MEC Worship
Significant Developments in the Order for Public Worship in the Methodist Episcopal Church's Morning Service
Italics indicates a change or addition from the previous order.
by Dr. Kenneth Rowe
| 1792 | Singing |
| Prayer | |
| Reading (1 chapter Old Testament, 1 chapter New Testament) | |
| Preaching | |
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| 1824 | Singing |
| 1st Prayer ( concluded with the Lord's Prayer) | |
| Reading (1 chapter Old Testament, 1 chapter New Testament | |
| Preaching | |
| Dismissal - Apostolic Benediction | |
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| 1864 | Singing |
| Prayer - with Lord's Prayer | |
| Reading (1 lesson Old Testament, 1 lesson New Testament) | |
| Preaching | |
| Doxology | |
| Dismissal - Apostolic Benediction | |
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| 1868 | Footnote to the Section on Public Worship Our people should be urged to take part in the public worship of God, first, in singing: secondly, in prayer in the Scriptural attitude of kneeling, and by the repetition of the Lord's Prayer. |
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| 1888 | Singing - Standing |
| Prayer - with the Lord's Prayer, Kneeling | |
| Reading (1 lesson Old Testament, 1 lesson New Testament, "either of which may be read responsively" | |
| Collection | |
| Singing - sitting | |
| Preaching | |
| A Short Prayer for the Blessing of the Word | |
| Singing , Closing with a Doxology, the People Standing | |
| The Pronouncing of the Apostolic Benediction | |
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| 1896 | [Voluntary] (NOTE: If in [ ] may be omitted) |
| Singing | |
| [The Apostles' Creed] | |
| Prayer | |
| [Anthem] | |
| Lesson from the Old Testament - which, if from the Psalms, may be read responsively. | |
| [The Gloria Patri] (For music and words, click on the image to the right.) | |
| Lesson from the New Testament | |
| Collection and Notices | |
| Singing | |
| Preaching/Sermon | |
| Prayer | |
| Singing | |
| The Doxology and the Apostolic Benediction *NOTE: Inserted in new printing of 1878 hymnal, also available in packets for inserting in previously printed 1878 hymnals | |
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| 1904 | "Let all our people kneel in silent prayer on entering the sanctuary" |
| [Voluntary, instrumental or vocal ] | |
| Singing, standing | |
| [Apostles' Creed, recited by all, still standing ] | |
| Prayer, concluding with the Lord's Prayer, kneeling [ faces toward the minister ] | |
| [Anthem, or Voluntary ] | |
| Lesson from the Old Testament, which may be read responsively, the People standing . | |
| [Gloria Patri] | |
| Lesson from the New Testament | |
| Notices followed by Collection; [during or after which an Offertory may be rendered.] | |
| Singing, standing | |
| Sermon | |
| Prayer, the people kneeling. [Order of prayer and singing may be reversed.] | |
| Singing, the people standing. [ An invitation to come to Christ, or to unite with the Church, should be given when this hymn is announced. ] | |
| The Doxology and the Apostolic Benediction NOTE: This liturgy came into wide use with the publication of the common hymnal in 1905. | |