Doctrines and Discipline of the Free Methodist Church of North America - 1939 Edition

CHAPTER VI

FORM FOR DEDICATION OF CHURCHES

     ¶ 349. [The congregation being assembled, let an appropriate hymn be sung. Afterward, let extemporary prayer be offered. Then shall the minister, or some one appointed, read:]

     The first lesson, Psalm 84:

     How amiable are thy tabernacles, 0 Lord of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, 0 Lord of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell -in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. 0 Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, 0 God of Jacob. Selah. Behold, 0 God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anoint ed. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. 0 Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

     The second lesson, Hebrews 10: 19-26:

     Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he bath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.

[Then let an appropriate hymn be sung; after which the minister shall deliver a sermon suitable to the occasion. Contributions may then be received from the people.]

[Then let the trustees stand before the altar, and one of them, or - some one- in their behalf, say unto the minister:]

     We present unto you this building, to be dedicated as a church for the service and worship of Almighty God.

[Then shall the minister request the congregation to stand, while he repeats the following declaration:]

DECLARATION

     Dearly beloved, it is meet and right, as we learn from the Holy Scriptures, that houses erected for the public worship of God should be specially set apart and dedicated to religious uses. For such a dedication we are now assembled. With gratitude, therefore, to Almighty God, who has signally blessed his servants In their holy enterprise of erecting this church, we dedicate it to his service, for the reading of the Holy Scriptures, the preaching of the Word of God, the administration of the holy sacraments, and for all other exercises of religious worship and service, according to the Discipline and usages of the Free Methodist Church.

(Then let the dedicatory prayer be offered.]