That is, of course, the opening phrase of Psalm 150 - that great hymn of praise that brings the Psalter to its conclusion.  Recently Choral Evensong came from Durham cathedral ("The finest cathedral on planet earth, bar none").  During the course of the service Dean Michael Sadgrove gave an address, which I fully acknowledge has influenced these thoughts.  Before going to Durham, Dean Sadgrove was Provost of Sheffield cathedral, taking over that role from our own Bishop John of Chelmsford. Provost was a title given to the chief clergyman (there are in fact, two cathedrals now with women Deans - Leicester and Salisbury) of the newer cathedrals (like Sheffield and Chelmsford) but now every cathedral has a Dean, thus eliminating any thoughts of first and second class cathedrals - although Durham is still the best!

They do say that clergy only work one day a week - Sunday. However, that can now be amended in many cases to half a day a week, as sadly, in so many places Evensong is no longer offered.  Ever since I sang as a boy Treble (yes, I know, it's hard to believe that the deep Basso Profundo of the vicar was once capable of trilling "O for the wings of a dove", but there it is!) in the choir of St. John the Evangelist, Seaham Harbour - I have loved the service of Choral Evensong, that wonderful tapestry of words and music.  We are fortunate in this United Benefice in that Evensong is part of our Sunday diet of worship and takes place at All Saints', Feering each and every Sunday.  Why not come along sometime and join in the worship?

A vital ingredient of Evensong is the psalms.  Now Anglican chant isn't the easiest form of music to sing but we make a valiant effort and we usually arrive at the Gloria unscathed.  The psalms will be forever be associated with my namesake - David - the shepherd boy who became a king and is known as "the sweet psalmist of Israel" - the one through whom God not only speaks but sings.

Many of the Psalms are ascribed to David, or dedicated to him.  It's as if psalmody, the singing of sacred songs, was placed under the patronage of the greatest king of Israel - David, the ancestor of Jesus.  Now David lived roughly a thousand years before the birth of Jesus.  So when we meet at six o'clock on a Sunday evening we are participating in a long choral tradition that goes back in time approximately 3000 years - at the heart of which lies the chanting or singing of the Psalms.

In his address Dean Sadgrove made four points about the significance of the choral offices.

First, that these services are part of our cultural heritage.  It is as much a part of England as the stones and glass and monuments of our great cathedrals and parish churches.  It is unique to the English-speaking world.  We should cherish it.

Secondly, the choral offices touch us in very deep places. Beauty can remain just an aesthetic experience or it can be the handmaid who leads us to God.  For many people, the beauty of the Book of Common Prayer Book (Cranmer's incomparable liturgy) resonates with the experience of being human.  Each Te Deum is a celebration of being alive and having been brought 'safely to the beginning of this day'.  Each Nunc Dimittis or 'lighten our darkness' is one less till eternity.  It haunts you, but heals you as well, for it helps you face your own mortality.

Thirdly, Evensong offers a gentle, non-threatening approach to God.  It entices rather than cajoles.  The music, liturgy, silence and architecture work their own alchemy on people.  Perhaps this style of evangelism is important when people are suspicious of the hard sell, and respond to a more oblique approach.

And fourthly, Evensong trains us to become what all faithful Christians will one day be in heaven: contemplatives: by listening to God's word, by singing the psalms and by praying the liturgy.  Evensong, at its best, sharpens our God-given faculty for stillness, for paying attention, for meditation and contemplation.  We learn that we do not need always to be busy and doing, but can sit quietly and contemplatively at the feet of Jesus.

To offer the prayer and praise that is God's due and our joy is the most humanising activity we can ever engage in, for it heals the spirit, exalts the mind and touches the heart.

Every Blessing
Father David
(With thanks to Dean Sadgrove for the inspiration)