The Rt. Rev. Eugene T. Sutton
Presider

Ori Edgar, Nia-Hyatt Eldosougi, Evans Nyamadzawo, and Elizabeth Schoen
Readers

The Chautauqua Choir

Joshua Stafford
Director & Organist

Owen Reyda and Laura Smith
Pianists

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!

Welcome

Calls to Prayer

From the Muslim tradition:

Allahu Akbar.
Ash-had an-la ilaha illa llah.
Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar-
rasulu llah.

Hayya ‘alas-salah.
Hayya ‘alal-falah.
Allahu Akbar.
La ilaha illallah

بَرََََََُُ †بَرُُ≠†اَللَهُُ†اَكْْ† †اَللَهُُ†اَكْْ
لََّاهَ†اِِ†لَّا†ل†هُُ†ل†ل†ا†ا†ا†ا†ا†ا†اََََََََ†لِِا†لَّاهَ†اِِ†لَّا†ل†هُُ†–†اَشْْهَدُُ†اَنْْ†ِِ†اَشْْهَدُُ†اَنْْ
اَشْْهَدُُ†اَن†نََّنََّ†مُُحَمّّ†رَسُُولُُ†ل†لِ†–†اَشْْهَدُُ†اَن†نََّنََّ†مُُحَمّّ†رَسُُولُُ†ل†لِ†هِ†ه†د†د†ا†ا†ا†اََََََََّّّّّّ

حَىَّ†عَلَى†لصَّلَاةِِ†–†حَىَّ†عَلَى†لصَّلَاةِِ†ى†ى†ا†ا†ا†اََََّّّّ
بَرََََََُُ †بَرُُ≠†اَللَهُُ†اَكْْ† †اَللَهُُ†اَكْْ
بَرََََََُُ †بَرُُ≠†اَللَهُُ†اَكْْ† †اَللَهُُ†اَكْْ
لََّاهَ†اِِ†لَّا†ل†هُُ†ل†ا†ا†ا†اَ†لِِا

God is most great.
I bear witness that there is no god but God.
I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God.

Hasten to the prayer.
Hasten to the spiritual success.
God is most great.
There is no god but God.

From the Jewish tradition:

Bar’chu et Adonai ham’vorach.
Baruch Adonai ham’vorach
l’olma va-ed.

בָָּרְָכְּוּ†אֶֶת†יְְָָ†הַַמְְבֹֹרָָך†ר†י
בָָּרָוּּךְ†יְְָָ†הַַמְְבֹֹרָָךְ†ר†י
עְְוֹלָָם†וָעֶֶָד! ל

Praise to Adonai to whom praise is due forever.
Praised be Adonai to whom praise is due,
now and forever.

From the Christian tradition (Peruvian Melody):

Glory to God, glory to God,
glory in the highest!
To God be glory forever!
Alleluia, Amen!

Glory to God, glory to God,
glory to Christ Jesus!

Glory to God, glory to God,
glory to the Spirit!

Hymn

"Lord of all hopefulness"

Slane, Irish melody
Jan Struther, 1931

Gathering of Lights

For many peoples of the world, light is a universal sign of faith, enlightenment, and hope.
During the following prayer, three candles representing the three branches
of the Abrahamic tradition will be lighted.

John 1:4

τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν.
The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.

Sura 24:35

فِى†وُُُُتٍٍ†أََذِِ†ٱ†لََّهُُ†أَنَ†تُُ†عََََْْ†وََيُُذْْكََرََ†فِِيهََا†ٱسْْمُُهُُ†يُُسََبِِّحُُ†هََُُ†فِِيهََا†بِِٱلْْغُُدُُ†وََٱلَْْاصََالِِ†٣٦†ن†و†رف†ي†ب†ل†ل†ى
That light shines through houses of worship which Allah has ordered to be raised, and where His Name is mentioned. He is glorified there morning and evening

Genesis 1:3–4

. . ו†־ְְִִֽ†וֹֽֽ†׃†א†א†א†ה†ר†ר†ר†ו†י†י†י†י†י†. ם†וֹ֑֑?ׁ†. ןֵ֥֥†הַַחֹֽֽשֶׁךְ†רא†א†א†א†א†ה†ה†ב†ב†ב†ר†ר†ל†ו†ו†י†י†י†י†􀂗ןֵּ֥֥†וָָֹ֖֖†וּ†􀂗דֵּ֣֣†לֱֱֹ†ה֔†ם†􀂗ם†אֶֶת־†וָָֹ֖֖†כִִּיָ־ט֑֑וֹ†􀂈
Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.

Anthem

“All my hope”

Dave Brubeck, 1980

All my hope is in you, O Lord,

You are my rock and my strength.

Hope in darkness, my hope in light.

You are my rock and my strength.

You are my rock! You are my strength!

My hope, my light,

My peace, my joy,

My faith, my life everlasting.

You are my rock and my strength

The Peace

May the peace of God be always with you.
And with your spirit.

You are invited to silently greet your neighbor in peace
with a bow of the head, a handshake, or a hug.

*Hymn

"O for a world"

Azmon, Carl Gotthelf Gläser, 182
Miriam Therese Winter, 1987

Interfaith Reflection

Elizabeth Schoen

Hymn

"Dona nobis pacem"

Dona Nobis Pacem, Anonymous
Traditional Liturgical Text

This hymn will be sung as a round.
You are invited to sing in Latin, in Hebrew, or in Arabic.

Grant Us Peace.

The Hebrew Scripture

Song of Songs 2:10–13

My beloved spoke thus to me,

“Arise, my darling;

My fair one, come away!

For now the winter is past,

The rains are over and gone.

The blossoms have appeared in the land,

The time of pruning has come;

The song of the turtledove

Is heard in our land.

The green figs form on the fig tree,

The vines in blossom give off fragrance.

Arise, my darling;

My fair one, come away!

Hymn

“Come away to the skies”

Middlebury, Southern Harmony, 1835
Anonymous, Southern Harmony, 1835

The Noble Quran

Sura 29:44–46

Allah created the heavens and the earth for a purpose. Surely in this is a sign for the people of faith.

Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, 'genuine' prayer should deter 'one' from indecency and wickedness. The remembrance of Allah is 'an' even greater 'deterrent?' And Allah 'fully' knows what you 'all' do.

Do not argue with the People of the Book unless gracefully, except with those of them who act wrongfully. And say, "We believe in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to you. Our God and your God is 'only' One. And to Him we 'fully' submit."

Anthem

Shalom

Dan Forrest, 2020
John 14:27

Peace. Shalom.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you,

not as the world gives; do not be afraid.

The Christian Scripture

John 1:1–3, 5, 14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Anthem

"The house of faith"

Craig Phillips, 1998
Carl P. Daw, Jr., 1990

The house of faith has many rooms
where we have never been;
there is more space within God’s scope
than we have ever seen.

We dare not limit God’s domain
to what our creeds declare,
or shrink from probing
things unknown
lest God should not be there.

The way to God is not escape,
though truth does make us free:
the life of chosen servanthood
is perfect liberty.

Yet still we seek at journey’s end
the last and sweetest grace,
the gift of room to turn around
and know God face to face.

Litany

Brothers, sisters, siblings in Faith: God commands us to love one another, to love our neighbors as ourselves, to strive for justice and peace, and respect the dignity of every human being. Let us now honor those vows and pray for our nation, for wise and just leaders, and for the needs of others throughout our country and the world.

We pray for your guidance on all peacemakers, on leaders who value peace, and on everyone who promotes nonviolent solutions to conflict. We pray for a speedy end to all violence and conflict around the world.
God of peace and gentleness,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for the strength of heart and mind to look beyond ourselves and address the needs of our siblings throughout the world; for the rural and urban poor; for the rebuilding of our communities; and for an end to the cycles of violence that threaten our future.
God of generosity and compassion,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for all nations, that they may live in unity, peace, and concord; and that all people may know justice and enjoy the perfect freedom that only God can give.
God of liberty and freedom,
Hear our prayer.

We pray that the you would embrace the most vulnerable members of our society; we pray also for an end to the growing disparity between the rich and poor; and for the grace and courage to strive for economic justice.
God of all gifts and blessings,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for an end to prejudice throughout our country and the world; that we will respect all people as precious children of God; and that racism, sexism, and all other forms of discrimination will be forever banished from our hearts, our society, and our laws.
God of fellowship and equality,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for a reverence of creation; that we will have the tools and the will to conserve it; that we will use its bountiful resources in the service of others; and that we will become better stewards of all that has been entrusted to us.
God of nature and the universe,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for all immigrants, refugees, and pilgrims from around the world, that they may be welcomed in our midst and be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.
God of outcasts and wanderers,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for the sick, the aged and the infirm; that all may have access to proper health care; and that God's loving embrace may be felt by all who suffer.
God of comfort and healing,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for all prisoners and captives; that a spirit of forgiveness may replace vengeance and retribution; and that we, with all the destitute, lonely, and oppressed, may be restored to the fullness of God’s grace.
God of absolution and mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for all children and families, and particularly for the orphaned, neglected, abused, and those who live in fear of violence or disease; that they may be relieved and protected.
God of children and families,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for all who have died as a result of violence, war, disease or famine, especially those who died because of human blindness, neglect, or hardness of heart.
God of eternal life and resurrecting love,
Hear our prayer.

A period of Silent Prayer is kept.

Benediction

May HaShem bless you and keep you;

May God make God’s face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

May Allah lift up Allah’s countenance upon you and give you salaam.

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.
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 Fletcher Hall
Fri 6:15 p.m. Rehearsal at Fletcher Hall
Sat 6:15 p.m. Rehearsal at Fletcher 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. 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 2026 summer season.

WEEKDAY MORNING WORSHIP AT 9:15 A.M.
Amphitheater, The Rev. Dr. J. Peter Holmes

Mon 8/11 Beautiful Strangers

Tues 8/12 Rounding Third

Wed 8/13 Fire and Rain

Thu 8/14 Just Like That

Fri 8/15 Alive to Hope

INTERFAITH LECTURES AT 2 P.M.
Hall of Philosophy, 
“Compassionate, Merciful: Describing the Nature of God ”

All but one chapter of the Qur’an opens with the phrase that describes the nature of God as the Most Compassionate and the Most Merciful. The Talmud refers to God as “The Merciful One,” and the Christian scriptures share the notion that “God is love.” But is that all that God is? How do we make sense of other descriptions of God, including instances of God’s jealousy, wrath, or judgment? At the same time, God is also ineffable, incapable of fully being understood or described in human language. Why does it matter how we describe God? And can the description of God allow us to better understand human nature? This week, we will hear from scholars and practitioners from different faith and spiritual traditions on how they describe the nature of God and what that means for our understanding of the world and perhaps even ourselves.

Mon 8/11 Shai Held

Tues 8/12 Brock Bahler

Wed 8/13 Kat Armas

Thu 8/14 Dr. Tamara Gray

Fri 8/15 Drew Jackson

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