The service of Evensong, or Evening Prayer, combines elements of two services – Vespers and Compline – which were part of the seven-service daily cycle of prayer in the monasteries. It is said or sung daily in the cathedrals and collegiate churches of England, and in many cathedrals and churches in America, as well.

In many ways it is a very tiny fragment of something else: it is a fragment of the worship offered to God by Christian people, at every hour, in every part of the world. In attending a service of Evensong, it is as if you were dropping in on a conversation already in progress – a conversation between God and God's people that began long before we were born, and will go on long after we are dead. So do not be surprised or disturbed if there are some things in the conversation which you do not at once understand.

Evensong is drawn almost entirely from the Bible. Its primary purpose is an act of praise to almighty God that proclaims His wonderful presence in history and in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Its secondary purpose is to evoke from the worshipper a response of praise, penitence, prayer and obedience.

The form of the service is little altered from the form of the sixteenth century, but the content has a longer history. The Psalms were the hymnbook of the Jewish temple. Canticles (Magnificat and Nunc dimittis) are taken from the New Testament, and in the set prayers and responses, thanksgiving and petitions the people of God have always found themselves trying to make are expressed in words that were shaped and refined by long usage.

The service is in three parts. The first part prepares the worshipper for the story that is to follow. The second part is the narrative of God's redeeming work, beginning with the psalms. The recitation of the psalter is at the heart of monastic worship, and this is reflected in the composition of Evensong. The story of God's work continues in readings from the Old and New Testaments. Canticles of praise in response to this story (Magnificat and Nunc dimittis) are taken from the gospels. This part reaches its climax in the Affirmation of Faith. The third part is our prayerful response to the God who has been revealed in history, in Jesus Christ, and in the Church.

Each service is an act of worship addressed not to us, but to God, an act of thanksgiving and an act of intercession for all.
        (adapted from publications of King's College, Cambridge, and Coventry Cathedral)

The summer of 2001 marked the Chancel Choir's first tour abroad, and 40 of the regular members of the group, plus 13 accompanying spouses and congregation friends, traveled to Great Britain for two weeks of singing and touring. The first week was spent as Choir-in-Residence at Rochester Cathedral in Kent, 45 minutes southeast of London. It was for all a memorable experience singing services daily in this historic cathedral building, where services have been said or sung for 1000 years.

During their stay in Rochester, the choir had the great privilege of singing the daily services under the leadership of the Acting Precentor at that time, Canon Jonathan Meyrick, who is our special guest Precentor for this service. The group had a wonderful time getting to know Jonathan, and it is a very real pleasure to welcome him to Third Presbyterian Church.

Jonathan Meyrick is a Cathedral Canon in the Church of England, based at Rochester Cathedral in Kent, founded in 604. He was ordained in 1976 and has served in three parishes across southern England prior to moving to Rochester Cathedral in 1998. He has also served as Chaplain to the Bishop of Oxford, and for three years taught Old Testament at the Theological College in Barbados.

He is no stranger to America, having spent six months in an Episcopal parish in South Carolina prior to his ordination and made several visits since. He was in Seattle on September 11th last year and later that week drove 2000 miles in two days in order to reach his preaching engagement!

Although the singing of services is not his primary responsibility at the Cathedral, he deputises for the Precentor as required and looked after the singing as Acting Precentor during last year. He has sung Stephen Foster songs in Kentucky, musicals on a variety of amateur stages and 60's pop songs with his local mayor.

He is married to Rebecca, a hospice nurse, and they have three children in their teens.