PRELUDE

The Service may begin with a Chorale, an Introit, a Processional Hymn, or opening Sentences.

SENTENCES, one or more to be read by the Minister

Enter into the spirit of this assembly, in love and charity with all men. Draw near with reverence, faith and thanksgiving, and accept the fellowship of human souls to your comfort. Stanton Coit.

Come into the circle of love and justice,
Come into the brotherhood of pity, of holiness and health,
Come, and ye shall know peace and joy. Israel Zangwill.

Men come to be builders by building, harp players by playing on the harp; exactly so, by doing just actions we come to be just; by doing the actions of temperance we come to be temperate; and by doing brave actions, brave. Aristotle.

The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith: against such there is no law. Gal. V: 22-23.

Let not kindness and truth forsake thee;
Bind them about thy neck;
Write them upon the tablet of thy heart;
So shalt thou find favor and good understanding. Proverbs III: 3.

The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Proverbs IV: 18.

PRAYER OF ASPIRATION, by the Minister

In this house of remembrance, where we gather to meditate upon the life of the spirit, let us call to mind the great and good who have blessed our race; the patient searchers after knowledge, the prophets of righteousness, the saints whose goodly lives shine across the ages, the humble folk whose names are forgotten but whose faithfulness was not in vain. While we give thanks that such as these have been, let us also strive to live in their spirit, and rejoice that in the generations to come soulsno less noble will arise to yet greater heights of service and of love. Amen.

or:
Into this house of light we come to seek that which is just and to find that which is good, and here we remember those whose lives are darkened by the greed and wrong of others. We have not purged the commerce of our times of those harsh ways that thwart the hopes anddreams of many. In this house of peace we remember wars and rumors of wars; we have made but feeble effort to understand the peoples of the world and to foster peace among the nations. In this house of joy we remember all sorrowing and troubled folk; we would not ourselves be glad except as we seek the blessings of abundant life in body and spirit for all our fellowmen. Let us here be gathered into a common power of good will which shall issue in lasting peace and larger right. Amen.

Peace be with you.
And to all mankind.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up in joy and praise.

HYMN, or the following Song of Exaltation.

From all that dwell below the skies,
Let faith and hope with love arise;
Let beauty, truth and good be sung
Through every land, by every tongue. Amen.

RESPONSIVE READING

ORGAN RESPONSE

FIRST LESSON

CHANT, if desired.

SECOND LESSON, if desired

Here may follow a period of silent meditation, after which the Minister may read the Litany, the people responding.

LITANY

Let us rejoice in the poetry of spring, the pageantry of summer, the soft intonations of autumn, the austere majesty of winter;
We rejoice in the beauty of the seasons.
Let us rejoice in the enchantment of wonder, the allurement of mystery, the appeal of beauty, the challenge of goodness, the sacrificial strength of love;
We rejoice in the glory of life.
Let us rejoice in the sustaining strength of those near and dear, whose understanding love brings serenity and peace to our restless souls, and assures us that our lives have value for others;
We rejoice in the love of family and friends.
Let us rejoice in the sacrament of work through which we have fellowship with unknown toilers in mine and field, in factory and office, whose strength has redeemed us from want, the fruit of whose labor is our rich inheritance:
We rejoice in creative living.
Let us rejoice in the dreamers in every land and age, whose undying faith has woven a fadeless tapestry of hope wherein we behold a pattern of the better world yet to be;
We rejoice in prophetic vision.
Let us rejoice in the unbought privilege of life wherein human souls may attain eternal worth, and where great dreams come true;
We rejoice and will rejoice evermore.

OFFERTORY, during which an anthem may be sung

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HYMN

SERMON

HYMN

CLOSING WORDS

POSTLUDE