The Book of Common Prayer Part 119

Pitifully behold the sorrows of our hearts.

_Mercifully forgive the sins of thy people_.

Favourably with mercy hear our prayers.

_O Son of David, have mercy upon us_.

Both now and ever vouchsafe to hear us, O Christ.

_Graciously hear us, Christ; graciously hear us, O Lord Christ_.

_Priest_. O Lord, let thy mercy be shewed upon us;

_Answer_. As we do put our trust in thee.

Let us pray.

We humbly beseech thee, O Father, merci fully to look upon our infirmities; and for the glory of thy Name turn from us all those evils that we most righteously have deserved; and grant that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy, and evermore serve thee in holiness and pureness of living, to thy honour and glory; through our only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

_Then shall be sung or said the Service for the Communion, with the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, as followeth_.

THE COLLECT.

Almighty G.o.d, who by thy divine providence hast appointed divers Orders of Ministers in thy Church, and didst inspire thine Apostles to choose into the Order of Deacons the first Martyr Saint Stephen, with others: Mercifully behold these thy servants now called to the like office and administration; replenish them so with the truth of thy doctrine, and adorn them with innocency of life, that, both by word and good example, they may faithfully serve thee in this office, to the glory of thy Name, and the edification of thy Church; through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and for ever. _Amen_.

THE EPISTLE. 1 Tim. iii. 8.

Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

_Or else this, out of the sixth of the Acts of the Apostles_.

Acts vi. 2.

Then the twelve called the mult.i.tude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of G.o.d, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole mult.i.tude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: whom they set before the Apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of G.o.d increased and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

_And before the Gospel, the Bishop, sitting in his Chair, shall examine every one of them that are to be ordered, in the presence of the people after this manner following_.

Do you trust that you are inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon you this office and ministration, to serve G.o.d, for the promoting of his glory, and the edifying of his people?

_Answer_. I trust so.

_The Bishop_.

Do you think that you are truly called, according to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the due order of this [Church], to the Ministry of the Church?

_Answer_. I think so.

_The Bishop_.

Do you unfeignedly believe all the Canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testament?

_Answer_. I do believe them.

_The Bishop_.

Will you diligently read the same unto the people a.s.sembled in the Church where you shall be appointed to serve?

_Answer_. I will.

_The Bishop_.

It appertaineth to the office of a Deacon, in the Church where he shall be appointed to serve, to a.s.sist the Priest in Divine Service, and specially when he ministereth the holy Communion, and to help him in the distribution thereof, and to read holy Scriptures and Homilies in the Church; and to instruct the youth in the Catechism; in the absence of the Priest to baptize infants; and to preach, if he be admitted thereto by the Bishop. And furthermore, it is his office, where provision is so made, to search for the sick, poor, and impotent people of the Parish, to intimate their estates, names, and places where they dwell, unto the Curate, that by his exhortation they may be relieved with the alms of the Paris.h.i.+oners, or others. Will you do this gladly and willingly?

_Answer_. I will so do, by the help of G.o.d.

_The Bishop_.

Will you apply all your diligence to frame and fas.h.i.+on your own lives, and the lives of your families, according to the doctrine of Christ; and to make both yourselves and them, as much as in you lieth, wholesome examples of the flock of Christ?

_Answer_. I will so do, the Lord being my helper.

_The Bishop_.

Will you reverently obey your Ordinary, and other chief Ministers of the Church, and them to whom the charge and government over you is committed, following with a glad mind and will their G.o.dly admonitions?

_Answer_. I will endeavour myself, the Lord being my helper.

_Then the Bishop laying his hands severally upon the head of every one of them, humbly kneeling before him, shall say_,

Take thou authority to execute the office of a Deacon in the Church of G.o.d committed unto thee; In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

_Then shall the Bishop deliver to every one of them the New Testament, saying_,

Take thou authority to read the Gospel in the Church of G.o.d, and to preach the same, if thou be thereto licensed by the Bishop himself.

_Then one of them, appointed by the Bishop, shall read_

THE GOSPEL. St Luke xii. 35.

Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching. Verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

_Then shall the Bishop proceed in the Communion: and all that are ordered shall tarry, and receive the holy Communion the same day with the Bishop_.

_The Communion ended, after the last Collect, and immediately before the Benediction, shall be said these Collects following_.

Almighty G.o.d, giver of all good things, who of thy great goodness hast vouchsafed to accept and take these thy servants unto the office of Deacons in thy Church: Make them, we beseech thee, O Lord, to be modest, humble, and constant in their ministration; to have a ready will to observe all spiritual discipline; that they having always the testimony of a good conscience, and continuing ever stable and strong in thy Son Christ, may so well behave themselves in this inferior office, that they may be found worthy to be called unto the higher ministries in thy Church; through the same thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and honour world without end. _Amen_.