things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us; for I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. III. PRAYER (seated with heads bowed). O God of all power, we would not put our confidence and trust in man, for thou knowest how many times self-confidence and man-confidence has defeated us. We win only when we commit our way unto thee, and trust in thee. May we stand therefore having our loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness: and taking the shield of faith, may we be able to resist the darts of the wicked. Teach us how to use the sword of the spirit, which is thy Holy Word, so that we may fight the good fight. May we conquer the base passions and secret sins of our lives. To thee, O Christ, the great Conqueror, shall be given the honor and glory. Amen. IV. SONG (all standing). TUNE: DIADEMATA. No. 6. Soldiers of Christ arise, And put your armor on; Strong in the strength which God supplies, Who in the strength of Jesus trusts Stand then in his great might, With all his strength endued; From strength to strength go on, Tread all the powers of darkness down, That having all things done, And all your conflicts past. Ye may o'ercome, through Christ alone, To God, the Father, Son, And Spirit, ever blest, The One in Three, the Three in One, Be endless praise addressed. V. SCRIPTURE READING: Joshua 1:1-9; Ephesians 6:10-19. VI. OFFERING: Cornet Solo, Orchestra Selection or Rousing Martial Anthem. VII. SONG (all standing). TUNE: WEBB. No. 78. Stand up, stand up for Jesus, Ye soldiers of the cross; Lift high his royal banner, It must not suffer loss; Stand up, stand up for Jesus, In this his glorious day; And strength to strength oppose! Stand up, stand up for Jesus, And watching unto prayer, Stand up, stand up for Jesus, A crown of life shall be; Page Fifty-one VIII. ADDRESS (20 minutes): "THE BATTLE OF LIFE." IX. CLOSING HYMN (all standing). TUNE: ST. ANNE. No. 77. The Son of God goes forth to war, His blood-red banner streams afar: Who best can drink his cup of woe, The martyr first, whose eagle eye, Like him with pardon on his tongue, He prayed for them that did the wrong A noble band, the chosen few, And mocked the torch of flame; They met the tyrant's brandished steel, They bowed their necks the stroke to Who follows in their train? A noble army, men and boys, They climbed the steep ascent of Through peril, toil, and pain: X. Leader: Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. VESPER SERVICE NO. 1 I. HYMN (seated, singing thoughtfully and quietly). TUNE: EVENTIDE. NO. 9. Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide, The darkness deepens Lord, with me abide! oh, abide with me! I need thy presence Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; in all around I see; can foil the tempter's power? Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be! Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me! II. SILENT PRAYER FOLLOWED BY THE LORD'S PRAYER IN UNISON. Page Fifty-two Leader: And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain; and when he was set, his disciples came unto him; and he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, All: Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Leader: Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted. All: Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy. All: Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God. Leader: Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. All: Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Leader: Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. V. PRAYER (all seated with heads bowed). Be very near us, O Lord, at this evening hour. As the shadows of the night steal across the sky, give us calmness of spirit, naturalness of worship and poise which will enable us to serve thee and our brothers in an acceptable manner. Give rest of mind and body during the night, and may we arise on the morrow refreshed and strengthened, ready for a new day of service. Hear our evening prayer, O thou Guardian of the night. Amen. Page Fifty-three VI. PRAYER RESPONSE (all sing softly). TUNE: BETHANY. No. 39. VII. SCRIPTURE READING. Though like a wanderer, The sun gone down, My rest a stone, Yet in my dreams I'd be And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? All: He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Leader: He shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways. All: Blessed be the Lord. Amen. Page Fifty-four VESPERS NO. 2 I. HYMN (all standing). TUNE: CHAUTAUQUA. No. 87. Leader: He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. All: I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God, in whom I trust. Leader: For he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. All: He shall cover thee with his pinions, and under his wings shalt thou take refuge: his truth is a shield and buckler. Leader: Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day. All: For the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. Leader: A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. . All: Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Leader: For thou, O Lord, art my refuge! Thou hast made the Most High thy habitation: All: There shall no evil befall thee. neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent. Leader: For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. All: They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Page Fifty-five |