O Day of Rest and Gladness
Text: Christopher Wordsworth (1862)
Tune: LANCASHIRE, Thomas Henry Smart (1836)
Musical notation (PDF)
O day of rest and gladness,
O day of joy and light,
O balm of care and sadness,
most beautiful, most bright;
on thee the high and lowly
through ages joined in tune,
sing “Holy, holy, holy”
to the great God Triune.
On thee, at the creation,
the light first had its birth;
on thee, for our salvation,
Christ rose from depths of earth;
on thee, our Lord victorious,
the Spirit sent from heav’n;
and thus on thee, most glorious,
a triple light was giv’n.
Today on weary nations
the heav’nly manna falls;
to holy convocations
the silver trumpet calls,
where gospel light is glowing
with pure and radiant beams,
and living water flowing
with soul refreshing streams.
New graces ever gaining
from this our day of rest,
we reach the rest remaining
to spirits of the blest.
To Holy Ghost be praises,
to Father, and to Son;
the church her voice upraises
to thee, blest Three in One.
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The Introduction of New Members
Jeff Anhut, Elder for Membership and Nominations
Andi Huber
Veronica and Daniel Chocoano
Dorothea and Nicholas Edmonds
Agnetha Pruim
Armin Zurburg
Introduction to the Vows of Membership
Hear the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. “You did not choose me, but I chose you that you should go and bear fruit. Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my father who is in heaven.” Friends, Jesus Christ has chosen you, and in baptism has joined you to himself. He has called you, together with us, into the church, which is his body. Now he has brought you to this time and place, so you may confess his name before others, and go out to serve him as faithful disciples.
State then your purpose here by answering the following questions.
The Vows of New Members
Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinners in the sight of God and without hope for your salvation except in his great mercy?
Do you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Son of God, and the Savior of sinners, and do you receive and depend upon him alone for your salvation as he is offered in the Gospel?
Do you now promise and resolve, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live in a way that is fitting for followers of Christ?
Do you promise to serve the Lord in his church by supporting and participating with this congregation as it exalts Jesus Christ and serves others in his name, to the best of your ability?
Do you submit yourselves in a spirit of love to the government and discipline of this church, and to the spiritual oversight of this church Council, and do you promise to promote the unity, purity, and peace of the Church?
The Vows of the Congregation
Do you, the people of this church, promise to work together with these brothers and sisters to spread the good news of the gospel, to help them know all that Christ commands, and by your faith, love, and fellowship, to strengthen their family ties with the household of God? If so, please indicate your commitment to these new members by standing (if you are able).
The Prayer for New Members
Gracious God, we praise you for calling us from the East and West and North and South to be a servant people, and for gathering us into the body of Christ. We thank you for choosing to add to our number brothers and sisters in faith. Together, may we live in your Spirit, and so love one another, that we may have the mind of Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom we give honor and glory forever. Amen.
Reception of New Members
Ruth Pfister, organ
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him, all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Amen!