they hold for Thee; Bless, sanctify, and hallow this Staff which we bless in Thy Name and Presence, and grant that he to whom it shall be committed may ever be found worthy to bear it before Thee. May he be diligent in gathering Thy people, especially those who like sheep have gone astray; may he rule the faithful in righteousness; and may he be careful in Thy Name to correct offenders and to stir up those who are negligent; and grant that he, filled with the Holy Ghost, may so persevere in all holiness of living and service that, when the great Shepherd shall appear, he may be found among His faithful servants and find a place of rest at Thy Right Hand with Him in glory, through the same Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. OF MISCELLANEOUS GIFTS. V. Our help is in the Name of the Lord: V. Lord, hear our prayer: R. And let our cry come unto Thee. Let us pray. Almighty God, who willest that all things should be done decently and in order, and acceptest from the hands of Thy servants things great and small; Accept bless and sanctify this which we now offer for the service of Thy House and grant that all our gifts and prayers may come up before Thee and be acceptable in Thy sight, through the merits of Thy Son Christ our Lord. Amen. If the gift be a Memorial of one departed the following prayer may be added: Almighty God, with whom do live the spirits of those who depart hence in the Lord, and with whom the souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the burden of the flesh, are in joy and felicity; We give Thee hearty thanks for our brother whom it hath pleased Thee to deliver out of the miseries of this sinful world; beseeching Thee, that it may please Thee, of Thy gracious goodness, shortly to accomplish the number of Thine elect, and to hasten Thy kingdom; that we, with all those that are departed in the true faith of Thy holy Name, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in Thy eternal and everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Minister having completed the Dedication shall return to the Altar and say: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen. XV. SERVICE FOR DEDICATION FESTIVAL OR ANNIVERSARY Morning and Evening Prayer shall be the same with the usual Office for the Day, except where it is in this Office otherwise appointed. If the Service is said on a Sunday or Holy Day the Lessons shall be the Lessons proper for the Day, but the Psalms shall be those appointed in this Office, and the Collect for the Sunday or Holy Day shall be the first said. PROPER PSALMS. Any of the following may be used: Psalms 24, 26, 27, 84, 122, 132, 133, 134. PROPER LESSONS. Any of the following may be used: First Lesson. Hag. ii. 1-10; 1 Chr. xxix. 1-23; 1 Kings viii. 22-54; or 1 Kings viii. 54 to end. Second Lesson. Heb. x. 19-26; Rev. xxi. 1-8; Eph. ii. 11 to end. The Collect. O most blessed Saviour, who by Thy gracious presence at the Feast of Dedication didst approve and honor such services as this which we are now performing unto Thee; Be present at this time with us also, by Thy Holy Spirit; and, because holiness becometh Thine house for ever, sanctify us, we pray Thee, that we may be living temples, holy and acceptable unto Thee; and so dwell in our hearts by faith and possess our souls by Thy grace, that nothing which defileth may enter into us, but that, being cleansed from all carnal and corrupt affections, we may ever be devoutly given to serve Thee in all good works, who art our Saviour, Lord, and God, blessed for evermore. Amen. Epistle. 1 Cor. iii. 16 to end. The following Collect may be used immediately before the Blessing: O Lord, we glorify Thee in Thy servants our founders and benefactors departed out of this present life; beseeching Thee that, as they for their time bestowed charitably to our comfort the temporal things which Thou didst give them, so we for our time may fruitfully use the same to the setting forth of Thy holy Word to Thy laud and praise; and finally that both they and we may reign with Thee in glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. At Morning or Evening Prayer. Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to our prayers, that all we who enter this temple (the dedication of which we celebrate on this anniversary), may please Thee with full and perfect devotion of soul and body; that while we now render to Thee our prayers, we may by Thy help be enabled to attain Thine eternal rewards; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. XVI. FEAST OF THE TITLE OR HOLY DAY OR SAINT'S DAY FROM WHICH THE CHURCH TAKES ITS NAME On these Festivals, where the Saint or Mystery' in whose name the Church is dedicated has a proper office in the Prayer Book, the Service shall be that of the Day. Where the Saint has no proper office in the Prayer Book, the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, and the Lessons for All Saints' Day may be used; the words "blessed Saint "being used for "blessed Saints" in the Collect. For Proper Psalms any of the following may be said: Psalms 15, 16, 25, 26, 35, 116. The following prayer may be used before the Blessing at the Holy Communion, and at Morning or Evening Prayer: O God of all sanctification, Almighty Sovereign, whose goodness is felt to be infinite; who art present throughout all things at once, in heaven and earth, keeping Thy mercy for Thy people who walk before the presence of Thy glory; Hear the prayers of Thy servants, that Thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night; graciously accept this church, set apart by holy rites in honor of mercifully illumine and brighten it with Thine own glory. Favorably accept every one who comes to worship in this place; 1 e. g. Trinity Church would have its Feast of the Title on Trinity Sunday, and Emmanuel Church on Christmas Day or the Annunciation. |