The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton
Presider

Sara Toth
Reader

The Chautauqua Choir

Joshua Stafford
Director & Organist

Rees Taylor Roberts & Owen Reyda
Organists

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.

Prelude

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 Prayer

Come to the water, all you who thirst,
come drink deeply from the river of life.
Come to the water, all you who are weary,
Come to the water, all you who long for justice, 
come be renewed in God’s ever-flowing stream,
come rest in the quiet pools of God’s love.
For God is here among us, washing away
the dust and grime of our lives, and
pouring out the Spirit on all who thirst.
Let us worship God together.

A moment of silent prayer is observed.

Come, drink of living water.

Never thirst again.

Hymn

“Come, drink of living water” 

Eric Wyse, 2013

Come drink of living water, never thirst again.

Confession of Sin

God of living water, we confess the dryness of our lives.

Hear our confession, O God, and rain down your mercy upon us.

A period of silence for reflection follows.

Loving God, we ask forgiveness for everything that is wrong in our lives. 

If we have a grievance against anyone,

If we are jealous of somebody,

If we are resentful and bitter about anything:

forgive us and help us.

(Silence)

If we have hurt or offended others or treated other persons unfairly: 

forgive us and help us.

(Silence)

If we have gone back on our word or forgotten to keep our promises;

If we have been dishonest or deceitful: 

forgive us and help us.

Kyrie Eleison

Kyrie, kyrie, eleison 

Assurance of Pardon

Jesus says, “Those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of living water.” Our sins are forgiven.

The Peace

May the peace of God be always with you.

And with your spirit.

As the sung response is introduced, 
you are invited to silently greet your neighbor in peace
with a bow of the head, a handshake, or a hug.

Response

Come and fill our hearts with your peace,
you alone, O Lord, are holy.
Come and fill our hearts with your peace,
Alleluia.

The First Lesson

Exodus 17:1–7

From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

Anthem

“Like as the hart” 

Herbert Howells, 1942
Psalm 42:1–3

Like as the hart desireth the water-brooks,

so longeth my soul after thee, O God.

My soul is athirst for God,

yea even for the living God: 

when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?

My tears have been my meat day and night,

while they daily say unto me, 

Where is now thy God?

The Second Lesson

John 4:5–14

Jesus came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.

A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” 

-Pope John Paul II, on a visit to Taizé, 1986

Response

Jacques Berthier, 1984

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

A Reading From John Paul II

One passes through Taizé as one passes close to a spring of water. The traveler stops, quenches his thirst and continues on his way. The brothers of the community, you know, do not want to keep you. They want, in prayer and silence, to enable you to drink the living water promised by Christ, to know his joy, to discern his presence, to respond to his call, then to set out again to witness to his love and to serve your brothers and sisters in your parishes, your schools, your universities, and in all your places of work.

Today in all the Churches and Christian communities, and even among the highest political leaders in the world, the Taizé Community is known for the trust always full of hope that it places in the young. It is above all because I share this trust and this hope that I have come here, dear young people, to bring to the world the joyful news of the Gospel. The Church needs your enthusiasm and your generosity. You know, it can happen that your elders, after the difficult journey and the trials they have undergone, fall prey to fear or weariness and let the dynamism which is a mark of every Christian vocation grow weak. It can also happen that institutions, because of routine or the deficiencies of their members, are not sufficiently at the service of the Gospel message. Because of this, the Church needs the witness of your hope and your zeal in order to fulfil her mission better.

Do not be content to criticize passively or to wait for persons or institutions to become better. Go towards the parishes, the student organizations, the different movements and communities, and patiently bring them the force of your youth and the talents you have received. Bring your trust and support to the ministers of the Church; they are your servants in the name of Jesus, and for that reason you need them. The Church needs your presence and your participation. If you remain within the Church, you will of course at times be upset by divisions, internal tensions and the sorry state of its members, but you will receive from Christ, who is the Head, his Word of Truth, his own Life, and the Breath of Love that will enable you to love him faithfully and to make your life a success by risking it in a joyful gift for others.

-Pope John Paul II, on a visit to Taizé, 1986

An extended period of silence is observed.

Anthem

“I heard the voice of Jesus say” 

Sondra K. Tucker, 2018, after Thomas Tallis
Horatius Bonar, 1846

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto Me and rest;
lay down, thou weary one, lay down
thy head upon My breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
so weary, worn, and sad;
I found in Him a resting place,
and He has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
the living water, thirsty one;
stoop down, and drink, and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank
of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,and now I live in Him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s Light;
look unto Me, thy morn shall rise,
and all thy day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found
in Him my Star, my Sun;
and in that Light of life I’ll walk,
till traveling days are done.

Intercessions

Jacques Berthier, 1982

At the beginning of the prayers, and after each petition, you are invited to sing:

O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer,
when I call, answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer,
come and listen to me.

As God’s people, called to love one another, let us pray for the needs of our faith communities, the whole human family, and all the world. That people of all faith traditions may discover their unity in and exercise their gifts in service of all, we pray to you, O God:

Sung Refrain

That the earth may be freed from war, famine, and disease, and the air, soil, and waters cleansed of poison, we pray to you, O God:

Sung Refrain

That those who govern and maintain peace in every land may exercise their powers in obedience to your commands, we pray to you, O God:

Sung Refrain

That you will strengthen this nation to pursue just priorities so that the races may be reconciled; the young, educated; and the old, cared for; the hungry, filled; and the homeless, housed; and the sick, comforted and healed, we pray to you, O God:

Sung Refrain

That you will preserve all who live and work in this community in peace and safety, we pray to you, O God:

Sung Refrain

That you will comfort and empower those who face any difficulty or trial: the sick, the poor, the oppressed, those who grieve and those in prison, we pray to you, O God:

Sung Refrain

That you will accept our thanksgiving for all those who are now at rest, who, with us, await a new heaven and a new earth, your everlasting kingdom, we pray to you, O God:

Sung Refrain

Merciful God, as a potter fashions a vessel from humble clay, you form us into a new creation. Shape us, day by day, until we pray as continually as we breathe,

and all our acts are prayer; in the mystery of your Spirit, we pray.

Sung Refrain

The Prayer That Jesus Taught

Response

“In God alone” 

Jacques Berthier, 1991
Taizé Community, 1991

In God alone my soul can find rest and peace,
in God my peace and joy.
Only in God my soul can find its rest,
find its rest and peace.

Benediction

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.

Amen.

Hymn

“Now the day is over” 

Merrial, Joseph Barnby, 1868
Sabine Baring-Gould, 1865

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.

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
Thursday 6:15 p.m. Rehearsal at Smith Wilkes Hall
Friday 6:15 p.m. Rehearsal at Lenna Hall
Saturday 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 receive a free 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

Rees Taylor Roberts
Organ Scholar

Owen Reyda
Organ Scholar

Carolyn Snider
Administrative Assistant

Annie Leech
Student Minister