Now unto the God of grace, For the might of his Spirit and the love of Christ, Be glory in the church throughout all ages, World without end. Amen, Amen. CHOIR. Gloria Patri. Glory be to the Father, Almighty God, As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, O God, who didst send thy word to speak in the prophets and live in thy Son, and appoint thy church to be witness of divine things in the world; revive the purity and deepen the power of its testimony; and through the din of earthly interests and the storm of human passions, let it make the still small voice of thy Spirit inly felt. Nearer and nearer may thy kingdom come from age to age; meeting the face of the young as a rising dawn, and brightening the song of the old, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace." By the cleansing spirit of thy Son make this world a fitting entrance to that sanctuary not made with hands, where our life is hid with Christ in God. Amen. . CHRISTENING SERVICE. [This service refers especially to children, and where adults are baptized, the form may vary to meet the circumstances of the case.] Read Mark x. 13-16. Minister to Parents or Guardians: By this service we recognize the spiritual relation of this child to God, and accept him (or her) with thanksgiving as a part of that body of which Christ is the representative head. You who present him (or her) express, in the most sacred inanner, your obligation to instruct him (or her) in the duties of religion, and do what you can to help him (or her) in obeying God's holy laws. Have you solemnly accepted the trust committed to you for the education of this child? Answer. I have. Minister. I dedicate you [name] to God, our Father, in the name of Christ. Form for Adults when confirmed. I baptize you [name] in the name of Christ. [See Acts. ii. 38. Or the form in Matthew xxviii. 19 may be used by all who prefer it. Baptism is of no use except as a symbol of dedication and a form of initiation into a Christian church.] 10 CONFIRMATION. [Persons may be confirmed in the Christian church, at any age after they come to years of discretion, by the following form of service]: Repeat after the Minister the following Confession: I [name] now make confession of my belief in the one living and true God, the Father, and of my desire to be an earnest disciple of religion as taught by Jesus Christ, ever praying that I may be faithful to the light of my own conscience in whatever relates to the doctrines and the practice of religion, under the guidance and enlightenment of the Divine Spirit. May God strengthen me in all good resolutions and holy purposes, and may I increase in wisdom and goodness, and in the knowledge of God and duty. [The minister may add appropriate remarks; after which all persons present will unite with him and the candidate in the prayer, "Our Father, who art in heaven," &c.] COMMUNION. BLESSED are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled. Matt. v. 6. Said Jesus My Father is giving you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which is coming down from heaven, and giving life to the world. I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me will not hunger; and he that believeth in me will never thirst. — John vi. 32, 33, 35. The Spirit and the Bride say, Come! And let him that heareth say, Come! And let him that thirsteth Whoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Rev. xxii. 17. come. As the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one spirit we were all baptized into one body, and were all made to drink one spirit. 1 Cor. xii. 12, 13. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live by reason of the Father, so he that eateth me, he also shall live by reason of me. which came down from heaven. This is the bread John vi. 56-58. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a partaking of the blood of Christ? The loaf which we break, is it not a partaking of the body of Christ? For we, the many, are one loaf, one body; for we all share in that one loaf. — 1 Cor. x. 16, 17. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any one hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. iii. 20. Rev. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened; for our passover also hath been sacrificed, even Christ. So, then, let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven. of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Cor. v. 7, 8. Abide in me, and I in you. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit. As the Father hath love l abide in my love, even as I me, so have I loved you; have kept my father's commandments and abide in his love. - John xv. 4, 5, 9. |