among you will be chief, let him be the servant of all." TAR And delivering to each the New Testament, AKE thou authority to read the Gospel in the Church of God, and to preach the same as thou shalt be sent, in the Name of the Lord. R. Amen. A Let us pray. LMIGHTY and most merciful Father, pour down, we beseech Thee, upon these Thy servants, whom Thou hast now been pleased of Thy goodness to receive into the office of the Deaconship, the fulness of Thy heavenly grace and benediction; and of Thy mercy sanctify them henceforth unto Thyself in this holy ministry, unto which in Thy Name we have now admitted them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, O Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. R. Amen. BLES Then shall follow this Anthem: LESS the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength: That hearken unto the voice of His word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye His hosts: Ye ministers of His, that do His pleasure. Bless the Lord, all His works in all places of His dominion: Bless the Lord, O my soul. The Gospel [Luke, xii. 35-38]. In the Prayer of Oblation (after Consecration). our prayers. Especially commending unto Thy favourable acceptance for the work of the Deaconship those whom in Thy Name we have chosen and now admitted thereunto. Conserve in them, we beseech Thee, Thy gifts of grace; establish them by Thy quickening Spirit; sanctify and confirm them by Thy heavenly benediction; that they may hold fast their profession without wavering, finish their course with joy, and of Thy mercy receive a full reward in Thine eternal and glorious kingdom. R. Amen. Form of Receiving one of the Seven Deacons of a Church. The Angel shall commence and proceed with the Office for the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist. The Gloria in Excelsis shall be sung. T The Collect. |LMIGHTY GOD, who by Thy divine providence, &c. [as in the Order for admitting to the Office of Deacon]. The Epistle [1 Tim. iii. 8-15]. Then, on the direction of the Angel, the Deacons shall bring up him that is chosen to be of the Seven to the foot of the sanctuary, the Elders preceding and taking their places on each side of the Angel; and kneeling down, the Angel shall say this Prayer: A Let us pray. LMIGHTY GOD, who for the service of Thy Church didst lead Thine Apostles to appoint seven men unto the ministry of Deaconship; We beseech Thee to send down Thy heavenly benediction upon Thy servant whom we have chosen to serve in the Sevenfold Deaconship of this Church ; and enable him steadfastly to persevere in Thy faith, and in holiness and righteousness of life. Grant that he may worthily lead forward this Thy flock in the way of Thy testimonies; visit and comfort the poor and infirm members of Thy Body; and by his godly example to the people, and obedience and faithful counsel to the rulers, may fulfil the charge committed to him, to the glory of Thy holy Name and to the benefit of Thy Church. Hear us for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be glory for ever. R. Amen. The Angel and Elders shall rise, and the Angel shall lay his hand upon the head of the Deacon, and say, WE E receive thee into the number of the Seven Deacons of this Church. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. ¶ After which the Angel and Elders shall lay their hands on his head, and shall say, GOD YOD ALMIGHTY, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, bless and confirm thee in all goodness henceforth and for ever. R. Amen. The Elders shall withdraw their hands, and the Peace be with thee. R. Amen. The Elders, Deacons, and the newly-received Deacon, shall withdraw to their respective seats in the choir. The Anthem after the Epistle, and the Gospel, as in the previous Service. In the Prayer of Oblation (after Consecration). our prayers. And we especially commend unto Thee at this time Thy servant, whom Thou hast now admitted into the Sevenfold Deaconship in this Church: Beseeching Thee of Thy mercy to conserve in him Thy gifts of grace; to establish him by Thy quickening Spirit; to sanctify and confirm him by Thy heavenly benediction: that he may hold fast his profession without wavering, finish his course with joy, and of Thy mercy receive a full reward in Thine eternal and glorious kingdom. R. Amen. If the newly-received Deacon shall not have been before admitted a Deacon, or there be others to be admitted Deacons at the same service, he or they should be previously admitted, as in the Order for that purpose; and he that is to be received as one of the Seven Deacons should be brought up to the Angel, and the above Prayer and Benediction should be used, after the admission, and immediately before the Anthem, "Bless the Lord, ye His Angels;" and afterward the celebration of the Eucharist shall proceed, as set forth in the previous Order, adding in the Prayer of Oblation the clause set forth in this Office. The Office for Blessing Deacons. The Apostle shall commence and proceed with the The Gloria in Excelsis shall be sung; after which, The Collect. ALMIGHTY GOD, who hast given unto Thy Church apostles, prophets, evange lists, and pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; Grant, we beseech Thee, that, through the faithful ministry of Thy holy ordinances, we may all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of Thy Son, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Hear us for His sake, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. R. Amen. The Epistle [1 Tim. iii. 8-15]. Then the Angel shall present the Deacons at the foot of the sanctuary before the Apostle, who shall say the following Prayer at the Altar: Let us pray. HEAVENLY FATHER, Almighty and Eternal God, who hast admitted these Thy servants to minister before Thee in the holy office |