Saint Mark’s Cathedral and The Compline Choir were honored to be invited by the Royal School of Church Music – America, to contribute a pre-recorded office of Compline to be premiered during their 2021 online Summer Training Course. The service was filmed over two days in April 2021, following pandemic safety protocols and with a strictly limited number of participants: three senior choristers and four members of the Schola (or youth choir) of the Choir School, led by choir school director Rebekah Gilmore, eight adult members of the evensong choir, led by Canon for Cathedral Music Michael Kleinschmidt and eight members of the Compline Choir led by Dr. Jason Anderson. The service may be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7bWvjW8MmE
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The Compline Choir, a shared ministry of the Peter R. Hallock Institute, St. Mark’s Cathedral, and the Diocese of Olympia, acknowledges that we gather on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People, who are still here, and we honor with gratitude the land itself and the life of the Duwamish Tribe.
OPENING SENTENCE OF SCRIPTURE
Thus says the LORD: Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. —Jeremiah 6:16a
ORISON: “Beloved, let us love one another” from the cantata In Praise of Singing by Alice Parker (b. 1925). Words: 1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another,
for love is of God;
and everyone that loves is born of God
and knows God.
PREPARATION
READER: The Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
CHOIR: Amen.
READER: Beloved in Christ, be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist, steadfast in the faith. [I Peter 5: 8, 9a]
READER: But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
CHOIR: Thanks be to God.
The following is chanted.
CANTOR: O God, make speed to save us;
CHOIR: O Lord, make haste to help us.
CANTOR: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;
CHOIR: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
CANTOR: Praise ye the Lord;
CHOIR: The Lord’s name be praiséd.
PSALMS 134 and 4: Peter R. Hallock (1924–2014), from The Compline Psalter
[see: https://hallockinstitute.org/shop/scores/the-compline-psalter/ ]
ANTIPHON [PSALM 134]:
Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, *
you that stand by night in the house of the Lord.
Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the Lord; *
the Lord who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.
PSALM 4:
Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause; *
you set me free when I am hard-pressed;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
“You mortals, how long will you dishonor my glory; *
how long will you worship dumb idols and run after false gods?”
Know that the Lord does wonders for the faithful; *
when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.
Tremble, then, and do not sin; *
speak to your heart in silence upon your bed.
Offer the appointed sacrifices *
and put your trust in the Lord.
Many are saying, “Oh, that we might see better times!” *
Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O Lord.
You have put gladness in my heart, *
more than when grain and wine and oil increase.
I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep; *
for only you, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
ANTIPHON [PSALM 134]:
Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, *
you that stand by night in the house of the Lord.
Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the Lord; *
the Lord who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.
THE LESSON
Thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy Name. Leave us not, O Lord our God. Jeremiah 14:9
CHOIR: Thanks be to God.
THE RESPOND
CANTOR: Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
CHOIR: Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
CANTOR: For thou hast redeeméd me, O Lord, thou God of truth;
CHOIR: I commend my spirit.
CANTOR: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
CHOIR: Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
The READER announces the hymn to be sung. The hymn appointed for Compline is Te lucis ante terminum (Before the ending of the day). Other hymns may be sung as appropriate to the church year.
HYMN: “O Gladsome Light” Words: Phos hilaron, paraphrase by Robert Bridges (1844–1930). Tune: LE CANTIQUE DE SIMÉON, attr. Louis Bourgeois (1510–1561), harm. Claude Goudimel (1514–1572)
O gladsome Light, O grace
of God the Father’s face,
the eternal splendor wearing;
celestial, holy, blest,
our Savior Jesus Christ,
joyful in thine appearing.
Now, ere day fadeth quite,
we see the evening light,
Our wonted hymn outpouring;
Father of might unknown,
thee, his incarnate Son,
and Holy Sp’rit adoring.
To thee of right belongs
all praise of holy songs,
O Son of God, Life-giver;
thee, therefore, O Most High,
the world doth glorify,
and shall exalt forever.
The following is chanted:
THE VERSICLE & RESPONSE
CANTOR: Keep me as the apple of an eye;
CHOIR: Hide me under the shadow of thy wings.
NUNC DIMITTIS: Words: BCP 1979, Rite II. Setting: Roger Sherman (b. 1951)
ANTIPHON: Preserve us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
Lord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten the nations, *
and the glory of your people Israel.
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.
ANTIPHON: Preserve us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
THE APOSTLES CREED
CANTOR: I believe in God,
CHOIR: the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
THE KYRIE ELEISON
CANTOR: Lord, have mercy upon us.
CHOIR: Christ, have mercy upon us.
CANTOR: Lord, have mercy upon us.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CANTOR: Our Father,
CHOIR: who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
THE SUFFRAGES
CANTOR: Blessed art thou, Lord God of our fathers;
CHOIR: To be praised and glorified above all for ever.
CANTOR: Let us bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost;
CHOIR: Let us praise him and magnify him for ever.
CANTOR: Blessed art thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven;
CHOIR: To be praised and glorified above all for ever.
CANTOR: The Almighty and merciful Lord guard us and give us his blessing.
CHOIR: Amen.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
READER: Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.
CHOIR: We confess to God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, through our own grievous fault. Wherefore we pray God to have mercy upon us.
CHOIR: Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us all our sins and deliver us from all evil, confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and bring us to life everlasting. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
READER: May the almighty and merciful Lord grant unto us pardon and remission of all our sins, time for amendment of life, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit.
CHOIR: Amen.
THE PRAYERS
CANTOR: Wilt thou not turn again and quicken us;
CHOIR: That thy people may rejoice in thee?
CANTOR: O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us;
CHOIR: And grant us thy salvation.
CANTOR: Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this night without sin;
CHOIR: O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.
CANTOR: O Lord, hear our prayer;
CHOIR: And let our cry come unto thee.
CANTOR: Let us pray.
COLLECT FOR COMPLINE ON SATURDAY
We give you thanks, O God, for revealing your Son Jesus Christ to us by the light of his
resurrection: Grant that as we sing your glory at the close of this day, our joy may abound
in the morning as we celebrate the Paschal mystery; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
COLLECT FOR COLLABORATION WITH CIVIL SOCIETY
Almighty God, you call us together to live our lives in community with others: Bless
the ministries of your Church, that through working in partnership with all people of
good will, we may share the love of Christ with a world so much in need; through the
same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
COLLECT FOR QUIET CONFIDENCE
O God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in
quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we
pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CHOIR: Amen.
ANTHEM: “This Little Light of Mine” African American Spiritual, arranged by John Wesley Work III (1901–1967)
This little light of mine
I’m going to let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Everywhere I go,
I’m going to let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
All through the night
I’m going to let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Anthem: “This little light o’ mine,” arr. John Wesley Work III (1901–1967), ©1948 Galaxy Music Corp., a division of ECS Publishing Group [EC.1.1489].
FINAL RESPONSES
The CHOIR sings the final versicles and responses, using a setting composed by Peter Hallock in 1956, the year of the Compline Choir’s founding:
CANTOR: We will lay us down in peace and take our rest:
CHOIR: For it is thou, Lord, only that makest us to dwell in safety.
CANTOR: The Lord be with you:
CHOIR: And with thy spirit.
CANTOR: Let us bless the Lord:
CHOIR: Thanks be to God.
The closing blessing is spoken:
CONCLUDING WORDS
READER: The Almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, bless and preserve us.
CHOIR: Amen.
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