Choral Evensong for St Luke's Day
4.00pm Wednesday 18 October
Producer, Ben Collingwood
Sound Supervisor, Simon Tindall
Rector of Chelsea, Rev. Prebendary Dr Brian Leathard
Curate, Rev. Baxter McRolston
Choir of St Luke’s, Chelsea
Tenor Trombone, Felix Fardell
Bass Trombone, Joseph Smales
Tenor, Quito Clothier
Organ, Rupert Jeffcoat
Director of Music, Jeremy Summerly
The Collect of St Luke (2007) Philip Stopford (born 1977)
Almighty God, who calledst Luke the Physician, whose praise is in the Gospel, to be an Evangelist, and Physician of the soul: May it please thee that, by the wholesome medicines of the doctrine delivered by him, all the diseases of our souls may be healed; through the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Preces (1984) David Trendell (1964-2014)
Office Hymn (Hymn for St Luke’s Day)
Great Master of the Earth and sky,
You sent your servant Luke from high,
To teach us how to live and pray,
That we too may be healed one day.
O Father, pray we too be healed,
Blessed by your gifts from rock and field.
And so be cleansed by your dear love,
And bathed in glories from above.
And when we too shall take our rest,
Our journey done, our sins confessed,
We’ll praise the bounty of the gifts
Left by your dear Evangelist. Amen
Words: Helly Summerly (born 1979)
Music: Percy Buck (1871-1947) – Gonfalon Royal
Psalm 103
Martin How (1931-2022)
Praise the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me praise his holy Name. Praise the Lord, O my soul: and forget not all his benefits. Who forgiveth all thy sin: and healeth all thine infirmities. Who saveth thy life from destruction: and crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things: making thee young and lusty as an eagle. The Lord executeth righteousness and judgement: for all them that are oppressed with wrong. He shewed his ways unto Moses: his works unto the children of Israel. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy: long-suffering, and of great goodness. He will not alway be chiding: neither keepeth he his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins: nor rewarded us according to our wickednesses. For look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth: so great is his mercy also toward them that fear him. Look how wide also the east is from the west: so far hath he set our sins from us. Yea, like as a father pitieth his own children: even so is the Lord merciful unto them that fear him. For he knoweth whereof we are made: he remembereth that we are but dust.
Eleanor Jestico (born 1986)
The days of man are but as grass: for he flourisheth as a flower of the field. For as soon as the wind goeth over it, it is gone: and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the merciful goodness of the Lord endureth for ever and ever upon them that fear him: and his righteousness upon children's children, Even upon such as keep his covenant: and think upon his commandments to do them. The Lord hath prepared his seat in heaven: and his kingdom ruleth over all. O praise the Lord, ye angels of his, ye that excel in strength: ye that fulfil his commandment, and hearken unto the voice of his words. O praise the Lord, all ye his hosts: ye servants of his that do his pleasure. O speak good of the Lord, all ye works of his, in all places of his dominion: praise thou the Lord, O my soul. 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.
Magnificat & Nunc dimittis
Hereford Service (1982) Richard Lloyd (1933-2021)
Responses (1984) David Trendell (1964-2014)
Anthem
Strengthen ye the weak hands (1949) William Harris (1883-1973)
The Lord hath created medicines out of the earth; and he that is wise will not abhor them. And he hath given men skill, that he might be honoured in his marvellous works. My son, in thy sickness leave off from sin, and order thy hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all wickedness.
Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, ‘Be strong, fear not: behold your God will come; he will come and save you’. Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God.
O Saviour of the world, who by thy Cross and precious Blood hast redeemed us. Save us, save us and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord.
Closing Hymn (A Hymn for St Luke)
Saint Luke, beloved physician, with honour now recall,
Who served his Master’s mission, who ministered to Paul;
Whose skill to distant ages bequeathed a gift unpriced,
A gospel in whose pages we see the face of Christ.
He tells for us the stories of Jesus here on earth,
The unsung pains and glories that marked the church’s birth;
The Spirit’s power in preaching, the contrite sinner freed,
The grace and mercy reaching our deepest human need.
For all who work our healing we lift our hearts in prayer,
The love of God revealing in science, skill, and care:
His gifts be still imparted to those who make us whole,
Like Luke, the tender-hearted, physician of the soul.
Words: Timothy Dudley-Smith (born 1926)
Music: William H. Ferguson (1874-1950) – Wolvercote
Organ Voluntary
Gospel Prelude on Amazing Grace (1984) William Bolcom (born 1938)
Choir of St Luke’s, Chelsea
Decani:
Lucia Carini, Sarah Charman, Dennis Cook, Charles Day, Sophie Rose Dobson, Maryam Dorudi, Robin Flower, Hamish McGregor, Miranda Savage, Henry Skeoch, Fleur Smith, Helly Summerly, Tom Wood
Cantoris:
Finnbar Blakey, Christina Callion, Quito Clothier, Dan Cottee, Savannah Culpepper, Amanda Dean, Felix Fardell, Colin Frayn, Billie Hylton, Eleanor Roda, Hamish Rogers, Joseph Smales, Sian Sulke
