Commended by Alexander Campbell

“…the nighest approach to the model which we have in our eye of good order and Christian decency.”

• The community gathers in a familiar and very cordial manner.
• The community is called to the praise of Christ..
• A psalm is sung.
• A Gospel lesson is read by a member.
• A moment of silence.
• A member gives a comparatively short pastoral prayer.
• A lesson from an Epistle is read by the one presiding.
• A Communion hymn is sung.
• The president conducts the Lord’s Supper.
  • He reca1ls the meaning of this meal.
  • He takes a loaf and briefly gives thanks to God.
  • The loaf is broken and passed with each waiting on the other.
  • He takes the cup and briefly thanks God for it.
  • He passes the cup to one nearby, with members passing it on till all are served.

  The congregation rises to sing a hymn.

• A member is called upon to kneel in a prayer of supplication for the poor, afflicted, and destitute; and for the conversion of the world.
• The fellowship or contribution is attended to.
• Members respond to the president’s invitation to share in mutual edification through their reading various scriptural passages from either the Old or New Testarnent.
• Several spiritual songs are sung, selected by members of the congregation.
• The president closes the meeting by giving an apostolic benediction.

  “Every part of worship… is like so many candlesticks...designed to enlighten and convert the world.”
  - Alexander Campbell, Christian Systems, pp. 290-292

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Call to Worship:
The President says: “ Brethren, being assembled in the name and by the authority of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, (on this day of resurrection, ) let us unite in celebrating his praise. Let us raise our voices in song together:”

Hymn:
#2 Christ the Lord is ri’n today! Alleluia!

The President says: “Brother (or Sister) _________________, will you read a section of evangelical history?”

Gospel lesson:
Luke 22:1-30

The President says (after a pause of a moment) :
“Brother (or Sister) _______________, will you lead us in prayer in the name of this congregation?”

Pastoral prayer

Lesson from the Epistle:
The President will read from the Epistle: Romans 8:31-39

The Lord’s Supper:
Sharing of Campbell’s teaching on Lord’s Supper
Unison reading by sections
Extemporaneous comments before and after each section (“Mutually embraced in the everlasting arms, I embrace you in mine.”)

Communion Hymn:
President: “Let us sing a hymn from Barton W. Stone.”

"Behold, the Love" #1 (tune: When.I Survey)

After this verse the President will say: “Our Lord had a table for his friends, and he invited his disciples to sup with him. In memory of his death this monumental table was instituted, and as the Lord ever lives in heaven, so he lives in the hearts of his people. As the first disciples, taught by the Apostles in person, came together into one place to eat the Lord’s Supper, and as they selected the first day of the week in honor of his resurrection, for this purpose so we, having the same Lord, the same faith, the same hope with them, have vowed to do as they did. We owe as much to the Lord as they; and ought to love, honor and obey him as much as they.”

Then the President will take the loaf from the table, and give thanks for it. He will then raise it in his hand, and openly break it in two, and hand the loaf, on a tray, to the first disciple in the front row. The loaf will then pass around the congregation, until all partake of it; the last person receiving it to bring it back to the table. (This partaking by all will be prayerful, familiar, solemn.)

Then the President will take the cup (first pouring the Wine from the tankard into the cup(s) (two) and offer thanks for it, and after sipping will pass it to the first disciple in the front row. The cup will then pass around the congregation, each disciple passing it to his neighbor, until all are served.

Hymn:
The congregation sings “Jesus Shall Reign” #5

Then the President will say: “Brother (or Sister) __________________, will you offer prayer, remembering the poor and those who are ignorant of the way of life before the Lord?”

Prayer:
A member of the congregation offers a prayer of supplication for the poor, afflicted, and destitute; and for the conversion of the world.

Offering: After this Prayer the President will take an offering plate and say to the people: “Let us prove the sincerity of our faith by giving cheerfully and liberally into the treasury of-the Lord, as He himself has prospered us.” (Then the President will pass the offering plate to the first disciple in the front row and it will pass around the congregation, until the last person brings it to the front again.)

The President will then say: “Let us share together passages from God’s Word which have been in our thought this past week.” (Then spontaneously the people one by one, as many as desire, will quote or read passages of Scripture.)

Readings from the Scripture:
Members respond to the president’s invitation to share in mutual edification through their reading various scriptural passages from either the Old or New Testaments.

Closing hymn(s):
President: “As is our custom, let us enjoy spiritual songs in the presence of the Lord.” Congregation invited to call out or begin favorite songs -- last song: “Amazing Grace”

Then someone will say: “It is time for us to adjourn,” and the President will conclude the meeting with the Apostolic Benediction (all standing).

Benediction:
“Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship and communion of the Holy Spirit abide among us forevermore.” Amen.

 

NOTES ON THE SERVICE:

#1 Gospel Reader

Stand where you are in the congregation and announce and read Luke 22: 1-30. You will be reading from Alexander Campbell's favorite translation, '”The Living Oracles.”

#2 Opening Prayer

Stand where you are in the congregation. It is to be brief and simple. At the conclusion pause briefly so that the congregation may join in the “Amen.”

#3 Intercessory Prayer

Be seated at the end of a row. When called on kneel in the aisle and pray for all the “sons and daughters of the affliction.” The poor and destitute and for the conversion of the world.

#4 Call for adjournment

After the congregation sings Amazing Grace, call for adjournment of the assembly.

 

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