The Rt. Rev. Eugene T. Sutton
Presider

The Chautauqua Choir

James E. Bobb
Director & Organist

Owen Reyda and Laura Smith
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.

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

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 you, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God. Amen.

A moment of silent prayer is observed.

Bless the Lord, my soul.

And bless God’s holy name.

Hymn*

"Bless the Lord My soul"

Jacques Berthier

Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God's holy name.

Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.

Confession of Sin

As we come to the end of the day, let us bring to mind our shortcomings.

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

Assuarnce of Pardon

Adapted from Psalm 103

God is full of compassion and mercy, 
slow to anger and of great kindness.
God has not dealt with us according to our sins, 
nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.
As far as the east is from the west, 
so far has God removed our sins from us.

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

Isaiah 32:16–20

Then justice will dwell in the wilderness 
and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.
The effect of righteousness will be peace, 
and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.
My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, 
in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.
The forest will disappear completely, 
and the city will be utterly laid low.
Happy will you be who sow beside every stream, 
who let the ox and the donkey range freely.

Response Psalm

Psalm 131

In you, Lord, I have found my peace,
I have found my peace.

My heart is not proud, and I busy not myself with things too sublime for me.
Refrain
I have stilled my soul. Like a child on its mother’s lap, so my soul in me.
Refrain
O Israel, put your hope in the Lord your God forever.
Refrain

The Second Lesson

John 14:25–27

I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

Response

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

A Reading from Brother Roger

“I leave you peace; I give you my peace.” What is this peace that God gives?

It is first of all an inner peace, a peace of the heart. This peace enables us to look at the world with hope, even though it is often torn apart by violence and conflicts.

This peace from God also supports us so that we can contribute, quite humbly, to building peace in those places where it is jeopardized.

World peace is so urgent in order to alleviate suffering, and in particular so that the children of today and tomorrow do not live in distress and insecurity.

In his Gospel, in a dazzling intuition, Saint John expresses who God is in three words: “God is love.” If we can grasp only those three words, we shall go far, very far.

What captivates us in those words? The fact that they transmit this luminous conviction: God did not send Christ to earth to condemn anyone, but for every human being to know that he or she is loved and to be able to find a road to communion with God.

But why are some people gripped by the wonder of a love and know that they are loved, or even cherished? Why do others have the impression that they are neglected?

If only everyone could realize that God remains alongside us even in the fathomless depths of our loneliness. God says to each person, “You are precious in my sight, I treasure you and I love you.” Yes, all God can do is give his love; that sums up the whole of the Gospel.

-from an unfinished letter by Brother Roger of Taizé

Anthem

"Servants of Peace"

K. Lee Scott, 1994
James Quinn, based on a prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make us servants of your peace:
where there is hate, may we sow love;
where there is hurt, may we forgive;
where there is strife, may we make one.

Where all is doubt, may we sow faith;
where all is gloom, may we sow hope;
where all is night, may we sow light;
where all is tears, may we sow joy.

Jesus, our Lord, may we not seek
to be consoled, but to console,
nor look to understanding hearts,
but look for hearts to understand.

May we not look for love’s return,
but seek to love unselfishly.
For in our giving we receive,
and in forgiving are forgiv’n.

Dying, we live, and are reborn
through death’s dark night to endless day.
Lord, make us servants of your peace,
to wake at last in heaven’s light.

Intercessions

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

Hymn-Anthem

"Come and find the quiet center"

Carol Lynn Mizell, 2001
Shirley Erena Murray, 1992

Come and find the quiet center
in the crowded life we lead,
find the room for hope to enter,
find the frame where we are freed:
clear the chaos and the clutter,
clear our eyes, that we can see
all the things that really matter,
be at peace, and simply be.

Silence is a friend who claims us,
cools the heat and slows the pace,
God it is who speaks and names us,
knows our being, touches base,
making space within our thinking,
lifting shades to show the sun,
raising courage when we’re shrinking,
finding scope for faith begun.

The congregation joins in singing:
In the Spirit let us travel,
open to each other’s pain,
let our loves and fears unravel,
celebrate the space we gain:
there’s a place for deepest dreaming,
there’s a time for heart to care,
in the Spirit’s lively scheming
there is always room to spare.

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 Barnaby, 1868
Sabine Barind-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

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 2026 summer season.

Join the Chautauqua Choir

Thu 6:15 p.m. Rehearsal at Lenna 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 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 or the other. Questions can be directed to choir@chq.org or by calling the choir library at 716-357-6321. 

Wednesday Organ Concert at 12:15 p.m.

Amphitheater, Owen Reyda, organist