1

YOU ARE HEAD AND SAVIOR OF YOUR BODY, THE CHURCH.

Unite all the children of God in one spirit. Send faithful laborers into Your harvest. Give spirit and power to preach Your Word. Hinder all schisms and offenses. Put far from Your people all deceivers.¹¹⁶² Bring back all that have erred or that are deceived. Grant love and unity to all our congregations. Give to our shepherds and servant leaders soundness of doctrine and holiness of life, and preserve them. Teach us to bless them that curse us,¹¹⁶³ and to do good to them that hate us.¹¹⁶⁴ Have mercy on our slanderers and persecutors, and lay not this sin to their charge.¹¹⁶⁵Hear us, gracious Son of God. Amen.

2

FROM THE SIN OF UNBELIEF,

From all defilement of the flesh and spirit.¹¹⁶⁶ From all self- righteousness. From every neglect of our duty. From all ingratitude and selfishness. From lukewarmness in our love to You¹¹⁶⁷ and our neighbor. From indifference to Your meritorious life and death. Deliver us, gracious heavenly Father. Amen.

3

TO THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN,

And has redeemed us out of all nations of the earth. To the Lord Who purchased our souls for Himself. To that Friend who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.¹¹⁶⁸ Who died for us once, that we might die to sin.¹¹⁶⁹ Who rose for us, that we also might rise. Who ascended for us into heaven. To prepare a place for us.¹¹⁷⁰ And to who are subjected the angels, and powers, and dominions. To Him be glory at all times, in the Church that waits for Him, and in that which is around Him.¹¹⁷¹ From everlasting to everlasting. Amen.

4

I BELIEVE IN THE ONE ONLY GOD, FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT,

Who created all things by Jesus Christ,¹¹⁷² and was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.¹¹⁷³ I believe in God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world.¹¹⁷⁴ Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.¹¹⁷⁵ Who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.¹¹⁷⁶ Who has made us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.¹¹⁷⁷ To the praise of the glory of His grace. Where He has made us accepted in the Beloved.¹¹⁷⁸This I truly believe. Amen.

5

WE THANK YOU, O FATHER, LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH,

Because You have hid these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to children. Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in Your sight. Father, glorify Your Name.¹¹⁷⁹ Our Father who are in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.¹¹⁸⁰ For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

6

I BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD,

By whom are all things, and we through Him. I believe, that He was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and took on Him the form of a servant.¹¹⁸¹ By the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, was conceived of the virgin Mary.¹¹⁸² As the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same.¹¹⁸³ Was born of a woman. And being found in fashion as a man, was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin.¹¹⁸⁴ For He is the Lord, the Messenger of the covenant, whom we delight in. The Lord and His Spirit have sent Him to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.¹¹⁸⁵

He spoke that which He did know, and testified that which He had seen. As many as receive Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God.¹¹⁸⁶ Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.¹¹⁸⁷ Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. Went also by the Spirit and preached to the spirits in prison.¹¹⁸⁸ On the third day rose again from the dead, and with Him many bodies of the saints who slept. Ascended into heaven, and sits on the throne of the Father. Where from He will come, in like manner as He was seen going into heaven.¹¹⁸⁹Amen.

7

WE WAIT IN FAITH FOR YOU.

Soon—we implore You—come, Your glory let us see. The Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel. And with the trumpet of God.¹¹⁹⁰ To judge both the quick and the dead.¹¹⁹¹ This is my Lord, who redeemed me, a lost and undone human creature. Purchased and gained me from sin, from death, and from the power of the devil. Not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood.¹¹⁹² And with His innocent suffering and dying. To the end that I should be His own. And in His kingdom live under Him and serve Him, in eternal righteousness, innocence, and happiness. Even as He, being risen from the dead, lives and reigns, world without end. This I most certainly believe. Amen.

8

I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO PROCEEDS FROM THE FATHER,

And whom our Lord Jesus Christ sent, after He went away, that He should abide with us forever.¹¹⁹³ That He should comfort us, as a mother comforts her children. That He should help our infirmities, and make intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered.¹¹⁹⁴ That He should bear witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God, and teach us to cry, Abba, Father. ¹¹⁹⁵ That He should shed abroad in our hearts the love of God,¹¹⁹⁶ and make our bodies His holy temple.¹¹⁹⁷ And that He should work all in all, dividing to every man severally as He will. To Him be glory in the Church, which is in Christ Jesus, the holy, universal Christian Church. In the communion of saints, at all times, and from eternity to eternity. Amen.

9

I BELIEVE, THAT BY MY OWN REASON AND STRENGTH,

I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to Him. But that the Holy Spirit calls me by the Gospel, enlightens me with His gifts, sanctifies and preserves me in the true faith. Even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Church on earth,¹¹⁹⁸ which He keeps by Jesus Christ in the only true faith. This I assuredly believe. Amen.

10

IN THIS COMMUNION OF SAINTS MY FAITH IS PLACED,

Upon my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Who died for me, and shed His blood on the cross for the remission of sins. And who has granted to me His body and blood in the Lord’s Supper, as a pledge of grace. As the Scripture says. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread. And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and gave it to His disciples, and said. Take, eat this is My body which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me. After the same manner also, our Lord Jesus Christ, when He had eaten. Took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them. Saying, drink all of you of it this is My blood, the blood of the New Testament. Which is shed for you, and for many, for the remission of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.¹¹⁹⁹Amen.

11

LORD, YOUR BODY NEVER FORSAKE.

Never Your congregation leave. We to You our refuge take. Of Your fullness we receive.¹²⁰⁰ Every other help be gone. You are our support alone. For on Your supreme commands all the universe depends.¹²⁰¹Amen.

12

THE LAMB, WHO BY BLOOD OUR SALVATION OBTAINED,

Took on Him our curse,¹²⁰² and death freely sustained. Is worthy of praises.¹²⁰³ Let with one accord all people say. Amen. O praise the Lord.

13

PRESERVE US, GRACIOUS LORD AND GOD.

From indifference to Your merits and death. From pride and self- complacency. From needless perplexity. From the unhappy desire of becoming great. From hypocrisy and fanaticism. From envy, hatred, and malice. From the deceitfulness of sin. From the murdering spirit and devices of satan. From the influence of the spirit of this world.

Preserve us, gracious Lord and God. By all the merits of Your life. By Your human birth and circumcision. By Your obedience, diligence and faithfulness. By Your humility, meekness and patience. By Your extreme poverty. By Your Baptism, fasting and temptation. By Your griefs and sorrows. By Your prayers and tears. By Your having been despised and rejected. Bless and comfort us,¹²⁰⁴ gracious Lord and God. Amen.

14

GLORY BE TO YOUR MOST HOLY PRIESTHOOD,

Christ, Lamb of God. You were slain for us.¹²⁰⁵ Who by one offering has perfected for ever them that are sanctified.¹²⁰⁶Amen, Hallelujah.

15

BLESS AND COMFORT US, GRACIOUS LORD AND GOD.

Lord God, Holy Spirit, abide with us for ever. I am the Resurrection and the Life, says the Lord. He that believes in Me— though he were dead—yet shall he live.¹²⁰⁷ And who ever lives and believes in Me will never die. Therefore, blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors. O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin. And the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.¹²⁰⁸Amen.

16

O HOLY SPIRIT, COMFORTER DIVINE,

Giver of life and peace. Grant us Your abiding presence. Lord, make us to know our end, and the measure of our days, what it is.¹²⁰⁹ Let us know how frail we are. So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.¹²¹⁰ Hear our prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto our cry.¹²¹¹ For we are strangers with You—sojourners—as all our fathers were.¹²¹² It is appointed to men once to die, and after this comes judgment.¹²¹³ For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ. That each one may receive the things done in the body. According to what he has done, whether it be good or bad.¹²¹⁴ What is your life? For you are a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.¹²¹⁵Let it be so. Amen.

17

SAY TO THEM THAT ARE OF A FEARFUL HEART,

Be strong and fear not.¹²¹⁶ Behold your God will come and save you. He shall feed His Flock like a Shepherd. He shall gather the lambs with His arm. And carry them in His bosom.¹²¹⁷Amen.

18

O SAVIOR OF OUR RACE,

You are indeed welcome. Blessed Redeemer, fountain of grace, to this my longing heart! Therefore, rejoice in God, your Savior! For He that is mighty, has done great things. And holy is His Name.¹²¹⁸ Through the tender mercy of our God, the Day-spring from on high has visited us. To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.¹²¹⁹ To guide our feet in the way of peace. Amen.

19

DEAR DESIRE OF EVERY NATION, BY YOUR ALL-SUFFICIENT MERIT,

Joy of every longing heart. Raise us to Your glorious throne. You are blessed who dwell between the cherubim.¹²²⁰ And graciously regards them of low estate!¹²²¹ Praise the Lord, for He is good, and His mercy endures for ever.¹²²² Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. The God of all grace. Who has called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus. Make us perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us! To Him be glory and power, from everlasting to everlasting.¹²²³Amen.

20

PRAISE TO YOU, O LORD, WE GIVE,

For Your love in Jesus shown. May that love, so strong and tender. Bind us fast to Him alone. Amen.

21

OUR LORD SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES,

Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. For I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you to Myself. That where I am, there you may be also.¹²²⁴ Even so come,

Lord Jesus. If we believe that Jesus died and rose again. Even so those also that have died in Jesus will God bring with Him. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout. With the voice of the archangel. And with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so will we ever be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.¹²²⁵Amen.

22

LIKE HIM WE THEN SHALL BE,

The Son of God has taken the throne, transformed and glorified. We too shall be revealed, and shine for we shall see Him as He is.¹²²⁶ In glory, like His own. And in His light abide. Amen.

23

YOU HAVE BLESSED US WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS,

In heavenly places in Christ.¹²²⁷ You have delivered us from the power of darkness, and have translated us into the kingdom of Your dear Son.¹²²⁸ In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.¹²²⁹ He is the true God, and eternal life.¹²³⁰ By Himself has He reconciled all things to Himself. Whether they are things on earth, or things in heaven.¹²³¹ You who are the one God and Father of all. And who has adopted us as children in Jesus Christ—Your Son—in who we have redemption, even the forgiveness of our sins. Quicken us we beg You, who have been dead in trespasses and sins.¹²³² For the sake of that great love where You have loved us. Make us to live in Christ our Lord. Amen.

24

HEARTS, THAT ONCE WERE TAUGHT TO OWN,

Idol gods of wood and stone. Now to light and life restored. Honor Jesus as their Lord. Behold, the darkness will cover the earth, and gross darkness the people. But the Lord shall arise over you, and His glory shall be seen over you.¹²³³ And the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Arise, shine. For your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.¹²³⁴Amen.

25

WHILE THE FOE BECOMES MORE DARING,

While he enters like a flood,¹²³⁵ God the Savior is preparing means to spread His truth abroad. Every language soon shall tell the love of God. Bless our and all other Christian congregations gathered from among the heathen. Keep them as the apple of Your eye.¹²³⁶ Let them be a light to them who sit in darkness and in the region and shadow of death.¹²³⁷ Have mercy on Your ancient covenant people. Deliver them from their blindness. Oh that Ishmael might live before You!¹²³⁸ Hear us, gracious Lord and God. Amen.

26

SEND YOUR SERVANTS FORTH,

To call the Hebrews home. From west and east, from south and north. Let all the wanderers come. With Israel’s great numbers sealed. ¹²³⁹Let all the nations meet. And show Your mystery fulfilled,¹²⁴⁰ Your family complete. Amen.

27

LORD GOD, SON, YOU ARE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD,

For as the children are partakers of flesh and blood. You did also Yourself likewise take part of the same, that through death You might destroy him that had the power of death—that is—the devil.¹²⁴¹ You were in all things made like Your brethren, that You might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God. To make reconciliation for the sins of the people.¹²⁴² You were despised and rejected of men. A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. You were wounded for our transgressions. You were bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon You. And with Your stripes we are healed.¹²⁴³Amen.

28

BY YOUR HOLY INCARNATION AND BIRTH.

Your early exile. Your pure and blameless childhood. Your willing obedience. Your humility, meekness, and patience. Your faithfulness in Your earthly calling. Your perfect life before God and man. Help us —O Christ—to dedicate both soul and body to Your service.¹²⁴⁴ Your tears and agony. Your crown of thorns and cross. Lead us to repentance for our sins.¹²⁴⁵ By Your willing sacrifice of Yourself even to death. Make known to us the mystery of Your love. Into Your open arms stretched out upon the cross. Receive us all. Amen.

29

THE FATHER OF GLORY HAS RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD,

And made Him to sit at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named. Not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet. And gave Him to be head over all things to the Church—which is His body—the fullness of Him that fills all in all.¹²⁴⁶ Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven. We laud and magnify Your glorious Name. Evermore praising You. And saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts, heaven and earth are full of Your glory. Glory be to You, O Lord Most High.¹²⁴⁷Amen.

30

THROUGH HIS OWN BLOOD HE ENTERED IN ONCE FOR ALL,

Into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption, now to appear before the face of God for us.¹²⁴⁸ Wherefore, also, He is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near to God through Him. Seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them.¹²⁴⁹ Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ Jesus that died, yes, rather, that was raised from the dead. Who is at the right hand of God. Who also makes intercession for us.¹²⁵⁰Amen.

31

FEAR NOT, SAYS THE LORD, I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST,

And the living One. And I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. And I have the keys of death and of Hades.¹²⁵¹ He that overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with Me in My throne. As I also overcame, and sat down with My Father in His throne.¹²⁵² Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.¹²⁵³ Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if He shall be manifested, we shall be like Him. For we shall see Him even as He is. And every one that has this hope set on Him purifies himself, even as he is pure.¹²⁵⁴Amen.

32

GOD WAS MANIFESTED IN THE FLESH

Justified in the Spirit. Seen by angels. Preached among the Gentiles. Believed on in the world. Received up in glory.¹²⁵⁵Amen.

33

FOR IF WE DIED WITH HIM,

We shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful. He cannot deny Himself.¹²⁵⁶Amen.

34

WORTHY IS THE LAMB WHO WAS SLAIN,

To receive power, and riches, and wisdom. And strength, and honor, and glory. And blessing, for ever and ever, Hallelujah! Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be to Him that sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever.¹²⁵⁷Amen.

35

WE GIVE YOU THANKS, HOLY FATHER, ¹²⁵⁸

For Your holy Name, which You have caused to dwell in our hearts. And for the knowledge and faith and immortality that You have made known to us through Jesus your servant. To You be the glory forever. You, Almighty Master, created all things for Your Name’s sake. And gave food and drink to humans to enjoy, so that they might give You thanks. But to us You have graciously given spiritual food and drink, and eternal life through Your servant. Above all we give thanks to You because You are Mighty. To You be the glory forever. Remember Your Church, Lord, to deliver it from all evil and to make it perfect in Your love. And from the four winds gather the Church that has been sanctified into Your kingdom. Which You have prepared for it. For Yours is the power and the glory forever. May grace come, and may this world pass away. Hosanna to the God of David. If anyone is holy, let him come. If anyone is not, let him repent. Maranatha! Amen.