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The services throughout have been arranged in accordance with the principle adopted from the first in the worship of the Church of the Disciples. This principle is to endeavor to unite the excellencies of the various modes of worship in use among different denominations. Seeing advantages in the forms of the Episcopal Church, in the silent worship of the Quaker, in the Congregational singing of the Lutheran and Methodist, and in the Extempore Prayer usual in our New England churches, we have endeavored to blend them together in Liturgic forms, which shall be at once rich and free, avoiding the extreme of barrenness and poverty on the one hand, and of stiff formality on the other. We have allowed in these services ample room for variety. We have hoped to set an example which may lead other churches to improve still more upon our forms, until the public worship of our land becomes enriched, and its influence on the soul and heart deepened, by the use of every means which may awaken and uplift the spiritual nature.

ORDER OF SERVICES

FOR

MORNING AND EVENING PRAYER.

1. INTRODUCTORY SENTENCES AND HYMN.

2. CONFESSION.

3. LORD'S PRAYER AND SENTENCES.

4. PSALMS FOR THE DAY, OR SELECTIONS FROM THE PROPHETS, OR TEDEUM, OR LITANIES.

5. SELECTIONS FROM THE SCRIPTURES.

6. SINGING.

7. SERMON, OR ADDRESSES.

8. A PAUSE OF A FEW MINUTES FOR SILENT MEDITATION AND PRAYER.

9. EXTEMPORE PRAYER.

10. SINGING.

11. BENEDICTION, OR CLOSING ASCRIPTIONS.

NOTE.

THIS order of services is not intended to be followed invariably, but may be varied, by the officiating minister, in the following ways.

B

Instead of the INTRODUCTORY SENTENCES AND HYMN, an introductory HYMN may be selected from the Hymn-book; preceded, if the minister wishes, by an EXHORTATION OF INVITATION to WORSHIP.

The CONFESSION may be read or omitted.

The SENTENCES following the Lord's Prayer may be read or omitted.

Instead of the PSALMS, or in addition to them, the TEDEUM, the SELECTIONS FROM THE PROPHETS, or one of the LITANIES may be used.

Whenever the Minister desires it, he may introduce an EXTEMPORE PRAYER before the Sermon.

Finally, as it is not our object to establish an inflexible form, but rather to afford the means of variety in our worship, whoever reads the service is at liberty to adopt any other alterations in this order, which he may deem expedient.

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