Evening Vespers with the Communauté de Chemin Neuf,
Chartres Cathedral 19h00-19h25 Monday-Friday

Order of Service
(explanation & translation)

Invitation to Vespers

An invitation to vespers is generally extended in English and French. Worshippers are asked to sit in the first pews of the nave. The pages for the opening hymn, Psalm, and New Testament are given at this time.  Song books and Scripture song books are usually placed on the chairs of the first three rows. If you need extras, they are kept in a box near the north doors.

Opening Song

Cantor:                        Dieu, Viens à mon aide.  God, come help me!
Congregation:          Seigneur, viens vite à mon secours.  Christ, come quickly and help!

Gloire Au Père (standing while bowing)

Gloire au père, au fils, et au saint Esprit (pause)
Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
Pour des siècles et des siècles. Amen.
For ever and ever. Amen.

(This will be sung several times during the service.)

Opening Hymn (standing)

The refrain or first verse is sung by a cantor (the refrain is repeated by congregation).
All sing the remaining stanzas, returning to refrain in between each.

Psalm-Sung (seated, as indicated by day in the song book)

The daily refrain is sung by a cantor. The congregation then repeats it.
The cantor sings a number of verses. The congregation sings the same number. This antiphonal cycle repeats itself until the psalm is finished.
Then, Gloire au Père, au Fils, et au Saint Esprit, pour des siècles et des siècles. Amen.
At the conclusion, the daily refrain is sung by a cantor. The congregation then repeats it.

New Testament-Sung (seated, as indicated by day in the song book)

The daily refrain is sung by a cantor. The congregation then repeats it.
The cantor sings a number of verses. The congregation sings the same number. This antiphonal cycle repeats itself until the New Testament passage is finished.
Then, Gloire au Père, au Fils, et au Saint Esprit, pour des siècles et des siècles. Amen.
At the conclusion, the daily refrain is sung by a cantor. The congregation then repeats it.

Scripture Reading/La Parole de Dieu

A passage from the Bible is read by a member of the Communauté de Chemin Neuf in French. A second reading of the same text, in a different language, often follows.

The Canticle of Mary/Le Cantique de Marie (Luke 1:46-55)(Standing)

The canticle is introduced by a cantor, using  the short song listed in the booklet.
The cantor sings the first two lines of the canticle, the congregation the next two. This antiphonal cycle repeats itself until the end of the canticle. Then, the cantor sings the phrase listed in the book. The congregation joins the second time.

Mon åme exulte le Seigneur, exulte mon esprit en Dieu mon Sauver.
“My soul magnifies God, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

Il s’est penché sur son humble servante,
for God has looked with favor on the lowliness of this servant.
désormais tous les ages me diront bienheureuse.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

Le Puissant fit pour moi de merveilles, Saint est son nom.
for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is God’s name.

Son amour s’etand d’åge en åge sur ceux qui Le crignent.
God’s mercy is for those who fear God from generation to generation.

Déployant la force de son bras, Il disperse les superbes.
God has shown strength with God’s arm; God has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

Il renverse les puissants de leur trone, Il élève les humbles.
God has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;

Il comble de biens les affamés, renvoie les riches les mains vides.
God has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.

Il relève Israel, son serviteur, Il se souvient de son amour.
God has helped God’s servant Israel, in remembrance of God’s mercy,

De la promesse faite à nos pères, en faveur d’Abraham et de sa race à jamais.
according to the promise God made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

Then, Gloire au Père, au Fils, et au Saint Esprit, pour des siècles et des siècles. Amen.

The cantor sings the same phrase that was sung at the beginning. The congregation joins in the second time.

Intercession (Standing)

One of the members of the Communauté offers intercessions in French. A cantor introduces the congregation response. After each intercession, the congregation responds with the sung phrase (Such as exauce nous,“hear us”…).

Prayer for the Unity of All Christians/
Prière pour l’unité des chrétiens (Prayed standing,  in unison)

Seigneur Jesus, qui as prié pour que tous soient un
Lord Jesus, who prayed that all would be one,
Nous te prions pour l’unité des chrétiens,
We pray for the unity of all Christians,
telle que tu la veux, par les moyes que tu veux.
according to Your will, in whatever ways that You desire.

Que ton Esprit nous donne d’éprouver la souffrance de la separation,
May Your Spirit give us the experience of the suffering caused by separation,
de voir notre péché, et d’espérer au-delà de toute espérance. Amen.
to see our sin, and to hope beyond it with Your hope. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer/Notre Père
(prayed standing, in unison with open hands)

Notre Père,   Our Father
qui es aux cieux,   who art in heaven,
que ton nom soit sanctifiée,    hallowed be Thy name.
que ton règne vienne,   Thy kingdom come,
que ta volonté soit faite   Thy will be done
sur la terre comme au ciel.   On earth, as it is in heaven.
Donne-nous au’jourd’hui   Give us this day
notre pain de ce jour.   our daily bread.
Pardonne-nous nos offenses,    Forgive us our sins
comme nous pardonnons aussi   as we forgive
à ceux qui nous ont offenses. those who sin against us.
Et ne nous soumets pas la tentation   Do not lead us into temptation,
mais deliver-nous du mal.   But deliver us from evil.
Car c’est a toi qu’appartiennent   For Thine is
la règne, la puissance, et la gloire the kingdom, the power and the glory
pour les siècles des siècles. Amen.   Forever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer

A short prayer offered by one of the members of the Communité de Chemin Neuf.

Congregation:             Amen.

Conclusion de l’office/Conclusion

Cantor:                         Bennisons le Seigneur.  Bless God
Congregation:            Nour rendons grace à Dieu. We give thanks to God.
(During Easter season) Alléluia, alleluia, alleluia (twice).

Feel free to greet members of the Community of Chemin Neuf after the service. They are an ecumenical and international community of priests, dedicated lay people, and students studying philosophy as the first step in their theological education. Eventually the students are likely to have various ministries in the Church.

Communauté de Chemin Neuf
20, rue du Cheval Blanc 28000 Chartres
Telephone: 02 37 20 01 01

You are welcome to join the Communauté for their weekly song & prayer service on Thurday nights from 8:45 until 10:00. The group of about 30 people meets at 13, rue de Fourmestraux (down the street from the north tower of the cathedral).

For more information about Chemin Neuf and their ministries http://www.chemin-neuf.org. In English: http://chemin-neuf.org/spip/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=260.