Orders of
of Service.

The customary order of service in non-liturgical churches is too familiar in its general characteristics, and admits of too great variety in details, to allow of insertion here. In addition to this accepted form, however, the following orders of service are suggested. Of these orders, the first may be used where there is no choir. Where there is an organ, all services should begin with an organ prelude, and close with an organ postlude.

I.

I. ONE OR MORE OF THE SENTENCES ON PAGES XX-Xxiii by the choir, or by the minister where there is no choir.

2. GENERAL CONFESSION.

This and the following prayer to be said by the people, with the minister, all
devoutly kneeling:

ALMIGHTY AND MOST MERCIFUL FATHER; We have erred, and strayed from thy
ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires
of our own hearts. We have offended against thy 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 no health in
us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare
thou those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore thou those who are
penitent; according to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus
our Lord.
And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake; that we may
hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of thy holy
name. AMEN.

A GENERAL THANKSGIVING :

ALMIGHTY GOD, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us, and to all men. We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable 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 beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives; by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without end. ΑΜΕΝ.

3. PSALTER.

To be read either responsively, or by the minister and people together, all

standing.

4. CONGREGATIONAL HYMN.

5. SCRIPTURE LESSON.

6. PASTORAL PRAYER, followed by the Lord's Prayer, the people joining.

7. NOTICES; 8. OFFERING; 9. CONGREGATIONAL HYMN; 10. SERMON; 11. PRAYER ; 12. CONGREGATIONAL HYMN; 13. BENEDICTION.

1. CONGREGATIONAL HYMN.

II.

Where the church has a hymn-board, this hymn should be sung without announcement, the organ passing directly from the prelude into the tune, and the people rising with the choir and joining in the hymn.

OR ONE OF THE SENTENCES ON PAGES XX-xxiii, chanted by the choir, at the close of the organ prelude.

2. GENERAL CONFESSION, as given on the opposite page.

To be said by the people with the minister, all devoutly kneeling.

3. A GENERAL THANKSGIVING, as given on the opposite page.

To be said by the people with the minister, or by the minister alone, all devoutly kneeling :

4. THE PSALTER.

To be read either responsively, or by the minister and the people together, all standing; or a selection may be chanted responsively by the choir and the people.

5. GLORIA PATRI, GLORIA IN EXCELSIS, OR OTHER CHANT (see, for words and music, page xxxiv), OR A CONGREGATIONAL HYMN.

6. SCRIPTURE LESSON.

7. ANTHEM OR HYMN, by the choir.

8. APOSTLES' CREED.1

To be said by the minister and the people, all standing:

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified. dead,

1 In place of the Apostles' Creed, the Ten Commandments may be read by the minister, with the Response I., on page xxiii, by the choir and the people; followed by Christ's Summary of the Law (Matt. xxii: 37-40) read in the same manner, and followed by Response II. or III., on page xxiv.

and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose from the dead, he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN.

9. PASTORAL PRAYER. The Lord's Prayer may be chanted in monotone by the choir (see page xxv) at the close of the Pastoral Prayer.

10. Rest of service: Notices, Offering, Hymn, Sermon, Prayer, Hymn, Benediction; except that the Sermon may sometimes be followed by an Anthem or an unannounced Hymn, selected with especial reference to the Sermon, and sung by the choir.

III.

1. CONGREGATIONAL HYMN; OR, A SENTENCE CHANTED BY THE CHOIR. See directions in Service No. II.

2.

ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING PRAYERS, to be said by the minister alone, all devoutly kneeling:

ALMIGHTY GOD, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Here, and at the end of each of these prayers, let the congregation say, AMEN. ALMIGHTY AND EVERLASTING GOD, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve; pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy; forgiving us those things whereof 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, thy Son, our Lord. AMEN.

O ALMIGHTY GOD, from whom cometh down every good and perfect gift, and who pourest out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and supplication; deliver us, when we draw nigh to thee, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind; that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections we may worship thee in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN. OR AT EVENING SERVICE, ONE OR BOTH OF THE FOLLOWING :

O GOD, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed; give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee, we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. AMEN.

LIGHTEN our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thine only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN.

3. Rest of service: Psalter, Hymn, Scripture Lesson, Pastoral Prayer, followed by the Lord's Prayer, the people joining, Notices, Offering, Hymn, Sermon, Prayer, Hymn, Benediction, as in Service No. I.

Or, Psalter, which may be chanted responsively by the choir and people, Gloria Patri, Scripture-Lesson, Anthem, Apostles' Creed, Pastoral Prayer, Notices, Offering, Hymn, Sermon, Prayer, Hymn, Benediction, as in Service No. II.

IV.

I. CONGREGATIONAL HYMN; OR, A SENTENCE CHANTED BY THE CHOIR. See directions in Service No. II.

2. APOSTLES' CREED: To be said by the minister and the people, all standing :

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose from the dead, he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN.

3. INVOCATION, the people devoutly kneeling;

or one or more of the prayers in Service No. III. may be used.

4. ANTHEM OR HYMN, by the choir.

5. PSALTER, as in Service No. II.

6. GLORIA PATRI, GLORIA IN EXCELSIS, OR OTHER CHANT (see, for words and music, page xxxiv), OR A CONGREGATIONAL HYMN.

7. SCRIPTURE LESSON.

8. PASTORAL PRAYER, followed by the Lord's Prayer, chanted in monotone by the choir (see page xxv), the people still kneeling.

9. Rest of service: Notices, Offering, Hymn, Sermon, Prayer, Hymn, Benediction, as in Service No. I.; except that the Sermon may sometimes be followed by an Anthem or an unannounced Hymn, selected with especial reference to the Sermon, and sung by the choir.

V.

AN EVENING SERVICE.1

1. ANTHEM OR SENTENCE, by the choir.

2. INVOCATION; or one or more of the prayers in No. III. may be used.

3. PSALTER; to be read responsively or by the minister and the people together,

all standing.

4. ANTHEM OR HYMN, by the choir.

5. SCRIPTURE LESSON.

6. PASTORAL PRAYER.

7. SHORT ANTHEM, by the choir.

8. CONGREGATIONAL HYMN, the people standing.

9. SERMON.

10. PRAYER.

II. CONGREGATIONAL HYMN, the people standing. 12. BENEDICTION, to which the choir respond Amen.

Opening Sentences

To be read by the minister.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him.

We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

1 This is the order used in Appleton Chapel, Harvard University.