Then the Superintendent shall say the following, or some other Collect appropriate to the day:

We beseech Thee, Almighty God, Heavenly Father, grant us a steadfast faith in Jesus Christ, a firm hope in Thy mercy, and a sincere love to Thee and to all our fellow men, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Then the Superintendent and the School shall read responsively the Scripture Lesson.

The Apostles' Creed

After the reading of the Lesson, the Superintendent and the School together shall say the Apostles' Creed.

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit; The Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body; and the Life everlasting.

Amen.

A Hymn shall be sung, after which the Class Instruction shall begin.

II. Order for Closing

The Class Instruction ended, and the School having been called to order, a Lesson Review, or Questions on the Catechism may follow, after which Announcements shall be made.

The hymn ended, the School shall stand while the Superintendent shall say the following General Prayer (A free prayer may be offered):

O Lord, most loving and merciful Saviour, Who didst call little children to come unto Thee, and didst lay Thy hands upon them, look upon us, we humbly beseech Thee, and bless us, Thy children, dedicated to Thy service in Holy Baptism. Bestow upon us Thy saving grace, and help us to remember our Creator in the days of our youth. Teach us that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.

Bless, O Lord, the instruction which we have received this hour, and grant that Thy precious Word may be so grafted into our hearts as to bring forth the fruits of righteousness, to the honor and glory of Thy name.

Teach us truly to believe in Thee, to love Thee with all our heart, to worship Thee and give Thee thanks, to obey Thy commandments, to reverence Thy holy Name and Word, and to serve Thee faithfully all the days of our lives.

Be gracious unto all of us.

Preserve us from all danger. Deliver us from the power of the evil one and from the wickedness that is in the world. Defend us by day and by night. Unite us in the bonds of Christian love, and receive us at last unto Thyself in Thy heavenly kingdom. These and all things else necessary for us, and for the whole Church, we humbly beg in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen. The Lord's Prayer

Then the Superintendent and the School shall say:

Our Father, Who art in heaven: Hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy 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 those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.

Used by permission of the Common Service Committee.

Morning

The Congregation shall rise, and the Minister shall say:

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart, and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to grant us forgiveness.

V. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord.

Then shall the Minister say:

Almighty God, our Maker and Redeemer, we poor sinners confess unto Thee, that we are by nature sinful and unclean, and that we have sinned against Thee by thought, word, and deed. Wherefore we flee for refuge to Thine infinite mercy, seeking and imploring Thy grace, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Congregation shall say with the Minister:

O Most Merciful God, Who hast given Thine Only-begotten Son to die for us, have mercy upon us, and for His sake grant us remission of all our sins: and by Thy Holy Spirit increase in us true knowledge of Thee, and of Thy will, and true obedience to Thy Word, to the end that by Thy grace we may come to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Then shall the Minister say:

Amen.

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, hath had mercy upon us, and hath given His Only Son to die for us, and for His sake forgiveth us all our sins. To them that believe on His Name, He giveth power to become the sons of God, and bestoweth upon them His Holy Spirit. He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved. Grant this, O Lord, unto us all.

The Congregation shall sing or say:

E

men.

The Congregation shall stand until the close of the Collect.

The Introit

The Introit for the Day (Pages 707-716) with the Gloria Patri shall be sung or said.