The Lord be with you
And also with you.

Let us pray:

God of Day and Night, Courage and Timidity, Joy and Sadness, Life and Death:
You have brought us safely through another day and another week. As the skies have darkened, let us gather together in contemplation and prayer. Strengthen us as we remember our brother Carl Crosier. Let us give thanks for his magnificent work in this church. Most importantly let us follow his example in living a life devoted to loving and serving you. May our voices melodically laud your glory until we too join you and all the saints in the life to come. Through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one god, now and forever. Amen.

So began tonight’s contemplative Evening Prayer service honoring the life of Carl Crosier, who was cantor (music director) at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu from 1972 to 2011, and who passed into eternal glory on August 28, 2014. The beautiful prayer above was written and read by John Bickel, who officiated at the quiet service.

After an opening versicle and response, the congregation was invited to sing the evening hymn, “O gracious Light, Lord Jesus Christ,” on the tune TALLIS CANON. Sung a cappella throughout, verse one was sung in unison, while verses two and three were sung in canon.

A reading from Revelation 22:1, 4-5 followed, then Peter Hallock’s Psalm 36:5-10 from the Ionian Psalter, accompanied only by simple handbells on the antiphon. Jacques Berthier’s “Our Darkness” led the assembly in silence for reflection, followed by Carl’s Nunc dimittis, composed in 1977 for the LCH Compline Choir. The Lord’s Prayer then preceded a sensitive and gentle performance of “Ave Maria” by Franz Biebl (1906-2001), conducted by Keane Ishii. This work was much beloved by Carl, who introduced it to the LCH Compline Choir.

Here’s an international “virtual” performance of this piece. This beautiful work was also sung in Seattle at St. Mark’s Cathedral Compline service on the day of Peter Hallock’s funeral.