I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.] IV. Prayer, concluding with the Lord's Prayer, repeated audibly by all, both minister and people kneeling.2 [V. Anthem, or Voluntary.] VI. Lesson from the Old Testament, which, if from the Psalms, may be read responsively. [VII. The Gloria Patri.] VIII. Lesson from the New Testament. IX. Notices, followed by collection; during which or after which an offertory may be rendered. X. Singing from the Methodist Hymnal, the people standing. XI. The Sermon. XII. Prayer, the people kneeling.3 XIII. Singing from the Methodist Hymnal, the people standing.4 XIV. Doxology and the Apostolic Benediction. (2 Cor. xiii. 14.) ¶597. Ans. 2. The afternoon and evening service shall be the same as the morning, except 2Let all the people be exhorted to kneel in prayer, keeping their faces toward the minister. 3The order of prayer and singing after the sermon may be reversed. 4An invitation to come to Christ, or to unite with the Church, should be given when this hymn is announced. that, at the discretion of the minister, one or both lessons may be omitted. ¶598. Ans. 3. Wherever practicable, the Lord's Supper shall be administered monthly in every congregation; and where not practicable, at every quarterly meeting. Let the service preceding the administration be so proportioned as to admit of due time for this solemn ordi nance. ¶599. Ans. 4. Let the Lord's Prayer always be used in public worship as the conclusion of the first morning prayer, the congregation repeating audibly with the minister; and the apostolic benediction (2 Cor. xiii. 14) in dismissing the congregation. ¶600. Ans. 5. The Ritual shall be invariably used in all the offices for which it is prescribed. Ques. 2. How shall we guard against formality in singing? ¶601. Ans. 1. By choosing such hymns as are proper for the occasion. 4602. Ans. 2. By not singing too much at once; seldom more than five or six verses. ¶603. Ans. 3. By suiting the tune to the words. ¶604. Ans. 4. By often stopping short, when the words are given out, and asking the people: "Now, do you know what you said last? Did you speak no more than you felt?” ¶605. Ans. 5. In all our congregations let the people learn to sing, and use our own hymn and tune book. ¶606. Ans. 6. Exhort every person in the congregation to sing; not one in ten only. SECTION II. OF PRAYER MEETINGS. Question. What directions are given concerning prayer meetings? ¶607. Ans. 1. Let every pastor hold prayer meetings, weekly, in every church where it is practicable; and when he cannot himself attend, let him engage local preachers, exhorters, class leaders, and others, to hold them. ¶608. Ans. 2. Let prayer meetings be held also at other places where there is a probability of doing good. SECTION III. OF LOVE FEASTS. Question. What directions are given concerning love feasts? ¶609. Ans. 1. Love feasts shall be held quarterly, or at other times as the preacher in charge may consider expedient; these meetings shall be held with closed doors; and, besides Church members, he may admit other serious persons. ¶610. Ans. 2. In conducting love feasts, after singing and prayer, the preacher may make a short address, setting forth the nature and design of this institution; let every one present then partake of a little bread and water, in token of brotherly love; let the members then give brief details of their religious experience; and let the meeting be closed with singing and prayer. SECTION IV. OF CLASS MEETINGS. Question 1. What directions are given concerning class meetings? ¶611. Ans. 1. Wherever practicable, let the membership of every church be divided, according to their respective places of abode, into smaller companies called classes; and let the members be exhorted to attend these meetings. (¶708.) ¶612. Ans. 2. At their own option, two or more classes may meet at the same time and place, and their leaders may alternate in conducting the exercises. ¶613. Ans. 3. The pastor shall visit every class once a quarter, and report its condition to the Quarterly Conference; and let him hold general class meetings as often as he deems expedient. Ques. 2. Can anything be done to make the class meetings more profitable? |