Sunday 3rd April may be Low Sunday but for our 6pm Choral Evensong & Benediction we will be in joyful Easter mood.

We also mark the Years’ Mind of our founding Benefactor, William Gibbs of Tyntesfield, who died 3 April 1875. There is a fine effigy of him in the alcove north of the High Altar.

Responses by Smith, Office Hymn 115, Psalm 16, and the Canticles, Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis, will be Stanford in C.

Anthem:- Blessed be the God & Father by Samuel Sebastian Wesley (who died 19 April 1876 and is buried across the valley from Mount Dinham just below the Exeter Catacombs) was composed for Easter Sunday evensong at Hereford Cathedral in 1834, when only trebles and a single bass voice were available, hence the unison ATB passages. The text is selected from 1st Epistle of Peter, chapter 1.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

(ATB) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed at the last time.

(S solo) But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.
(S duet with bubbling organ) Love one another with a pure heart fervently. See that ye love one another. Love one another with a pure heart fervently.

(ATB) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away.

(Massive “Full Organ” chord leading to SATB statement and fugue) But the word of the Lord [i.e. the risen Christ] endureth for ever. Amen.

Psalm 16 is set – The lot is fallen unto me in a fairground.

Singers who enjoy a good Choral Evensong are welcome to join us at 4.45pm to rehearse the music for this service.

In view of our Church Leaders’ controversial thoughts on fixing the date of Easter (instead of the current movable Feast based on the Sunday after the 1st Full Moon after the Vernal Equinox), it is worth noting that this year the Orthodox Churches celebrate Easter a full 5 weeks after us on 1st May 2016, while Passover this year is 23rd April.