An Alternate Order of Worship

The Congregation standing, the Minister shall say,

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Invocation

Let us pray.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain but who dwellest with them who are of a contrite spirit; cleanse our hearts with thy grace and enlighten our minds by thy Word, that we may worship thee in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn

Then shall be sung a Hymn of Praise.

Responsive Reading

Portions of the Psalter or other Scriptures may now be read responsively and the Gloria Patri may be sung.

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.

The Holy Scriptures

A Lesson from the Holy Scriptures shall now be read.

After the Lesson, the Minister shall say, or the Congregation may respond,

Let thy Word abide in us, O Lord.

Hymn

An Anthem or Hymn may be sung.

The Creed

Then the Congregation standing, the Apostles' Creed may be said.

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 Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary: Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell:* The third day he arose 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 Ghost. The Holy Catholic Church:** The Communion of Saints: The Forgiveness of sins: The Resurrection of the body: And the Life everlasting. Amen.

* Hades may be used.

** One Holy Universal Christian Church may be used.

General Prayer

Then the Minister shall offer prayer, giving praise and thanks to God, confessing the sins that are common to all, entreating God for his guidance and grace, and making intercession for the Church, the Nation, and all men; concluding with the Lord's Prayer.

Or, a Responsive Prayer from the Hymnal may be used.

Let us pray.

Almighty and eternal God, who art worthy to be held in reverence by all the children of men, we humbly give thanks unto thee for the innumerable blessings both temporal and spiritual which, without any merit on our part, thou hast bestowed upon us. We praise thee especially that thou hast preserved unto us in their purity, thy Word and Sacraments, wherein thou dost reveal thy will and confirm thy grace.

Heavenly Father, we acknowledge our unworthiness to receive these good gifts. We have sinned against thee in thought, word and deed. We have not heeded thy Word, but have continued to love the world and the things of the world. Forgive us, O Lord, and in thy great mercy turn our steps evermore into the path of life.

We beseech thee, O Lord, to grant and preserve unto thy Church, throughout the world, purity of doctrine and faithfulness in teaching. Let thy Word be preached with power; and help all who hear, rightly to understand and truly to believe. Keep us ever more in communion with thy holy Church and in unity of spirit with all Christians.

Bestow thy Spirit upon all the nations of the earth. We pray thee especially to bless our land, its people, and all who are in authority. Cause thy glory to dwell among us; let mercy and truth, righteousness and peace everywhere prevail. To this end we commend to thy care all our schools and seminaries and other institutions of our Church, and pray thee to make them nurseries of useful knowledge and Christian virtue, that they may bring forth among us the wholesome fruits of life.

Graciously protect us from all calamities by fire and water, from war and pestilence, from famine and want. If affliction should overtake us, give us fortitude in the hour of trial. Bless and prosper every one in his calling, and make all good and useful arts to flourish among us. Be thou the Provider of the widows and orphans, the Friend of the sick and needy, and the Comforter of the forsaken and distressed.

O Holy Spirit, our Comforter and Guide, bear witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. Strengthen and confirm our communion in Christ Jesus. Grant us diligently to make use of the means of grace, that we may be strong in the power of thy might and able to withstand in the evil day, and be reckoned heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him.

Since we are strangers and pilgrims on earth, having no continuing city here, help us by true faith and a godly life to prepare for the life to come; doing the work which thou hast given us to do while it is day, before the night cometh, when no man can work. And, when our last hour shall come, support us by thy power, and receive us into thine everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord, who reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed by 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, forever. Amen.

An Anthem may then be sung.

Announcements may be made.

Offering

The Offering shall be received and placed upon the Lord's Table with words of praise and dedication.

Hymn

Sermon

When the Alternate Order for Holy Communion is used, the Service shall now proceed as continued in that Order.

After the Sermon, the Minister may offer one or both of the following prayers:

Almighty and most merciful Father; let thy Word, we beseech thee, abide in our hearts and minds, that, our faith being increased, we may attain unto a fuller knowledge of thy will and grow in spiritual wisdom, and being strengthened by thee with all might, we may follow Christ to the end; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Teach us, good Lord, to serve thee as thou deservest, to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labor and not to seek for any reward, save that of knowing that we do thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Doxology

A Hymn or Doxology shall be sung.

Benediction

The Minister shall say the Benediction.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.