Candlelight Choral Evensong

Everyone is invited to a Candlelight Choral Evensong followed by a reception will be celebrated at the Church of St John on the Mountain 379 Mt. Harmony Rd in Bernardsville at 4pm on Sunday, November 7. All are welcome to this observance of the Feast of All-Saints. The day is not just a celebration of the "official" saints (St. John, St. Michael, etc.) but also a celebration of those who lived among us. As the hymn goes, "They lived not only in ages past; there are hundreds of thousands still; the world is bright with the joyous saints who love to do Jesus' will."

Evensong is a service of evening prayers, psalms, and canticles in a form traditional to the Episcopal Church. This service will include the reading of the Necrology as we give thanks for those of the St John Community who have died since our last in-person, pre-pandemic celebration of All Saints' Day.

The service is primarily sung by the Choir of St John on the Mountain, a group of about twenty singers that includes skilled amateurs and professionals. The congregation will be invited to participate bravely in the hymns, mindfully in the prayers and to allow the anthems sung by the choir to embrace them like a soft, warm sweater. At St John, Evensong is without sermon or offering.

At this Choral Evensong, the Choir will sing several interesting and moving musical settings. The canticles (Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis) are by early twentieth-century composer Herbert Sumsion. They lilt along peacefully as they call us to prayer . We remember the words that Mary sang when she was to be with child ("My soul doth magnify the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour") and those of Simeon after meeting Jesus at his presentation in the Temple ("Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace...").

We will also Stephen Paulus's "PIlgrims' Hymn", a stirring poem by Michael Browne, "Even with darkness sealing us in, We breathe Your name, And through all the days that follow so fast, We trust in You; Endless Your grace, O endless Your grace, Beyond all mortal dream."

Finally the Choir is preparing Craig Phillips' Setting of the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes is the traditional Gospel reading of All Saints' Day and Phillips's setting is quite thrilling to hear (and quite a challenge to sing). Set in mixed meter with a recurring melodic theme woven throughout, he modulates through several keys until ending triumphantly with a final Alleluia.

Persons wishing to know more about participating in the Choir should contact Christopher Harlow-Jennings, Director of Music and Organist at [email protected]

All are invited to a reception following Candlelight Choral Evensong. St John on the Mountain is almost at the top of the Bernardsville Mountain at 379 Mt. Harmony Rd. 908-766-2282 or [email protected]

Others Details

Category: Community | Church