The Rt. Rev. Eugene T. Sutton
Presider
Melissa Spas
Reader
The Chautauqua Choir
Joshua Stafford
Director & Organist
Owen Reyda and Laura Smith
Organists
The Notre Dame Children's Choir
Mark Doerries
Director
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.
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!
Litany For The Beginning Of A Chautauqua Season
Jared Jacobsen, 2003, alt.
We gather now in the place we call home. We give you thanks for Miller and Vincent’s vision for this sacred grove: A haven for heart and mind, a place where roots are put down and lives are shared.
We celebrate coming home.
We thank you for this place that was, from the start, made universal as to creeds; a place not undenominational but all-denominational; a place where we can experience the sacred through creation, through the living of life.
We celebrate the spiritual.
We thank you for this place where we share a common commitment:
To the arts, to matters spiritual in nature, to constant improvement, and to each other.
We celebrate community.
We thank you for this place where we can not only follow serious pursuits, but also have a good time, let loose, and relish life.
We celebrate joy.
We thank you for this place where people search for greater levels of knowledge,
thought, sensitivity, and openness.
We celebrate understanding.
We thank you for this place of century-old trees shading gingerbread cottages,
of gardens and birds, of barking dogs and stalking cats and
Biblical thunderstorms and the Miller bells chiming over a moonlit lake.
We celebrate the beautiful.
We thank you for this place of growing diversity in age, religious background,
Life choice, philosophical leaning, faith journey, and family status.
We celebrate the human.
We thank you for this place where musicians lift the soul, painters excite the eye, dancers defy gravity, sculptors tease space, actors conjure reality, photographers freeze time, and poets ennoble the human spirit.
We celebrate creativity.
We thank you for this place that informs and impacts our life, that makes us leave as better people than when we came.
We celebrate value.
We thank you for this place where some of us dance in a certain way, a traditional way, and some of us learn to dance in a new way, different from others.
We celebrate letting go.
And finally, Lord, we thank you for the Souls of Chautauqua—
for all who have created, shaped, and guided this extraordinary place.
We give thanks for the precious gift of Chautauqua.
It is ours to hold close, to give away without reservation.
Anthem
“Home by Another Road”
Mark Miller, 2022
You taught my heart what love can be,so I’m headed back home by another roadI once was bound but now am free,so I’m headed back home by another road.
The lights are on, the welcome free,as we’re headed back home by another road.There’s room for every person born,as we’re headed back home by another road.
Join me now, the road is wide,all God’s children side by side,where justice will shine and love abide,we’re headed back home by another road.
God’s people on the move again,and we’re headed back home by another road.The power of love has made us kin,and we’re headed back home by another road.
Hymn*
"Blest be the tie that binds"
Dennis, Johann Georg Nägeli, 1828; arr. Lowell Mason, 1845
John Fawcett, 1782
“Blest be the tie”
1 Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love.
The fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.
2 Before our *Father's throne
we pour our ardent prayers.
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
our comforts and our cares.
3 We share our mutual woes;
our mutual burdens bear.
And often for each other flows
the sympathizing tear.
4 When we are called to part,
it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still be joined in heart,
and hope to meet again.
5 From sorrow, toil, and pain,
and sin we shall be free;
and perfect love and friendship reign
through all eternity.
Responsive Reading
Psalm 133
Oh, how good and pleasant it is, when kindred live together in unity!
It is like fine oil upon the head that runs down upon the beard,
Upon the beard of Aaron, and runs down upon the collar of his robe.
It is like the dew of Hermon that falls upon the hills of Zion.
For there has God ordained the blessing: life for evermore.
Anthem
"Draw us in the Spirit's tether"
Harold Friedell, 1957
Percy Dearmer, 1931
Draw us in the Spirit’s tether; for when humbly, in thy Name,
two or three are met together, thou art in the midst of them:
Alleluya! Alleluya! Touch we now thy garment’s hem.
As the brethren used to gather in the Name of Christ to sup,
then with thanks to God the Father break the bread and bless the cup,
Alleluya! Alleluya! So knit thou our friendship up.
All our meals and all our living make as sacraments of thee,
that by caring, helping, giving, we may true disciples be.
Alleluya! Alleluya! We will serve thee faithfully.
Responsory
Luke 24:28-35
Let us not be weary in well-doing:
For in due season we shall reap, if we do not faint.
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more
in knowledge and in all judgment.
Being filled with the fruit of righteousness, to the glory and praise of God.
And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue;
And to virtue, knowledge;
And to knowledge, patience;
And to patience, godliness;
And to godliness, kindness;
And to kindness, charity.
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord:
And all the families of the nations shall worship before God.
The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,
As the waters cover the sea.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree,
And instead of the briar shall come up the myrtle tree:
And it shall be to the Lord for a name,
For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
- Adapted from the Chautauqua Hymnal and Liturgy, 1903
Hymn
"Break tho the bread of life"
Bread of Life, William Fisk Sherwin, 1877
Max Lathbury, 1877
“Break thou the bread of life”
1 Break thou the bread of life,
dear Lord, to me,
as thou didst break the loaves
beside the sea.
Beyond the sacred page
I seek thee, Lord.
My spirit pants for thee,
O living Word!
2 Bless thou the truth, dear Lord,
now unto me,
as thou didst bless the bread
by Galilee.
Then shall all bondage cease,
all fetters fall.
And I shall find my peace,
my all in all.
Reading
Phillipians 2:1-5
If, then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.
Anthem
"Pilgrim's Hymn"
Stephen Paulus, 1997
Michael Dennis Browne, 1997
Even before we call on Your name
To ask You, O God,
When we seek for the words to glorify You,
You hear our prayer;
Unceasing love, O unceasing love,
Surpassing all we know.
Glory to the Father,
and to the Son,
And to the Holy Spirit.
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.
Both now and forever,
And unto ages and ages,
Amen.
Reading
I John 1:1-4
We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— what we have seen and heard we also declare to you so that you also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
Hymn
"What a fellowship, what a joy divine"
Showalter, Anthony J. Showalter, 1887
Elisha A. Hoffman, 1887
“What a fellowship”
1 What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
what a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
Refrain:
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
2 O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
leaning on the everlasting arms. (Refrain)
3 What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
leaning on the everlasting arms. (Refrain)
Anthem
"Magnificat"
Mark Doerries
Luke 1:46—55
My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. 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 showed 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 for ever. 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.
Prayer of Thomas À Kempis
Above all things and in all things, O my soul, you shall rest in the Lord forever, for God is the everlasting rest of the saints.
Grant us, O God, to rest in you above all creatures,
Above all health and beauty;
Above all glory and honor,
Above all power and dignity
Above all knowledge and subtlety,
Above all riches and arts,
Above all joy and gladness,
Above all fame and praise,
Above all sweetness and comfort,
Above all hope and promise,
Above all desert and desire,
Above all gifts and benefits that you can give and impart to us,
Above all mirth and joy that the human mind can receive and feel,
Finally, above all angels and archangels and above all the heavenly host,
Above all things visible and invisible
And above all that you are not, O our God.
Because You, O Lord our God, are supremely good above all;
You alone are most high,
You alone most powerful,
You alone most full and sufficient,
You alone most sweet and most full of consolation.
You alone are most lovely and loving,
You alone most noble and glorious above all things,
In whom all good things together both perfectly are and ever have been and shall be.
- Adapted from the Chautauqua Hymnal and Liturgy, 1903
Anthem
“Nunc Dimittis”
Mark Doerries
Luke 2:29-32
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.
Concluding Prayers
Almighty God, we give you thanks for our return to Chautauqua, for the fellowship of all those who have worshiped in this place, and we pray that all who seek you here may find you, and be filled with your joy and peace. Amen.
O God, in the course of this busy life, give us times of refreshment and peace; and grant that we may so use our leisure to rebuild our bodies and renew our minds, that our spirits may be opened to the goodness of your creation. Amen.
O God, you manifest in your servants the signs of your presence: Send forth upon us the Spirit of Love, that in companionship with one another your abounding grace may increase among us. Amen.
O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in your mercy, grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. 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 repose with thy tend’rest blessing may our eyelids close.
When the morning wakens, then may I arise pure, 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.We invite your silent appreciation — without applause.
CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTION
Department of Religion
Melissa Spas
Vice President of Religion
The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton
Senior Pastor
Joshua Stafford
Director of Sacred Music & The Jared Jacobsen Chair Organist
Owen Reyda
Organ Scholar
Laura Smith
Organ Scholar
Carolyn Snider
Administrative Assistant
Annie Leech
Coordinator of Religious Education
Alicen Roberts
Student Minister