I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ,
His only Son our Lod, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.


response reading 74. Matthew 5.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.


Hymnal 208
1 I love Thy Kingdom, Lord, the house of Thine abode,
The Church our blest Redeemer saved with His own precious blood.
pumvisible() ? '2' : '' I love Thy Church, O God; Her walls before Thee stand,
Dear as the apple of Thine eye, and graven on Thy hand.
3 For her my tears shall fall, for her my prayers ascend;
To her my cares and toils be given, till toils and cares shall end.
4 Beyond my highest joy, I prize her heavenly ways,
Her sweet communion, solemn vows, Her hymns of love and praise.
5 Sure as Thy truth shall last, To Zion shall be given
The brightest glories earth can yield, and brightger bliss of heaven.


hymnal 633
Take these gifts, take these gifts, O our God:
All we have, all we have comes from you.
With our voices raised in thanks, Lord, we give to you.
Amen.

2 Corinthians 3:1-11
1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody.
3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4 Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God.
5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was,
8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
9 If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!
10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory.
11 And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

hymnal 358
1. There's a royal banner given for display To the soldiers of the King;
As an ensign fair we lift it up today, While as ransomed ones we sing.
Marching on, marching on, For Christ count everything but loss!
And to crown Him King, Toil and sing Beneath the banner of the cross!
2. Thought the foe may rage and gather as the flood, Let the standard be displayed;
And beneath its folds, as soldiers of the Lord, For the truth be not dismayed!
Marching on, marching on, For Christ count everything but loss!
And to crown Him King, Toil and sing Beneath the banner of the cross!
3. Over land and sea, wherever man may dwell, Make the glorious tidings known;
Of the crimson banner now the story tell, While the Lord shall claim His own!
Marching on, marching on, For Christ count everything but loss!
And to crown Him King, Toil and sing Beneath the banner of the cross!
4. When the glory dawns 'tis drawing very near It is hast'ning day by day;
Then before our King the foe shall disappear, And the cross the world shall sway!
Marching on, marching on, For Christ count everything but loss!
And to crown Him King, Toil and sing Beneath the banner of the cross!