The importance of liturgy in the history of the Christian Church over the 2000 years cannot be underestimated. Some of the earliest hymns in the Church were chants or Scriptural truths read aloud in unison. To verbally proclaim in unison holy truths of God will have a great affect spiritually on the Assembly of believers to strengthen and unify them in the faith once delivered to the saints.1148
We are commended in the Scriptures to verbally proclaim our allegiance to the Son of God, confessing truths that we believe in our heart.1149 Though modern day evangelicalism is mostly non-liturgical this was not so in the early days of Christianity.
The New Testament suggests that Christian worship incorporated singing of hymns and psalms,1150 prayer,1151 vocal thanksgiving,1152 and instruction.1153 In the Gospel of Luke, 1 Timothy,1154 and Revelation1155 we see preserved hymns that may have been used in the worship of the early Church.
According to an old account of Christians, “On an appointed day they had been accustomed to meet before daybreak, and to recite a hymn antiphonally to Christ, as to a god.”1156
Liturgy was surrounded mostly by the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. One recommendation is for a gathering of believers to speak one or more of these readings aloud in unison—or individually—for thanksgiving and declarations of faith. This can build more unified faith and can grant a sanctity to the time together as the body of Christ and the breaking of the bread.1157
This practice of reading Scripture out-loud in an Assembly or unified singing and reading of liturgy is not something that religious large churches invented but rather it was a practice of the early Church.1158 May God give us the grace to recapture this apostolic practice for the benefit of His body.

1148 Jude 1:3
1149 Romans 10:9
1150 Ephesians 5:19
1151 1 Corinthians 11:4-5
1152 Ephesians 5:20, Hebrews 13:15
1153 1 Corinthians 14:26, Colossians 3:16
1154 1 Timothy 3:16
1155 Revelation 5:9-10, Revelation 15:3-4
1156 Pliny the Younger (A.D. 61-113)
1157 1 Corinthians 11:29
1158 1 Timothy 4:13, Ephesians 5:19
INDEX TO READINGS BY FIRST LINE
1. You Are Head and Savior of Your Body, the Church 458
2. From the Sin of Unbelief 458
3. To the Lamb That Was Slain 459
4. I Believe in the One Only God 459
5. We Thank You, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth 460
6. I Believe in the Name of the Only Begotten Son of God 460
7. We Wait in Faith for You 461
8. I Believe in the Holy Spirit, Who Proceeds From the Father 461
9. I Believe, That By My Own Reason and Strength 462
10. In This Communion of Saints My Faith is Placed 462
11. Lord, Your Body Never Forsake 463
12. The Lamb, Who by Blood Our Salvation Obtained 463
13. Preserve Us, Gracious Lord and God 463
14. Glory Be to Your Most Holy Priesthood 464
15. Bless and Comfort us, Gracious Lord and God 464
16. O Holy Spirit, Comforter Divine 464
17. Say to Them That Are of a Fearful Heart 465
18. O Savior of Our Race 465
19. Dear Desire of Every Nation, By Your All-sufficient Merit 466
20. Praise to You, O Lord, We Render 466
21. Our Lord Said to His Disciples 466
22. Like Him We Then Shall Be 467
23. You Have Blessed Us With All Spiritual Blessings 467
24. Hearts, That Once Were Taught to Own 468
25. While the Foe Becomes More Daring 468
26. Send Your Servants Forth 468
27. Lord God, Son, You Are Savior of the World 469
28. By You Holy Incarnation and Birth 469
29. The Father of Glory Has Raised Christ From the Dead 470
30. Through His Own Blood He Entered in Once for All 470
31. Fear Not, Says the Lord, I Am the First and the Last 470
32. God Was Manifested in the Flesh 471
33. For If We Died With Him 471
34. Worthy is the Lamb Who was Slain 471
35. We Give You Thanks, Holy Father 472
1
YOU ARE HEAD AND SAVIOR OF YOUR BODY, THE CHURCH.
Unite all the children of God in one spirit. Send faithful laborers into Your harvest. Give spirit and power to preach Your Word. Hinder all schisms and offenses. Put far from Your people all deceivers.1159 Bring back all that have erred or that are deceived. Grant love and unity to all our congregations. Give to our shepherds and servant leaders soundness of doctrine and holiness of life, and preserve them. Teach us to bless them that curse us,1160 and to do good to them that hate us.1161 Have mercy on our slanderers and persecutors, and lay not this sin to their charge.1162 Hear us, gracious Son of God. Amen.
2
From the sin of unbelief,
From all defilement of the flesh and spirit.1163 From all self-righteousness. From every neglect of our duty. From all ingratitude and selfishness. From lukewarmness in our love to You1164 and our neighbor. From indifference to Your meritorious life and death. Deliver us, gracious heavenly Father. Amen.
3
to the Lamb that was slain,
And has redeemed us out of all nations of the earth. To the Lord Who purchased our souls for Himself. To that Friend who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.1165 Who died for us once, that we might die to sin.1166 Who rose for us, that we also might rise. Who ascended for us into heaven. To prepare a place for us.1167 And to who are subjected the angels, and powers, and dominions. To Him be glory at all times, in the Church that waits for Him, and in that which is around Him.1168 From everlasting to everlasting. Amen.
4
I believe in the One only God, Father, Son, and Holy SPIRIT,
Who created all things by Jesus Christ,1169 and was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.1170 I believe in God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world.1171 Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.1172 Who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.1173 Who has made us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.1174 To the praise of the glory of His grace. Where He has made us accepted in the Beloved.1175 This I truly believe. Amen.
5
We thank YOU, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
Because You have hid these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to children. Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in Your sight. Father, glorify Your Name.1176 Our Father who are in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.1177 For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
6
I believe in the Name of the only begotten Son of God,
By whom are all things, and we through Him. I believe, that He was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and took on Him the form of a servant.1178 By the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, was conceived of the virgin Mary.1179 As the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same.1180 Was born of a woman. And being found in fashion as a man, was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin.1181 For He is the Lord, the Messenger of the covenant, whom we delight in. The Lord and His Spirit have sent Him to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.1182 He spoke that which He did know, and testified that which He had seen. As many as receive Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God.1183 Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.1184 Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. Went also by the Spirit and preached to the spirits in prison.1185 On the third day rose again from the dead, and with Him many bodies of the saints who slept. Ascended into heaven, and sits on the throne of the Father. Where from He will come, in like manner as He was seen going into heaven.1186 Amen.
7
We wait in faith for You.
Soon—we implore You—come, Your glory let us see. The Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel. And with the trumpet of God.1187 To judge both the quick and the dead.1188 This is my Lord, who redeemed me, a lost and undone human creature. Purchased and gained me from sin, from death, and from the power of the devil. Not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood.1189 And with His innocent suffering and dying. To the end that I should be His own. And in His kingdom live under Him and serve Him, in eternal righteousness, innocence, and happiness. Even as He, being risen from the dead, lives and reigns, world without end. This I most certainly believe. Amen.
8
I believe in the Holy SPIRIT, Who proceedS from the Father,
And whom our Lord Jesus Christ sent, after He went away, that He should abide with us forever.1190 That He should comfort us, as a mother comforts her children. That He should help our infirmities, and make intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered.1191 That He should bear witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God, and teach us to cry, Abba, Father.1192 That He should shed abroad in our hearts the love of God,1193 and make our bodies His holy temple.1194 And that He should work all in all, dividing to every man severally as He will. To Him be glory in the Church, which is in Christ Jesus, the holy, universal Christian Church. In the communion of saints, at all times, and from eternity to eternity. Amen.
9
I believe, that by my own reason and strength,
I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to Him. But that the Holy Spirit calls me by the Gospel, enlightens me with His gifts, sanctifies and preserves me in the true faith. Even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Church on earth,1195 which He keeps by Jesus Christ in the only true faith. This I assuredly believe. Amen.
10
In this communion of saints my faith is placed,
Upon my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Who died for me, and shed His blood on the cross for the remission of sins. And who has granted to me His body and blood in the Lord’s Supper, as a pledge of grace. As the Scripture says. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread. And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and gave it to His disciples, and said. Take, eat this is My body which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me. After the same manner also, our Lord Jesus Christ, when He had eaten. Took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them. Saying, drink all of you of it this is My blood, the blood of the New Testament. Which is shed for you, and for many, for the remission of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.1196 Amen.
11
Lord, YOUR body neVer forsake.
Never Your congregation leave. We to You our refuge take. Of Your fullness we receive.1197 Every other help be gone. You are our support alone. For on Your supreme commands all the universe depends.1198 Amen.
12
The Lamb, Who by blood our salvation obtained,
Took on Him our curse,1199 and death freely sustained. Is worthy of praises.1200 Let with one accord all people say. Amen. O praise the Lord.
13
Preserve us, gracious Lord and God.
From indifference to Your merits and death. From pride and self-complacency. From needless perplexity. From the unhappy desire of becoming great. From hypocrisy and fanaticism. From envy, hatred, and malice. From the deceitfulness of sin. From the murdering spirit and devices of satan. From the influence of the spirit of this world. Preserve us, gracious Lord and God. By all the merits of Your life. By Your human birth and circumcision. By Your obedience, diligence and faithfulness. By Your humility, meekness and patience. By Your extreme poverty. By Your Baptism, fasting and temptation. By Your griefs and sorrows. By Your prayers and tears. By Your having been despised and rejected. Bless and comfort us,1201 gracious Lord and God. Amen.
14
Glory be to YOUR most holy priesthood,
Christ, Lamb of God. You were slain for us.1202 Who by one offering has perfected for ever them that are sanctified.1203 Amen, Hallelujah.
15
Bless and comfort us, gracious Lord and God.
Lord God, Holy Spirit, abide with us for ever. I am the Resurrection and the Life, says the Lord. He that believes in Me—though he were dead—yet shall he live.1204 And who ever lives and believes in Me will never die. Therefore, blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors. O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin. And the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.1205 Amen.
16
O Holy Spirit, Comforter Divine,
Giver of life and peace. Grant us Your abiding presence. Lord, make us to know our end, and the measure of our days, what it is.1206 Let us know how frail we are. So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.1207 Hear our prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto our cry.1208 For we are strangers with You—sojourners—as all our fathers were.1209 It is appointed to men once to die, and after this comes judgment.1210 For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ. That each one may receive the things done in the body. According to what he has done, whether it be good or bad.1211 What is your life? For you are a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.1212 Let it be so. Amen.
17
Say to them that are of a fearful heart,
Be strong and fear not.1213 Behold your God will come and save you. He shall feed His Flock like a Shepherd. He shall gather the lambs with His arm. And carry them in His bosom.1214 Amen.
18
O Savior of our race,
You are indeed welcome. Blessed Redeemer, fountain of grace, to this my longing heart! Therefore, rejoice in God, your Savior! For He that is mighty, has done great things. And holy is His Name.1215 Through the tender mercy of our God, the Day-spring from on high has visited us. To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.1216 To guide our feet in the way of peace. Amen.
19
Dear desire of every nation, By YOUR all-sufficient merit,
Joy of every longing heart. Raise us to Your glorious throne. You are blessed who dwell between the cherubim.1217 And graciously regards them of low estate!1218 Praise the Lord, for He is good, and His mercy endures for ever.1219 Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. The God of all grace. Who has called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus. Make us perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us! To Him be glory and power, from everlasting to everlasting.1220 Amen.
20
Praise to YOU, O Lord, we GIVE,
For Your love in Jesus shown. May that love, so strong and tender. Bind us fast to Him alone. Amen.
21
Our Lord said TO His disciples,
Let not your heart be troubled. 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. For I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you to Myself. That where I am, there you may be also.1221 Even so come, Lord Jesus. If we believe that Jesus died and rose again. Even so those also that have died in Jesus will God bring with Him. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout. With the voice of the archangel. And with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so will we ever be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.1222 Amen.
22
Like Him we then shall be,
The Son of God has taken the throne, transformed and glorified. We too shall be revealed, and shine for we shall see Him as He is.1223 In glory, like His own. And in His light abide. Amen.
23
YOU HAVE blessed us with all spiritual blessings,
In heavenly places in Christ.1224 You have delivered us from the power of darkness, and have translated us into the kingdom of Your dear Son.1225 In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.1226 He is the true God, and eternal life.1227 By Himself has He reconciled all things to Himself. Whether they are things on earth, or things in heaven.1228 You who are the one God and Father of all. And who has adopted us as children in Jesus Christ—Your Son—in who we have redemption, even the forgiveness of our sins. Quicken us we beg You, who have been dead in trespasses and sins.1229 For the sake of that great love where You have loved us. Make us to live in Christ our Lord. Amen.
24
Hearts, that once were taught to own,
Idol gods of wood and stone. Now to light and life restored. Honor Jesus as their Lord. Behold, the darkness will cover the earth, and gross darkness the people. But the Lord shall arise over you, and His glory shall be seen over you.1230 And the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Arise, shine. For your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.1231 Amen.
25
While the foe becomes more daring,
While he enters like a flood,1232 God the Savior is preparing means to spread His truth abroad. Every language soon shall tell the love of God. Bless our and all other Christian congregations gathered from among the heathen. Keep them as the apple of Your eye.1233 Let them be a light to them who sit in darkness and in the region and shadow of death.1234 Have mercy on Your ancient covenant people. Deliver them from their blindness. Oh that Ishmael might live before You!1235 Hear us, gracious Lord and God. Amen.
26
Send YOUR servants forth,
To call the Hebrews home. From west and east, from south and north. Let all the wanderers come. With Israel’s great numbers sealed.1236 Let all the nations meet. And show Your mystery fulfilled,1237 Your family complete. Amen.
27
Lord God, SON, YOU ARE Savior of the world,
For as the children are partakers of flesh and blood. You did also Yourself likewise take part of the same, that through death You might destroy him that had the power of death—that is—the devil.1238 You were in all things made like Your brethren, that You might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God. To make reconciliation for the sins of the people.1239 You were despised and rejected of men. A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. You were wounded for our transgressions. You were bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon You. And with Your stripes we are healed.1240 Amen.
28
By YOUR holy incarnation and birth.
Your early exile. Your pure and blameless childhood. Your willing obedience. Your humility, meekness, and patience. Your faithfulness in Your earthly calling. Your perfect life before God and man. Help us—O Christ—to dedicate both soul and body to Your service.1241 Your tears and agony. Your crown of thorns and cross. Lead us to repentance for our sins.1242 By Your willing sacrifice of Yourself even to death. Make known to us the mystery of Your love. Into Your open arms stretched out upon the cross. Receive us all. Amen.
29
The Father of glory haS raised Christ from the dead,
And made Him to sit at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named. Not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet. And gave Him to be head over all things to the Church—which is His body—the fullness of Him that fills all in all.1243 Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven. We laud and magnify Your glorious Name. Evermore praising You. And saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts, heaven and earth are full of Your glory. Glory be to You, O Lord Most High.1244 Amen.
30
Through His own blood He entered in once for all,
Into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption, now to appear before the face of God for us.1245 Wherefore, also, He is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near to God through Him. Seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them.1246 Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ Jesus that died, yes, rather, that was raised from the dead. Who is at the right hand of God. Who also makes intercession for us.1247 Amen.
31
Fear not, saYS the Lord, I am the first and the last,
And the living One. And I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. And I have the keys of death and of Hades.1248 He that overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with Me in My throne. As I also overcame, and sat down with My Father in His throne.1249 Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.1250 Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if He shall be manifested, we shall be like Him. For we shall see Him even as He is. And every one that has this hope set on Him purifies himself, even as he is pure.1251 Amen.
32
God was manifested in the flesh
Justified in the Spirit. Seen by angels. Preached among the Gentiles. Believed on in the world. Received up in glory.1252 Amen.
33
For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful. He cannot deny Himself.1253 Amen.
34
WORTHY IS THE LAMB WHO WAS SLAIN,
To receive power, and riches, and wisdom. And strength, and honor, and glory. And blessing, for ever and ever, Hallelujah! Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be to Him that sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever.1254 Amen.
35
We give you thanks, Holy Father,1255
For Your holy Name, which You have caused to dwell in our hearts. And for the knowledge and faith and immortality that You have made known to us through Jesus your servant. To You be the glory forever. You, Almighty Master, created all things for Your Name’s sake. And gave food and drink to humans to enjoy, so that they might give You thanks. But to us You have graciously given spiritual food and drink, and eternal life through Your servant. Above all we give thanks to You because You are Mighty. To You be the glory forever. Remember Your Church, Lord, to deliver it from all evil and to make it perfect in Your love. And from the four winds gather the Church that has been sanctified into Your kingdom. Which You have prepared for it. For Yours is the power and the glory forever. May grace come, and may this world pass away. Hosanna to the God of David. If anyone is holy, let him come. If anyone is not, let him repent. Maranatha! Amen.
1159 Matthew 7:15
1160 Romans 12:14
1161
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