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 82. philippians 2 PRES: our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: CONG: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, PRES: but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. CONG: And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! PRES: Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, CONG: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 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. 1 Timothy 3:1-16 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap. Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. hymnal 455 1 We shall be like Him, O wonderful thought! Blessed the hope the assurance hath wrought: Changed from the sorrow and trials of years, We shall be like Him, when Jesus appears. We shall be like Him, Oh, how the promise cheers! We shall be like Him, when Jesus appears. 2 Eye hath not seen, nor hath ear ever heard What we shall be but, a voice from His word Whispers a message that charms all our fears, We shall be like Him, when Jesus appears. We shall be like Him, Oh, how the promise cheers! We shall be like Him, when Jesus appears. 3 Why, then, repine when the roadway is rough? Are not His word and the promise enough? Rainbows of love span the valley of tears, We shall be like Him, when Jesus appears. We shall be like Him, Oh, how the promise cheers! We shall be like Him, when Jesus appears. 4 We shall be like Him, the hope of the soul; We shall be like Him, made perfectly whole; Caught up with saints, as the firmament clears, We shall be like Him, when Jesus appears. We shall be like Him, Oh, how the promise cheers! We shall be like Him, when Jesus appears.