Finding Peace in Evensong
We are told that we are living in an age of anxiety , with concerns ranging from global crises to personal worries about our favorite teams or a retiring priest. To help deal with these anxieties, I recommend taking this Evensong service leaflet home, as there is much within it that can offer ease and peace.
Evensong taps into the ancient wisdom of people of faith , echoing the Jewish practice of evening prayer as they prepared for the fears of the night. Thomas Cranmer, composing the Book of Common Prayer in the mid-16th century, drew from monastic rites to compile this service.
The Service as an Antidote to Fear
The structure of Evensong itself is an antidote to anxiety:
- Confession and Forgiveness: We begin by looking into our hearts, recognizing where we’ve fallen short, and hearing the beautiful words that we are forgiven by the saving work of Jesus Christ.
- Joyful Response: What better response to this good news than to join in the Jubilate Deo—”Oh, be joyful”.
- A Diet of Scripture: As a daily service, Evensong provides a steady diet of sacred scripture, including passages like Psalm 101 and readings you won’t hear on Sunday mornings.
- Wisdom and Promise: Tonight’s reading from Proverbs speaks of Wisdom that existed before all creation, a wisdom—sometimes personified in the Holy Spirit—that we desperately need and can count on to face our age’s anxieties.
Evensong rehearses the history of Christ coming into the world to ease all our anxieties and offer us peace. From Mary’s faithful response in the Magnificat , to the power of Jesus driving out a demon in the Second Lesson , to old man Simeon holding the baby Jesus and realizing the promise is fulfilled, the service reminds us to place our trust in Christ so we “need not fear”. We offer our prayers, knowing that God’s good work is unfolding. Hold this up against the anxieties others try to place on you.
Call to Action: Embrace Christ’s Peace
Carry the Evensong leaflet and its ancient wisdom into your week. Place your trust in Jesus Christ as your savior so that you need not fear. Remember that God’s promise is fulfilled, and hold this goodness against the anxieties of the world to know the peace that passes all understanding.
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Watch the full sermon to learn more about how you are being sent.