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: 94. New Year's Day
PRES: Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
CONG: who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ
PRES: For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight
CONG: In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will
PRES: to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves
CONG: In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
PRES: that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will,
CONG: to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ
PRES: In him we were also chosen, having been predestined accord9ing to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will
CONG: inorder that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory


hymnal 314
1 More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee!
Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee.
This is my earnest pleas: more love, O Christ, to Thee,
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!
2 Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest;
now Thee alone I seek, give what is best.
This all my prayer shall be: more love, O Christ, to Thee,
more love to Thee, more love to Thee!
3 Then shall my latest breath whisper Thy praise;
This be the parting cry my heart shall raise.
This still its prayer shall be; more love, O Christ, to Thee,
more love to Thee, more love to Thee! Amen.


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.

Matthew 5:1-12
1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him,
2 and he began to teach them saying:
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12 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 412
1. For away in the depths of my spirit tonight Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial like strains it unceasingly falls Over my soul like an infinite calm.
Peace! Peace! wonderful peace, Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray, In fathomless billows of love.

2. What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace, Buried deep in the heart of my soul,
So secure that no power can mine it away While the years of eternity roll!
Peace! Peace! wonderful peace, Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray, In fathomless billows of love.

3. I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace, Resting sweetly in Jesus' control;
For I'm kept from all danger by night and by day, And His glory is flooding my soul.
Peace! Peace! wonderful peace, Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray, In fathomless billows of love.

4. Ah! soul, are you here without comfort or rest, Marching down the rough pathway of time?
Make Jesus your Friend ere the shadows grow dark; Oh, accept this sweet peace so sublime!
Peace! Peace! wonderful peace, Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray, In fathomless billows of love.