Welcome to Westminster Abbey. Daily prayer has been offered in this place for over a thousand years, and your participation in today's service is warmly welcomed. At choral Evensong most of the service is sung by the choir on our behalf. We participate through our presence and our listening, that the words and the music might become a prayer within us and lift us to contemplate God's beauty and glory.

The service always includes one or more psalms. These ancient prayers, taken from the Old Testament, reflect the full range of human emotions and experiences; from the depths of anger, resentment, and abandonment to the heights of ecstatic joy and praise. They were used by Jesus, and have always been at the heart of the Church's daily prayer.

The canticles Magnificat (Luke 1: 46–55) and Nunc dimittis (Luke 2: 29–32) reflect two responses to the Incarnation (God becoming fully human in Jesus Christ). Both speak of the fulfilment of God's promises, not just to 'Abraham and his seed', but also 'to be a light to lighten the Gentiles' (all nations). With their themes of fulfilment and completion, these texts have been given central place for many centuries in the Church's prayers for the evening and at the end of the day.

Please join in saying the words printed in bold type.

The church is served by a hearing loop. Users should turn their hearing aid to the setting marked T.

Photography, filming, and sound recording are not allowed in the Abbey during services. Please ensure that mobile telephones and other electronic devices are silent.

The service is sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey.

Following the service, a collection will be taken; the money from today's services will be divided equally between Church Mission Society and the work of the Abbey. Church Mission Society is specifically called to mission at the margins and cultural fringes which are often overlooked or written off, where Jesus is not often followed.

The Commonwealth Nations

On the second Monday in March each year, members of all Commonwealth Nations from around the world come together at the Abbey for the Commonwealth Service, in the presence of the Head of the Commonwealth His Majesty King Charles III, in celebration of both their diversity of culture and common purpose. Throughout the year, and to mark an important national day in the life of each Commonwealth Nation, the Abbey is proud to invite High Commissioners or their representatives and their guests to attend Evensong and to pray for their governments and citizens. Today, the Abbey welcomes the High Commissioner of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea to the United Kingdom, Her Excellency Ms Betty Palaso, on the Indepence Day of that realm. The High Commissioner will read the second lesson.

Order of Service

The choir sings the Introit

O praise the Lord, all ye heathen;
   praise him all ye nations.
For his merciful kindness is ever more and more towards us,
   and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever.
      Amen.

Words: Psalm 117
Music: Adrian Batten (c 1591–c 1637)

All stand as the choir and clergy enter

All remain standing as the officiant introduces the Confession

Beloved, we are come together in the presence of Almighty God and of the whole company of heaven to offer unto him through our Lord Jesus Christ our worship and praise and thanksgiving; to make confession of our sins; to pray, as well for others as for ourselves, that we may know more truly the greatness of God's love and show forth in our lives the fruits of his grace; and to ask on behalf of all people such things as their well-being doth require. Wherefore let us sit or kneel and keep silence, and remember God's presence with us now.

All kneel or sit to say together

O God, our Father,
we have sinned against thee
in thought, word, and deed;
we have not loved thee with all our heart;
we have not loved our neighbour as ourselves.
Have mercy upon us, we beseech thee;
cleanse us from our sins;
and help us to overcome our faults;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The officiant gives the Absolution

May the almighty and merciful Lord grant unto you pardon and remission of all your sins, time for amendment of life, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

All say together the Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

All stand. The officiant and choir sing the Responses

Music: Richard Ayleward (1626–69)

All sit. The choir sings Psalm 119: 1–32

Blessed are those that are undefiled in the way : and walk in the law of the Lord.
Blessed are they that keep his testimonies : and seek him with their whole heart.
For they who do no wickedness : walk in his ways.
Thou hast charged : that we shall diligently keep thy commandments.
O that my ways were made so direct : that I might keep thy statutes!
So shall I not be confounded : while I have respect unto all thy commandments.
I will thank thee with an unfeigned heart : when I shall have learned the judgements of thy righteousness.
I will keep thy ceremonies : O forsake me not utterly.

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way : even by ruling himself after thy word.
With my whole heart have I sought thee : O let me not go wrong out of thy commandments.
Thy words have I hid within my heart : that I should not sin against thee.
Blessed art thou, O Lord : O teach me thy statutes.
With my lips have I been telling : of all the judgements of thy mouth.
I have had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies : as in all manner of riches.
I will talk of thy commandments : and have respect unto thy ways.
My delight shall be in thy statutes : and I will not forget thy word.

O do well unto thy servant : that I may live, and keep thy word.
Open thou mine eyes : that I may see the wondrous things of thy law.
I am a stranger upon earth : O hide not thy commandments from me.
My soul breaketh out for the very fervent desire : that it hath alway unto thy judgements.
Thou hast rebuked the proud : and cursed are they that do err from thy commandments.
O turn from me shame and rebuke : for I have kept thy testimonies.
Princes also did sit and speak against me : but thy servant is occupied in thy statutes.
For thy testimonies are my delight : and my counsellors.

My soul cleaveth to the dust : O quicken thou me, according to thy word.
I have acknowledged my ways, and thou heardest me : O teach me thy statutes.
Make me to understand the way of thy commandments : and so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
My soul melteth away for very heaviness : comfort thou me according unto thy word.
Take from me the way of lying : and cause thou me to make much of thy law.
I have chosen the way of truth : and thy judgements have I laid before me.
I have stuck unto thy testimonies : O Lord, confound me not.
I will run the way of thy commandments : when thou hast set my heart at liberty.

All stand

Chants: Richard Langdon (c 1729–1803), Phocion Henley (1728–64), Edgar Roper (1878–1953), and William Bennett (1816–75)

All sit for the first Lesson, Proverbs 18: 10–21

The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
   the righteous run into it and are safe.
The wealth of the rich is their strong city;
   in their imagination it is like a high wall.
Before destruction one's heart is haughty,
   but humility goes before honour.
If one gives answer before hearing,
   it is folly and shame.
The human spirit will endure sickness;
   but a broken spirit—who can bear?
An intelligent mind acquires knowledge,
   and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
A gift opens doors;
   it gives access to the great.
The one who first states a case seems right,
   until the other comes and cross-examines.
Casting the lot puts an end to disputes
   and decides between powerful contenders.
An ally offended is stronger than a city;
   such quarrelling is like the bars of a castle.
From the fruit of the mouth one's stomach is satisfied;
   the yield of the lips brings satisfaction.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
   and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Here ends the first lesson.

All stand. The choir sings Magnificat

Evening Service in F, George Dyson (1883–1964)

All sit for the second Lesson, Romans 14: 10–end

Why do you pass judgement on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgement seat of God. For it is written,
'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
   and every tongue shall give praise to God.'
So then, each of us will be accountable to God.

Let us therefore no longer pass judgement on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling-block or hindrance in the way of another. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. If your brother or sister is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died. So do not let your good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The one who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and has human approval. Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual edification. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for you to make others fall by what you eat; it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble. The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve. But those who have doubts are condemned if they eat, because they do not act from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Here ends the second lesson.

All stand. The choir sings Nunc dimittis

Evening Service in F, George Dyson

All face east to say together the Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth:
and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried.
He descended into hell;
the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
the holy catholic Church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

The officiant and choir sing the Lesser Litany; the Lord's Prayer and the Responses

Let us pray.

All kneel or sit

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

The officiant sings the Collects; of the day, for peace, and for aid against all perils

Almighty and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudable service; grant, we beseech thee, that we may so faithfully serve thee in this life, that we fail not finally to attain thy heavenly promises; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed; give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both, our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that, by thee, we being defended from the fear of our enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Music: Richard Ayleward

All sit. The choir sings the Anthem

Almighty God, look down with mercy on thy servants here assembled and accept the petitions now offered up unto thee.

Have mercy, O gracious Father, upon all that are now suffering. Give them patience under every affliction; strengthen, comfort, and relieve them. Have mercy, O gracious Father.

To thy goodness we commend ourselves this night.

We bless thee for every comfort of our past and present existence.

Pardon, O God, the offences of the past day.

Have mercy, O gracious Father.

Pardon, O Lord, the imperfections of these our prayers, and accept them through the mediation of our blessed Saviour. Amen.

Words: from a prayer by Jane Austen (1775–1817)
Music: Joy Williams (b 1960)

All kneel or remain seated for the Intercessions

The officiant says the Prayers; for the Royal Family, and for the Members of the Order of the Bath

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless our most gracious Sovereign Lord King Charles, Queen Camilla, William Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and all the Royal Family: endue them with thy Holy Spirit; enrich them with thy heavenly grace; prosper them with all happiness; and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God save our Gracious Sovereign, and all the Members of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath living and departed. Amen.

All say

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore.
Amen.

All stand as the choir and clergy depart

Those who wish to may sit for the remainder of the organ voluntary

Choristerships at Westminster Abbey

The Choir of Westminster Abbey

If you have a son who enjoys singing, you can find out more information about our world-renowned Abbey Choir and its unique Choir School. Alternatively, please contact Dr Emma Margrett, Headteacher, Westminster Abbey Choir School, and Mr Andrew Nethsingha, Organist and Master of the Choristers, by emailing [email protected].

St Margaret's Choristers

If you have a daughter aged 10 or 11 who would like to sing with the St Margaret's Choristers, please contact Mr Greg Morris, Director of Music, St Margaret's Church, [email protected]. Find out more about Music at St Margaret's Church.

If you attend worship at the Abbey regularly, you may like to add this page to your home screen for easy access to our orders of service.

Common Worship (Church House Publishing, 2000), material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops' Council. Scripture Readings are from the New Revised Standard Version.