the
ompline Choir Compline August 30, 2026 7 PM “PRESENCE” Church
AUGUST 30 | 7 PM | CHURCH
Liturgical Reflections with The Compline Choir I have come to believe that the presence of the Holy Spirit is rarely announced. It arrives quietly, in the space between what we know and what we fear, and it is only afterward that we recognize we were not alone. This service begins with that recognition. We open with Psalm 139, words that have been a companion to me for a long time, and singing them together in this setting feels less like an offering of song but a confession. The psalm does not ask whether we want to be found; it simply declares that we already are, that we were known before we knew ourselves, that even the grave and the uttermost parts of the sea are held within the same attentive presence. Paul’s letter to the Romans then names what that finding produces: not a spirit of slavery and fear, but a spirit of adoption, the Spirit that cries out “Abba, Father” from within us. Together these texts prepare the ground for Knut Nystedt’s Be Not Afraid, composed in 1995 and dedicated to the Clarion Chamber Chorale. Nystedt was a towering figure of twentieth-century Norwegian choral music, a composer who spent his long career finding new sonic languages for ancient sacred texts. His setting of Isaiah 41 and 43 is among his most concentrated works, building its fearless declaration out of dissonance and unease before arriving at the warmth of “you are mine.” In the context of Ordinary Time, when the liturgical calendar offers no festival to cling to and the sacred must be found in the texture of the everyday, that declaration lands with particular force. I do not have to manufacture a sense of God’s presence. I have already been named. The second movement of this service lifts the eyes and then sets them free. Isaiah commands us to look up and see who made all of this, and his answer dissolves the anxiety that my way might be hidden or my cause disregarded. It is out of that liberated upward gaze that Jake Runestad’s I Will Lift Mine Eyes arrives. Composed in 2010 for SATB chorus and dedicated to the composer’s parents, Runestad’s setting of Psalm 121 is a work of sustained reassurance. He is a contemporary American composer whose music is consistently drawn toward texts of consolation and resilience, and here he finds in the ancient pilgrim psalm something that feels urgently present rather than historically distant. The Lord who neither slumbers nor sleeps is not a figure of the past but a presence active in this very moment, in this very room. Paul’s letter to the Galatians then takes that upward gaze and turns it outward, insisting that the freedom we have been given is not for private consumption but for the love of one another. It is precisely this turn toward the other that opens the door to Eric Whitacre’s All Seems Beautiful to Me, composed in 2022 and commissioned by the United States Air Force Band. Whitacre is one of the most celebrated choral composers of his generation, known for his capacity to render complex interior states in sound of unusual beauty and transparency. His setting of Walt Whitman’s “Song of the Open Road” is an act of spiritual expansion: the soul loosing itself from imaginary lines, inhaling great 2
draughts of space, and discovering that it is larger and better than it thought. For me, this is the heart of what the Spirit does in every season of life. It does not wait for Pentecost or any other momentous sacred occasion to set us free. It works quietly in the Tuesday afternoon, in the chance encounter, in the moment I realize I hold more goodness than I knew. The service closes not with resolution but with resolve. Paul’s declaration in Romans 8 that nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God is not a gentle comfort but a battle cry, and it arrives here as the theological spine of everything that follows. Moses Hogan’s arrangement of the traditional spiritual Hold On!, published in 2002 and dedicated to the Concert Choir at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, brings the full weight of the African American spiritual tradition into conversation with that Paul-ine certainty. Hogan was one of the foremost arrangers of spirituals of his generation, a composer who understood that the spiritual is not merely a historical artifact but a living theology forged in the most difficult of human circumstances. The instruction to keep the hand on the plow is not naive optimism. It is the hard-won conviction of people who have stared into uncertainty and found, on the other side of it, a promised land sustained by the presence of God. I find in this piece the culmination of everything the service has been building toward: the Spirit that named me in the dark, that lifted my eyes toward the hills, that set me free to scatter gladness among men and women, is the same Spirit that holds my hand through all trials and tribulations, and when life’s troubles show no sign of ending. In the likely and unlikely places of an ordinary life, that presence is enough. That presence is everything. -Samuel K. Sweet Director of Music, & Director of The Compline Choir Support the Music Ministry at Saint Michael Music has the power to draw us more deeply into worship, connect us to one another, and make God’s presence felt in ways words alone cannot. Your gift to Saint Michael’s Music Ministry sustains the musicians, programs, and sacred music that enrich our worship and inspire our community throughout the year.
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Order for Compline AnAn Order for Compline PresenceAlleluia The congregation invited toatrespond at "People" The congregation is invited tois respond “People”
Opening Sentences
David Hurd, plainsong
Opening Sentences | David Hurd, plainsong Officiant: The Lord grant usgrant a peaceful night and a perfect end. end. Officiant TheAlmighty, Lord Almighty, us a peaceful night and a perfect
People
People:
Officiant: Our help in theisname the Lord. Officiant Ouris help in theofname of the Lord. Choir: The maker of heaven and earth. Choir The maker of heaven and earth. Officiant & Choir: Almighty God, our Heavenly Father: We have sinned against you through our own fault, i Confession Sin and in what we have left undone. For the sake of your Samuel Sweet, plainsong and word, andof deed, SonK. our Lord Jesus Christ, forgiv offenses; and grant that we may serve you in newness of life, to the glory of your Name.
Officiant & Choir
People: Almighty God, our Heavenly Father:
We have sinned against you, An Order for Compline through our own fault, Officiant: O God, make speed to save us. inOthought, andhaste word,toand deed, Choir: Lord, make help us. Alleluia Alleluia and in what we have left undone. Psalm | John Joubert For4 the sake of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, is invited to respond at "People" The congregation 1 Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause; forgive us all our offenses; you set me free when I am hard-pressed; and grant that we may serve you Opening Sentences | David Hurd, plainsong have mercy on me and hear my prayer. in newness of life, to the glory of ayour Name.night and a perfect end. Officiant: The Lord Almighty, grant us peaceful 2 “You mortals, how long will you dishonor my glory;
how People long will you worship dumb idols People: and run after false gods?” 3 Know that the Lord does wonders for the faithful; when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me. Officiant: Our help is indo the name of the Lord.us. Officiant Oand God, make speed to save David Hurd, plainsong 4 Tremble, them, not sin; Choir: The maker of heaven and earth. Choir O Lord, makeupon hasteyour to help speak to your heart in silence bed.us. Officiant & Choir: Almighty God, our Heavenly Father: WeLord. have sinned against you through our own fault, i 5 Offer the appointed sacrifices and put your trust in the Choir Gloryand to the Father, and toleft theundone. Son, and tothe thesake HolyofSpirit: and word, and deed, in what we have For your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgiv 6 Many are saying, “Oh, that we might see better times!” As countenance itwe was in serve the beginning is now, and will be forever. Amen. offenses; grant that may you us, in newness Lift up theand light of your upon O Lord. of life, to the glory of your Name. Choir Alleluia. in my heart, 7 You have put gladness People: more than when grain and wine and oil increase. 4 8 I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep; for only you, Lord, make me dwell in safety. Officiant: O God, make speed to save us.
Psalm139:1-2, 5-11
Samuel K. Sweet
LORD, you have searched me out and known me; you know my sitting down and my rising up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You trace my journeys and my resting-places and are acquainted with all my ways. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain to it. Where can I go then from your Spirit? where can I flee from your presence? If I climb up to heaven, you are there; if I make the grave my bed, you are there also. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there your hand will lead me and your right hand hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light around me turn to night,” Darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day; darkness and light to you are both alike. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning is now, and will be forever. Amen. First Reading
Romans 8:14–16
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Anthem Be Not Afraid
Knut Nystedt Be not afraid, I am with thee, tremble not for I am thy God! I strengthen thee, for I am thy help, I uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 5
Tremble not for I am thy God, tremble not for I am your God! By redemption thou art saved, you are mine, fear not, fear not, you are called and named, fear not, you are mine. Second Reading
Isaiah 40:26–28
Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing. Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God’? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. Anthem I Will Lift Mine Eyes
Jake Runestad I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper; the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. 6
Third Reading
Galatians 5:1, 13–14
For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. ... For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Anthem All Seems Beautiful to Me
Eric Whitacre
From this hour I ordain myself loos’d of imaginary lines, going where I list, my own master total and absolute, listening to others, considering well what they say, pausing, searching, receiving, contemplating, gently, but with undeniable will, divesting myself from the holds that would hold me. I inhale great draughts of space, the East and the West are mine, and the North and the South are mine. I am larger, better than I thought, I did not know I held so much goodness. All seems beautiful to me. I can repeat over and over to men and women: you have done such good to me, I would do the same to you. I will scatter myself among men and women as I go, I will toss a new gladness and roughness among them, whoever denies me it shall not trouble me, whoever accepts me he or she shall be blessed, and shall bless me. Fourth Reading
Romans 8:37–39
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 7
Anthem Hold On!
Moses Hogan Hold on No-ra, No-ra, let me come in, de door’s all fastened an’ de winders pinned, just keep yo’ hand on de plow, hold on! Hold on, hold on, keep yo’ hand on de plow, hold on! Well, my brother, hold on, Yes, you got-ta hold on! Mary had a golden chain, an’ every link my Jesus’ name, just keep yo’ hand on de plow, hold on! Hold on, hold on, keep yo’ hand on de plow, hold on! If you wanna get to heaven, let me tell you how: just keep on climb-in’ an’ don’t you tire, ‘cause every rung goes higher an’ higher, just keep yo’ hand on de plow, hold on! Hold on, hold on, keep yo’ hand on de plow, hold on! Well, my sister, hold on, Yes, you got-ta hold on! If dat plow stay in yo’ hand, land you straight in de promised land, just keep yo’ hand on de plow, hold on! Hold on, hold on, keep yo’ hand on de plow, hold on! Just hold on!
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Alleluia | Eric Whitacre Alleluia. Amen.
In manus tuas
Praise the Lord. Amen.
David Hurd, plainsong
Into your Into hands (In hands, manusO tuas) | David Hurd, plainsong Officiant your Lord, I commend my spirit. Officiant: Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my Choir Into your hands, O Lord, I commend myspirit. spirit. Choir: Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. Officiant For you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth. Officiant: For you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.
Keep us, O Lord
Keep us, O Lord | David Hurd, plainsong Officiant Lord,as as the the apple apple of of your your eye; eye; Officiant: Keep Keep us, us, O O Lord, Choir Hide us under shadow of your wings. Choir: Hide us under the the shadow of your wings. Officiant: Lord, Lord, have mercy. Officiant have mercy.
David Hurd, plainsong
People People: The Lord’s Prayer | David Hurd, plainsong
The Lord’s Prayer David Hurd, plainsong Officiant & Choir: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy will beheaven, done, on earth as it is in heaven. thy come,who kingdom Our Father, art in Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, hallowed be thy Name, as we forgive those who trespass against us. thynot kingdom come, but deliver us from evil. And lead us into temptation,
thy will be done, Officiant: Lord, hear our on earth as itprayer; is in heaven. Choir: And let our cry come to you. Give us this day our daily bread. Officiant: Let us pray. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, bur deliver us from evil. Officiant Lord, hear our prayer; Choir And let our cry come to you. Officiant Lord, hear our prayer;
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Collect
David Hurd, plainsong
Collect Officiant&&Choir: ChoirBe our light in the darkness, Officiant O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; Be our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ.
dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ.
People: People
Silence may be kept, and intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered.may be offered.] [Silence may befree kept, and free intercessions and thanksgivings Salve Nos
Salve Nos (No. XIII) | Samuel K. Sweet Salvaand nosguard Domine vigilantes, custodi nos dormientes: Guide us waking, O Lord, us sleeping; Ut vigilemus cum Christo, et requiescamus in pace. that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we rest in peace.
plainsong
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we rest in peace. Nunc Dimittisthat | Giovanni Pierluigi Palestrina
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace Palestrina according to thy word. secundum verbum tuum in pace: Nunc Dimittis servum tuum ForDomine mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum Secundum verbum tuum in pace which thou hast prepared before the face of all pe Quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum: To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, Lumen ad revelationem gentium, Quia viderunt oculi mei: salutare tuum and to be the glory of thy people Israel. et gloriam plebis tuae Israel. Quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum
NuncDimittis dimittis servum tuum, Domine, Nunc
Lumen ad revelationum gentium: et gloriam plebis tuae Israel.
Glory be to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. Patri et Filio et Spiritui As it Sancto was in the beginning, and now, and will always Sicut erat in principio et nunc Gloria et semper: and in the ages of the ages. Amen. et in saecula saeculorum, Amen.
Now let your servant depart, O Lord, according to your word, in peace; Salve Nos (No. XIII) | Samuel K. Sweet For myus eyes have seen your salvation, Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard sleeping; whichwith you have prepared before the face of all peoples, that awake we may watch Christ, a light theinrevelation and asleep we mayfor rest peace. of the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Concluding Blessing | David Hurd, plainsong Officiant: Let us bless the Lord. Choir: Thanks be to God. Officiant: The Almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Bless us and keep us.
10 People:
Salve Nos
plainsong Salva nos Domine vigilantes, custodi nos dormientes: Ut vigilemus cum Christo, et requiescamus in pace. Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; Anwith Order for Compline that awake we may watch Christ, and asleep we rest in peace.
Concluding Blessing
Alleluia
David Hurd, plainsong
Officiant Let us bless the Lord. The congregation is invited to respond at "People" Choir Thanks be to God. Officiant The Almighty and plainsong merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Opening Sentences | David Hurd, BlessAlmighty, us and keep us.us a peaceful night and a perfect end. Officiant: The Lord grant People
People:
Officiant: Our help is in the name of the Lord. Salve Regina Marian Antiphon, Solemn Tone Choir: The maker of heaven and earth. Regina, misericordiae, et spes nostra,you salve. Officiant & Choir: Salve, Almighty God,Mater our Heavenly Father:vita, We dulcedo, have sinned against through our own fault, Adhave te clamamus, exsules and word, and deed, and in what we left undone. For filii the Hevae. sake of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgiv offenses; grant that gementes we may serve youin inhac newness of life, valle. to theEia glory of your Name. Adand te suspiramus, et flentes lacrimarum ergo, advocata nostra, illos People:
tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte. Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende. O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo Maria.
Officiant: O God, toMother save us.of Mercy, hail our life, our sweetness and our hope. Hail,make Holy speed Queen, Choir: O Lord, make haste to help us. Alleluia
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Psalm 4 | John Joubert most gracious advocate, 1 Answer me whenTurn I call, then, O God, defender of my cause; thine eyes of mercy toward us. And after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. you set me free when I am hard-pressed; have mercy on me and hear my O prayer. clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. 2 “You mortals, how long will you dishonor my glory; how long will you worship dumb idols and run after false gods?” Silence may be kept as The Compline Choir exits the sanctuary . 3 Know that the Lord does wonders for the faithful; when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me. 4 Tremble, them, and do not sin; speak to your heart in silence upon your bed. 5 Offer the appointed sacrifices and put your trust in the Lord.
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Soprano Julie Biffle, Taylor Fenner, Shelby Hendryx, Rachel Jones, Catherine Seveney Alto Linnea Anderson, Katrina Burggraf, Basil Ceniseros, Erin Roth Thomas Tenor Taylor Brimager, David Ferguson, Jack Forden, Eric Lewis Bass Matt Carlson, Hawkins Burns, Patrick Gnage, David Grogan, Connor Lidell Director Samuel K. Sweet Compline Services in 2026 November 15 | Dawn
Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church 8011 Douglas Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75225 | 214.363.5471 saintmichael.org | @smaadallas