[Ruth ii.] Supt. Ye shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace. [Isa. lv.] The Lord bless us and keep us: The Lord make his face to shine upon us: upon The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon us, And give us peace. Amen. [Num. vi.] Supt. Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. [Ps. xix.] 1. It is good to pray unto God, for his sorrowing children Turns he ne'er from the door; but he heals and helps and consoles them. For do ye know, ye children, one blessing that comes not from heaven? 2. Then the school will stand and sing in response to the reading of the minister or superintendent: My son, if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for temptation. Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time of trouble. Whatsoever is brought upon thee, take cheerfully, and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate. For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity. Believe in him and he will help thee; order thy way aright and trust in him. [Ecclesiasticus ii. ] Look at the generations of old, and see: did any ever trust in the Lord and was confounded? or did any abide in his fear and was forsaken? or whom did he ever despise that called upon him? For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy, long-suffering and very pitiful, and forgiveth sins and saveth in time of affliction. Woe unto him that is fainthearted! for he believeth not. Woe unto you that have lost patience! and what will ye do when the Lord shall visit you? They that fear the Lord will not disobey his word: and they that love him, will keep his ways. [Eccle'cus ii.] Response. (Music as before.) Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; Fear before him, all the earth. [Ps. xcvi.] They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and humble their souls in his sight. saying, We will fall into the hands of the Lord, and not into the hands of men; for as his majesty is, so is his mercy. Response. (Music as before.) Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; Fear before him, all the earth. Then the school will be seated. 3. Then will be read these responses. Hearken unto me, my people! And give ear unto me, O my nation! [Ecclesiasticus ii.] [Ps. xcvi.] For a law shall proceed from me, And I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, And look upon the earth beneath! For the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, And the earth shall wax old like a garment, And they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: But my salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. [Is. li.] If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; we gave them reverence; Shall we not much more be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: He delighteth himself in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: [Heb. xii.] [Ps. xxxvii.] 4. Prayer. The minister or superintendent will say : Let us search and try our ways, and turn unto the Lord. [Lament. iii.] Then the school will stand. O Eternal One, we pray to thee. Help us to reverence thy power, to worship thy wisdom, to adore thy justice, to be gladdened by thy love, to be blessed in thinking of thee, and to trust thee forever. Then all will read in unison. O Father of Light, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning, from thee cometh down every good and perfect gift. We trust in thy perfect providence which is over all, and in thy loving-kindness which blesses the child and the old man. We grieve that we have wandered from thy way and forgotten thy laws. But thy kindness is not as our kindness. O Infinite Love, help us to depart from evil and do good. We commit our ways to thee and trust in thee. Thou dost bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Amen. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass a-gainst us. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, for 9 ev er, A men. 5. Hymn-selected. 6. Here will be opportunity for any customary or special exercise; Or for a five minute sermon or address. Supt. The Lord will give strength unto his people. The Lord wil bless his people with peace. [Ps. xxix.] School: He is our strong habitation, whereunto we may continually resort. He is our rock and our fortress. [Ps. lxxi.] Supt.: The Lord preserve thy going out and thy coming in, from this time forth, and even forevermore. [Ps. cxxi.] |