The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton
Presider

Annie Leech
Reader

The Chautauqua Choir

Joshua Stafford
Director & Organist

Sonya Subbayya Sutton
Pianist

Sacred Synthesis: Artificial Intelligence Prayers in Dialogue with the Intersections of Faith and Technology

We invite you to quietly prepare your hearts for worship during the Prelude.* Denotes that the congregation is invited to rise in body or spirit.It is our custom to sing the first and last verses of hymns in unison,the interior verses may be sung in parts.

This evening’s service has been crafted utilizing AI.Throughout the service, you will see the prompts given to ChatGPT.

Regarding this evening’s title:

Q: Craft a title for an evening Sacred Song Service at Chautauqua Institution that will utilize prayers generated by AI/ChatGPT, noting that the week’s Chautauqua Lecture Series is titled The AI Revolution and the Interfaith Lecture Series theme is Religion’s Intersections: Interdisciplinary Imagination with Science, Technology, and AI.

Hymn

“Day is dying in the west”

Chautauqua, William Fisk Sherwin, 1877
Mary Lathbury, 1877

Day is dying in the west;
Heav’n is touching earth with rest;
Wait and worship while the night
Sets her evening lamps alight
through all the sky.

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Heav’n and earth are full of Thee;
Heav’en and earth are praising Thee,
O Lord most high!

Opening Remarks

Q: What words would you want to share with a congregation at this service?

A: Given the context of a service themed around “Sacred Synthesis” atChautauqua Institution, here are some words that could be shared with the congregation.

Good evening, everyone. It is a profound honor to gather here tonight as we embark on a journey of exploration and wonder, embracing the theme of Sacred Synthesis. In this sacred space, we recognize the divine threads woven into the fabric of our existence, bridging the realms of faith, science, technology, and AI.

As we come together under the evening sky, let us celebrate the awe-inspiring complexity of the universe, from the intricate dance of subatomic particles to the vast expanses of galaxies. Each discovery, each innovation, reflects a deeper understanding of the divine order that underpins all creation.

We stand at a unique moment in history, where ancient wisdom and cutting-edge technology intersect in ways that were once unimaginable. Our spiritual traditions offer timeless truths that guide our moral compass and nurture our souls, while scientific inquiry fuels our curiosity and drives progress.

Yet, in this convergence lies a sacred responsibility. We are called to navigate this intersection with humility, wisdom, and compassion. As we harness the power of AI and technological advancements, let us do so with a commitment to the greater good, ensuring that these tools serve humanity and uphold the dignity of all life.

In our pursuit of knowledge, let us remain mindful of the mysteries that elude our understanding, finding solace in the divine presence that transcends our finite minds. Let us seek a harmony that honors both our quest for discovery and our spiritual longing for connection and meaning.

Tonight, as we lift our voices in song, reflect on sacred texts, and share in communal prayer, may we be inspired to see the divine in the details of our everyday lives. May we find sacredness in the algorithms, holiness in the equations, and a deep sense of purpose in our collective journey toward enlightenment and compassion.

Let us open our hearts to the possibilities that lie ahead, embracing the sacred synthesis that binds us all. Together, may we walk this path with grace, courage, and a profound sense of wonder. Amen.

Hymn

“In sacred harmony we stand” 

Tallis’ Canon, Thomas Tallis, c. 1561
ChatGPT, 2024

Q: Could you write a hymn text that could be sung to “Tallis’ Canon”?

R: This hymn text is designed to fit the familiar and meditative melody of “Tallis’ Canon,” making it suitable for the “Sacred Synthesis” service.

In sacred harmony we stand,
With wisdom’s light to guide our hand.
Through faith and science, we explore,
God’s wondrous world, forevermore.

The stars above, the earth below,
In every part, God’s wonders show.
With hearts and minds, we seek to know,
The truths that through creation flow.

In ancient words and new insights,
We find the path to greater heights.
With love and knowledge intertwined,
God’s presence in our quest we find.

As marks Chautauqua years so grand,
One hundred fifty, here we stand.
In unity, we sing this song,
In wisdom’s light, we journey on.

Responsive Reading

Proverbs 3:13-20

Q: Select a reading to follow the opening remarks and hymn, drawing from a sacred text of any of the Abrahamic traditions.

R: This passage from Proverbs celebrates the value of wisdom and understanding, emphasizing their divine origin and their role in the creation and order of the world. It is a fitting reflection for a service focused on the intersections of faith, science, and technology, highlighting the harmony between divine wisdom and human knowledge.

Happy are those who find wisdom, 

and those who get understanding,

for her income is better than silver, 

and her revenue better than gold.

She is more precious than jewels, 

and nothing you desire can compare with her.

Long life is in her right hand; 

in her left hand are riches and honor.

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, 

and all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; 

those who hold her fast are called happy.

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; 

by understanding he established the heavens;

by his knowledge the deeps broke open, 

and the clouds drop down the dew.

Anthem

Ubi Caritas

Ola Gjeilo, 2007
North Italian or Burgundian, ca. 8th c.

Q: What choral anthem would you select after this reading?

R: “Ubi Caritas” by Ola Gjeilo. This modern composition blends traditional Latin text with contemporary harmonies, reflecting on the themes of love, wisdom, and divine presence.

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.
Exultemus et in ipso jucundemur. 
Timeamus et amemus Deum vivum. 
Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.

Where charity and love abide, there is God.
The love of Christ hath joined us into one.
Let us rejoice and be glad in him.
Let us fear and let us love the living God.
And let us love each other in sincerity of heart.

Reading

Cosmos

Carl Sagan, 1980

Q: Could you provide options for a medium-length secular reading that would fit well with this service?

R: Certainly! Here are some medium-length secular readings that reflect themes of wisdom, understanding, and the intersection of science and spirituality, suitable for the “Sacred Synthesis” service.

The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself. Some part of our being knows this is where we came from. We long to return. And we can, because the cosmos is also within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the cosmos to know itself.

The beauty of a living thing is not the atoms that go into it, but the way those atoms are put together. The cosmos is also within us; we’re made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself. We are all connected: To each other, biologically; to the Earth, chemically; to the rest of the universe, atomically. Our planet, our society, and we ourselves are a small part of a vast, cosmic arena. We are, each of us, a little universe.

Anthem

“Choose something like a star”

Randall Thompson, 1959
Robert Frost, 1916

Q: Would you agree with following your choice of a reading from “Cosmos” with Randall Thompson’s “Choose Something like a Star”?

A: Yes, following the reading from Carl Sagan’s “Cosmos” with Randall Thompson’s “Choose Something Like a Star” would be an excellent choice.

Both the reading from “Cosmos” and “Choose Something Like a Star” reflect on the grandeur and mystery of the universe. They encourage contemplation of the stars and our place in the cosmos, promoting a sense of wonder and interconnectedness.

Thompson’s piece, with its text drawn from Robert Frost’s poem, beautifully captures the contemplative and reflective mood inspired by the reading. The music enhances the poetic reflection, making it a powerful follow-up.

The combination of Sagan’s scientific perspective and Frost’s poetic musings encourages the congregation to engage both emotionally and intellectually. This fits well with the theme of “Sacred Synthesis,” which aims to blend faith, science, and the arts.

O Star (the fairest one in sight),

We grant your loftiness the right

To some obscurity of cloud —

It will not do to say of night,

Since dark is what brings out your light.

Some mystery becomes the proud.

But to be wholly taciturn

In your reserve is not allowed.

Say something to us we can learn

By heart and when alone repeat.

Say something! And it says, ‘I burn.’

But say with what degree of heat.

Talk Fahrenheit, talk Centigrade.

Use language we can comprehend.

Tell us what elements you blend.

It gives us strangely little aid,

But does tell something in the end.

And steadfast as Keats’ Eremite,

Not even stooping from its sphere,

It asks a little of us here.

It asks of us a certain height,

So when at times the mob is swayed

To carry praise or blame too far,

We may choose something like a star

To stay our minds on and be staid.

Litany

Q: How would you feel about using a litany after the Randall Thompson?

R: Using a litany after Randall Thompson’s “Choose Something Like a Star” would be an excellent choice. It would provide a structured, participatory reflection that aligns well with the themes of the service and the contemplative mood set by the anthem.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth,

and saw that it was good.

We give thanks for the wonders of creation,

for the stars, the earth, and all living beings.

Through the ages, humanity has sought to understand the mysteries of the universe, to unravel the secrets of life and existence.

We give thanks for the gift of wisdom and the spirit of inquiry,

for science, technology, and the arts that reveal new truths.

Faith and reason, together they guide us,

illuminating the path to knowledge and understanding.

We seek harmony between our beliefs and discoveries,

a synthesis of sacred and scientific wisdom.

As we celebrate Chautauqua Institution’s 150th anniversary,

we honor the legacy of learning, exploration, and community.

We commit to continue this journey with open hearts and minds,

striving for a world of compassion, justice, and unity.

May we always be curious, always seeking,

and ever open to the wonders around us.

In faith, in reason, in love, and in wisdom,

we walk together, now and always. Amen.

R: Suggested congregational hymn:

Hymn*

“For the beauty of the earth” 

Dix, Conrad Kocher, 1838
Folliott Sandford Pierpoint, 1864, alt.

1 For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies:

Refrain:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

2 For the wonder of each hour
of the day and of the night,
hill and vale, and tree and flower,
sun and moon, and stars of light: (Refrain)

3 For the joy of ear and eye,
for the heart and mind’s delight,
for the mystic harmony
linking sense to sound and sight: (Refrain)

4 For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth, and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild: (Refrain)

5 For thyself, best gift divine
to the world so freely given;
for that great, great love of thine,
peace on earth and joy in heaven: (Refrain)

Concluding Reflection

The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton

Hymn

“Now the day is over” 

Merrial
Joseph Barnby, 1868

Now the day is over, night is drawing nigh,shadows of the evening steal across the sky.

Jesus, give the weary calm and sweet reposewith thy tend’rest blessing may our eyelids close.

When the morning wakens, then may I arisepure, and fresh, and sinless in thy holy eyes. Amen.

-Sabine Baring-Gould, 1865

Postlude

Largo

George Frederick Handel, 1738
from the opera Xerxes

Use of this piece to close the Sunday evening service has been Chautauqua’s tradition since the dedication of the Massey Memorial Organ on August 6, 1907.Part of the custom has been to remain in our seats until the piece is finished.It is a gesture that we treasure, and one in which you are invited to join.We invite you to leave the Amphitheater silently — without applause.

JOIN THE CHAUTAUQUA CHOIR
Thu 6:15 p.m. Rehearsal at Smith Wilkes Hall
Fri 6:15 p.m. Rehearsal at Fletcher Hall
Sat 6:15 p.m. Rehearsal at Lenna Hall

We invite you to join us and sing with the Chautauqua Choir this season. This group is open to anyone who has experience singing in choirs and the ability to read music, and requires members to attend at least one out of three weekly rehearsals, though two or more rehearsals are preferred. Our preference is for members to sing both Sunday Morning and Sunday Evening services, though it is possible to sing only one. Questions can be directed to choir@chq.org or by calling the choir library at 716-357-6321. Click here to register ahead of rehearsals.

JOIN THE MOTET CHOIR

The Motet Choir, which leads our weekday worship services, comprises experienced auditioned singers who rehearse and perform a variety of works from the rich heritage of sacred choral music of the past and a diversity of styles from the present. Singers must have a background of choral singing experience with excellent vocal quality and sight-reading ability. Members of the Motet Choir are compensated in the form of a gate pass for the weeks that they sing in the choir. Interested singers should email choir@chq.org or call the choir library at 716-357-6321 to schedule an audition for the 2025 summer season

CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTION
Department of Religion

Melissa Spas
Vice President of Religion

The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton
Senior Pastor

Rafia Khader
Director of Religion Programs

Joshua Stafford
Director of Sacred Music & The Jared Jacobsen Chair Organist

Carolyn Snider
Administrative Assistant

Annie Leech
Student Minister