This is the service according to the 1916 Book of Worship of the Evangelical Synod of North America.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
All the people standing, the Minister may begin the service by reading one or more of the following sentences.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (Ro. l: 7)
The Lord is in His holy temple : let all the earth keep silence before Him. Amen. (Hab. 2: 20)
Ascribe unto Jehovah the glory due unto His name : bring an offering, and come before Him; worship Jehovah in the beauty of. holiness. Amen. (l. ch. 16: 29)
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 f orgiveth all thine iniquities ; who healeth all thy diseases ; who redeemeth thy life from destruction ; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies. Amen. (Ps. 103: l 4)
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. The Lord is nigh unto them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him ; He also will hear their cry, and will save them. Amen. (Ps. 124: 8; Ps. 145: 18, 19)
Seek ye the Lord while He may be found ; call ye upon Him while He is near : 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. Amen. (Is. 55 : g, 7)
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness. He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us after our iniquities. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Amen. (Ps. 103: 8, 10; l Jn. l: 9)
Unto Him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by His blood; and hath made us to be a kingdom, to be priests unto His God and Father ; to Him be the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Rev. l: 5, 6)
O Lord, who sittest on the throne of glory and also dwellest with those of a broken and contrite heart; who hast promised, that where two or three are gathered together in Thy Name, there art Thou in the midst of them ; we beseech Thee to be in our midst now and to bless the study of Thy Word, that in spirit and truth we may serve Thee, O Lord, our Rock, and our Redeemer. Amen.
Response by Congregation: Amen.
Short Form
If we say that 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. Let us therefore confess our sins unto God, and humbly beseech Him, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to grant us forgiveness, saying:
Almighty God, our Maker and Redeemer, we poor sinners confess unto Thee, that we are by nature sinful and unclean, and that we have sinned against Thee by thought, word and deed. Wherefore, we flee for refuge to Thine infinite mercy, seeking and imploring Thy grace, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Long Form
The Holy Scriptures declare, that when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul and live. The sacrifices of God are a broken and a contrite heart. To the Lord belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.
Let us, therefore, with sincere, humble and obedient hearts, confess our sins unto our Father, that we may obtain remission of the same, by His infinite goodness and mercy, saying:
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.
Short Form
The Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of His great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all those, who with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto Him, have mercy upon you ; pardon and deliver you from all your sins ; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and bring you to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Long Form
The Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live, hath given power and commandment to His ministers, to declare and pronounce to His people, being penitent, the absolution and remission of their sins. He pardoneth and absolveth all those, who truly repent and unfeignedly believe His holy Gospel. Wherefore, let us beseech Him to grant us true repentance and His Holy Spirit, that those things may please Him which we do at the present ; and that the rest of our life may be pure and holy ; so that, at the last, we may come to His eternal joy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Congregation shall sing:
Gloria in Excelsis (Decius)
All glory be to God on high,
Who hath our race befriended. To us no harm shall now come nigh,
The strife at last is ended ; God showeth His good will to men, And peace shall reign on earth again,
O thank Him for His goodness.
Jehovah (Pfeffel, Gerold)
Jehovah, Jehovah!
Jehovah, Thou art worthy
Of honor, and glory and praise!
Amen, Amen!
Until the temple of this world
By Thy pow'r to dust is hurled,
Help us when these halls we throng
The Holy, Holy, Holy to prolong.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Lord God our Father, Creator of heaven and earth ! This day is Thy day, when with Thine almighty word, Let there be light, Thou didst begin the work of creation. We beseech Thee, renew Thy work in us to-day, and speak unto our souls, Let there be light, that, delivered from all darkness, we may behold Thy works and ways in Thy holy light, and worship Thee in spirit and truth.
Lord Jesus our Saviour! This day is Thy day, when by Thy glorious resurrection Thou didst reveal Thyself to Thy disciples as the Lord of life Grant, that we, too, may know the power of Thy resurrection. Come with Thy benediction of peace, and manifest Thyself in this gathering as our living Lord and Saviour.
God, Holy Spirit! This day is Thy day, when Thou didst appear to devout men and gather them into the Church of the Son of God. Unite with us, we pray Thee. Make the Word of Christ a living power of God in us. Direct and lead this household of God to be builded together in heart and soul, immovable in faith, established in love, for a habitation of God in the Spirit.
Holy Triune God ! Sanctify us more and more. Live and dwell in us, that we, both here on earth and finally in heavenly glory, may live and rest in Thee. Amen.
One of the prayers omitting the confession of sins may also be used.
At the conclusion the Minister shall say:
Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it. Amen. (Lk. 11: 28)
Or:
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Amen. (Ps. 119: 105)
Or:
Sanctify us in the truth : Thy Word is truth. Amen.
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son, our Lord ; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit ; born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead, and buried ; He descended into hell ; the third day He rose again 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 Spirit; the One Holy Universal Christian Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins ; the resurrection of the body ; and the life everlasting. Amen.
To be sung by the Congregation.
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.
After the Announcements have been made, the Minister shall say:
Let us make our offering to Almighty God.
When the gifts are brought to the Altar, the Minister shall dedicate them to God with a brief offertory prayer. See Offertory Prayers.
If desirable, the offering may be received after the sermon. Where a special offering is to be taken, the cause should be named.
ALMIGHTY GOD, our Father, Lord of heaven and earth ! We adore Thee as the Creator of the universe. Thou art worthy of all honor, gratitude and praise. We thank Thee that Thou hast graciously protected us and granted us Thy choicest blessings for body and soul. Enable us always to realize Thy mercies, that our hearts may be truly thankful to Thee, and that we may devote ourselves earnestly to Thy service.
We humbly pray Thee to guide the Church of Jesus Christ with all its servants and teachers, and govern it with Thy Holy Spirit that all may be led in the way of truth, and the true Christian faith may grow and be strengthened in all. Grant, that we may increase in godliness and unfeigned love toward all men. Defend Thy Church and Thy people against the enemies of Thy Word ; that we, trusting in Thy defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries. Grant, that the light of Thy Gospel may penetrate the darkness of unbelief and superstition, that all who have erred or been deceived may be brought into the way of truth.
We earnestly beseech Thee to bless the President of the United States, the Governor of this Commonwealth, and all others in authority. Fill them with the grace of Thy Holy Spirit, that they may incline to Thy will and walk in Thy way, that (as a nation) we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all sincerity and godliness. We implore Thy heavenly blessing upon the land wherein we live, that we may dwell under the shield of Thy might, and rejoice in Thee, our God, as our refuge and fortress in whom we trust. Protect us from false doctrine, heresy, strife and dissensions, from tumult and riot, from plague and pestilence, and from every evil of body and soul. We commend to Thy fatherly care all those who are afflicted or distressed in mind, body or estate. Comfort them, O God, through Thy Holy Spirit, that they may humbly submit themselves to Thy guidance, and realize, that to them that love God all things work together for good, and that our light affliction, which is for a moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory.
Fulfill our desires and petitions as may be expedient for us, and grant whatsoever other things are necessary for our bodies and our souls, according to Thy gracious promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus, Thy blessed Son, our Saviour and Redeemer. Amen.
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors ; and lead us not into temptation ; but deliver us from evil ; for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.
One of the other General Prayers may also be used.
The Hymn and Prayer after the sermon may be interchanged.
To be sung by the Congregation.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Or a suitable closing hymn or verse.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.