be on the Church of England website, for ease of letting others follow along at home or elsewhere. Readers for the readings will be assigned when we meet.
We will sing the psalm and canticles from the Parish Psalter. If you have a Parish Psalter please bring it, even if you don’t sing! These are harder to get hold of than the BCP and I only have a small number.
Unless a conductor volunteers in the next couple of hours, we will stick to the ferial responses. Please bring music to these if you have it; it’s hard to get hold of online and I only have a small number of copies. I will cantor if there are no clergy there who are willing/able to do so.
We will use the same hymns as on Sunday and Wednesday. If you want to print the words to these yourself they are available in .pdf format here. If you want to bring a hymnal to sing harmony I prefer New English Hymnal (note that some of the words are different).
If you don’t have any of these bits of pieces, you can still come! Really. You can look over my shoulder, or someone else’s, or participate in a more reflective manner.
It would be helpful to have a rough idea how many people will be coming along, so if you are planning on it please do leave a comment here. Anonymous comments are fine.
If there are enough singers we might do an anthem — same one as yesterday — but be aware that if numbers are low this will be cut.
Summary:
6.15 for 6.30pm outside M&S, St. Paul’s-in-the-Camp
Liturgy here on the day.
Bring BCP, Parish Psalter, and ferial responses if you have them.
Further updates from @artsyhonker and @FlashEvensong on Twitter.
Dear Kathryn,I have never attended an Evensong, being brought up in the Catholic tradition, but was moved by what you have done and hope to be there tomorrow.Best regards,John Lipnickiaka Gordon Comstock
If this is still on, I will do my best to come along.
pfy,Yes, it is still on. I hate cancelled services. John/Gordon,It will be good to see you.