Suggested Forms for Particular Services
I
THE MARRIAGE SERVICE
At the time and place appointed for the solemnization of matrimony, the persons to be married shall take their places before the minister, the man having the woman at his left hand, and all present reverently standing.
The minister shall say:
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the presence of God to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony.
Marriage was instituted by God himself in the time of man's innocency and uprightness. The Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him." Thereupon God created woman of man's own substance and brought her unto the man. Our Lord Jesus Christ honored marriage by his presence at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. And he confirmed it as a divine ordinance and a union not to be severed when he declared, "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Moreover, the apostle Paul set forth the sacred and exalted nature of marriage when he likened it to the mystical union that subsists between Christ and his church.
The purpose of marriage is the enrichment of the lives of those who enter into this estate, the propagation of the race, and the extension of Christ's church to the glory of the covenant God.
Let us reverently hear what the Holy Scriptures teach concerning the duty of husbands to their wives and of wives to their husbands:
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word. Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies."
"Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the savior of the body."
These two persons are come to be joined in this holy estate of marriage. If any man can show just cause why they may not lawfully be wedded, let him now declare it, or else hereafter forever hold his peace.
I require and charge you both that, if either of you knows any cause why you may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, you do now confess it.
Let us pray:
Most holy and most merciful Father, at once the God of nature and of grace, creator, preserver and redeemer of mankind, fill these, thy servant and thy handmaiden, with a sense of the solemnity of the vows they are about to make. May they look to thee for thine assistance, and enter into these sacred obligations in humble dependence upon thine enabling grace. Grant this, O Father, with the forgiveness of our sins, through Jesus Christ, thy Son. Amen.
After prayer the minister shall say:
Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?
The father of the woman, or someone in his stead, shall place her right hand in that of the minister, and the minister shall cause the man to take with his right hand the woman's right hand.
The minister shall then say:
M—, wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live with her after God's commandments in the holy estate of marriage? And wilt thou love her, honor and cherish her, so long as ye both shall live?
The man shall answer:
I will.
Then the minister shall say:
N—, wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live with him after God's commandments in the holy estate of marriage? And wilt thou love him, cherish and obey him, so long as ye both shall live?
The woman shall answer:
I will.
The man shall say:
I, M—, take thee, N—, to be my wedded wife, and I do promise and covenant before God and these witnesses to be thy loving and faithful husband in sickness and in health, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, as long as we both shall live.
The woman shall say:
I, N—, take thee, M—, to be my wedded husband, and I do promise and covenant before God and these witnesses to be thy loving and faithful wife in sickness and in health, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, as long as we both shall live.
The man shall then put the ring on the third finger of the woman's left hand, and shall say after the minister:
This ring I give thee as a symbol and pledge of constant faith and abiding love.
The minister shall say to the woman:
Dost thou, N—, receive this ring as a token of thy pledge to keep this covenant and perform these vows?
The woman shall say:
I do.
The minister shall say:
Let us pray.
After prayer the minister shall say:
By virtue of the authority committed unto me by the church of Christ and the law of the state, I now pronounce you, M— and N—, husband and wife, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The minister shall cause the husband and wife to join their right hands, and shall say:
"What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder."
The Lord our God fill you with his grace, and grant that you may long live together in all godliness and holiness. Amen.
II
THE BURIAL SERVICE
(It should be observed that the Scriptures and the prayers in the following service have been arranged with the burial of believers or their children primarily in mind. When other persons are to be buried, the service should be modified accordingly.)
(From the references to the minister in this service it is not to be inferred that only a minister may officiate.)
When the people have assembled, the minister shall begin the service with several of these sentences from the Holy Scriptures:
"Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth" (Ps. 124:8).
"Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust" (Ps. 103:13-14).
"For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out" (1 Tim. 6:7).
"The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21).
"But as for me I know that my Redeemer liveth, and at last he will stand up upon the earth: and after my skin, even this body, is destroyed, then without my flesh shall I see God; whom I, even I, shall see, on my side, and mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger" (Job 19:25-27).
"I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die" (John 11:25-26).
"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God" (2 Cor. 1:3-4).
Then the minister shall lead the people in the invocation, using the following, or a similar, prayer, and ending, if desired, with the Lord's Prayer.
Almighty and gracious God, our Father in heaven, thou art our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Lead us, we pray, to put our trust entirely in thee. We come to thee in the name of thine only begotten and well beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, who died for our sins and rose again. Grant us, we beseech thee, through his precious blood, peace and pardon, and joy in the Holy Spirit. And seeing that we have in him an high priest who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, may we come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help us in this time of need.
We thank thee for the precious promises of thy Word. We praise thee for the light of the gospel. We acknowledge thy sovereign will and thine infinite compassion. Be pleased, therefore, to look upon our sorrow, and for the sake of thy dear Son, enable us to hear thy holy Word, so that through patience and comfort of the scriptures we may have hope. Grant us the consolation of thy Holy Spirit. May we hold fast our confidence in thy forgiving mercy and the blessed assurance of eternal life, through him who bore our sins in his own body on the tree and rose from the dead and is exalted at thy right hand, even Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.
Then a hymn may be read by the minister, or sung by the people.
Then let the minister read one or more of the following Psalms:
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever" (Ps. 23).
"Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Return, O Lord, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants. O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it" (Ps. 90).
"Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them" (Ps. 103:13-18).
(Ps. 39:4-13 and Ps. 130 may also be found appropriate.)
Then let the minister read one or more of these, or similar, passages presenting the gospel message of salvation through Christ:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:16, 17).
"I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one" (John 10:9-11, 27-30).
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement" (Rom. 5:1-11).
(Rom. 8:1-11 may also be found appropriate.)
Then, if it is deemed fitting, the minister may read these or similar, passages, concerning a notably useful and fruitful Christian life:
"But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Prov. 4:18).
"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not" (Mal. 3:16-18).
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised; and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more as ye see the day approaching" (Heb. 10:23-25).
"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matt. 25:34-40).
"And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever" (Dan. 12:3).
"Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins" (Jas. 5:19, 20).
Then another hymn may be read or sung.
Then let the minister read one or more of these Scripture passages giving the gospel promise of the resurrection and the life everlasting:
"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die. And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:20-28, 35-58).
"And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them and blessed them" (Mark 10:13-16).
"Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 18:10).
"While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth" (Mark 5:35-39).
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye 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. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:1-3, 15-20, 25-27).
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls" (1 Pet. 1:3-9).
"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life" (Rev. 21:1-4, 22-27).
"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: and they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book" (Rev. 22:1-7).
(2 Cor. 4:16-18; 1 Thess. 3:13; 4:13-18; 5:1-11, and Rev. 7:13-17 may also be found appropriate.)
If it is desired, an address may here be given.
Then another hymn may be read or sung.
Then shall the minister lead the people in this, or other, fitting prayer:
Almighty and most merciful God, we come again to thee in prayer, acknowledging thy sovereign power and right both to give and to take away as seemeth good unto thee. We remember all thy mercies, and thy saving grace revealed to us in Christ, thy Son, our Redeemer. We thank thee for thy favor shown to our beloved friend in bringing him to a knowledge of thy redeeming love, granting him faith in Christ, the Savior.
We humbly pray for thy bereaved servants that thou wilt give to them meek and trustful submission to thy will. May they have divine comfort through the joy of Christ's risen presence and the illumination of thy Holy Spirit. Fill their sorrowing hearts with thy love, that they may wholly rest in thee, who dost bring eternal joy out of grief, and life from death, through the power of the resurrection of thy Son.
Grant to us who remain grace to imitate the righteous dead in faith and in loving service. Give us, we pray, perseverance to continue faithful unto the end, following Christ our Lord, so that we may finally be received unto heaven through his vicarious sacrifice, and, with all thine elect, adore thee the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
At the place of burial, if it seems desirable, let the minister say:
"I am the resurrection and the life," saith the Lord; "he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die."
"For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens."
Then, if it seems desirable, earth or flowers may be scattered upon the casket, while the minister shall say:
Forasmuch as it hath pleased almighty God, in his wise providence, to take out of this world the soul of our brother, we therefore commit his body to the ground, looking for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come, through our Lord Jesus Christ, at whose coming in glorious majesty the earth and the sea shall give up their dead; and the mortal bodies of those who sleep in him shall be changed, and made like unto his own glorious body, according to the mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself.
Then the minister may say:
"I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them."
Then the minister shall offer the following, or a similar prayer:
O almighty and merciful God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life, grant that we may realize the shortness and uncertainty of human life, that we may live before thee in godly fear all our days, looking for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
We humbly beseech thee to comfort the sorrowing, and to support them in their grief. Raise us up each one, we pray thee, from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness, so that we too, when we depart this life, may rest in Christ, and at the resurrection be found acceptable in thy sight, through the mediation of him who died on the cross and rose again. Amen.
III
THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH
The congregation shall stand, and the following portions from the Psalter shall be read by the presiding minister and the people responsively, or, if desired, by the minister alone.
"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting and his truth endureth to all generations" (Ps. 100).
"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto his name of the Lord. For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companion's sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good" (Ps. 122).
"How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts. My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness" (Ps. 84:1-4, 10).
"The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein: for he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory" (Ps. 24).
The minister shall say:
Beloved in the Lord, we are gathered to consecrate and set apart this house for the worship of the one living and true God. Let us therefore dedicate this place to its proper and sacred uses.
Then the minister and the people shall say responsively:
To thee, God and Father of Jesus Christ, our Lord:
We dedicate this house.
To thee, eternal Son of God, Redeemer of thy people and Head of thy church:
We dedicate this house.
To thee, Spirit of God, lord and giver of life, our teacher, sanctifier and comforter:
We dedicate this house.
For the worship of God in praise and prayer;
For the preaching of the gospel of the grace of God;
For the celebration of the holy sacraments:
We dedicate this house.
For the diffusion of sacred knowledge;
For the promotion of righteousness;
For the extension of the kingdom of God:
We dedicate this house.
For release to the captives;
For recovering of sight to the blind;
For rest to the heavy laden:
We dedicate this house.
For comfort to those who mourn;
For strength to those who are tempted;
For assurance to those of little faith:
We dedicate this house.
For the sanctifying of the family;
For the nurture of the young;
For the perfecting of believers:
We dedicate this house.
In gratitude for the gracious keeping of the divine covenant throughout past generations;
In reliance upon the promise that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church;
In the hope of the eternal glory of the church triumphant:
We dedicate this house.
Then the minister shall say:
Beloved in the Lord, seeing that it has pleased almighty God to prosper us in our undertaking to build (or secure) a house for his worship, let us now invoke upon it his abiding blessing, to the end that pure apostolic doctrine and order may be maintained herein, and that the Holy Spirit may make his own ordinances effectual. In so doing let us reverently set this house apart for these sacred uses with prayer and supplication.
Let us pray:
Almighty and everlasting God, maker of heaven and earth, who dwellest in the high and holy place, with him also who is of contrite and humble spirit, we adore thee for thy manifold perfections, for the infinite majesty and glorious beauty of thy being, and for the truthfulness and sanctity of thy divine revelation.
We give thanks unto thee for thine infinite mercies to us, and, in particular, for the gift of thy Son to be our Saviour. We praise thee for the church of God, of which he is the only Head and King and of which we are humble and unfaithful members. We acknowledge that we are not worthy to receive from thine hand the blessings of thy common grace; and especially do we recognize the abundance of thy great goodness in granting to us, through thy particular grace, membership in the church universal, the mystical body of Christ.
Thou hast put it into our hearts to prepare this house of worship where men may gather in thy service. We earnestly beseech thee that thou wilt watch over and protect this place which we have dedicated in thy name. We ask that here may be preached only the pure gospel of the free grace of God. May all that is proclaimed be firmly grounded upon the unchanging foundation of Holy Scripture. Grant that no portion of thy sacred revelation to man may be neglected but that thy servants who minister here shall give to all its parts that due regard which will exhibit its majesty and scope. We pray that by the favor of the Spirit sinners may in this house be converted unto thee, and that the saints of God, the members of thy holy body, may be built up and edified by the proclamation of thy matchless Word.
May the Holy Spirit of God, the third person of the blessed Trinity, ever be present to guide, illumine and inform those who teach here. May he prepare the hearts of the hearers to receive with meekness the instruction which is presented, so that their lives may show forth the wonders of his grace and truly adorn the doctrine of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Bless this thy house that it may serve without surcease the extension of the kingdom of God. Teach us so to look for the return of the Lord of glory that we shall be quickened day by day in our present service of him, and shall be always prepared to greet him and to enter in with him to the marriage supper of the Lamb, forever to dwell in that holy city where there is no candle neither light of the sun for the Lamb is the light thereof.
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
An offering to the Lord may then be received.
After the singing of an appropriate psalm or hymn, a sermon shall be preached.
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