“An art form of rare and mystic beauty thattransports the worshipper through the most

exquisite music of England.”

Pilgrimage to EnglandPreview Concert

Sunday, June 8, 20147:00 pm, Sanctuary

The PRUMC Chancel Choirpresents music from their

upcoming residence atSt. Paul’s Cathedral, London

St. Paul’s Cathedral 2014 Service Music

Monday, 4th August5 pm Evensong sung by PRUMC Chancel Choir Canticles Brewer in D Responses Radcliffe Anthem Prayer Clausen Psalm 88 (Flintoft) Voluntary ‘Antiphon’, from Suite No.1 Hampton

Tuesday, 5th August5 pm Evensong sung by PRUMC Chancel Choir Canticles Sumsion in G Responses Radcliffe Anthem At the round earth’s imagined corners Hoiby Psalm 89.41-50 (Battishill) Voluntary (iii) ‘Adagio e dolce’ from Trio Sonata No. 3 in D minor Bach Hymn 234

Wednesday, 6th August5 pm Evensong sung by PRUMC Chancel Choir Canticles Friedell in F Responses Radcliffe Anthem Christ upon the mountain peak Boles Psalm 72 (Boyce) Voluntary Prelude and Fugue in G Major Bach Hymn 178

Thursday, 7th August5 pm Evensong sung by PRUMC Chancel Choir Canticles Stanford in B-flat Responses Radcliffe Anthem Greater love hath no man Ireland Psalm 94 (Clark) Voluntary Nimrod from Enigma Variations Elgar

Friday, 8th August5 pm Evensong sung by PRUMC Chancel Choir Canticles Collegium Regale Howells Responses Radcliffe Anthem My flight for heaven Henson Psalm 97 (Stainer) Voluntary Minuetto Gigout

Saturday, 9th August5 pm Evensong sung by PRUMC Chancel Choir Canticles Stanford in C Responses Radcliffe Anthem Sing ye to the Lord Bairstow Psalm 102.15-28 (Neswick) Voluntary Soliloquy Conte Hymn 251

Thank you to the Peachtree Road United Methodist Church congregation for your tremendous support in making our England Pilgrimage possible.

Welcome

Welcome to each of you on this most glorious night of celebration. In just a few short weeks, the Peachtree Road United Methodist Church Chancel Choir will embark on a pilgrimage to London, England, to lead daily services at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Our concert tonight draws highlights from the music to be presented at the service of Choral Evensong. This service of Evening Prayer has been sung in cathedrals, colleges, and churches with choral foundations on a more or less daily basis and in many parish churches around the world. The Prayer Book of 1662 established the pattern for Choral Evensong which remains in common usage throughout the worldwide Anglican Communion. Unlike the Eucharist, which follows the movement of the Church calendar, and unlike private prayer, which follows the events of our lives, the daily office follows its own rhythm. The readings are done “in course” and are not specifically chosen to make a particular point. The canticles (Magnificat and Nunc dimittis) are the same each day. As such, the office provides an objective aspect to our worship and a rhythm to spirituality as a whole.

Dating from the time of the temple in Jerusalem, the choral recitation of the Psalms remains one of the oldest forms of worship. During our residency at St. Paul’s, we will use the Coverdale translation which predates the King James Version. By listening and following along with the Psalm, we join with the people of God who waited for the coming of the Kingdom of God. After the Psalm, the first lesson is read. The choir then sings the Magnificat, the song that the Blessed Virgin Mary sang in joyful response to the announcement that she would be the mother of our Lord. In this song, all the hopes of the people of God are recounted and Mary proclaims that, in the Incarnation, God has acted and fulfilled all that He promised. We then hear part of the record of that fulfillment when the second lesson, from the New Testament, is read. Following this reading is the Nunc dimittis, the song of the aged Simeon which acknowledges the salvation of all nations in Christ Jesus.

In most liturgies, we, the worshipers, must do two things: speak with our lips, and meditate with our hearts. Choral Evensong is one of the rare occasions when the congregation is able to focus solely on the latter, allowing the prayers and praises sung by the choir to be those of the entire faith community.

Programme

Voluntary Nimrod, Enigma Variations Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934)

Justin Maxey, assisting organist

The Preces Philip Radcliffe (1905-1986)O Lord, open thou our lips. And our mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

O God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Praise ye the Lord. The Lord’s Name be praised.

Collect of the Day Rev. Bill Britt Senior MinisterAlmighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Hymn in procession RatisbonPlease stand as you are able

2 CHRIST, whose glory fills the skies, Christ, the true, the only light, Sun of Righteousness, arise, Triumph o’er the shades of night; Dayspring from on high, be near; Daystar, in my heart appear.

2 Dark and cheerless is the morn Unaccompanied by thee; Joyless is the day’s return, Till thy mercy’s beams I see; Till they inward light impart, Glad my eyes, and warm my heart.

3 Visit then this soul of mine, Pierce the gloom of sin and grief; Fill me, radiancy divine, Scatter all my unbelief; More and more thyself display, Shining to the perfect day.

Charles Wesley 1707-1788

My Soul Magnifies the Lord

MagnificatI

I Harold W. Friedell (in F)(1905-1958)

II Charles Villers Stanford (in C)(1852-1924)

My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.For he that is mighty hath magnified me and holy is his Name.And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations.He hath shewed strength with his arm, he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble and meek.He hath filled the hungry with good things and the rich he hath sent empty away.He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed forever.Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Luke 1:46-55

…and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Anthem Prayer René Clausen (b. 1953)Help me, help me spread your fragrance wherever I go. Flood my soul with Your spirit and life. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that my life may be only a radiance of Yours. Shine through me and be so in me that every soul I know will feel Your presence in my soul. Let them look up and see no longer me, but only You. Amen. Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)

The Lesson II Corinthians 4:5-6 Richard Dietz, lector

…Holy is His Name.

Psalm 72 Deus, judicium Chant: W. Boyce (1711-1779)Give the King thy judgements, O God, and thy righteousness unto the King’s son. Then shall he judge thy people according unto right, and defend the poor. The mountains also shall bring peace, and the little hills righteousness unto the people. He shall keep the simple folk by their right, defend the children of the poor, and punish the wrong-doer. They shall fear thee, as long as the sun and moon endureth, from one generation to another. He shall come down like the rain into a fleece of wool, even as the drops that water the earth. In his time shall the righteous flourish, yea, and abundance of peace, so long as the moon endureth. His dominion shall be also from the one sea to the other, and from the flood unto the world’s end. They that dwell in the wilderness shall kneel before him; his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tharsis and of the isles shall give presents; the kings of Arabia and Saba shall bring gifts. All kings shall fall down before him; all nations shall do him service. For he shall deliver the poor when he crieth, the needy also, and him that hath no helper. He shall be favourable to the simple and needy, and shall preserve the souls of the poor. He shall deliver their souls from falsehood and wrong; and dear shall their blood be in his sight. He shall live, and unto him shall be given of the gold of Arabia; prayer shall be made ever unto him, and daily shall he be praised. There shall be an heap of corn in the earth, high upon the hills; his fruit shall shake like Libanus, and shall be green in the city like grass upon the earth. His Name shall endure for ever; his Name shall remain under the sun among the posterities, which shall be blessed through him. And all the heathen shall praise him. Blessed be the Lord God, even the God of Israel, which only doeth wondrous things; and blessed be the Name of his Majesty for ever. And all the earth shall be filled with his Majesty. Amen, Amen.

Anthem My flight for heaven Blake R. Henson (b. 1983)Charm me asleep, and melt me so with thy delicious numbers, that, being ravish’d, hence I go away in easy slumbers. Ease my sick head, and make my bed. Thou pow’r canst sever me from ill and quickly still, though thou not kill my fever. Fall on me like a silent dew or like those maiden showers, which, by the peep of day, do strew a baptism o’er the flowers. Melt, melt my pains with thy soft strains, that, having ease me giv’n, with full delight, I leave this light and take my flight for Heaven.

Robert Herrick (1591-1674)

Anthem Greater love hath no man John Ireland (1879-1962)Many waters cannot quench Love, neither can the floods drown it. Love is strong as death. Greater Love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Who His own Self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness. Ye are wash’d, ye are sanctified, ye are justified, in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath call’d you out of darkness into His marvelous light. I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies, a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Nancy Johnston, sopranoWilliam Green, tenor

His mercy is on them that fear Him.

Psalm 97 Dominus regnavit Chant: J. Stainer (1840-1901)The Lord is king. The earth may be glad thereof; yea, the multitude of the isles may be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgement are the habitation of his seat. There shall go a fire before him, and burn up his enemies on every side. His lightnings gave shine unto the world; the earth saw it, and was afraid. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens have declared his righteousness, and all the people have seen his glory. Confounded be all they that worship carved images, and that delight in vain gods; worship him, all ye gods. Sion heard of it, and rejoiced; and the daughters of Judah were glad, because of thy judgements, O Lord. For thou, Lord, art higher than all that are in the earth; thou art exalted far above all gods. O ye that love the Lord, see that ye hate the thing which is evil. The Lord preserveth the souls of his saints; he shall deliver them from the hand of the ungodly. There is sprung up a light for the righteous, and joyful gladness for such as are true-hearted. Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous, and give thanks for a remembrance of his holiness.

Organ Voluntary Soliloquy David Conte (b. 1955)

Nicole Marane, organist

…as He spoke to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed

Anthem Christ upon the mountain peak Frank W. Boles (b. 1955)Christ upon the mountain peak stands alone in glory blazing; let us, if we dare to speak, with the saints and angels praise him. Alleluia! Trembling at his feet we saw Moses and Elijah speaking. All the prophets and the Law shout through them their joyful greeting. Swift the cloud of glory came. God proclaiming in its thunder Jesus as his Son by name! Nations cry aloud in wonder! This is God’s beloved Son! Law and prophets fade before him; first and last and only One, let creation now adore him!

The Lesson Luke 2:25-28a David Thomas, lector

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.

INunc Dimittis

II Herbert W. Sumsion (in G)(1899-1995)

II Charles Villers Stanford (in B-flat)(1852-1924)

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; to be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Luke 2:29-32

Anthem At the round earth’s imagined corners Lee Hoiby (1926-2011)At the round earth’s imagined corners, blow your trumpets, angels, and arise from death, you numberless infinities of souls, and to your scattered bodies go. All whom the flood did, and fire shall overthrow. All whom war, dearth, age, agues, tyrannies, despair, law, chance, hath slain. And you whose eyes shall behold God, and never taste death’s woe. But let them sleep, Lord, and me mourn a space, for, if above all these my sins abound. ’Tis late to ask abundance of thy grace, when we are there; here on this lowly ground, teach me how to repent; for that’s as good as if thou hadst sealed my pardon with thy blood.

John Donne

The Lesson I Corinthians 15:20-22 Eve Respess, lector

† Glory be to the Father †

Anthem Sing ye to the Lord Edward C. Bairstow (1874-1946)Sing ye to the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously. Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath He cast into the sea. Mighty Victim from the sky, hell’s fierce powers beneath Thee lie; Thou hast conquered in the fight, Thou hast brought us life and light. Now no more can death appall, now no more the grave enthrall; Thou hast opened Paradise, and in Thee Thy saints shall rise. Mighty Victim from the sky, hell’s fierce powers beneath Thee lie; Thou hast conquered in the fight, Thou hast brought us life and light; Thou hast opened Paradise, and in Thee Thy Saints shall rise. Alleluia! Amen.

Exodus 15:21, 4and R. Campbell

Blessing and Dismissal Rev. Bill Britt, Senior Minister

Retiring Procession Organ Voluntary Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 550 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Nicole Marane, organist

SOPRAnOAnn BrockHolly HancheyNancy JohnstonJolie MaddoxCarol MartinErin McPhersonRuby PhelpsLou Anne RaineySally Westmoreland

ALTOKay DietzClarke HarrisCelene JoinerOuida LanierEve RespessSusan ReynoldsKim ThiessenAmy Weyant

TEnORRichard DietzWill GreenPaul SewellTyrone WebbMatt Westmoreland

BASSJason ArnoldJacob AugstenRichard BrockJustin MaxeyJake MercerMark RaineyMichael ShakeChan StuartDavid ThomasJim ThorntonTy Tippett

ORgAniSTNicole Marane

COnDUCTORScott H. Atchison

The Chancel Choir