BOOK OF LITURGY · 2016-04-26 · human history is the story of worship. In Eden, God called his son Adam to worship him by submitting to him alone as Father and King, by not eating

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THE INTERNATIONAL PRESBYTERIAN

CHURCH

BOOK OF LITURGY

NOTE:FORINTERNALIPCUSEONLYTHISTEXTMUSTNOTBECOPIEDORONWARDDISSEMINATEDINTHISDRAFTFORM–COPYRIGHTNEEDSTOBESOUGHTBYTHEBCOCOMMITTEEBEFOREITISDISSEMINATED

2 International Presbyterian Church

1st edition. Please refer to appendix for permissions and acknowledgements. Containing the texts approved by Synod, including those extracted from the Book of Church Order Version 4. © IPC 2016.

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Soli Deo Gloria


PRESBYTERIAN LITURGIES: HISTORICAL SKETCHES

Charles W. Baird

An Excerpt

It is widely becoming manifest to our Churches, that comeliness and decorum in the house of God are not less worthy to be sought, than in the habitations of men; that a reverent approach to the Divine Majesty, and a careful choice of language in addressing the throne of grace, are proper matters of study; and may command, at least, the same solicitude that might be given to the forms of expression employed in addressing the great and honoured among men. The experiment of that mode of dealing with the subject of Public Worship, by which everything is left to the unaided individuality of the minister, has been fully tried. For nearly two centuries, in the face of all historic precedent, at variance with all other denominations of Christians, and in conflict with their own earlier principles and practice, the Calvinistic Churches of Great Britain and the United States have faithfully adhered to this method, unknown in ecclesiastical experience before the sittings of the Westminster Assembly. We believe that the times are drawing near, when by general attestation that method will be pronounced defective.

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No candid person, familiar with the actual condition of our churches, can refuse to confront this fact: That by so much as the Public Worship of God may be rendered attractive; may awaken interest, and excite and sustain devotional feeling; by so much have we lost power and influence as a Church. We conceive it to be plain beyond denial, that while the earnest and practical piety of its members, the learning, ability, and fidelity of its clergy, obtain for Presbyterianism a commanding position of respect and influence; the effect of its external modes of worship, as at present generally conducted, is rather to impair than to augment the force of these advantages. Evidently, the young are not drawn into our congregations by any beauty or impressiveness of our services; their attachment is not won and strengthened by interest in the devotional exercises of the sanctuary. In a word, it is nothing else than the power of preaching that brings men and holds them to the bosom of our Church. Would we exchange this state of things for its reverse? Would we relinquish the spirit for the form; and choose instead of an active and living membership, and an able and faithful clergy, with all external irregularities and imperfections, the beautiful but soulless corpse of formalism? Assuredly, no! Yet this consideration does not reconcile us to existing defects, nor to the retention of them when fairly experienced and palpably exposed. The fact that they are comparatively


unessential, and merely superficial, augments the urgency of an immediate redress. . . . History gives forth but one utterance on the subject. Wherever Protestant Communions have been established, the institution of worship has been secured by formularies, in whose production the most able minds to be enlisted have been employed. . . . it is a well-known fact that our early Reformers prepared and used forms in the worship of God.1

1 Charles W. Baird, The Presbyterian Liturgies: Historical Sketches (Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2006 [1855]), 251–54, 258.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Presbyterian Liturgies: Historical Sketches – An Excerpt Introduction …………………………….……… Call to Worship ……………………….……….. Reading the Law ………………………..…..…..

The Ten Commandments Hear, O Israel The Beatitudes The Lord’s Precepts The Greatest Commandment Abide in My Love Love One Another Response to the Law ………………………..…... Prayers ……………………………………..……

The Lord’s Prayer — Traditional The Lord’s Prayer — Modern Prayers of Invocation Prayers of Adoration Prayers of Confession Prayers of Thanksgiving Invitation to Confess Sin


Prayers of Confession Words of Assurance Prayers for Assurance Prayers for Reassurance Prayers for Illumination Prayers at a Baptism Prayers for Communion Closing Hymns at Communion Psalm 72 Song of Simeon Prayers at a Marriage Prayers of Intercession Prayers for Enemies Prayers of Consecration Prayers for Perseverance Prayer at the Graveside Prayer for Public excommunication Prayer for Public repentance Prayer for Elders and Deacons Prayer for Ordination Prayer for Ministers Prayer for Installation Prayer for Church Dedication Prayer for Wisdom Prayer for Spiritual Strength Prayer for Good Judgment Prayer for Hope Prayer for Faith and Charity Prayer for Grace to Do Good Works Prayer for Unity Prayer for Increase in Grace

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Prayer for Deliverance from Sin Prayer for Patience Prayer for Peace Prayer for Steadfastness Prayer for Sanctification Prayer for Spiritual Comfort Prayer for the Universal Church Prayer for All Nations Prayer in Time of Discord Prayer for Opening of a Church Court Prayer for the Sick Prayer for Rain Prayer for Fair Weather Prayer for Peace Prayer in Time of Disease Prayer for those Absent from Home Thanksgiving for Rain and Harvest Prayer for those at Sea Prayer for those in Authority Prayers in Advent Prayers at Christmas Prayers at Easter Prayers on All Saints’ Day Prayers on Reformation Sunday Prayers of Exhortation Sacraments ……………………………………….

Baptism Baptism of Adults Baptism of Infants


Lord’s Supper Church Membership …………………………….. Ordination ……………………………………….

Ordination of Deacons Ordination of Elders Doxologies ……………………………………… Affirmations of Faith …………………………....

Scriptural Affirmations Creedal Affirmations

The Apostles’ Creed Greek Text of The Apostles’ Creed Nicene Creed Greek Text of the Nicene Creed The Chalcedon Creed Greek Text of the Chalcedon Creed The Athanasian Creed Charges ………………………………………….. Benedictions ……………………………………..

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INTRODUCTION

Lit·ur·gy | λειτουργία | Worship Liturgy has been around since the beginning of time, when God made Adam and Eve in a garden paradise and called them to glorify and enjoy him forever. In the beginning God created worship. The story of human history is the story of worship. In Eden, God called his son Adam to worship him by submitting to him alone as Father and King, by not eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; at Mount Sinai, God called his son Israel to worship him alone as Father and King, by not having other gods before him; in the Judean wilderness, God tested his Son Jesus to see if he would worship him alone as Father and King, by allowing Satan to tempt him to bow down and worship him. Where Adam and Israel failed as sons of God, by worshipping and serving the creature and created things (the Baals) instead of the Creator, Jesus, God’s final Son, did not fail. God tested his Son to see what was in his heart, and he found a heart of pure and devout worship for his God. Jesus was no idolater; he was no apathetic worshipper. He loved his Father alone, and he loved him with his whole heart and soul and mind and strength; and thus he recovered the right and proper worship of God that had been lost since the Garden of Eden.

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The drama of worship did not end with Jesus. Following his death and resurrection, he ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty on high in order to become a ‘worship leader’ (λειτουργός) in God’s holy place (Heb. 8:1–2). Throughout the world today, God calls his Church universal, the bride of his Son, to worship him alone as Father and King, through the intercession of his Son by his Spirit. The mission of the Church is to worship the Triune God and to call the world to return to her Creator in worship. One day, that ‘evangelistic’ aspect of the Church’s mission will cease, but worship will not. In the future new heavens and new earth, a great multitude that no one can number, from every nation, and from all tribes and peoples and languages, will stand before the throne and say, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb’ (Rev. 7:10). They will fall down on their faces and say, ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen’ (Rev. 7:12). The story of human history, from the first Adam through the Second Adam to the sons and daughters of this Second, Last Adam, is the story of worship—the worship of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Therefore when the Church gathers together each Lord’s Day, between the now-and-not-yet of the consummation of God’s kingdom, what we do as Christians is of no small significance. Worship


matters. And therefore what we do when we gather for worship matters. Our forebears in the Reformed Faith understood this well. It is why they spent significant time and effort in reforming the worship of the Christian church during the Reformation. Luther wrote his German Mass and Order of God’s Service (1526) early on in his reformation work in Germany. Martin Bucer did the same in France, with his Strasbourg Liturgy (1539), as did Calvin in Geneva, with his The Form of Ecclesiastical Prayers and Songs (1542); Thomas Cranmer followed suit in England, with his Book of Common Prayer (1552); John Knox, in Scotland, with his Book of Common Order (1562); and Richard Baxter, in England among the non-conformists, with his Reformed Liturgy (1661). The Westminster Divines, when they met in the Assembly (1643–1653), produced a Directory of Public Worship (1645) before The Confession (1647) and the two Catechisms (1648). These liturgies did not appear de novo, nor were they written on a tabula rasa; rather, they arose out of a desire to reform the elements of public worship that had been passed down from the Ancient Church, such as adoration, confession and assurance, thanksgiving, petition, instruction, communal response, offertory, consecration, communion, administration of the sacraments, creeds, etc. The pattern for passing on set ‘forms’ within the

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Christian Church, however, did not arise with the early church fathers, but with God himself. In the Old Testament, God commanded Moses to write down the words of his Law so that it may be read in the congregation of the people throughout their generations. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught his disciples to pray ‘like this’: ‘Our Father in heaven . . .’ The public reading and hearing of the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer is native to Christian worship. It is therefore a biblical move to embrace traditional, written forms of worship. The Word of God is our only infallible rule of faith and practice, but tradition may nevertheless inform and guide us in a subsidiary manner. This is how our Reformed forefathers viewed the liturgical elements that had come down to them through history: as servants, not masters; as aids, not chains. And we would do well to follow their example. Indeed, a study of the Reformed liturgies of the sixteenth- and seventeenth-centuries shows that there was significant ‘cross-fertilisation’ in their formation. Any church that cuts itself loose from the stream of Christian worship throughout the centuries is a church that has lost its moorings. We worship on the shoulders of those who have worshipped before us. To this end, the International Presbyterian Church desires to learn from the past in order to inform the present. We want to make the best use of traditional forms of worship handed down to us so that they may shape our modern forms of worship. This book


is not a directory of worship, like the Westminster Divines produced in 1645. There is no mandated structure for public worship services in our churches. Rather, contained herein is a collection of various examples of worship elements—call to worship, reading of the law, response to the law, confession of sin, words of assurance, prayers, administration of the sacraments, ordination of deacons and elders, affirmations of faith, charges and doxologies—which are meant to be an aid to those who lead God’s people in worship each Lord’s Day. How they are best incorporated into a particular service is not prescribed here. In some cases, the content of these ‘forms’ derives from the Holy Scriptures; in other cases, from faithful men who have shaped worship in Christ’s church in significant ways in history. The non-scriptural ‘forms’ included have been chosen because they have retained their value, beauty and application over time. In many cases, they lend themselves to recital by the whole congregation. Our surrounding culture, and in many cases, the Christian church today, craves novelty over tradition; it favours freedom over form; it is preoccupied with ‘the latest’ instead of ‘the past’; it substitutes reverent joy with casual gaiety; it mistakes excitement for profundity; it prefers levity to gravity. In short, we do not know how to act in the presence of a holy and awesome, yet gracious, God. As a church living in the twenty-first century,

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we want to learn from our Reformed forbears how to worship the God of grace ‘in the beauty of his holiness’ (Ps. 96:9). As this book makes plain, the liturgy that we want to encourage in our churches is a word-liturgy. ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth . . . And God said, “Let there be light”’ (Gen. 1:1, 3). ‘In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God’ (John 1:1). God created the world by his Word and he calls his world to his worship through his Word, Jesus Christ his Son, who comes to us clothed in words: “the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63). The words contained in this book of liturgy are meant to aid our worship because they offer us the product of centuries of refined experience, carefully selected to meet the needs of the believing (and sometimes doubting) heart in the vicissitudes of daily life. Written and recited prayers and praises are valuable, not because they are written down, but because they are familiar and become familiar. Set prayers and responses anchor our lives in the history of God’s saints and they embed in the psyche words to pray in times of need. Our prayer is that the International Presbyterian Church, and this book of word-based liturgy in particular, may provide helpful models for Christian


worship in the modern church, as we learn from the past how to worship our Triune God in the present. The texts appearing here include those approved by the International Presbyterian Church for the sacraments and for ordination. They are not comprehensive nor prescriptive beyond the requirements set out in the latest version of our Book of Church Order (BCO). Where the BCO is amended, this book of liturgy should be considered similarly amended.

Synod BCO Editorial Committee 2016

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CALL TO WORSHIP


I

SHOUT for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.’

(Ps. 66:1–4)

II LET the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!

(Ps. 67:3–5)

III WE give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds.

(Ps. 75:1)

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IV

HOW lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.

(Ps. 84:1–2)

V IT IS GOOD to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

(Ps. 92:1–4)

VI THE LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.

(Ps. 93:1–2)


VII

O COME, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

(Ps. 95:1–7)

VIII O SING to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

(Ps. 98:1–3)

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IX

THE LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he!

(Ps. 99:1–3)

X MAKE a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

(Psalm 100)


XI BLESS the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

(Ps. 103.1–5)

XII O GIVE thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!

(Ps. 105:1–4)

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XIII

PRAISE the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD! Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!

(Ps. 113:1–3)

XIV PRAISE the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures for ever. Praise the LORD!

(Ps. 117:1–2)

XV O GIVE thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures for ever! Let Israel say, ‘His steadfast love endures for ever.’ Let the house of Aaron say, ‘His steadfast love endures for ever.’ Let those who fear the LORD say, ‘His steadfast love endures for ever.’

(Ps. 118:1–4)


XVI

THIS is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

(Ps. 118:24)

XVII OUR help is in the name of the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth.

(Ps. 121:1)

XVIII WHEN the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’ The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.

(Ps. 126:1–3)

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XIX COME, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD! Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD!

(Ps. 134:1–2)

XX GIVE thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures for ever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures for ever.

(Ps. 136:1–3)

XXI GREAT is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

(Ps. 145:3–5)


XXII PRAISE the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.

(Ps. 147:1)

XXIII PRAISE the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD!

(Ps. 148:1–5)

XXIV PRAISE the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly! Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!

(Ps. 149:1–2)

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XXV PRAISE the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!

(Ps. 150:1–2)

XXVI ‘HOLY, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!’

(Isa. 6:3)

XXVII O, THE DEPTH of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?’ ‘Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?’ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory for ever. Amen.

(Rom. 11:33–36)


XXVIII BLESSED be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places

(Eph. 1:3)

XXIX AND YOU, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

(Col. 2:13–15)

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XXX

BLESSED be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

(1 Pet. 1:3–5)

XXXI AND whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.’

(Rev. 4:9–11)


XXXII THEN I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’ And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might for ever and ever!’

(Rev. 5:11–13)

XXXIII THEN I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory.

(Rev. 19:6–7)

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READING THE LAW


THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

Exodus 20:1–17 AND God spoke all these words, saying, ‘I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female

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servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbour’s.


HEAR, O ISRAEL

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 HEAR, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

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THE BEATITUDES

Matthew 5:3–10 OUR Lord Jesus said, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the

kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be

comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for

righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive

mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called

sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for

righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


THE LORD’S PRECEPTS

Matthew 5–7 HEAR the words of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

I say to you that everyone who is angry with his

brother will be liable to judgment.

I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

I say to you, ‘Do not take an oath at all, either by

heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.’

Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’;

anything more than this comes from evil.

I say to you, ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’

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You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Beware of practicing your righteousness before

other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

But when you give to the needy, do not let your

left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

When you pray, go into your room and shut the

door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

If you do not forgive others their trespasses,

neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

When you fast, anoint your head and wash your

face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.


Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

No one can serve two masters, for either he will

hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what

you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.

Seek first the kingdom of God and his

righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Judge not, that you be not judged.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you

will find; knock, and it will be opened to you

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

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THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT

Matthew 22:37–40 HEAR the summary of the law by our Lord Jesus Christ:

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

On these two commandments depend all the

Law and the Prophets.


ABIDE IN MY LOVE

John 15:9–17 AS the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

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LOVE ONE ANOTHER

1 John 4:7–11 BELOVED, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.


RESPONSE TO THE LAW

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I

THE Lord our God be with us. Let him not leave us or forsake us,

so that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his

commandments.

II

GOD be merciful to us and bless us and cause his face to shine upon us.

III

YOU are our portion, O Lord. We have said that we will keep your words.

IV

YOUR law is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Send out your light and your truth; let them lead us; let them bring us to your holy hill and to

your dwelling.


V

WITH YOU, O Lord, is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

Continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart!

VI

THIS is the Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.

VII

WE have gone astray like lost sheep; seek your servants, for we do not forget your

commandments.

VIII

ALL flesh is like grass and all its glory like the

flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains for ever.

Book of Liturgy 47


IX

O GOD, Father in heaven, look in mercy upon your needy children,

and grant us grace. AMEN.

— adapted from Martin Luther

X

O MY GOD and Lord, help me by the grace to learn and understand your commandments more fully

every day and to live by them in sincere confidence. Preserve my heart so that I shall never again

becomes forgetful and ungrateful, that I may never seek after other gods or other consolation on earth or in any creature, but cling truly and solely to you, my only God. Amen, dear Lord God and Father. AMEN.



PRAYERS

Book of Liturgy 49


THE LORD’S PRAYER

Traditional OUR FATHER, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. AMEN.


THE LORD’S PRAYER

Modern OUR FATHER in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. AMEN.

Book of Liturgy 51


PRAYERS OF INVOCATION

I

MAY the words of our mouths and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, our Rock

and our Redeemer. AMEN.

— Psalm 19

II

TO YOU, O Lord, we lift up our hearts. To you we offer our praise and prayer,

our worship and thanksgiving, even our very lives.

Make your ways known to us. Show us the path on which we should walk.

Lead us in your truth and teach us. For you alone are the God who saves,

the God in whom we trust; and the One on whom we wait.

AMEN. — Psalm 25


III

OUR help is in the name of the Lord, who made

heaven and earth. AMEN.

— Psalm 121

IV

ALMIGHTY GOD, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common requests to you, and you have promised that when two or three are gathered together in your name you will grant their requests. So we ask you now, Lord, to fulfil our desires and answer our petitions, in a way that is most beneficial to us, granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. AMEN.

— adapted from John Chrysostom

Book of Liturgy 53


V LORD Jesus Christ, you are great and greatly to be praised. Your power is great and your wisdom is infinite. We want to praise you without ceasing. You call us to delight in your praise, for you have made us for yourself, and our hearts find no rest until they rest in you. So may all glory, praise, and honour be ascribed to you, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, both now and for ever. AMEN.

— adapted from Augustine of Hippo

VI O GOD, you made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you. So refresh us again today with the rest that can only be found in your Son, Jesus Christ, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever. AMEN.

— adapted from Augustine of Hippo


VII DEAR Lord and Father, I know beyond doubt that you do love me, for I love your Son, my Redeemer Jesus Christ. In this trust and confidence I gladly ask you to hear me and grant what I ask. I know that you will gladly grant me all things, not because I am holy and devout, but through the merits of your Son, Jesus Christ. In his name I know come before you and ask without doubting in the least that my prayer will surely be answered, no matter who I am. AMEN.

— adapted from Martin Luther2

2 Herbert F. Brokering, Luther’s Prayers, trans. Charles E. Kistler (Minneapolis: Augsburgs Books, 1994). And all Luther prayers hereafter. Permission required from Augsburg Fortress, 426 S. Fifth St. Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440.

Book of Liturgy 55


VIII ALMIGHTY GOD, by your great mercy you have gathered us into your visible Church. Grant that we may not swerve from the purity of your worship, but so honour you both in spirit and in outward forms, that your Name may be glorified in us, and we may indeed be members of your only begotten Son. And as he has sanctified himself for our sakes, may we be partakers of the same sanctification through his Spirit, until at last he shall bring us into his heavenly kingdom, which he has purchased for us with his own blood. AMEN.

— adapted from John Calvin3

3 Prayer in Calvin’s Jeremiah Commentary, Lecture Fourty-Six.


IX ALMIGHTY GOD, our Heavenly Father, we invoke your name, praying that it may please you to turn away your face from our great and manifold sins and transgressions, by which we have not ceased to draw your anger upon us. And because we are most unworthy to appear before your sovereign majesty, be pleased to regard us in your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, and accept the merit of his death in satisfaction for all our offences, that by his atonement we may become well-pleasing in your sight. Pour down your Holy Spirit upon us, illuminating our minds in the true understanding of your Word. And bestow upon us grace, that receiving your truth into our hearts with humility and fear, we may be led to place all our trust in you only, living in your service and worship, to the glory of your holy name. And since it has pleased you to number us among you people, help us to render the love and honour that we owe you, as children to our Father, and as servants to our Lord. AMEN.

— adapted from John Calvin

Book of Liturgy 57


X

O GOD, we come to you today for your help and your blessing. Lord, what we know not, teach us; Lord, what we have not, give us; Lord, what we are not, make us. Hear our prayer, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

— Old Anglican Prayer4

XI ALMIGHTY GOD,

before whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden;

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit,

so that we may perfectly love You, and worthily magnify Your holy name, through Christ the Lord. AMEN.

— adapted from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, 1662

4 William Barclay, A Barclay Prayer Book (Louisville: WJK Press), 238.


XII O FATHER, majestic is your name! From the rising of the sun to its setting your name is to be praised, Merciful God, gracious Lord. Hear us in the name of Your Son, For He has promised that where two or three of us are gathered in Your name He would be with us and our prayer would be heard. Hear us in the name of Your Son, For He is the revelation of Your wisdom, the outpouring of your glory, The incarnation of your mercy toward us and the whole human race. To you be the glory, All praise and honour, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, One God, now and evermore. AMEN.

— Hughes Oliphant Old5

5 Leading in Prayer (Grand Rapids: Erdmans, 1995).

Book of Liturgy 59


PRAYERS OF ADORATION WE give thanks to you, omnipotent, ever living God of truth, eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Creator of heaven and earth, of people, and of all creatures, Sustainer of all things, Giver of all life, order, and wisdom, unfailing Source of help. And to your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, your Word and eternal image: And to your Holy Spirit, with whom you did endow the Apostles at Pentecost. We give thanks to you, O God of holiness, and truth, wisdom and goodness, justice and mercy, purity and loving-kindness, for with goodness and wisdom unmatched you have revealed yourself to us, sending your Son into the world, destined to assume human nature and to become a sacrifice for us. We give thanks to you, O God, for gathering your eternal church, for guarding the ministry of your Word, for granting your Holy Spirit, and for giving life everlasting. We thank you, O God, because you give us all good things, because alleviate and take away the chastisement we justly deserve, because you bestow upon us all the blessings of soul and body. So to you be all glory, honour, praise, and thanksgiving, for ever and ever. AMEN.

— adapted from Philip Melanchthon, 15596

6 Clyde Manschreck, Prayers of the Reformers (Epworth Press, 1960).


WE praise and honour you, Lord God Almighty, for all your mercy and loving-kindness shown to us your people. We bless you for the goodness that freely chose us to salvation before the world began. We thank you for creating us after your own image; for redeeming us, when we were lost, with the precious blood of Christ; for sanctifying us by your Spirit in the revelation and knowledge of your Word; for your help and support in our necessities, your fatherly comfort in our tribulations; for saving us in the dangers of body and soul, and giving us so long a time of repentance. We acknowledge, most merciful Father, to have received these benefits from your goodness alone, and we implore you to continue to be gracious to increase our thankfulness to you, kindling our hearts with pure and fervent love. Help us not to receive your Word in vain, but graciously assist us always, in heart, word, and deed, to sanctify and worship your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

— adapted from A Book of Public Prayer

Book of Liturgy 61


O ETERNAL, Almighty, and most gracious God, heaven is your throne, and earth is your footstool; holy and revered is your name; you are praised by the heavenly hosts, and in the congregation of your saints on earth. You are seen as holy by all who come near to you. We are sinful and unworthy dust, but because you invite us, through our blessed Mediator, Jesus Christ, we boldly present ourselves and our requests before you. Receive us graciously, and help us by your Spirit; let your fear be upon us; put your laws into our hearts, and write them in our minds; let your Word come to us in power, and be received in love, with attentive, reverent, and obedient minds. Make your Word the savour of life in us. Cause us to be earnest in our prayers, and joyful in our praises, and to serve you today without distraction. Help us to find that a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere, and that it is good for us to draw near to you, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. AMEN.

— adapted from Richard Baxter


PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING

I O LORD, I do not deserve a glimpse of heaven, and I am unable with my works to redeem myself from sin, death, the devil, and hell. Nevertheless, you have given me your Son, Jesus Christ, who is far more precious and dear than heaven, and much stronger than sin, death, the devil, and hell. For this I rejoice, praise, and thank you, O God. Without cost and out of pure grace you have given me this boundless blessing in your dear Son. Through him you take sin, death, and hell from me, and do grant me all that belongs to him. AMEN.


Book of Liturgy 63


II O MERCIFUL God, what a kind and gracious Father you are, to deal so sincerely and paternally with us poor and judged sinners. You did release your most precious possessions, your Son, Jesus Christ, into the jaws of death and the devil. You did require that he should descend into the deep and again ascent on high and conquer the captivity which has held us all in slavery. Through this we are your dear children, his brothers and sister, and inheritors of all eternal, heavenly blessings. Give us your Holy Spirit so that he may preserve us to the end in faith. Grant your grace that youth and those unborn, the weak in faith and those not properly instructed, may get and keep a right understanding in the doctrine of becoming fellow citizens with the angels. So highly privileged are we who believe in Christ. AMEN.



III ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, as we your unworthy servants, we give you most humble and heartfelt thanks for all your goodness and loving kindness to us and to all people. We bless you for our creation, preservation and all the blessings of this life, but above all, for your precious love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And we pray that you would give us that due sense of all your mercies that our hearts may be sincerely thankful and that we may show forth your praise not only with our lips but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to your service and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory world without end. AMEN.

— adapted from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer – General Thanksgiving

Book of Liturgy 65


INVITATION TO CONFESS SIN

I IF we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Let us therefore draw near with a humble and repentant heart, and acknowledge our sins before God.

II AFTER those days, declares the Lord, I will put my law within them and I will write it on their hearts, and their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more. Therefore, having this promise, dearly beloved, let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.


III IF we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Let us therefore draw near with a humble and repentant heart, and acknowledge our sins before God.

IV BELOVED, the Scriptures declare that whoever conceals his sins will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Book of Liturgy 67


V CHRIST has not entered into holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

VI AS a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. Brothers and sisters, let us therefore not be slow in coming to God to confess our sins, for we come to a compassionate Father and not dispassionate judge.


PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

I REMEMBER your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD! Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. AMEN.

(Ps. 25:6–7, 16–18)

II AS for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me. Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me! AMEN.

(Ps. 40:10–13)

Book of Liturgy 69


III

HAVE mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. AMEN.

(Ps. 51:1–4)

IV OUT of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities. AMEN.

(Psalm 130)


V ACCEPT the sacrifice of my confession offered by my tongue, which you have formed and stirred up to confess your name. Heal all my bones and let them say, ‘Lord, who is like you?’ As one who is making confession to you now, I am not instructing you what is happening within me. The closed heart does not shut out your eye, and your hand is not kept away by the hardness of humanity, but you melt that when you wish, either in mercy or in punishment, and there is none who can hide from your heat. Let my soul praise you, that it may love you; let my soul confess to you your mercies, that it may praise you. AMEN.

— adapted from Augustine, Confessions

Book of Liturgy 71


VI O LORD, Have mercy upon us. O Christ, Have mercy upon us. O Spirit, Have mercy upon us. O God the Father in heaven, We beseech you, hear us. O God the Son, Redeemer of the world, We beseech you, hear us. O God the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, We beseech you, hear us. Be gracious unto us. Spare us, good Lord. Be gracious unto us. Help us, good Lord. Be gracious unto us. Save us, good Lord,

from our sin; from our errors; from all evil.

Good Lord, deliver us. Lord, have mercy upon us.7 AMEN.

7 Variation of seven-fold litany of Gregory the Great, circa 600 AD; cited in Bryan Chapell, Christ-Centered Worship (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2009), 189.


VII LORD, it is your will and command that we should come to you and pray. So I now come to please you. I ask you to forgive and to remove my sins which weigh heavily upon me. Let them not prevent me from coming to you in prayer. AMEN.


VIII DEAR Lord God, that I am a sinner before you is as real as my conception, my birth, my nature, my thoughts, words and words, and my entire being are sinful. I am a corrupt tree and by nature a child of sin and wrath. As long as this nature remains with us we are sinners and must say: Forgive us our debts. So I confess what you command, in order that you may be just when you judge. Lord, I am an evildoer and a sinner against your divine commandment. Help me, for I am helpless. AMEN.


IX

Book of Liturgy 73


MY LORD Jesus Christ, you are indeed the Good Shepherd, and I, sorry to say, am a lost and straying sheep. I am anxious and afraid. I would gladly cling to you, and so have peace in my heart. I hear from your Word that you are as anxious for me as I am for you. I am eager to know how I can come to you for help. You are anxious to bring me back to yourself. Seek me and find me. Help me also to come to you and I will praise you and honor you forever. AMEN.


X DEAR Lord Jesus, I feel my sins. They bite and gnaw and terrify me. Where shall I go? I will look to you, Lord Jesus, and believe in you. Although my faith is weak, I look to you and find assurance, for you have promised that whoever believes in you shall have everlasting life. My conscience is burdened and my sins still frighten me, but you have said: “Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven and I will raise you up on the last day and you shall have eternal life.” I cannot do any of this for myself. I come to you for help. AMEN.



XI DEAR Lord God, I cannot count the sins that I have done and still do. I have forgotten most of them and no longer feel my guilt. All that is in me and all power that is not grace is sin and is condemned. My works and my powers only make me despondent. I do not know what else to do but to hope and pray for your mercy. As grace and faith control me, I am devout through Christ. Where these fail me, I know and confess that nothing good is left in me. No matter how long I live, it will never be different. Yet all my sins are forgiven out of your pure grace. This is the joy and comfort that you gladly give to me, a poor sinner. AMEN.

— adapted from Luther’s Prayers

Book of Liturgy 75


XII DEAR God, in your presence I confess that I am a great sinner. The Ten Commandments would drive me and commit me directly to hell. But your precious Gospel teaches me to know and believe that out of love you established a kingdom through Jesus Christ, in which you are merciful and help poor and condemned sinners. So I say my confession of sin like this: I am indeed a sinner, but God is merciful to me. I was your enemy, but you made me your friend. I was condemned, but instead you blessed me and made me an heir of heaven. Indeed, this is your will. You have permitted this truth to be preached to me and have commanded me to believe, for the sake of your Son whom you have given to me. AMEN.

— adapted from Luther’s Prayers


XIII

ALMIGHTY, eternal God and Father, we confess and acknowledge before you that we were conceived in unrighteousness and are full of sin and transgression in all our life. We have not fully believed your Word or followed your holy commandments. Remember your goodness, we pray, and for your name’s sake be gracious to us, and forgive us our iniquity, which indeed is great. AMEN.

— adapted from Martin Bucer8

8 http://rscottclark.org/2012/08/bucers-strasbourg-liturgy-1539/

Book of Liturgy 77


XIV

ALMIGHTY God, since you delay with so much forbearance the punishments which we deserve and daily draw on ourselves, grant that we may not indulge ourselves but carefully consider how often and in how many different ways we have provoked your wrath against us. May we learn humbly to present ourselves to you for pardon, and with true repentance implore your mercy. With all our heart we desire to submit ourselves to you, whether you discipline us, or according to your infinite goodness, you forgive us. Let our condition be ever blessed, not by flattering ourselves in our apathy, but by finding you to be our kind and bountiful Father, reconciled to us in your only-begotten Son. AMEN.


9 Clyde Manschreck, Prayers of the Reformers (Epworth Press, 1960).


XV O LORD God, eternal and almighty Father, we confess and acknowledge sincerely before your holy majesty that we are poor sinners, conceived and born in iniquity and corruption, prone to do evil, incapable of any good, and that in our depravity we transgress your holy commandments without end or ceasing. Therefore we purchase for ourselves, through your righteous judgment, our ruin and perdition. Nevertheless, O Lord, we are grieved that we have offended you; and we condemn ourselves and our sins with true repentance, beseeching your grace to relieve our distress.

Book of Liturgy 79


XVI O GOD and Father, most gracious and full of compassion, have mercy upon us in the name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. And as you blotted out our sins and stains, magnify and increase in us day by day the grace of your Holy Spirit, that as we acknowledge our unrighteousness with all our heart, we may be moved by that sorrow which shall bring forth true repentance in us, mortifying all our sins, and producing in us the fruits of righteousness and innocence which are pleasing to you, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

— adapted from John Calvin, Forms of Prayers, 1541

XVII

ALMIGHTY God, eternal Father, we acknowledge and confess to you that we were born in unrighteousness. Our life is full of sin and transgression; we have not gladly believed your Word nor followed your holy commandments. For your goodness’ sake and for your name’s sake, be gracious unto us, we pray, and forgive us all our sin, which is very great. AMEN.

— adapted from the Genevan Psalter10 10 http://www.reformedworship.org/article/september-2004/all-saints-service-using-sixteenth-century-reformation-practices


XVIII ALMIGHTY GOD, we are unworthy to come into your presence, because of our many sins. We do not deserve any grace or mercy from you, if you dealt with us as we deserve. We have sinned against you, O Lord, and we have offended you. And yet, O Lord, as we acknowledge our sins and offences, so also do we acknowledge you to be a merciful God, a loving and favourable Father, to all who turn to you. And so we humbly ask you, for the sake of Christ your Son, to show us mercy, and forgive us all our offenses. Forgive the sins of our youth, and the sins of our old age. By your Spirit, O God, take possession of our hearts, so that, not only the actions of our lives, but also the words of our mouths, and the smallest thought of our minds, may be guided and governed by you. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, now and for ever. AMEN.

— adapted from John Knox’ Liturgy, 1560

Book of Liturgy 81


XIX

O ETERNAL God, and most merciful Father, we confess and acknowledge before your divine majesty, that we are miserable sinners, conceived and born in sin and iniquity, so that there is no goodness in us. Our flesh constantly rebels against the spirit so that we continually transgress your holy commandments, and so bring upon ourselves death and condemnation, through your just judgment. Heavenly Father, we are displeased with ourselves for the sins that we have committed against you, and so we sincerely repent of them. We humbly pray that you would show us mercy, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Forgive us all our sins and increase your Holy Spirit in us so that we may from now on not only mortify our sinful lusts and affections, but also bring forth fruits that are pleasing to you. We ask this, not on the basis of our own worthiness, but on the merits of your dearly loved Son, Jesus Christ, our only Saviour, whom you have already given as a sacrifice and offering for our sins, and for whose sake we are certainly persuaded that you will deny us nothing that we shall ask in his name according to your will. To you, therefore, Father, with the Son and with the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, world without end. AMEN. — adapted from John Knox’ Liturgy, 1560


XX I, A POOR SINNER, acknowledge before you, my God and Creator, that I have grievously and in many ways sinned against you, not only with gross outward transgressions, but much more with inward natural blindness, unbelief, doubts, despondency, impatience, pride, evil covetousness, secret envy, hatred, malice, and other sinful affections, as you my Lord and God know only to well. I cannot deeply deplore these sins enough. But I repent of all of them, and am sorry for them, and I earnestly ask you for mercy, for the sake of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray. AMEN.

— adapted from Liturgy of the Palatinate11

11 Baird, Presbyterian Liturgies, 58.

Book of Liturgy 83


XXI

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hates nothing that you have made, and who forgives the sins of all them who are repentant, create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain from you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN. — adapted from Anglican Book of Common Prayer

– collect Ash Wednesday

XXII ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who is always more ready to hear than we are to pray, and who is wont to give more than either we desire or deserve, pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. AMEN. — adapted from Anglican Book of Common Prayer

– collect 12th after Trinity


XXIII O MOST great, most just and gracious God; you are of purer eyes than to behold iniquity; but you have promised mercy through Jesus Christ to all who repent and believe in him. Therefore we confess that we are sinful by nature and that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. We have neglected and abused your holy worship and your holy name. We have dealt unjustly and uncharitably with our neighbours. We have not sought first your kingdom and righteousness. We have not been content with our daily bread. You have revealed your wonderful love to us in Christ and offered us pardon and salvation in him; but we have turned away. We have run into temptation; and the sin that we should have hated, we have committed. Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father. We confess you alone are our hope. Make us your children and give us the Spirit of your Son, our only Saviour. AMEN.

— adapted from Richard Baxter

Book of Liturgy 85


XXIV MOST holy and merciful Father; we acknowledge and confess before you our sinful nature—prone to evil and slow to do good—and all our shortcomings and offences. You alone know how often we have sinned in wandering from your way, in wasting your gifts, in forgetting your love. So Lord, have mercy on us, because we are ashamed and sorry for all we have done that has displeased you. Teach us to hate our errors, cleanse us from our secret faults, and forgive our sins for the sake of your dear Son. And most holy and loving Father, help us, we pray, to live in your light and walk in your ways, according to the commandments of Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN. — adapted from Henry van Dyke, Book of Common

Worship


XXV

ALMIGHTY GOD,

before whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden;

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, so that we may perfectly love You, and worthily magnify Your holy name, through Christ the Lord. AMEN.

— adapted from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, 1662

XXVI MOST merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. AMEN. — adapted from Anglican Book of Common Prayer

1662, Morning Prayer – General Confession

Book of Liturgy 87


XXVII ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from Your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against Your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and there is nothing good in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore those who are penitent; according to Your promises declared unto men in Christ Jesus our Lord. Grant that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life; to the glory of His name. AMEN. — adapted from Anglican Book of Common Prayer 1662, Morning Prayer – General Confession


XXVIII ALMIGHTY GOD, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men, we acknowledge and grieve over our manifold sins and wickedness, which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, by thought, word and deed, against your divine Majesty, provoking most justly your wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; the remembrance of them is grievous to us; the burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; for your Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please you in newness of life, to the honour and glory of your Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

— adapted from Anglican Book of Common Prayer 1662, Communion - General Confession

Book of Liturgy 89


XXIX ALMIGHTY GOD, who does freely pardon all who repent and turn to Him, now fulfill in every contrite heart the promise of redeeming grace, forgiving all our sins, and cleansing us from an evil conscience, through the perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus our Lord. AMEN.

— The Book of Common Worship, 194612

XXX GRACIOUS GOD, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for us a consuming fire of judgment. Set us free from a past that we cannot change; open to us a future in which we can be changed; and grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image, through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. AMEN.

— PCUSA Book of Common Worship13 12 http://thirdmill.org/files/english/html/worship/pray.confess.html 13 Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1993, 88


WORDS OF ASSURANCE

I

THE LORD, the LORD, is a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.

(Exod. 34:6–7)

II WHEN I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.

Selah I ACKNOWLEDGED my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Selah

(Ps. 32:3–5)

Book of Liturgy 91


III

THE LORD He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

(Ps. 103:8–12)

IV SURELY he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

(Isa. 53:4–5)


V SEEK the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way; and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

(Isaiah 55:6–7)

VI “YET even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

(Joel 2:12–13)

Book of Liturgy 93


VII WHO is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.

(Micah 7:18–20)

VIII COME to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

(Matt. 11:28–30)


VIII

FOR God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

(John 3:16)

IX

THEREFORE, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

(Rom. 5:1–2)

X BUT God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

(Rom. 5:8–9)

Book of Liturgy 95


XI

HE himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

(1 Pet. 2:24)

XII THE saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

(1 Tim. 1:15)

XIII IF we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

(1 John 1:8–9)


XIV IF anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

(1 John 2:2)

IX

BY true faith in Jesus Christ I am righteous before God and heir to life everlasting. Even though my conscience accuses me of having grievously sinned against all God’s commandments, of never having kept any of them, and of still being inclined toward all evil, nevertheless, without any merit of my own, out of sheer grace, God grants and credits to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner, and as if I had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for me.

(Q&A 59–60, Heidelberg Catechism)

Book of Liturgy 97


PRAYERS FOR ASSURANCE

I ALMIGHTY God, through the death of your Son you have destroyed sin and death. Through his resurrection you have restored innocence and eternal life. We who are delivered from the power of the devil many live in your kingdom. Give us grace that we may believe this with our whole heart. Enable us, always, to steadfastly praise and thank you in this faith, through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN.


II MY God, you will not abandon my hope. You will hear my prayer and satisfy my desires. I will pray and wait for your grace. Hear me and fulfil my hope. AMEN.



III O GRACIOUS God, I am fully aware that I am unworthy. I deserve to be a brother of Satan and not of Christ. But Christ, your dear Son, died and rose for me. I am his brother. He earnestly desires that I should believe him, without doubt and fear. I need no longer regard myself as unworthy and full of sin. For this I love and thank him from my heart. Praise be to the faithful Saviour, for her is so gracious and merciful as re you and the Holy Spirit in eternity. AMEN.


Book of Liturgy 99


PRAYERS FOR REASSURANCE

I

MY LORD, it does not trouble me to know who I am. Though I am wicked and sinful I know it does not make you so. You are righteous and gracious. The more wicked and sinful I am, the less I can rely on anything else, the more fervently will I implore you. This is no time to argue whether I am one of the elect or not. But I feel the need of your help, and I therefore come and seek it in all humility. AMEN.


II LORD, God, heavenly Father, I consider myself your dear child and you my beloved Father. Not because I deserve it, nor could ever merit it, but because my dear Lord, your only begotten Son Jesus Christ, would be my brother. Of his own accord he offers and makes this blessing known to me. Since I may consider myself his brother, as he regards me, you will permit me to become and remain a child of yours, forever. AMEN.



PRAYERS FOR ILLUMINATION

I DEAR Father in heaven, for the sake of your dear Son Jesus Christ grant us your Holy Spirit, that we may be true learners of Christ, and therefore acquire a heart with a never ceasing fountain of live. AMEN.


II DEAR Lord Jesus Christ, prepare, strength, and establish us thoroughly in your eternal kingdom with all the dimension of your wisdom and knowledge. AMEN.


III LORD God, dear Father, though your Holy Spirit, you have taught and enlightened the hearts of your believers. Through the same Spirit give us a right understanding, to be glad at all times in his comfort and power, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN.


Book of Liturgy 101


IV ETERNAL God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, give us your Holy Spirit who writes the preached Word into our hearts. May we receive and believe it and be cheered brand comforted by it in eternity. Glorify your Word in our hearts and make it so bright and warm that we may find pleasure in it, through your Holy Spirit thank what it right, and by your power fulfil the Word, for the sake of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. AMEN.


V O GOD, be present with us now and dwell within our hearts. With your light and your Spirit guide our hearts, our thoughts, and all our actions, so that your Word may be heard clearly and your healing power experienced in us and in your church universal. AMEN.

— adapted from Philip Melanchthon, 1550


VI ALMIGHTY and ever gracious God, since all our salvation depends upon your holy Word: therefore grant that our hearts may be set free from worldly things, so that we may with all diligence and faith hear your Word, rightly understand your gracious will, and in all sincerity live according to the same, to your praise and glory; through our Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN. — adapted from the Reformed liturgy of Strasbourg

by Martin Bucer (about 1540).14

VII

ALMIGHTY and gracious Father, since our whole salvation stands in our knowledge of your Holy Word, strengthen us now by your Holy Spirit that our hearts may be set free from all worldly thoughts and attachments of the flesh, so that we may hear and receive that same Word, and, recognising your gracious will for us, may love and serve you with earnest delight, praising and glorifying you in Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

— adapted from John Calvin, Forms of Prayers 14 http://www.reformedworship.org/article/september-2004/all-saints-service-using-sixteenth-century-reformation-practices

Book of Liturgy 103


VIII MOST Gracious God, our Heavenly Father, in whom alone dwells the fullness of light and wisdom. Illuminate our minds, we pray, by your Holy Spirit, in the true understanding of your Word. Give us grace to receive it with reverence and sincere humility. May it lead us to put our whole trust in you alone, and so to serve and honour you, so that we may glorify your name and edify our neighbours by our godly example. Since you are pleased to number us among your people, enable and dispose us to give you the love and honour that we owe, as children to our Father, and as servants to our Lord. AMEN.

— adapted from John Calvin, A Book of Public Prayer


IX HEAVENLY Father, your Word is perfect, converting the soul; a sure testimony, making wise the simple; enlightening the eyes of the blind; and a powerful means of salvation for all who believe. Help us, your unworthy servants, whether we teach, or whether we are taught, to learn from you. We are blind by nature, wholly incapable of doing any good; and you will help none but those who are of a broken and contrite heart. We pray you would enlighten our understanding with your Holy Spirit, and give us a meek heart, from from all pride and worldly knowledge, so that, hearing your Word, we may rightly understand it and rule our lives accordingly. In your grace, please convert all those who still stray from your truth, so that we, together with them, may unanimously serve you in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life. We ask all these things for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and praise for ever. AMEN. — adapted from A Book of Public Prayer15

15 Adapted from a prayer in A Book of Public Prayer, Compiled from the Authorised Formularies of Worship in the Presbyterian Church, as Prepared by the Reformers Calvin, Knox, Bucer, and Others (New York: Charles Scribner, 1857), 85.

Book of Liturgy 105


PRAYERS AT BAPTISM

I ALMIGHTY and Eternal God, we pray that you would be pleased, in your infinite mercy, to look graciously upon these children; an incorporate them by your Holy Spirit into your Son, Jesus Christ. May they be buried with him into his death, and be raised with him in newness of life, so that they may daily follow him, joyfully bearing their cross, and cleave to him in true faith, firm hope, and passionate love. May they, with a comfortable sense of your favour, leave this life, which is nothing but a continual death, so that they may appear without fear before the judgment seat of Christ your Son on the last day. We pray this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, lives and reigns for ever. AMEN.

— adapted from the Dutch Reformed Liturgy16

16 Baird, Presbyterian Liturgies, 217–18.


II ALMIGHTY God and merciful Father, we thank and praise you that you have forgiven us and our children all our sins, through the blood of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, and that you have received us through your Holy Spirit, as members of your only begotten Son, and adopted us to be your children, and sealed and confirmed the same to us by holy baptism. We ask you, therefore, through the same Son of your love, be pleased always to govern these baptised children by your Holy Spirit, so that they may be devoutly and religiously educated, that they may increase and grow up in the Lord Jesus Christ, so that they may acknowledge your fatherly goodness and mercy, which you have shown to them and us. May they live in all righteousness, under our only Teacher, King and High Priest, Jesus Christ; may they courageously fight against and overcome sin, the devil, and his whole dominion. To the end that they may eternally praise and magnify you, and your Son, Jesus Christ, together with the Holy Spirit, the one only true God. AMEN.

— adapted from the Dutch Reformed Liturgy17


Book of Liturgy 107


PRAYERS FOR COMMUNION

I HEAVENLY FATHER, we give you immortal praise and thanks, that you have conferred so great a benefit on us poor sinners to bring us into communion with your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, whom having delivered up to death for us, you have given for our food and nourishment to eternal life. Now, also, grant us grace, that we may never be forgetful of these things; but rather, carrying engraved on our hearts, we may advance and grow in that faith which is effectual to every good work. Thus, may the rest of our lives be ordered and lived out to your glory and the edification of our neighbours, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, with you, Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns in the unity of the Godhead world without end. AMEN.




II

Gloria GLORY be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will towards men. We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, we give thanks to you for your great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. You who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. You who takes away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. You who sits at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For you only are holy; you only are the Lord; you only, O Christ, with the Holy Spirit, are most high in the glory of God the Father. AMEN. — adapted from Anglican Book of Common Prayer

– Communion

Book of Liturgy 109


CLOSING HYMNS AT COMMUNION

Psalm 72 His name forever shall endure; Last like the sun it shall: Men shall be blessed in him and blessed All nations shall him call Now blessèd be the Lord our God, The God of Israel, For he alone does wondrous works, In glory that excel. And blessèd be his glorious name To all eternity: The whole earth let his glory fill. Amen, so let it be.

Scottish Psalter, 1615 Tune: Dunfermline


The Song of Simeon19 Now let your servant, Lord! At length depart in peace; According to your word, My waiting soul release: For you my longing eyes have spared To see your saving grace declared. To see your saving grace, That soon dispensed abroad, The nations shall embrace, And find their help in God: A light to lighten every land, The glory of your chosen band.

Genevan Psalter 1547 Tune: 6.6.7.6.6.7.

19 This hymn, known as Nunc dimittis in Latin, was sung at the close of communion services in Geneva. Louis Bourgeois composed the tune, which was first published in the 1547 edition of the Genevan Psalter.

Book of Liturgy 111


PRAYERS AT A MARRIAGE I

O ETERNAL God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Giver of all spiritual grace, Author of everlasting life, send your blessing upon N and N, whom we bless in your name, that just as Isaac and Rebekah lived faithfully together, so may they surely perform and keep the vow and covenant between them, which the rings given and received are a token and pledge. May N and N ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to your laws, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN. O MERCIFUL Lord, and heavenly Father, by whose gracious gift mankind is increased. We pray that you would bless N and N, that they may both be fruitful in procreation of children, and also live together so long in godly love and honesty, that they may see their children Christianly and virtuously brought up, to your praise and honour, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN. O GOD, who by your mighty power has made all things out of nothing, who also (after other things set in order) did appoint, that out of man, created after thine own image and similitude, woman should take her beginning; and knitting them together, did teach that it should never be lawful to separate those whom you by matrimony have made one, O God,


who has consecrated the state of matrimony to such an excellent mystery, that in it is signified and represented the spiritual marriage and unity between Christ and his church, look mercifully upon these your servants, that both this man may love his wife, according to your Word, as Christ did love his spouse the Church, who gave himself for it, loving and cherishing it even as his own flesh, and also that this woman may be loving and amiable, faithful and obedient to her husband, and in all quietness, sobriety, and peace, be a follower of holy and godly older sisters. O Lord, bless them both, and grant them to inherit your everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN. GOD the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully look upon you with his favour and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that you may so live together in this life, that in the world to come you may have everlasting life. AMEN. ALMIGHTY God, who at the beginning did create our first parents, Adam and Eve, and did sanctify and join them together in marriage, pour upon you the riches of his grace, sanctify and bless you, so that you may please him both in body and soul, and live together in holy love until your lives’ end. AMEN. — adapted from Anglican Book of Common Prayer

Book of Liturgy 113


II

BLESSED are you, Almighty God, our Father, for you created the world so that you could form us as the bride of your Son, loved and selected before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless. Blessed are you, Almighty Son, for in the fullness of time you came to win your bride and to give her a share in your everlasting glory. Blessed are you, Almighty Spirit, for you have come to prepare the bride for the consummation yet to come. Blessed are you, Almighty Trinity, for in our marriages, you have given a living portrait of your love for us. Blessed be God for ever and ever. AMEN.

— Peter Leithart20

20 Peter Leithart: http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/leithart/2007/07/wedding-sermon.


III

LORD God, Creator and Sustainer of all things, who formed Adam from the dust of the ground and Eve from a rib taken from Adam’s side, be present here today, we pray, and be at work to form this man and this woman into husband and wife. Guide our meditations as we consider the beginning of this new marriage and this new household, for the sake of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Spirit, one God, age after age. AMEN.


21 Peter Leithart, A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons (Moscow, ID, Canon Press: 2006), 17.

Book of Liturgy 115


IV FATHER, you have created all things for our enjoyment, bread to strengthen us and wine to gladden our hearts; fill N and N’s marriage with the wine of joy. Jesus, our Bridegroom, you have given yourself in love for your bride, and shed your own blood so that we could live; fill N and N’s marriage with the wine of love. Holy Spirit, you are the Divine Matchmaker, Lord and Giver of all life; fill N and N with all grace, and make them fruitful. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, whose glories in the end will surpass the glories of the beginning, dwell with N and N, so that their lives may be transformed from glory to greater glory, from joy to greater joy, from love to greater love, to the glory of your name. AMEN.


22 Peter Leithart, A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons (Moscow, ID, Canon Press: 2006), 82.


PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

I

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, you have promised to grant our requests in the name of your beloved Son; you have also taught us in his name to gather together, assured that he will be present with us, to intercede for us with you, and to obtain for us all things that we may ask you on earth. So, having experienced your presence, and dependent on your promise, we pray earnestly, that you, gracious God and Father, out of your boundless mercy will freely pardon our offences, for the sake of our only Saviour and Mediator, and so lift up our thoughts and draw out our desires toward you, that we may seek you according to your holy and reasonable will. AMEN.

— adapted from John Calvin, Presbyterian Liturgies23


Book of Liturgy 117


II LORD God Almighty, merciful and pure, be pleased by your grace to consider our weakness, and so sanctify us with your grace, that we may all confess our sins, and cry to you for pardon. We all acknowledge our weakness, and cry to you for strength. We all see our ignorance, and come to you for knowledge how to behave ourselves in this mortal life in our several callings, so that you may be glorified, so that our brothers and sisters in Christ may be comforted, and ourselves relieved, so that when we shall be called by you to render an account of our stewardships, we may be able to stand before you acquitted from all that either our sin, the devil, or our corrupt nature may charge us with. We ask this not through our own merit, our best endeavours are forever evil, but we ask it on the merits of your Son, Jesus Christ. AMEN.

— adapted from John Norden’s Progress of Piety (1596)24

24Cited in A Book of Public Prayer.


III

O GOD, who has prepared for them that love you such good things as pass man’s understanding, pour into our hearts such love toward you, that we, loving you above all things, may obtain your promises which exceed all that we can desire, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN. — adapted from Anglican Book of Common Prayer

– collect 6th after Trinity

IV

O GOD, the protector of all that trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy; increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, you being our Ruler and Guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal; grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake, our Lord. AMEN. — adapted from Anglican Book of Common Prayer

– collect 4th Sunday after Trinity

Book of Liturgy 119


PRAYER FOR ENEMIES

I HEAVENLY Father, grant forgiveness to those who have harmed or wronged us, as we forgive them from our hearts. They inflict the greatest injury upon themselves by arousing your anger in their actions toward us. We are not helped by their ruin; we would much rather that they be saved with us. AMEN.



PRAYER OF CONSECRATION

I

O Jesus Christ, I live to you; I die to you;

living or dying, I am yours. AMEN.


Book of Liturgy 121


PRAYER FOR PERSEVERANCE

I ALMIGHTY God, you have made known to us in your Son the fullness of all blessing and glory. Grant that we may continue settled and grounded in him, nor ever move from our union with him, but be so satisfied with his kingship and priesthood, as to deliver ourselves up wholly to his care and protection. Keep us from doubting that by his grace we shall be sanctified and made acceptable to you; but relying on him as our Mediator, may we offer ourselves as a sacrifice to him with full confidence in our hearts; so striving to glorify you through the whole course of our life, that we may at last be made partakers of that eternal glory obtained for us by the blood of your only begotten Son, in whose name we pray. AMEN.




PRAYER AT THE GRAVESIDE At the graveside: MAN goes to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets. What man is he that lives, and shall not see death? Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.’ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again on to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith on to salvation. AMEN. At the time of burial: THE dust returns to dust, and the spirit to God who gave it. Therefore, we now commit the body of our departed brother/sister to the earth until that hour when earth and sea shall give up their dead, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to judge the world. AMEN.

Book of Liturgy 123


ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, we your unworthy servants pray that you would have mercy on us, for Christ’s sake. From the borders of the grave we cry to you; for Christ’s sake have mercy upon us. It has pleased you to call out of this world the soul of our departed friend, whose body we have now brought for his/her burial. We humbly entreat you that we may with true repentance of heart receive the warning of your providence, and consider that by reason of our guilt it is appointed on to us to die, and that in a moment when we are unaware we may appear before you. Because we know, Lord, that by reason of our sins we lie in the midst of death. Spare us then, Lord. Most merciful and long-suffering God, spare us a little longer, that we may take refuge in Christ, abiding in him, that when he shall appear we may have confidence, and not be ashamed at his coming. AMEN. O MERCIFUL God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, please let none of us live without godliness and die without hope; but constrain us mightily by your love, that we, being renewed by your grace, and accepted through Christ’s intercession, may walk before you in newness of life, and praise you for ever among the assembly of the elect, where there shall be no more death, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. We ask this for the sake of Him who has taught us to say, ‘Our Father in heaven, . . .’ AMEN.


PRAYER FOR PUBLIC EXCOMMUNICATION

Since then it is God that works in us, both to will and to do for his good pleasure, let us call upon his holy name, with confession of our sins, saying, O RIGHTEOUS God and merciful Father, we grieve over our sins before your high majesty and acknowledge that we have deserved the grief and sorrow brought on us by the cutting off of this our late Christian brother/sister. We acknowledge that we all deserve to be cut off and banished from your sight were you to enter into judgment with us because of our great transgressions. But, Lord, you are merciful to us for Christ’s sake. Forgive us our sins, for we heartily repent of them, and help us to daily work in our hearts a greater measure of sorrow for them, that we may fear your judgments which you execute against the proud and stubborn hearted, and so endeavour to please you. Grant us grace to avoid all pollution of the world, and those who are cut off from the communion of the Church, that we may not make ourselves partake of their sins. We pray that he/she who is excommunicated may become ashamed of his/her sins. And since you do not desire the death of a sinner, but rather that he repent and live, and the bosom of your Church is always open for those who turn away from their wickedness, we therefore humbly pray that you would kindle in our hearts a pious zeal, that we may

Book of Liturgy 125


labour, with Christian admonitions and examples, to bring again this excommunicated person into the right way, together with all those who, through unbelief or dissoluteness of life, go astray. Give your blessing to our admonition, that we may have reason to rejoice again in him for whom we now mourn, and that your holy name may be praised, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has thus taught us to pray, ‘Our Father in heaven, . . .’ AMEN.


PRAYER FOR PUBLIC REPENTANCE AND you, beloved Christians, receive this your brother/sister with hearty affection; count him/her no longer as a stranger, but as a fellow-citizen with the saints, and of the household of God. And whereas we can have no good of ourselves, let us praise and magnify the Lord Almighty, and implore His mercy, saying, GRACIOUS God and Father, we thank you through Jesus Christ our Lord, that you have been pleased to give to this our fellow-Christian repentance unto life, and to us occasion to rejoice in his/her conversion. We pray you would show him your mercy, that he may become more and more assured of the remission of his/her sins, and that he /she may receive from now inexpressible joy and delight, to serve you. And whereas he has heretofore by his sins offended many, grant that he may, by his conversion, edify many. May he steadfastly walk in your ways, to the end; and may we learn from this example, that with you is mercy, that you may be feared; so that we, counting him/her for our brother/sister and fellow-heir of eternal life, may united serve you with filial fear and obedience all the days of our life, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose Name we conclude our prayer. AMEN.

Book of Liturgy 127


PRAYER FOR ELDERS AND DEACONS

O LORD God, our Heavenly Father! We thank you that it has pleased you, for the better edification of your Church, to ordain in it, besides the Ministers of the Word, rulers and assistants, by liberal hearts toward the poor, and to the poor grateful hearts toward those who help and serve them: to the end that every one acquitting himself of his duty, your holy Name may thereby be magnified, and the kingdom of your Son Jesus Christ enlarged, in whose Name we conclude our prayer. AMEN.


PRAYER FOR ORDINATION

O LORD, to whom all power is given in heaven and in earth! You are the eternal Son of the Father; who has so loved your Church, that to redeem and purify it you did humble yourself to the death of the Cross, and there shed your most innocent blood. And to retain this your most excellent benefit in memory, you have appointed in your church pastors and teachers, to instruct, admonish, and comfort your people. Look upon us mercifully, O Lord, you only King, Teacher, and High Priest to your own flock; and send to this your servant our brother, whom in your Name we set apart and ordain, such a portion of your Holy Spirit, that he may rightly divide your Word, to the instruction of your flock, and the overthrow of error and vice. Give to him, good Lord, your grace and wisdom, whereby the enemies of your truth may be confounded, the blind and ignorant edified, and your sheep fed in the wholesome pastures of your most Holy Word. Multiply your graces upon him. Illuminate him with your Holy Spirit. Comfort and strengthen him in all virtue. Govern and guide his ministry, to the praise of your Holy Name, the promotion of your Kingdom, the comfort of our Church, and to the plain discharge of his own conscience in the day of the Lord Jesus; To whom, with the Father and with the Holy Spirit, be all honour, praise, and glory, now and ever. AMEN.

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PRAYER FOR MINISTERS MERCIFUL Father, we thank you that it pleases you, by the ministry of men, to gather a Church to yourself unto life eternal, from amongst the children of men. We bless you for so graciously providing the church in this place with a faithful Minister. We pray you would qualify him daily more and more by your Holy Spirit, for the ministry to which you have ordained and called him. Enlighten his understanding to comprehend your holy Word, and give him utterance, that he may boldly open his mouth, to make known and dispense the mysteries of the Gospel. Endue him with wisdom and valour, to rule the people aright over whom he is set, and to preserve them in Christian peace, to the end that your Church, under his administration and by his good example, may increase in number and in virtue. Grant him courage to bear the difficulties and troubles which he may meet with in his ministry, that being strengthened by the comfort of your Spirit, he may remain steadfast to the end, and be received with all faithful servants into the joy of his Lord. Give your grace also to this people and church, that they may becomingly deport themselves towards this their Minister, that they may acknowledge him to be sent of you; that they may receive his doctrine with all reverence, and submit themselves to his


exhortations: To the end that they may by his Word, believing in Christ, be made partakers of eternal life. Hear us, O Father, through your beloved Son, who has taught us to pray, ‘Our father…’ AMEN.

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PRAYER FOR INSTALLATION GOD, our heavenly Father, who has called you to the office of the Ministry, and to take the oversight of this church, enlighten you with His Holy Spirit, strengthen you with His hand, and so govern you in your Ministry, that you may decently and fruitfully walk therein, to the glory of His Name, and to the advancement of the Kingdom of His Son Jesus Christ. AMEN.


PRAYER FOR CHURCH DEDICATION HOLY, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which is, and was, and is to come; the whole earth is full of y your glory. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is yours. Now, therefore, we thank you, O God, and praise your glorious Name. But who are we, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? For all things come of you, and of your own do we give you. O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build you a house for your holy Name, comes of your hand and is all your own. Now behold, O Lord our God, and look to this place where we are gathered in your Name; and have respect to the prayer of your servants and to their supplication, to hearken to the cry and the prayer that your servants pray before you this day, to take for your own this house which we would give you! O Lord God, who is from everlasting to everlasting, and whose kingdom is without end, maker of heaven and earth and sea, and all that in them is; King of kings and Lord of lords, Lawgiver, Defender, and Judge alone: to you we dedicate it Holy and blessed Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; three Persons

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in one God: to Thee we dedicate it. Father of all who believe in Jesus, and God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, here meet you with your children, teach them, strengthen them, and bless them: to you we dedicate it. Son of God, the Only-begotten of the Father, head over all things, the Lord our Righteousness, Saviour, Shepherd, High Priest, and Advocate, here draw all men to you; here sprinkle your ransomed ones with your atoning blood; here make your flock to lie down in green pastures beside the living waters; here be you a shadow from the heat and a refuge from the tempest; and, while your people worship in the outer sanctuary, pray for them within the Holiest of all: to you we dedicate it. Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son, who did come down upon our Lord Jesus beside Jordan, and upon the Church at the Pentecost, who takes up your abode in all believers, Comforter, Inspirer, Sanctifier, here display your power, succeed your truth, give hope to the penitent and gladness to the mourner. Subdue your foes, hallow your Church, and accomplish all the glory of redemption, to you we dedicate it. Arise, O Lord, into your rest, you and the ark of your strength ! But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth?


Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain you; how much less this house which we have built? Yet dwell you also with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit. So be your eyes opened toward this house night and day; and toward the place of which you has said, My Name shall be there; and hearken you to the supplication of your servants and of your people Israel when they shall pray toward this place; and hear you in heaven, your dwelling-place; and when you hear, forgive. Dwell you with us in your tabernacle, while we are yet in the wilderness, then take us up to your house in heaven, that we may dwell with you forever. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you that leads Joseph like a flock: you that dwells between the cherubim, shine forth. How dreadful is this place ! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven! AMEN.

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PRAYER FOR WISDOM O GOD of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, give to us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: that the eyes of our understanding may be enlightened; that we may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints; and what the exceeding greatness of your power toward us who believe, according to its mighty working in Christ, when you did raise Him from the dead, and set Him at your own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and has put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the Church, which is His Body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all. AMEN.


PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL STRENGTH FATHER of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole Family in heaven and earth is named: We bow our knees to you, praying that you would grant us according to the riches of your glory to be strengthened with might by your Spirit in the inner man - That Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith; that we, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ, that passes knowledge; that we may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. AMEN.

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PRAYER FOR GOOD JUDGMENT ALMIGHTY God, we pray you, that the love of all your people may abound yet more and more, in knowledge and in all judgment: that they may approve things that are excellent; that they may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. AMEN.


PRAYER FOR HOPE O GOD of hope, fill us with all joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

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PRAYER FOR FAITH AND CHARITY

I O GOD, we render thanks to you for the faith and charity of your people, and for all the joy wherewith we joy for their sakes before you. And we pray you to perfect that which is lacking in their faith. Make them to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men: to the end that you may establish their hearts blameless in Holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. Very God of peace, sanctify them wholly; and may their whole spirit and soul and body be presented blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. AMEN.

II O LORD, who has taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth, send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whosoever lives is counted dead before you. Grant this for your only Son, Jesus Christ’s sake. AMEN.

— adapted from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer

– collect Quinquagesima Sunday


PRAYER FOR PROTECTION

O GOD, who knows us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright, grant to us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.


– collect 4th after Epiphany

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PRAYER FOR GRACE TO DO GOOD WORKS O GOD of Peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting Covenant, make us perfect in every good work to do your will, working in us that which is well pleasing in your sight, through Jesus Christ: To whom be glory for ever and ever. AMEN.


PRAYER FOR UNITY GOD of Patience and Consolation, grant us to be like-minded one toward another according to Jesus Christ: that we may with one mind and one mouth glorify you; even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN.

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PRAYER FOR INCREASE IN GRACE ALMIGHTY God, we thank you for your grace which is given us by Christ Jesus ~ praying that in every thing we may be enriched by Him, in all utterance and in all knowledge, so that we come behind in no gift: waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall also confirm us unto the end, that we may be blameless in that day. You are faithful, O God, by whom we were called unto the fellowship of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.


PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE FROM SIN O GOD, we thank you that we, who were the servants of sin, have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered us: and being now made free from sin, and become servants to God, may we have our fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life: Through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

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PRAYER FOR PATIENCE DIRECT our hearts, O Lord, into the love of God, and

into the patience of Christ. AMEN.


PRAYERS FOR PEACE

I O LORD of peace, give us peace always by all means.

AMEN.

II O GOD, who are the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom stands our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom, defend us your humble servants in all assaults of our enemies that we, surely trusting in your defence, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

— adapted from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer – 2nd collect for Peace

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PRAYER FOR STEADFASTNESS

I O GOD, who has from the beginning chosen us to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth, grant us grace to stand fast, and hold the traditions which we have been taught, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus Christ, and God, even our Father, who yourself has loved us, and has given us everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace, comfort our hearts, and establish us in every good word and work, that we may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. AMEN.

II O LORD, our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who has safely brought us to the beginning of this day; Defend us in the same with thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance to do always that is righteous in thy sight, though Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

— adapted from the Book of Common Prayer collect 3rd – for grace


PRAYER FOR SANCTIFICATION GRANT, O our God, we pray you, to count us worthy of your calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of your goodness, and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in us, and we in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN.

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PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL COMFORT BLESSED be you, O God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of you. And as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so may our consolation also abound by Christ: that as we are partakers of the sufferings, so we may be also of the consolation. Deliver us, O God, in Whom we trust, and grant us the testimony of a good conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by your grace, we may have our conversation in the world. Thanks be to you, O God, Who always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the savour of your knowledge by us in every place. AMEN.


PRAYER FOR THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH O GOD and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we give you thanks for all your saints our faithful brethren in Christ: desiring that they might be filled with the knowledge of your will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that they might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Strengthen them with all might, according to your glorious power, to all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness. May they ever give thanks to you, O Father, who has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of your dear Son: in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins. AMEN.

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PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS O GOD our Saviour, who would have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth: Let your way be known upon the earth, your saving health to all nations. Let the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of the Lord and of His Christ. We pray for kings, and for all that are in authority: that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. And we pray for your servants, who in every place make manifest the saving of your knowledge, preaching among the nations the unsearchable riches of Christ. Supply them with your Spirit; open to them doors of utterance, to make known the mystery of the Gospel; deliver them from unreasonable and wicked men; and may the Word of the Lord every where have free course and be glorified, even as it is with us. Lord of the harvest, send forth labourers into your harvest. AMEN.


PRAYER IN TIME OF DISCORD MOST Gracious Lord, we humbly pray you would grant us hearts mindful of your past mercies toward this nation. Suffer us never to fall into unthankfulness and forgetfulness of your benefits publicly received. Be pleased to continue your fatherly guidance and direction of our ways. Dissipate the counsels of such as labour to stir up the hearts of this people against one another: let their malicious practices be for their own confusion; and grant of your mercy that love, concord, and tranquility may continue and increase among the inhabitants of this land, even until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ by whose glorious Gospel you do call us to unity, peace, and Christian harmony, the full perfection whereof we shall possess in your Kingdom: where all offences shall be removed, all iniquity suppressed, and your chosen ones fully endued with that perfect glory in which our Lord Jesus now reigns; to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory evermore. AMEN.

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PRAYERS FOR THE SICK

I ALMIGHTY, Eternal, Righteous God, and Merciful Father, you who are Lord of life and death, and without whose will nothing is done in heaven, nor on earth: Although we are not worthy to call upon your Name, nor to hope that you will hear us, when we consider how we have hitherto employed our time: We pray that you will be pleased of your mercy to look upon us in the face of Jesus Christ, who has taken all our infirmities on Him. We acknowledge that we are utterly incapable of any good, and prone to all evil, wherefore we have justly merited this punishment, yes, have deserved much more. But, Lord, you know that we are your people, and you are our God: we have no other refuge than in your mercy, which you have never withheld from anyone who turned himself to you. Therefore we beseech you not to impute our sins to us, but account the wisdom, righteousness, and holiness of Jesus Christ to us, that we may in Him be able to stand before you. Deliver us for His sake from these sufferings, that the wicked may not think that you have forsaken us. And if it be your pleasure longer thus to try us, give us strength and patience to bear all suffering according to your will, and let all turn according to your wisdom to our profit. Rather chasten us here, than hereafter, to be lost with a


sinful world. Grant that we may die to this world, and all earthly things, and that we may daily more and more be renewed after the image of Jesus Christ. Suffer us not by any means to be separated from your love; but draw us daily nearer and nearer to you, that we may attain unto the end of our calling with joy; that we may die, rise again, and live with Christ in eternity. We also believe that you will hear us through Jesus Christ, who has taught us to pray Our Father, etc. Strengthen us also in the true Faith, which we believe in our hearts, and profess with our mouths I believe in God, etc. AMEN.

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II ETERNAL, Merciful God and Father, the eternal salvation of the living and the everlasting life of the dying; seeing that you have death and life in your hand alone, and take such care of us continually, that neither health nor sickness, nor any good or evil can befall us, no, not a hair can fall from our head, without your will: and since you do order all things for the good of your People: we pray you would grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, to teach us rightly to acknowledge our misery, and patiently to bear your chastenings, which we have deserved ten thousand times more severe. We know that they are not the evidences of your wrath, but of your fatherly love towards us, that we should not be condemned with the world. O Lord, increase our faith in your infinite mercy, that we may be more and more united to Christ, as members to the spiritual Head, to whom you will make us conformable in sufferings and in glory. Lighten the cross, so that our weakness may be able to bear it. We submit ourselves entirely to your holy will, whether you are pleased to continue our souls longer in these tabernacles, or take them into eternal life; since we belong to Christ, and therefore shall not perish. We would willingly leave this weak body in hope of a blessed resurrection, when it shall be restored to us much more glorious. Grant us to experience the blessed comforts of the remission of sins, and of justification through Christ, that we by


that shield may overcome all the assaults of Satan. May His innocent blood wash away all the stain and uncleanness of our sins, and His righteousness answer for our unrighteousness in your last judgment. Arm us with faith and hope, that we may not be ashamed nor confounded by the terrors of death. But when our bodily eyes are closing in darkness, may the eyes of our souls be directed towards you: and when you shall have deprived us of the use of our tongues, may our hearts never cease to call upon you O Lord, into your hands we commit our souls: forsake us not in our last extremity, and that only for the sake of Jesus Christ who has taught us to pray Our Father etc… AMEN

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III

FOR A SICK CHILD ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father in whose hands are the issues of life and death: Look down we pray, in compassion, upon the sick child for whom our prayers are desired. If it be your good pleasure, deliver him/her, from his/her bodily sickness, prolong his/her days upon the earth, enable him/her to live in your fear and to your glory, and visit him/her with your salvation. But if it be your will, O glorious God to take his/her soul at this time out of the world, receive him/her, we pray you, into those heavenly habitations, where the spirits of all who are in Christ enjoy perpetual repose and blessedness. Grant this, O Lord! for the love of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. AMEN


IV

FOR A PERSON UNDER AFFLICTION MERCIFUL God and heavenly Father who has taught us in your holy Word that you do not willingly afflict the children of men: Look with pity we pray, upon the sorrows of your servant, for whom our prayers are desired. In your wisdom, you have visited them with trouble, and have brought distress upon their soul. Remember them, O Lord! In mercy: sanctify your Fatherly correction to them, endue their soul with patience under their affliction, and with resignation to your blessed will. Comfort them with a sense of your goodness, and give them, peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN

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PRAYER FOR RAIN O GOD; Creator and Governor, who preserves man and beast, look, we pray you would water abundantly our dry, thirsty land from your river which is full of water. Let your paths overflow with abundance that the springing of the earth may be blessed, the fruits thereof be perfect and plentiful, and the year crowned with your goodness. Spare us, O Lord, in your mercy, and cause your people to rejoice because of your bounty. Shed forth your Holy Spirit on your Churches, that your heritage may he confirmed and your word be fruitful abundantly, for the glory of your holy Name through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN


PRAYER FOR FAIR WEATHER O GOD of love and compassion, who of old did set your bow in the cloud for a token of a covenant between you and the earth, we humble ourselves before you on account of our sins, and acknowledge your chastisement to be just. Yet spare us, O Lord. Stay the excess of rain, and cause your sun to shine, that, the hope of harvest being fulfilled, our barns may be stored with your bounty, and our souls rejoice in you. Above all; O Lord, grant that the Sun of Righteousness may arise upon us with healing in His wings; and your people, walking all the day in the light of your countenance, in your righteousness may be exalted. Do this, O Father of mercies, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ. AMEN

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PRAYER FOR PEACE

O GOD of peace, who did send to us messages of peace by your Son, the Prince of peace, and commands us to be at peace with all men, we entreat you to save us from quarrel, bloodshed, and war. Still the tumult of the people as you do the raging of the sea. Disappoint the devices of the wicked, and bring their machinations to naught. Fill our hearts and the hearts of all men with your love, that we may dwell in safety under the wings of your Holy Spirit, and have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN


PRAYER IN TIME OF DISEASE O GOD, we are consumed by your anger, and by your wrath are we troubled. You have seen that our iniquities are great, and you have sent the angel of death to smite us sorely. Oh, vex us no more in your displeasure, but by your Holy Spirit turn our hearts and the hearts of all our people to your righteous ways, that so you may repent of the evil, and our lives may be prolonged for the honour of your blessed Name. Yet, O Lord whatsoever you have in store for us of good or of evil, give us grace to trust our souls in your keeping, and to praise you with humility and with fear, that, whether we live or die, we may be yours, and at last find an abundant entrance into life eternal, through Him who died for us and rose again. AMEN

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PRAYER FOR THOSE ABSENT FROM HOME O GOD, who is everywhere present, ruling the sea and the land, we entreat you for [him, her, or those] now absent from us: Rescue them from peril, from sickness, from sin, and from death. Cover them as with a shield, and sanctify their experience of your mercy to their eternal profit and joy. In due time restore them to their homes, and keep them and us through the journey of this life, that we all may reach our Father’s house in peace, through His grace who has opened the kingdom of heaven to all that believe on His holy Name. AMEN


THANKSGIVING FOR RAIN AND HARVEST WE thank you, O God, in whose hand are all things, that you have heard our prayers, and have sent us abundant rain. Continue, O Lord, to shed down the riches of your bounty, that our valleys may be covered with corn, and the pastures rejoice. Grant also, for your Name’s sake, that our grateful hearts, ever mindful of your love, may evermore praise you with holy gratitude, reverence, and obedience, for Jesus Christ’s sake. AMEN O GOD, Who has said that whatsoever a man sows he shall also reap, we heartily thank you for your blessing on the labours of the farmers, and that a good harvest has been gathered. May we who live by your bounty, live to your praise, and our souls be preserved from pride or forgetfulness of you, who feeds your children with the finest of the wheat. Remember the poor, and cause us to remember them. Speedily gather to yourself a harvest of praise from all nations and all the earth, that the good seed of the Word sown in your Name may bear fruit abundantly to your eternal glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN

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PRAYER FOR THOSE AT SEA

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who alone commands the winds and the waves, and they obey you: we your unworthy and sinful creatures, separated upon the sea from the dwellings of men, would humbly address to you our prayers. We confess our many transgressions and wickedness; and implore your mercy and forgiving grace through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. We worship you, O God; and beholding your works and your wonders in the deep, magnify and exalt your great and holy Name: and ascribe to you all dominion and majesty and glory for ever and ever. May your fear ever fall upon us, O Lord; and your excellence make us suitably afraid. We give thanks to you for your goodness and loving-kindness to us, notwithstanding our guilt, and the magnitude of our sins: and would call upon our souls to bless and praise your holy Name, for your upholding mercy and preserving care. Vouchsafe to us, O Lord, the continued defences and blessings of your providence. Spare us your just judgments; shield us from dangers seen and unseen: prosper us on our way, and bring us to our destined haven. Above all, grant to us, O heavenly Father, the abundant influence of your Holy Spirit, to enlighten our minds in the knowledge of your truth, to purify


our hearts from indwelling sin, and to walk in us both to will and to do of your good pleasure. Grant to us repentance and the remission of sin, and that faith which is the gift of God: that we may bring forth to you, in our hearts and lives, the peaceable fruits of righteousness. Forbid, O Lord our God, that we should make shipwreck of the soul; but being guided and guarded by your good Spirit, may we finish the voyage of life in safety, and find entrance at last into the haven of eternal rest, through Jesus Christ our Lord: To whom, with Thee the Father, and the Holy Spirit, be glory everlasting. AMEN

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PRAYER FOR THOSE IN AUTHORITY

O LORD, our Heavenly Father, the high and mighty Ruler of the universe, who from your throne behold all the dwellers upon earth, most heartily we pray you would behold and bless with favour your servant, [Head of state/government], and all others in authority; and so replenish them with the grace of your Holy Spirit, that they may always incline to your will, and walk in your way. Endue them plenteously with heavenly gifts; grant them in health and prosperity long to live: and finally, after this life, to attain everlasting joy and felicity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN


PRAYERS IN ADVENT I

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and may put on the armour of light, now in the time of this life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day when he shall come in His glorious Majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to life immortal, through Him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and ever. AMEN

II

BLESSED Lord, who has caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning; grant that we may in such a way hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of your holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. AMEN

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III

O LORD Jesus Christ, who at your first coming did send a messenger to prepare your way before you; grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready your way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in your sight, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. AMEN

IV

O LORD rise up in your power, and come among us, and with great might aid us; that where through our sins and wickedness, we are in misery and hindered in running the race that is set before us, your bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through the fulfillment of your Son our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be honour and glory, world without end. AMEN

- adapted from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer


PRAYERS AT CHRISTMAS

ALMIGHTY God, who has given us your only begotten Son to take our nature upon Him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; grant that we being regenerate, and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit, through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who, lives and reigns with you and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. AMEN


O GOD who by the leading of a star did make known your only begotten Son to the Gentiles; mercifully grant that we which know you now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of your glorious Godhead, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN


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PRAYERS AT EASTER

GOOD FRIDAY I

ALMIGHTY God, we pray that you would look upon this your family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was content to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon a cross, who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. AMEN

II ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified; receive our prayers, which we offer before you for all the people of the Church, that every member in their vocation and ministry may truly serve you in a godly way; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. AMEN

III O MERCIFUL God, who has made all men, and hates nothing that you have made, nor wishes the death of a sinner, but rather that they should be converted and live; have mercy upon us from every nation, take from us all ignorance, hardness of heart,


and contempt for your Word; and so bring them home, blessed Lord, to your flock, that they may be saved among the remnant under the one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. AMEN

– adapted from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer

EASTER DAY I

GRANT O Lord, that as we are baptised into the death of your blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; so by continually putting to death our love of sin we may be buried with him; and that through the grave, an the gate of death, we may pass to our joyful resurrection, for His glory, who dies, was buried, and rose again for us, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN

II ALMIGHTY God, who through your only begotten Son Jesus Christ has overcome death, and opened to us thegate of everlasting life; we humbly pray you would grant us your special grace minds filled with good desires, so that by your continual help we may

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bring them to effect through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. AMEN

III CHRIST is risen from the dead:

and became the first-fruits of those that slept. For since by man came death:

by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die:

so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Cor 15:20

Glory be to God the Father, And to the Son,

And to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, Is now, and ever shall be, World without end. AMEN

– adapted from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer


PRAYERS ON ALL SAINTS’ DAY

ALMIGHTY God who has knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord; grant us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys, which you have prepared for those that sincerely love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN


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PRAYERS ON REFORMATION SUNDAY

The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you And also with you Lift up your hearts

We lift them to the Lord Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

It is right to give you our thanks and praise

WE praise you for your glorious Word that spoke, And it was so. With just a word you create a universe of breath taking beauty and tenderly breathe life into human beings made in your image. When we do not listen to you and follow our own desires, you do not leave us to our own devices but seek us out to make covenant, and you keep your word to us even when we break ours to you. You free us from bondage and give us the Word in your law, though we prefer idols of our own making and leaders of our own exaltation. Still you send prophets to preach to us the words of eternal life. Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with choirs of angels, with prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and with all the faithful of every time and place, who forever sing to the glory of your name:

The people may sing or say:


Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

We give you thanks for the Word made flesh in Jesus of Nazareth, born out of words of affirmation to angelic annunciation: “Let it be.” And it was so. The Word uttered before the foundations of the earth cried out in a feeding trough to become for us bread of life, Passover lamb. He taught us how to follow your Word so that we might have life eternal and would not be quiet even when leaders exalted him on a cross of tortured shame. But you, O God, have the last word with resurrection shout of victory, and so we cry, “Glory!”

Glory! Honor

Honor! Praise! Praise!

Dominion! Dominion!

You continue to reveal yourself to us by teaching us as you walk with us along the way, stopping to break bread and commune with us in joy and in sorrow. And so we shout the good news:

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“The Lord is risen!” He is risen indeed!

Remembering all these gifts of your faithful Word throughout the ages, we take from your creation these gifts of bread and wine and offer them to you with our words of deepest thanks and praise, as we offer ourselves to the service of your Word at work in the world.

Let it be unto me according to your word! Dying you destroyed our death,

Rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus, come again!

Holy Spirit, holy breath move once more among us that the bread we break and the cup we bless may be for us a kingdom meal in the light of the Sovereign glory of Christ, our host. Unite and repair all brokenness in communion among us and within us and throughout the world.

Particular intercessions may be offered here.

In your strength may we be fed to rise anew from this table to preach, pray and promote your eternal Word that is bringing all into accord with your promised glory.

Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,


all glory and honour are yours, almighty Word, now and forevermore. Amen.

- adapted from PCUSA

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PRAYERS OF EXHORTATION

I

WE call upon you, Lord,

for grace to enable us to learn your Word well, to live devoutly in accordance with it, and to die happy in believing. AMEN.


II

DEAR Lord Christ, you have enlightened our hearts with your truth.

Grant us your Spirit and the power to do and not to do whatever pleases your gracious will. AMEN.



SACRAMENTS

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BAPTISM In the liturgies that follow for Baptism, the forms of words given for the Elder to use are suggestions which may be varied as the Session shall see fit, provided that the content is maintained. The exception to this is the baptismal formula itself which must be followed exactly. Similarly, the candidate’s responses to the questions proposed may be varied as appropriate, but the words of the Apostles’ Creed must be followed exactly, if used in the service.

————————

For you, little child, Jesus Christ has come, he has fought, he has suffered. For you he entered the shadow of Gethsemane and the horror of Calvary. For you he uttered the cry, ‘It is finished!’ For you he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven and there he intercedes—for you, little child, even though you do not know it. But in this way the word of the Gospel becomes true. ‘We love him, because he first loved us.’

— French Reformed Baptismal Liturgy


THE BAPTISM OF ADULTS The presiding Elder shall give an explanation of Baptism, such as this: Baptism is a sign, commanded by Jesus, that the world is divided into two groups: those who belong to him, and those who do not; those who are part of the family of God, the Christian Church; and those who are not. When a person joins the Church of Jesus Christ that fact is marked by baptism. Baptism is a sign of three totally undeserved, gracious things that Jesus does for Christians. First, it is a sign of being washed clean, because Christians have been washed clean from their sins by Jesus’ death on the cross. Second, it is a sign of dying and rising to new life, because a Christian’s old self has died and they have risen to a new life with Jesus, and there will be a day when their bodies also will be raised from the dead, as Jesus was. Third, the poured water is a sign of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus pours out on all who trust in him. Baptism does not automatically do any of these things. But when a baptised person believes the promises contained in their baptism, God does somehow use it to do these things for them. Therefore for baptism to be of any value to the

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baptised person, they must love, serve and trust Jesus Christ for the rest of their life. Statement of Faith Elder: (name) has come to be baptised. It is therefore essential that he believes in Jesus Christ and understands His gospel. I am therefore going to ask him to affirm his/her own faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,


and the life everlasting. Amen. Elder: Do you believe that the death which baptism symbolizes should by rights have been yours, were it not for Christ‘s death for you, taking the penalty for your sins? I do. Elder: Do you believe that the washing from sin, new life, and outpouring of the Spirit which baptism symbolises come only through Christ‘s death and resurrection? I do. Elder: Do you therefore understand that you can only be saved through faith in Jesus Christ, and not through anything you can do? I do. Elder: Do you renounce the world, the flesh and the devil, and repent of your sins of thought, word and deed against the living God?

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I do. Elder: Do you trust in Christ alone for your salvation, and understand that you must continue to do so for your whole life, if your baptism is to be of any value to you? I do. Baptismal Promises Elder: Do you therefore promise to live from this day forward in the instruction, obedience and worship of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit? I do. Elder: Do you promise, to the best of your ability and in the power of the Holy Spirit, to lead a life of devoted service to your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? I do.


Congregational promise Elder: (name) is to be baptised into the visible Church of Jesus Christ, and will become a member of this congregation. Therefore you who are members are all obliged to love and receive (him/her) as a fellow-member of Christ’s body, for ‘we were all baptised into one body’. Do you promise to encourage him/her in his/her Christian life by godly example, prayer, exhortation and practical concern? Congregation: We do. The Baptism Elder: (name) has affirmed his/her faith in Jesus Christ and promised to serve him with the rest of his/her life. I am therefore delighted to baptise him/her today. [Baptism] Elder: (Name), I baptise you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

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Prayer Elder: Our Father, we commit our brother/sister (name) to you. Please have mercy on him/her and be faithful to the promises you have made to him/her today. May he/she never know a day when he does not believe those promises and turn away from his sins and towards Jesus Christ. And may he/she be a faithful servant of Christ till the end of his/her life. In Jesus’ name, Amen. [It is usual for a certificate of baptism to be provided by the Session.]


THE BAPTISM OF INFANTS The presiding Elder shall give an explanation of Baptism, such as this: The Christian gospel is that God has made his Son, Jesus Christ, Lord of all. The Christian Church is those people Jesus has brought into his kingdom, who have been forgiven for their sins and now live with Jesus as their Lord. They are the family of God, who through faith in Jesus, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, know God as their Father. They are the people of God, with whom he made a covenant in the time of Abraham, that they would be his and know him as their God. God alone knows those whom he has chosen to have genuine faith. Nevertheless, he has given signs to show visibly who is a member of Jesus’ Church, and to convince them that all of God’s promises and mercies in Christ apply to them, if they receive them in faith. These signs are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is therefore the sign that someone has joined the Christian Church. It is a sign of being washed clean, because Christians have been washed clean from their sins by Jesus’ death on the cross. It is also a sign of dying and rising, because a Christian’s old self has died and they have risen to a

Book of Liturgy 189


new life with Jesus. Finally, the poured water is a sign of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus pours out on all who trust in him. Baptism does not automatically do any of these things. But when a baptised person believes the promises contained in their baptism, God uses it mysteriously to do these things for them. As the covenant family of God, children born to members of Jesus’ Church, who will be brought up believing the Christian gospel, are counted as members of his church. That is why from the beginning of the church households have been baptised because of the parents’ faith in Christ. Baptism does not guarantee a child‘s salvation, but marks them as being part of the church family. Like all Christians, baptised children are responsible for trusting in Christ and believing his promises throughout the rest of their lives. And they are to be brought up knowing they have been baptised, counting themselves as privileged members of Jesus’ Church, knowing God as their Father and Jesus as their Saviour and Lord, and aware of their lifelong duty to serve him. [Note: * indicates ‘her’ or ‘she’ is to be substituted when appropriate] Statement of Faith


Elder: (Father and/or Mother’s names) have brought (Child’s name) to be baptised. It is therefore essential that they believe in Christ and will bring (name) up to do so too. I am therefore going to ask them to affirm their own faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed. Parent/s: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Elder:

Book of Liturgy 191


Do you believe that the death which baptism symbolises should by rights have been yours and (child‘s name)’s, were it not for Christ‘s death for you, taking the penalty for your sins? I/We do. Elder: Do you believe that the washing from sin, new life, and outpouring of the Spirit which baptism symbolises come only through Christ‘s death and resurrection? I/We do. Elder: Do you therefore understand that people can only be saved through faith in Jesus Christ, and not through anything they can do? I/We do. Elder: Do you renounce the world, the flesh and the devil, and repent of your sins of thought, word and deed against the living God? I/We do. Elder:


Do you trust in Christ alone for your salvation, and understand that (name) must do so too, if his* baptism is to be of any value to him*? I/We do. Baptismal Promises Elder: Do you therefore promise to bring (name) up in the instruction, obedience and worship of the Lord, to pray for him* and with him*, to include him* in the fellowship of the church, and to be an example to him* of faith and life? I/We do. Elder: Will you teach him* what his baptism means for him*, urge him* to repent and believe continually in the Lord Jesus Christ, and assist him* in every possible way to lead a life of devoted service to his* Lord and Saviour? I/We will. Congregational promise

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Elder: (Name) is to be baptised into the visible Church of Jesus Christ, and will become a member of this congregation. Therefore we who are members are all obliged to love and receive him* as a fellow-member of Christ’s body, for ‘we were all baptised into one body’. Do you promise to encourage him* in his* Christian life by godly example, prayer, exhortation and practical concern? We do. The Baptism Elder: (Name) has been born into the family of the church and will be brought up to know and love Jesus Christ. I am therefore delighted to baptise him* today. [Baptism] Elder: (Name), I baptise you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Prayer Our Father, we commit our brother/sister (name) to you. Please have mercy on him* and be faithful to the promises you have made to him* today. As he*


grows up may he* never know a day when he* does not believe those promises and turn away from his* sins and towards Jesus Christ. And may he* be a faithful servant of Christ till the end of his* life. In Jesus’ name, Amen. [It is usual for a certificate of baptism to be provided by the Session.]

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LORD’S SUPPER The Elder should read the words of institution of the Lord’s Supper as found in 1 Corinthians 11 or one of the Gospels. In addition, he may read other words of instruction, such as from 1 Corinthians 1O or John 6. The Elder shall explain the meaning of the Lord’s Supper, for example: The Lord Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper for his Church as a perpetual memorial of his death for her until his return. It is not a sacrifice but a remembrance of his once-for-all sacrifice of himself for the sins of his people. It is not only a memorial, but a means by which God feeds us with the crucified, risen and exalted Christ. In it God promises to his people that if they receive him with faith, Christ is made one with them by the work of the Holy Spirit. As we receive the bread and the wine, we receive by faith Christ and all the benefits of his suffering and death. In this Supper, then, God calls us to deeper gratitude for our salvation, greater repentance of our sin, and renewed commitment to obey him, as we wait for the great wedding feast of the Lamb when he returns, of which this meal is a foretaste and a pledge. The Lord’s Supper is also a pledge of the communion which believers have with Christ and


with each other. As Scripture says, ‘we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.’ As we come to the Lord’s Table, we are humbly to resolve to deny ourselves, put to death our sinful nature, resist the temptation of the devil, and commit ourselves again to the service of Christ and his people who bear his name. The Elder shall declare Christ‘s invitation to his Table to all who are baptised believers, living penitent lives, and members in good standing (or equivalent) of Christian churches. He shall exhort them to receive from Christ as they eat and drink all that is signified by the Supper. He shall warn the unbaptized, the unbelieving, the impenitent, and those out of fellowship with other believers against participation, for fear of eating and drinking judgment on themselves. At the same time, he should make clear that the Lord calls them to repentance and faith and promises them all the benefits of the gospel, signified by the Lord’s Supper, should they do so. The Elder shall offer prayer for the Holy Spirit to work in Christ‘s people as they receive the Supper, and thanksgiving for the elements and all that they signify. The Elder shall break the bread in the sight of the people and say the following or similar words:

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Our Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, took the bread and having blessed it, broke it and gave it to his disciples saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ He shall take the cup in the sight of the people, and say the following or similar words: After they had eaten the bread, our Lord Jesus took the cup and gave it to his disciples saying: ‘This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you.’ A prayer of thanksgiving shall be offered by the Elder. Congregational prayer, such as the Lord’s Prayer, or singing, is an appropriate response.


CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

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CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

The Public Declaration of Faith The way that membership is recognised publicly involves one of the three following procedures, but the substance and validity of membership remains the same:

by public profession of faith — for those who have previously been baptised as an infant but have never made a public declaration of their faith before;

by baptism — for those who have never been baptised;

by resolution of the Session — where an individual has previously been baptised and a member of another church, the Session may resolve to admit an individual to membership. This will be publicly acknowledged in the church notices.

Model Form of Words for Public Declaration of Faith and Membership: The Bible is clear that commitment to, and full involvement in, one congregation of Jesus’ universal Church is a basic part of being one of Jesus’ followers. As ‘members’ of Jesus’ body, we are to


live lives of loving commitment to the family of Christians in one particular church, and of willing submission to the teaching, advice and discipline of the Elders Jesus has placed over that church. Membership of a church, therefore, is simply a normal part of being a Christian. To become a member of the church, we ask that you affirm your faith in the Holy Trinity through the Lord Jesus Christ, and that you promise to be committed to the church in the way the Bible requires, by answering the questions below: Do you hold to the Christian Faith in the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as expressed in the Apostles’ Creed? I do. Have you been baptised, and have you received from Jesus Christ the cleansing from sin and new life in the Holy Spirit which baptism symbolises? I have. Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins, and do you personally repent of your sins and trust in him alone for your forgiveness? I do.

Book of Liturgy 201


Do you recognise the authority of the Elders, and assent to the governance and oversight of the International Presbyterian Church, and are you willing to accept their discipline, if that should ever be necessary? I do. Do you promise to support this church by prayer, giving money and time, and caring practically for individuals? I do. Do you commit yourself to building and maintaining healthy relationships within this church, treating your fellow believers as your brothers and sisters in Christ? I do.


ORDINATION

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ORDINATION OF DEACONS 1 Timothy 3:8–13 sets forth the scriptural standards for the Diaconate. When any man or woman shall have been elected to this office, and shall have declared his or her willingness to accept it, he or she shall be ordained in the following manner. One of the Elders shall state, in a concise manner, the warrant and nature of the office of Deacon, together with the proper character to be sustained, and the duties to be fulfilled by the officer elect; having done this, he shall propose to the candidate in the presence of the congregation, the following questions: Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice without error in all matters of which they speak? I do. Are you in sympathy with the understanding of the Scriptures set down in the Westminster Standards or the Three Forms of Unity, and do you approve of the Presbyterian system of Church government? I am.


Do you consider yourself, by God’s grace, to fulfil the biblical qualifications for Deacons? I do. Will you endeavour not only in your work as Deacon, but in your whole manner of life, to pursue godliness and the fear of the Lord, and to be an example to the church? I will. Do you accept the office of Deacon(ess) in this congregation, and promise faithfully to perform all the duties thereof? I do. Do you promise to work for the purity, peace, and unity of the church? I do. The Deacon elect, having answered these questions in the affirmative, the Elder concerned shall address to the Members of the church the following question: Do you, the Members of this church, acknowledge and receive this brother/sister as a Deacon(ess), and do you promise to yield to him/her all that honour,

Book of Liturgy 205


encouragement and obedience in the Lord, to which his/her office according to the Word of God, and the constitution of this Church, entitles him/her? We will. The Session shall then proceed to set apart the candidate, to the office of Deacon, with the laying on of hands and prayer.


ORDINATION OF ELDERS An ordination (or installation, in the case of a man previously ordained) shall normally take place in the course of a service of worship in the church in which the new Elder is to serve. The presiding Elder shall report the proceedings of the Presbytery at which this man’s call to eldership has been confirmed. He shall then provide a brief explanation of the biblical basis for ordination and impress upon the congregation the significance and gravity of the office, and therefore of what is to follow. The following form of words shall be used in the ordination of Elders (both Teaching and Ruling): Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice, without error in all matters of which they speak, including matters of history, the cosmos and ethics? I do. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Westminster Standards (or the Three Forms of Unity)§ as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures, and setting forth a true understanding of them?

Book of Liturgy 207


I do. Do you believe the Presbyterian form of Church government to be taught in Scripture? I do. Do you promise to submit in the spirit of love to the Session, the Presbytery and Synod as is taught in the Word of God? I do. Have you been motivated, as far as you know your own heart, to seek the position of Elder out of love for God and a sincere desire to promote his glory in the gospel of his Son? I have. Do you promise to be faithful and diligent in upholding the truths of the gospel and in maintaining the purity and peace of the Church whatever persecution or opposition you may face as a result? I do. Do you promise to be faithful and diligent in the exercise of all private and personal duties, which are necessary for you as a Christian and as an Elder in Christ‘s Church? Will you devote yourself to prayer


and the study of God’s Word, and seek to live your life as an example of Christian discipleship to the flock? I do. Do you promise to be faithful and diligent in the task of leading and ruling the church, seeking to lead the church to greater Christlikeness and further the proclamation and the work of the kingdom of God? I do.

Teaching Elders only: Do you promise to be faithful and diligent in the regular preaching of the Word of God, endeavor to proclaim the whole counsel of God faithfully, clearly, consistently, and openly, without fear of the cost to yourself that may result? I do. Do you promise to be faithful and diligent in the regular administration of the sacraments in accordance with Christ‘s commands, and endeavor to communicate their meaning and importance to the church that they may receive them as means of grace?

Book of Liturgy 209


I do. (This may be omitted in the case of a man being ordained to work as a theologian rather than to minister in a church Session.) Ruling Elders only: Do you promise to proclaim the Word of God faithfully, clearly and openly, and to administer the sacraments in accordance with Christ‘s commands, without fear of the cost to yourself that may result? I do. [§ Either the Westminster Standards or the Three Forms of Unity may be used] The candidate having answered these questions acceptably, the presiding Elder shall ask the members of the congregation the following questions: Do you, the members of this church, receive (name) as an Elder over this congregation? We do. Do you promise to receive teaching from the Word of God from him with meekness and in love?


We do. Do you promise to give him the honour, encouragement, and obedience in the Lord, to which the office of Elder, according to the Word of God, and the Constitution of this Church, entitles him? We do. Do you promise to encourage and assist him in his demanding work, which is for your instruction and Christian growth? We do. (In the case of the Teaching Elder only), Do you acknowledge the scriptural requirement that you should provide for your Teaching Elders the financial support that they need? We do. The people having answered these questions in the affirmative, the presiding Elder shall give the ordination charge, for example, from 2 Timothy 4 or 1 Peter 5, as appropriate. The candidate shall kneel and the Elders present shall ordain him and install him by the laying on of

Book of Liturgy 211


hands and prayer. (In the case of installation only, he shall be installed with prayer only.) [End]


DOXOLOGIES

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I

Gloria

GLORY to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,

Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father;

receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord, You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. AMEN.


II

Doxology

PRAISE God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him all creatures here below; Praise him above you heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

AMEN.

III

Gloria Patri

GLORY be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Ghost, As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,

world without end. AMEN.

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IV

Te Deum Laudamus We praise you, O God, we acknowledge you to be the Lord. All the earth worships you the Father everlasting. To you all the angels cry aloud the heavens and all the powers therein. To you cherubim and seraphim do continually cry

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth; heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory. The glorious company of apostles praise you. The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise you. The noble army of martyrs praise you. The Holy Church throughout all the world acknowledges you; the Father of an infinite majesty; your honourable true and only Son; also the Holy Ghost the Comforter. You are the King of Glory, O Christ. You are the everlasting Son of the Father. When you took upon yourself to deliver man, you did not abhor the Virgin’s womb. When you had overcome the sharpness of death, you opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You sit at the hand of God in glory of the Father. We believe that you shall come to be our Judge.


We therefore pray you, help your servants, whom you have redeemed with your precious blood. Make them numbered with your saints in glory

everlasting O Lord, save your people and bless your heritage. Govern them and lift them up for ever. Day by day we magnify you; and worship your name, ever world without end. Grant, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin. O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us. O Lord, let your mercy come down upon us, as our

trust is in you. O Lord, in you have I trusted, let me not be confounded.26

26 Lightly modernised.

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AFFIRMATIONS OF

FAITH


SCRIPTURAL AFFIRMATIONS

Book of Liturgy 219


I In the beginning God made the heavens and the earth. In six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

(Gen. 1:1; Exod. 20:11)

II Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

(Deut. 6:4–5)

III

Our God is the Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

(Deut. 32:4, adapted)


IV

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

Selah There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Selah Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Selah

(Psalm 46) V

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Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD, or what man shows him his counsel? Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust . . . All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness. To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him? Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?


It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness . . . To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing . . . Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

(Isa. 40:12–31) VI

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WE BELIEVE that

in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that

was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

We believe that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth . . . and that from his fullness we have all

received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

We believe that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father through him. AMEN.

(John 1:1–4, 14–18; 14:6)


VII All of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.

(Rom. 6:3–10)

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VIII

WE BELIEVE

that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, then to the Twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred

brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared

also to Paul. We believe

that in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the

dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order:


Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the

kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.

For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

The last enemy to be destroyed is death . . . When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to

him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

AMEN.

(1 Cor. 15:3–8, 20–28)

Book of Liturgy 227


IX

WE BELIEVE that God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. AMEN.

(Eph. 2:4–10)


X WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. AMEN.

(Col. 1:15–20)

Book of Liturgy 229


XI

WE BELIEVE that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

We believe that

we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

(1 Thess. 4:14–17)


CREEDAL AFFIRMATIONS

Book of Liturgy 231


THE APOSTLES’ CREED

2nd century AD I BELIEVE in God, the Father, Almighty,

Creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell.27 The third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From there he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. AMEN.28

27 This line is not present in the earliest versions. It has been understood within the Reformed church as relating to Christ’s experience of God’s wrath on the cross (Calvin) or his continuing in the state of the dead and under the power of death for three days; in other words, hell = hades (WCF).


28 Slightly adapted from Philip Schaff, Creeds of Christendom, Volume I: With a History and Critical Notes, 4th ed. (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1884), 21–22.

Book of Liturgy 233


GREEK TEXT OF THE APOSTLES’ CREED Πιστεύω εἰς ΘΕΟΝ ΠΑΤΕΡΑ, παντοκράτορα,

ποιητὴν οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς. Καὶ (εἰς) ἸΗΣΟΥΝ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΝ, υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν

µονογενῆ, τὸν κύριον ἡµῶν, τὸν συλληφθέντα ἐκ πνεύµατος ἁγίου, γεννηθέντα ἐκ Μαρίας τῆς παρθένου, παθόντα ἐπὶ Ποντίου Πιλάτου, σταυρωθέντα, θανόντα, καὶ ταφέντα, κατελθόντα εἰς τὰ κατώτατα, τῇ τρίτῃ ἡµέρᾳ ἀναστάντα ἀπὸ τῶν νεκρῶν, ἀνελθόντα εἰς τοὺς οὐρανούς, καθεζόµενον ἐν δεξιᾷ θεοῦ πατρὸς

παντοδυνάµου, ἐκαῖθεν ἐρχόµενον κρῖναι ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς.

Πιστεύω εἰς τὸ ΠΝΕΥΜΑ ΤΟ ἍΓΙΟΝ, ἁγίαν καθολικὴν ἐκκλησίαν, ἁγίων κοινωνίαν, ἄφεσιν ἁµαρτιῶν, σαρκὸς ἀνάστασιν, ζωὴν αἰώνιον. Ἀµήν.29

29 Philip Schaff, Creeds of Christendom, Volume II: The Greek and Latin Creeds, 4th ed. (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1884), 45.


THE NICENE CREED

325 AD and 381 AD30 WE BELIEVE in one God, the Father Almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,

the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and became incarnate by the Holy Spirit

and the Virgin Mary, and was made man; he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and the third day he rose again,

according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven,

30 The original Nicene Creed (325 AD) ended after the words, ‘We believe in the Holy Spirit’. Content was added at the Council of Constantinople (381 AD). The Council of Ephesus (431 AD) reaffirmed the creed in this form and forbade additional revisions.

Book of Liturgy 235


and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again in glory

to judge the living and the dead; whose his kingdom shall have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son

together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic

Church; we acknowledge one baptism

for the forgiveness of sins; we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. AMEN.31

31 Slightly adapted Philip Schaff, Creeds of Christendom, Volume I: With a History and Critical Notes, 4th ed. (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1884), 28–29.


GREEK TEXT OF THE NICENE CREED Πιστεύοµεν εἰς ἕνα ΘΕΟΝ ΠΑΤΕΡΑ παντοκράτορα

ποιητὴν οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς ὁρατῶν τε πάντων καὶ ἀοράτων·

καὶ [Πιστεύοµεν] εἰς ἕνα Κύριον

ἸΗΣΟΥΝ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΝ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ τὸν Μονογενῆ, τὸν ἐκ τοῦ Πατρὸς γεννηθέντα πρὸ πάντων

τῶν αἰώνων, Φῶς ἐκ Φωτός, Θεὸν ἀληθινὸν ἐκ Θεοῦ ἀληθινοῦ, γεννηθέντα οὐ ποιηθέντα, ὁµοούσιον τῷ Πατρί, δι’ οὗ τὰ πάντα ἐγένετο· τὸν δι’ ἡµᾶς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους καὶ διὰ τὴν

ἡµετέραν σωτηρίαν κατελθόντα ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν, καὶ σαρκωθέντα ἐκ Πνεύµατος Ἁγίου

καὶ Μαρίας τῆς παρθένου, καὶ ἐνανθρωπήσαντα, σταυρωθέντα τε ὑπὲρ ἡµῶν ἐπὶ Ποντίου

Πιλάτου, καὶ παθόντα, καὶ ταφέντα, καὶ ἀναστάντα τῇ τρίτῃ ἡµέρᾳ

κατὰ τὰς γραφὰς, καὶ ἀνελθόντα εἰς τοὺς οὐρανοὺς, καὶ καθεζόµενον ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ Πατρὸς, καὶ πάλιν ἐρχόµενον µετὰ δόξης

Book of Liturgy 237


κρῖναι ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς, οὗ τῆς βασιλείας οὐκ ἔσται τέλος·

καὶ [Πιστεύοµεν] εἰς τὸ ΠΝΕΥΜΑ ΤΟ ἍΓΙΟΝ,

τὸ Κύριον καὶ Ζωοποιόν, τὸ ἐκ τοῦ Πατρὸς ἐκπορευόµενον,

τὸ σὺν Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ συµπροσκυνούµενον καὶ συνδοξαζόµενον,

τὸ λαλῆσαν διὰ τῶν προφητῶν· [Πιστεύοµεν] εἰς µίαν ἁγίαν καθολικὴν καὶ

ἀποστολικὴν ἐκκλησίαν· ὁµολογοῦµεν ἓν βάπτισµα εἰς ἄφεσιν

ἁµαρτιῶν· προσδοκῶµεν ἀνάστασιν νεκρῶν, καὶ ζωὴν τοῦ µέλλοντος αἰῶνος. ἀµήν.32

32 Philip Schaff, Creeds of Christendom, Volume II: The Greek and Latin Creeds, 4th ed. (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1884), 57–58.


THE CHALCEDON CREED

451 AD THEREFORE, following the holy fathers, we all with one consent, teach people to confess

one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man, of a rational soul and body; of one substance with the Father according to

his Godhead, and of one substance with us according to his

manhood; like us in all things, without sin; begotten before all ages of the Father, according

to his Godhead, and in these latter days, for us and for our

salvation, born of the Virgin Mary, the God-bearer,

according to his manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-

begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures,

without confusion, without change, without division, without separation;

the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union,

but rather the property of each nature being

Book of Liturgy 239


preserved, and concurring in one person and one

subsistence, not parted or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son, and Only-begotten, God the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the prophets from the beginning declared

concerning him, and the Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the Creed of the holy Fathers has handed down to us. 33 AMEN.

33 Slightly adapted from Philip Schaff, Creeds of Christendom, Volume II: The Greek and Latin Creeds, 4th ed. (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1884), 62–63.


GREEK TEXT OF THE CHALCEDON CREED Ἑπόµενοι τοίνυν τοῖς ἁγίοις πατράσιν

ἕνα καὶ τὸν αὐτὸν ὁµολογεῖν υἱὸν τὸν κύριον ἡµῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν

συµφώνως ἅπαντες ἐκδιδάσκοµεν, τέλειον τὸν αὐτὸν ἐν θεότητι καὶ τέλειον τὸν αὐτὸν ἐν ἀνθρωπότητι, θεὸν ἀληθῶς καὶ ἄνθρωπον ἀληθῶς τὸν

αὐτὸν, ἐκ ψυχῆς λογικῆς καὶ σώµατος, ὁµοούσιον τῷ πατρὶ κατὰ τὴν θεότητα, καὶ ὁµοούσιον τὸν αὐτὸν ἡµῖν κατὰ τὴν

ἀνθρωπότητα, κατὰ πάντα ὅµοιον ἡµῖν χωρὶς ἁµαρτίας· πρὸ αἰώνων µὲν ἐκ τοῦ πατρὸς γεννηθέντα

κατὰ τὴν θεότητα, ἐπ᾽ ἐσχάτων δὲ τῶν ἡµερῶν τὸν αὐτὸν δἰ ἡµᾶς

καὶ διὰ τὴν ἡµετέραν σωτηρίαν ἐκ Μαρίας τῆς παρθένου τῆς θεοτόκου

κατὰ τὴν ἀνθρωπότητα, ἕνα καὶ τὸν αὐτὸν Χριστόν, υἱόν, κύριον,

µονογενῆ, ἐκ δύο φύσεων [ἐν δύο φύσεσιν],

ἀσυγχύτως, ἀτρέπτως, ἀδιαιρέτως, ἀχωρίστως γνωριζόµενον·

οὐδαµοῦ τῆς τῶν φύσεων διαφορᾶς ἀνῃρηµένης διὰ τὴν ἕνωσιν,

Book of Liturgy 241


σωζοµένης δὲ µᾶλλον τῆς ἰδιότητος ἑκατέρας

φύσεως καὶ εἰς ἓν πρόσωπον καὶ µίαν ὑπὸστασιν

συντρεχούσης, οὐκ εἰς δύο πρόσωπα µεριζόµενον ἢ

διαιρούµενον, ἀλλ᾽ ἕνα καὶ τὸν αὐτὸν υἱὸν καὶ µονογενῆ, θεὸν λόγον, κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν· καθάπερ ἄνωθεν οἱ προφῆται περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ αὐτὸς ἡµᾶς ὁ κύριος Ιησοῦς Χριστὸς

ἐξεπαίδευσε καὶ τὸ τῶν πατέρων ἡµῖν παραδέδωκε34

σύµβολον.35

34 Schaff’s text reads καραδέδωκε, which is most likely a typographical error for παραδέδωκε. 35 Philip Schaff, Creeds of Christendom, Volume II: The Greek and Latin Creeds, 4th ed. (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1884), 62–63.


THE ATHANASIAN CREED

5th or 6th century AD WHOSOEVER will be saved, before all things it is

necessary that he hold the catholic Faith. Which Faith except every one do keep whole and

undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

And the catholic Faith is this:

That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;

Neither confounding the persons, nor dividing the substance.

For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit.

But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal.

Such as the Father is,

Book of Liturgy 243


such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit.

The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated.

The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible.

The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal.

And yet they are not three eternals: but one eternal. As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated, but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.

So likewise the Father is Almighty,

the Son Almighty, and the Holy Spirit Almighty.

And yet they are not three Almighties: but one Almighty.


So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God.

And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.

So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord.

And yet not three Lords, but one Lord.

For just as we are compelled by the Christian truth to acknowledge every person by himself to be God and Lord;

So are we forbidden by the catholic Religion to say there be three Gods, or three Lords.

The Father is made of none,

neither created, nor begotten.

The Son is of the Father alone,

not made, nor created, but begotten.

The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son,

Book of Liturgy 245


neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits. And in this Trinity none is before or after other; none is greater, or less than another; But the whole three Persons are co-eternal

together, and co-equal.

So that in all things, as was said before: the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.

He therefore that will be saved must thus think

of the Trinity.

Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For the right Faith is that we believe and

confess:


that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man:

God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds;

and Man, of the substance of his mother, born in the world;

Perfect God, and Perfect Man,

of a rational soul and human flesh subsisting;

Equal to the Father,

as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the Father,

as touching his Manhood.

Who although he be God and Man, yet he is not two, but one Christ;

One, not by conversion of the Godhead into

flesh, but by taking of the manhood into God; One altogether,

not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person.

For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one

man, so God and Man is one Christ.

Book of Liturgy 247


Who suffered for our salvation; descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

God Almighty: from there he shall come

to judge the living and the dead. At whose coming all men shall rise again

with their bodies and shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go

into life everlasting, and they that have done evil

into everlasting fire. This is the catholic Faith,

which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.36 AMEN.

36 Slightly adapted from Philip Schaff, Creeds of Christendom, Volume II: The Greek and Latin Creeds, 4th ed. (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1884), 66–70.


LATIN TEXT OF THE ATHANASIAN CREED Quicunque vult salvus esse: ante omnia opus est,

ut teneat catholicam fidem. Quam nisi quisque integram inviolatamque

servaverit: absque dubio in æternum peribit. Fides autem catholica hæc est:

ut unum Deum in Trinitate, et Trinitatem in Unitate veneremur;

Neque confundentes personas: neque substantiam separantes.

Alia est enim persona Patris: alia Filii: alia Spiritus Sancti.

Sed Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti una est divinitas: æqualis gloria, coæterna majestas.

Qualis Pater: talis Filius: talis [et] Spiritus Sanctus.

Increatus Pater:

Book of Liturgy 249


increatus Filius: increatus [et] Spiritus Sanctus.

Immensus Pater: immensus filius: immensus [et] Spiritus Sanctus.

Æternus Pater: æternus Filius: æternus [et] Spiritus Sanctus.

Et tamen non tres æterni: sed unus æternus. Sicut non tres increati: nec tres immensi: sed unus increatus: et unus immensus.

Similiter omnipotens Pater: omnipotens Filius: omnipotens [et] Spiritus Sanctus.

Et tamen non tres omnipotentes: sed unus omnipotens.

Ita deus Pater: deus Filius: deus [et] Spiritus Sanctus.

Et tamen non tres dii:


sed unus est Deus.

Ita dominus Pater: dominus Filius: dominus [et] Spiritus Sanctus.

Et tamen non tres domini: sed unus [est] Dominus.

Quia sicut singulatim unamquamque

personam Deum ac Dominum confiteri, Christiana veritate compellimur:

Ita tres deos, aut [tres] dominos dicere,

catholica religione prohibemur.

Pater a nullo est factus: nec creatus, nec genitus.

Filius a Patre solo est:

non factus, nec creatus: sed genitus.

Spiritus Sanctus a Patre et filio:

non factus, nec creatus, nec genitus: sed procedens.

Book of Liturgy 251


Unus ergo Pater, non tres patres: unus Filius, non tres filii: unus Spiritus Sanctus, non tres spiritus

sancti.

Et in hac Trinitate nihil prius, aut posterius: nihil majus, aut minus.

Sed totæ tres personæ coæternæ sibi sunt,

et coæquales.

Ita, ut per omnia, sicut jam supra dictum est: et Unitas in Trinitate, et Trinitas in Unitate, venerenda sit.

Qui vult ergo salvus esse,

ita de Trinitate sentiat.

Sed necessarium est ad æternam salutem: ut incarnationem quoque Domini nostri Jesu Christi fideliter credat.

Est ergo fides recta, ut credamus et

confiteamur:

quod Dominus noster Jesus Christus Dei Filius,

Deus [pariter] et homo est;

Deus [est] ex substantia Patris,


ante secula genitus: et homo ex substantia matris,

in seculo natus.

Perfectus Deus: perfectus homo, ex anima rationali et humana carne subsistens.

Aequalis Patri

secundum divinitatem: minor Patre

secundum humanitatem.

Qui licet Deus sit et homo; non duo tamen, sed unus est Christus.

Unus autem, non conversione divinitatis in

carnem: sed assumptione humanitatis in Deum.

Unus omnino;

non confusione substantiæ: sed unitate personæ.

Nam sicut anima rationalis et caro unus est

homo: ita Deus et homo unus est Christus.

Qui passus est pro nostra salute: descendit ad inferos: tertia die resurrexit a mortuis.

Book of Liturgy 253


Ascendit ad [in] cœlos: sedet ad dexteram [Dei] Patris

[omnipotentis].

Inde venturus [est] judicare vivos et mortuos.

Ad cujus adventum omnes homines resurgere habent cum corporibus suis;

Et reddituri sunt de factis propriis rationem.

Et qui bona egerunt, ibunt in vitam æternam: qui vero mala, in ignem æternum.

Hæc est fides catholicæ:

quam nisi quisque fideliter firmiterque crediderit,

salvus esse non poterit.37

37 Philip Schaff, Creeds of Christendom, Volume II: The Greek and Latin Creeds, 4th ed. (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1884), 66–70.


HEIDELBERG CATECHISM

QUESTION 1 MY ONLY comfort in life and death is that I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.38 AMEN.

38 Check the version is the same as subordinate standards.

Book of Liturgy 255


WESTMINSTER LARGER CATECHISM

QUESTION 7

WE BELIEVE that God is a Spirit, in and of himself infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection;

all-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible, everywhere present, almighty,

knowing all things, most wise, most holy, most just, most merciful and gracious, long-suffering,

and abundant in goodness and truth. AMEN.


JONATHAN EDWARDS

GOD GOD is the head of the universal system of existence; the foundation and fountain of all being and all beauty; from whom all is perfectly derived, and on whom all is most absolutely and perfectly dependent; of whom, and through whom, and to whom is all being and all perfection; and whose being and beauty is as it were the sum and comprehension of all existence and excellence: much more than the sun is the fountain and summary comprehension of all the light and brightness of the day.39 AMEN.

39 Slightly adapted from Jonathan Edwards, ‘The Nature of True Virtue,’ ed. Paul Ramsey, The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Volume 8: Ethical Writings (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1989), 550–551.

Book of Liturgy 257


CHARGES


CHARGES

I

BLESSED are they that hear the word of the Lord

and keep it. AMEN.

II

GO now to love and serve the Lord in the name of Christ. AMEN.

III

GOD has shown you what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy And to walk humbly with your God.

AMEN.

Book of Liturgy 259


IV

BE watchful; stand firm in the faith;

Be strong and courageous; Do everything in love.

AMEN.

V

BEGIN then to praise now if you intend to praise for ever. Praise and bless the Lord, your God, every single day, so that when the

time of single days is passed and there has come that one day without end, you may go from praise to

praise as from strength to strength. AMEN.

— Augustine of Hippo


BENEDICTIONS

Book of Liturgy 261


BENEDICTIONS

I

THE Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord cause his face to shine upon you

and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you

and give you his peace. AMEN.

(Num. 6:24–26)

II MAY the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit

you may abound in hope. AMEN.

(Rom. 15:13)

III

MAY the God of peace be with you all. AMEN.

(Rom. 15:33)


IV

MAY the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. AMEN.

(2 Cor. 13:14)

V

NOW may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will

surely do it. AMEN.

(1 Thess. 5:23–24)

Book of Liturgy 263


VI

NOW may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal

comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and

word. AMEN.

(2 Thess. 16–17)

VII THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

AMEN.

(2 Thess. 3:18)


VIII

NOW may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip

you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight,

through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. AMEN.

(Heb. 13:20–21)

IX

NOW to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior,

through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now

and forever. AMEN.

(Jude 24–25)

Book of Liturgy 265


APPENDIX

Permission to reproduce material in this volume has kindly been granted as follows: Bible quotes All Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2011 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission (ASK). All rights reserved. To be inserted when agreed

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BOOK OF LITURGY · 2016-04-26 · human history is the story of worship. In Eden, God called his son Adam to worship him by submitting to him alone as Father and King, by not eating