BACCALAUREATE SERVICE PRELUDE: Magnificat Melchior Schildt THE PREPARATION Pastor: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Congregation: And also with you. HYMN #250 Open Now Thy Gates Unser Herrsher 1. Open now thy gates of beauty, Zion, let me enter there, Where my soul in joyful duty Waits for God who answers prayer. Oh, how blessed is this place, Filled with solace, light, and grace! 2. Gracious God, I come before thee; Come thou also unto me; Where we find thee and adore thee There a heav'n on earth must be. To my heart, oh, enter thou, Let it be thy temple now! Here thy praise is gladly chanted, Here thy seed is duly sown; Let my soul, where it is planted, Bring forth precious sheaves alone, So that all I hear may be Fruitful unto life in me. 3. Thou my faith increase and quicken, Let me keep thy gift divine; Howsoe'er temptations thicken, May thy Word still o'er me shine As my guiding start through life, As my comfort in all strife. P: O Lord, open my lips. C: And my mouth shall proclaim your praise. All: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia. PSALM #145 I will exalt you, O God my king, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day will I bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; there is no end to your greatness. One generation shall praise your works to another and shall declare your power. I will ponder the glorious splendor of your majesty and all your marvelous works. They shall speak of the might of your wondrous acts, and I will tell of your greatness. They shall publish the remembrance of your great goodness; they shall sing of your righteous deeds. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and of great kindness. The Lord is loving to everyone and your compassion is over all your works. All your works praise you, O Lord, and your faithful servants bless you.