PRELUDE

The service may begin with a Chorale, an Introit, a Processional Hymn, or opening Sentences and Exhortation.

SENTENCES, one or more to be read by the Minister:

God is light and in him is no darkness at all. If we walk in the light we have fellowship one with another. 1 John I: 5, 7.

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

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together;
For with him is the fountain of life, and in his light shall we see light. Psalm XXXIV: 3; XXXVI: 9.

Know ye that the Lord he is God;
It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
And into his courts with praise. Psalm C: 3, 4.

The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon him,
To all that call upon him in truth. Psalm CXLV: 18.

EXHORTATION, by the Minister:

In the holy quiet of this hour, let us draw nigh to him who heareth prayer, and let us remember that he listeneth more to our hearts than to our words. Let each of us bring an offering of penitence, if not of purity; of love, if not of holiness; of teachableness, if not of wisdom; of devout obedience for the time to come, if not the fruits of well-doing in the time that is past. And may we obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

INVOCATION, by the Minister.

Let us pray.

O Lord, our God, who turnest into morning the shadows of the night; grant that we may be children of the light and of the day. Let the sun of thy righteousness shine in our hearts. Enlighten our reason, make clear our conscience, and purify our affections. We give ourselves to thee this day, praying that we may be so governed by thy Spirit that faithless distrust and all evil thoughts may be driven from our minds; that we may walk with joy in the light of thy countenance and in the way of thy salvation. Amen.

Prayer to be said by the Minister and people:

O Thou Spirit of holiness and truth, who dost ever move to fashion all things complete and whole, in thy presence we see the imperfections around us; by thy light we are ashamed of the darkness of our own hearts. We have fallen short of the fulness of life that might be in us. We have not enough served the unfinished works of light in the world of men and nations. Help us here to see the brightness of thy glory, that all our days we may steadfastly seek the health and wholeness of our fellow men. Amen.

Then may be said the Lord’s Prayer, the people joining:

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, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

O Lord, open thou our lips.
And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.
Praise ye the Lord.
The Lord’s name be praised.

HYMN, CANTICLE or ANTHEM

RESPONSIVE READING

ASCRIPTION, to be said or sung.

Blessed be the Lord, our God; who only do-eth won-drous things.
And blessed be his glo-rious name, Forever and ev-er. A-men

FIRST LESSON

CHANT, if desired.

SECOND LESSON, if desired.

The Minister may then say,
Here endeth the reading of the lesson.
The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.
Let us pray. O Lord, show thy mercy upon us.
And grant us thy salvation.
O God, make clean our hearts within us.
And take not thy holy Spirit from us.

Then may follow a period of silent meditation, after which the Minister may read the Litany, the people responding, and one or more of the following or other suitable prayers, or may offer prayer in his own words.

LITANY

O Thou Eternal Light, towards whose quickening dawn have moved the peoples that walkedlin darkness, rise with thy radiance upon the souls which here await thee.
By the visions of ancient seers who beheld thy power moving within the veil of earthly things;
Teach us to live as seeing the invisible.
By the voices of holy prophets who discerned the signs of their times and foretold the doom that follows wrong;
Arouse us to see and overcome the evils of today.
By the mind that was in Christ Jesus; compassionate, free in thought, steadfast in purpose, stayed on thee;
Awaken in us also a generous mind and a bold vision.
By the self-sacrifice of saints and apostles, martyrs and missioners who counted not the cost to themselves if they might testify of thy grace;
Inspire us to find in common life the paths of high devotion.
By the joy and praise of the church universal, by every prayer for light in shrines of whatsoever faith, in east or west or north or south;
Kindle in our hearts the faith that shall be a light upon our way and a song upon our lips.
By the labors of all who show forth thy wonderful works; searching out thy law in nature, fashioning forms of beauty, skilful in industry, wise in statecraft, gentle in parenthood, gifted with insight;
Enlarge all our being with the fulness of thy divine life, that in thy light we may see light and become ministers of thy love brought near. Amen.

PRAYERS

O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment and light riseth up in darkness, grant us, amid our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou wouldst have us do, that the spirit of wisdom may save us from false choices, that in thy light we may see light and in thy straight path we may not stumble. Amen.

O Thou who art the inspiration of all heroic love, keep alive in our hearts that adventurous spirit which makes men scorn the way of safety, so that thy will may be done. For so only, O Lord. shall we be worthy of those courageous souls, who in every age have ventured all in obedience to thy summons, and for whom the trumpets have sounded on the other side. Amen.

O God, who hast taught us that we are members one of another, and hast ordained our brotherhood in the bond of the spirit, remove, we pray thee, from among us all distrusts and bitterness in industrial disputes, and all occasions for discontent: that, seeking what is just and equal, and caring for the needs of others, we may live and Work together in brotherly love and concord. Amen.

O God, grant us a vision of our city, fair as she might be; a city of justice, where none shall prey on others; a city of plenty, where vice and poverty shall cease to fester; a city of brotherhood, where all success shall be founded on service, and honor shall be given to nobleness alone; a city of peace, where order shall not rest on force, but on the love of all for the city, the great mother of the common life and weal. Hear thou, O Lord, the prayer of all our hearts as we each pledge our time and strength and thought to speed the day of her coming beauty and righteousness. Amen.

O God, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men, that thou wouldest be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for the good estate of the Church Universal; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are any ways afflicted or distressed, in mind, body or estate; that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them, according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. Amen.

Then may follow a period of silence, an organ interlude, or the following chant:

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts:
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to thee, O Lord most high. Amen.

OFFERTORY, during which an anthem may be sung.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HYMN

SERMON

PRAYER

HYMN

BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE