Night Prayer is half an hour of music and prayer. It takes place in a church -- but there is no sermon, no coffee hour, no name-badges, and no dogma.
Night Prayer is a way to set aside the noise and stress of daily life; to spend some time in stillness and mystery. For some people, Night Prayer is a concert, a chance to enjoy the ancient art of chanting. For others, Night Prayer supplements their own spiritual practices.
Night Prayer is based on the ancient monastic service of Compline, one of the four Daily Offices of the Anglican Church. These daily prayers are themselves descended from Jewish traditions of singing the psalms on a regular basis.
A choir, Schola Nocturna, leads the service on the first Sunday of the month. On these nights, you can expect to hear some medieval chant, a psalm, some polyphonic music (that is, music with harmony sung by many voices) as well as a story from scripture, and a chance to join in Anglican chant.
The best way to understand Night Prayer is to come experience Night Prayer for yourself.
Night Prayer 1st Sundays at 8:30pm.
Near Lasell College at theEpiscopal Parish of the Messiah, on the corner of Commonwealth Avenue (Route 30) and Auburn Street in Newton Massachusetts.