that we may be children of the light and of the day. Let the sun of thy righteousness shine in our hearts. Enlighten our minds, animate our consciences, and purify our affections. We give ourselves to thee this day. So rule and govern us by thy spirit that faithless distrust and all evil thoughts may be driven from our minds; that we may walk with joy in the light of thy countenance and in the way of thy salvation. Amen.

O Thou, who hast neither dawn nor evening, yet sendest us the alternate mercies of the darkness and the day: as thou liftest the curtain of night from our abodes, take also the veil from all our hearts. Rise with thy morning upon our souls; quicken all our labor and our prayer; and, though all else decline, let the noontide of thy grace and peace remain. May we walk, while it is yet day, in the steps of him who with fewest hours finished thy divine work. And unto thee, whose we are and whom we serve, will we render praise now and for evermore. Amen.

O Thou, who by thy spirit art continually calling us to be sons of God and who hast set one before us that he might be as the first-born of many brethren, help us, we pray thee, to renounce all vain and evil ways, that so we may be like him in faith and love and heavenly communion, and finally attain, through thy grace, unto the measure of

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the stature of that fulness which thou desirest in all thy children. Amen.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we pray thee to look with favor upon thy worshipping people now before thee. We commend to thee our homes and our country. Defend our liberties and uphold our free institutions. If it be thy will, deliver us from violence within and from strife without; save us from warfare and pestilence; and bless our people with peaceful industries and with happy homes. We pray thee to bless thy servant, the President of the United States. Plenteously endue him with wisdom from above and abundantly enrich him with thy heavenly grace. For all who are in authority, we pray that, as they rule by thy favor, so they may serve in thy fear. So, by thy grace, may we be that happy nation whose God is the Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee, and dost promise that, when two or three are gathered together in thy name, thou wilt grant their requests: fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants as may be most expedient for them, granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen. ¶ Then may be sung an anthem or a hymn, to be followed by the sermon, a congregational hymn, and the benediction

One or more of these sentences to be said by the minister

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth. Isaiah lii. 7.

Arise, shine! for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee; and the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Isaiah lx. 1, 3.

To be said by the minister

The Lord of Life, who maketh the sun to shed afar its light and warmth, hath also spread abroad his spirit among men that they may know the joy of life lived in peace and good will. For all his manifold blessings we are unfeignedly thankful, but chiefly for the gifts of the spirit which he hath bestowed upon us in those whom he hath raised up to be his prophets. On this day, therefore, let us praise him for the life and grace of Jesus and for that heavenly kingdom which hath taken hold upon the hearts of men throughout the world. May the joy of his gospel be our joy; and may we be not unmindful of the hope that is born on this festival of nativity, as we think

of the little child and the divine possi-
bilities in each new birth.
Let us pray.

To be said by minister and people
together

O Thou who dwellest on high, accept this day the gladness of our hearts as our richest gift upon thine altar; and confirm the spirit of this holy time that it may be with us throughout the days to come.

To be said by minister and people
alternately

O Lord God, who art in the midst of us, mighty to save, who dost rejoice over us with joy, we praise thee that thou art shown unto us in love and mercy, in holiness and devotion everywhere, so that thou art never without witness among thy people. Especially do we praise thee for those members of thy family who so serve thy will that having seen them, we behold thee. May the star of their lives burn before us until we too have made thy will our own and know that thou art with us alway.

Open our eyes, O Lord, that we may see thy glory round about us.

Make us quick to know each one of whom thou dost say "Hear ye him," that we may follow the voices of the shepherds of mankind. Let no accent of thy holy spirit be lost in us, that we

also may wonder at the words of grace which proceed out of the mouths of thy holy prophets. We would sit at the feet of Jesus on the mount and be taught of blessedness and love.

Open our ears, O Lord, that we may hear the multitude of the heavenly host.

Father, thou alone knowest the cares that press upon us and the burdens that weigh us down. When we are beset by fears, when we are disheartened, lonely or sorrowful, freshen our faith in thee and in thy kindly providence, that we may praise thee for the hand that bears us up. In hours of victory and joy as well, save us from ingratitude and from forgetfulness of thee.

Open our mouths, O Lord, that we may sing, Glory to thee in the highest.

Make us humble of heart, that we may be a fit abiding place for thee, even as the manger for the holy child. Purify our minds, that we may behold thy truth; sanctify our wills, that we may move only to thy purposes; and kindle our affections, that our love may be broad as thy redeeming love. We would that the spirit that was in Jesus should be born in us, that we, as thy beloved sons, may call thee Father.

Quicken us, O Lord, that we may receive these things and ponder them in our hearts. Amen.

To be said by minister and people
together

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 temp

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Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my spirit upon him; he shall bring forth judgment to the peoples.

He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law.

I will give him for a light to the peoples that he may be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people.

The spirit of the Lord God is upon him; because the Lord hath anointed him to preach good tidings unto the meek;

He hath sent him to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, to comfort all that mourn;

To give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

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That they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

Praise be to God for that spirit which from generation to generation entering into holy souls maketh them friends of God and prophets!

Blessed be the Lord God; for he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people;

As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began;

That we should serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

O Thou whose eye is over all the children of men, and who hast called them by the Prince of Peace into a kingdom not of this world: send forth his spirit speedily into the dark places of our guilt and woe, and arm it with the piercing power of thy grace. May it reach the heart of every oppressor, and make arrogancy dumb before thee. Let it still the noise of our strife and the tumult of the people; put to shame the false idols of every mind; carry faith to the doubting, hope to the fearful, strength to the weak, light to the mourner; and more and more increase the pure in heart who see their God. Commit thy word, O Lord, to the

Blessed is the kingdom that cometh.

The Lord is God, and he hath given us light. O give thanks unto the Lord; Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

To shine upon them that sit in darkness and to guide our feet into the way

of peace.

The service may then proceed with a scripture lesson, and the singing of anthems or hymns, in such order as has become customary in any church

PRAYERS

The minister to read one or more of the following
or offer prayer in his own words

The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.

Let us pray. O Lord, show thy mercy upon us.

And grant us thy salvation.

O God, make clean our hearts within us.
And take not thy holy spirit from us.

thine invisible providence; that soon the knowledge of thee may cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea. Amen.

Holy Father of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named; thou who art the giver of every good and perfect gift; we thank thee for home and childhood, and for the friendships and fellowships that are dear to us. Take from us all unhallowed thoughts and feelings; our vanity and pride, and all doubt and jealousy of others. If any have wronged us we ask thee to forgive them and to teach us thy forgiveness. Soften and fill our hearts with love and gratitude, with tenderness and peace, that this day we may enter the kingdom as little children. Consecrate our joy; help us to serve thee with mirth, and whether we eat or drink, or whatsoever we do, may we do all to thy glory. Amen.

Our God, who hast mercifully and patiently led us through the busy year,

giving us more than we have deserved or even desired, give us at this Christmas time the grace which was in Jesus Christ. Let the spirit of the little child, as it knocks to-day at the hearts of men, enter our life and bless it. Let duty become touched with delight, and justice be forgotten in love. Ofttimes we ask that we may not fall short of thy requirements. To-day we ask for more: that obligation may be changed to opportunity and duty done with joy. Ofttimes we ask that we may walk uprightly. To-day we pray for grace to bow ourselves to others' needs. Let our ears hear the cry of the needy, and our hearts feel the love of the unlovely. Give our hands strength, not to do

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great things, but to do small things graciously. Let our gifts to-day be a privilege rather than a sacrifice and let us accept kindness with humility. Heal the wounds of misunderstanding, jealousy or regret, and let the gentler air of the Christmas spirit touch our lives, as the cold of winter is touched by the gentler days of spring. As the old year ends and the new year begins, grant us peace with the world and peace in our own hearts, that those we love and those whom we may help may have sweet joy and rest. Amen.

Then may be sung an anthem or a hymn, to be followed by the sermon, a congregational hymn and the benediction