Solomon's Prayer For Wisdom Prayer IN UNISON: And now, O Lord my God, Thou hast made Thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a child: I know not how to go out or come in. And Thy servant is in the midst of Thy people which Thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this Thy so great a people? 1 King 3: 7–9 Hymn Give Thou, Thy Youth, to God (Tune, "St. Thomas," No. 266) 1. Give, thou, thy youth to God, With all its budding love; 2. Be early wise for heaven, Choose, thou, the narrow way; The gate is strait, the road is rough, But it will end in day. Address Promotion Exercises 3. Take, thou, the side of God, In things or great or small, 4. Quail not before the bad, Be brave for truth and right, Fear God alone, and ever walk As in His holy sight. Amen. Horatius Bonar, 1808-1889 (Note: Each teacher of a class, or superintendent of a department, having pupils eligible for promotion will present them to the Superintendent and the school.) TEACHER (or DEPT. SUPT.): The pupils of this class (or department), having satisfactorily completed the required course, are eligible for promotion. (Read names of pupils) SUPERINTENDENT: In recognition of your faithfulness and your achievements, and in appreciation of the progress you have made, I now, as Superintendent of this school promote you to the (class or department). As followers of Jesus Christ, will you now renew your pledge of loyalty? My Purpose PUPILS: As a follower of Jesus Christ, and believing in the fellowship of worship and service for the accomplishment of the will of God, I have set before myself these purposes: I will place the common good above my personal desires. I will keep my body and my mind fit to do my work, to enjoy life at its best, and to give life and joy to others. I will deal justly with all men. I will not use another person to his hurt, but will give to all with whom I meet the consideration I desire for myself. I will let no barriers divide me from my fellow-men; I will resist greed and oppression; and will take my part in the futherance of justice and good will in all the earth. I will seek by study and by prayer the laws of life and duty, forgiveness for my failures, and increasing mastery of myself. For I put my trust in God, I seek the adventure of faith, and I believe in the unfailing power of love. Selected Prayer IN UNISON: O God, who hast commanded that no man should be idle, give us Hymn grace to employ all our talents and faculties in the service appointed for us; that, whatsoever our hand findeth to do, we may do with our might. Cheerfully may we go in the road which Thou hast marked out, not desiring too earnestly that it should be either more smooth or more wide; but, daily seeking one way in Thy light, may we trust ourselves and the issue of our journey to Thee, the Fountain of joy, and sing songs of praise as we go along. Then, O Lord, receive us at the gate of life which Thou hast opened for us in Jesus Christ. Amen. James Martineau O God, Who Workest Hitherto IN UNISON: Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings, with Thy most gracious favor, and further us with Thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in Thee, we may glorify Thy holy name; and finally, by Thy mercy, obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Benediction (By the Leader) Finally, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report: if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, Let us think on these things. Amen. (Note.-Titles refer to the Orders of Worship. Selections will be found appropriate, and may be used as alternate or additional readings in the Orders referred to.) 1. Praise and Worship Psalm 98 1 O sing unto the Lord a new song; for He hath done marvellous things: His right hand, and His holy arm, hath gotten Him the victory. 2 The Lord hath made known His salvation: His righteousness hath He openly showed in the sight of the heathen. 3 He hath remembered His mercy and His truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. 5 Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. 6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King. 7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together before the Lord. 9 For He cometh to judge the earth: 10 With righteousness shall He judge the world, and the people with equity. 2. Our Father's Love and Care 1 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. 6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. 7 He made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel. 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 9 He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger forever. 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us. 13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. 14 For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. 16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. 17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children's children; 18 To such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His commandments to do them. 19 The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth over all. 20 Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word. 21 Bless ye the Lord, all ye His hosts; ye ministers of His, that do His pleasure. 22 Bless the Lord, all His works in all places of His dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul. 3. God In Nature Psalm 148 1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise Him in the heights. 2 Praise ye Him, all His angels: praise ye Him, all His hosts. 3 Praise ye Him, sun and moon: praise Him, all ye stars of light. 4 Praise Him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. 5 Let them praise the name of the Lord: for He commanded, and they were created. 6 He hath also established them for ever and ever: He hath made a decree which shall not pass. 7 Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: 8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapor; stormy wind fulfilling His word: 9 Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: 10 Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: 11 Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: 12 Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: 13 Let them praise the name of the Lord: for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven. 14 He also exalteth the horn of His people, the praise of all His saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto Him. Praise ye the Lord. 4. The Christ Child Christmas Luke 1: 46-55 1 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 2 For He hath looked upon the low estate of His handmaid: for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 3 For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His name. 4 And His mercy is unto generations and generations on them that fear Him. 5 He hath showed strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart. 6 He hath put down princes from their thrones, and hath exalted them of low degree. 7 The hungry He hath filled with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away. 8 He hath given help to Israel His servant, that He might remember mercy 9 (As He spake unto our fathers) toward Abraham and his seed for ever. 5. The Life of Jesus Isaiah 61: 1-6 1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; 2 He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 3 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; 4 To comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, 5 The oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; 6 That they might be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified. 7 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, 8 And they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. 9 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your ploughmen and your vinedressers. 6. The Man of Sorrows Lent Isaiah 53: 1-8 1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? 2 For He shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: 3 He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. 4 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: 5 And we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. 6 Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 7 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: 8 The chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. 9 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 10 He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth. 11 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? 12 For He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was He stricken. 7. The Risen Christ Easter Psalm 16 1 Preserve me, O God: for in Thee do I put my trust. 20 my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to Thee; 3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. 4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. 5 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lot. 6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. 7 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. 8 I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 10 For Thou wilt not leave my soul in Sheol; neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption. 11 Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; 12 At Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. 8. The Word of God Reformation Day Psalm 19: 7-14 1 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 2 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 3 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: 4 The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 5 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 6 Morever by them is Thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. |