Page:The church manual (Church of the Brethren 1916).djvu/42

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CHURCH MANUAL.
41

or three gather in my name, there am I in the midst of them." And the Scriptural injunction is, "Neglect not the assembling of yourselves together." These meetings are generally held once a week, and in the evening, either in the church or in private houses.

No organization is necessary except the appointing of a foreman, whose duty it is to have a general oversight of the meetings, appoint some one to lead, and make selections or announce subjects for the meetings. A change in the appointment of a leader is made each week, so as to give all an opportunity of exercising in religious work.

The meetings are opened in the usual way, by singing, prayer, and reading the chapter of Scripture containing the lesson for the evening.

To make the meetings as interesting and instructive as possible, the lesson should be announced one week ahead.

The one who leads is expected to give a short talk on the lesson that has been selected, after which liberty is given to the brethren and sisters to make such remarks on the subject as the prayerful study of it may have suggested. The remarks should be