Public Reception of Immigrants, 1857 (revised 1866)
As early as convenient after the arrival of Christian brethren from a foreign land, they shall come into the Church, on the occasion of a public service, or at any other time appointed for that purpose, to render thanksgiving to God for His goodness in bringing them safely through the dangers of the Sea, and that they may be publicly commended to the Christian fellowship and sympathies of the Congregation. Either at the beginning or the close of the regular service, at the discretion of the Minister, the newly-arrived brethren shall be invited to come forward and stand before the altar. Then the Minister shall announce to the Congregation their names, and at his discretion read such credentials as they may have brought from their fatherland, and give any information he may possess concerning their previous life and Christian character. Whereupon, the Congregation standing, a part of the One Hundred and Seventh Psalm shall be chanted or said, as follows:
O THAT men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing.
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; they see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep.
For He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.
Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses.
He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Then are they glad because they be quiet;
So He bringeth them unto their desired haven.
O that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders.
Then the Minister, addressing the Congregation, shall say:
DEARLY BELOVED: Here, in the presence of the Lord, you behold Christian brethren, whom God in His merciful providence has preserved amid the perils of the great deep, and brought safely hither from a foreign land. Though strangers in the flesh, they are brethren in the spirit, fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, having obtained like precious faith with us, through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
[This section was omitted in the 1866 revision:
Hear therefore what the Lord commands you concerning strangers:
If a stranger sojourn with you, or whosoever be among you in your generations; as ye do, so he shall do.
One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance forever in your congregations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the Lord.
One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that soujourneth with you.
And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.
But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself: I am the Lord your God.]
As in the glorified Church in heaven, there are found before the throne praising God of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues; so also in the Church on earth, there is no difference between one nation and another, but Christ is all, and in all. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles; and have all been made to drink into one spirit. As St. Paul commended Phebe to the church at Rome, so we commend these brethren to you; and entreat, that ye receive them in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist them in whatsoever business they have need of you. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Then the Minister, addressing the Brethren at the altar, shall say:
DEARLY BELOVED: Though you are no more in your earthly fatherland, you are still in the land of your Heavenly Father. All lands and all nations are His; and He is as nigh to you here, as He was in the land whence ye came. He will still be faithful to you: be ye also faithful to Him. Give unto the Lord thanksgiving, and pay your vows unto the Most High. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all His commandments, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high, and all the blessings which He has promised shall come upon thee, and overtake thee, and all the people shall see that ye are called by the name of the Lord.
Amen.
Then the Minister say:
Let us pray.
O Lord, the God of all nations, and kindreds and people, who art no respecter of persons, but rich in mercy towards all who call upon Thee, and hast united all Thy children through Jesus Christ, in one household of faith, and one communion of hope and love; we humbly commend to Thee these brethren, which have come to us from a far country, through Thy mighty hand and stretched-out arm; giving Thee most hearty thanks that Thou hast so mercifully protected them in their journey, amid perils by sea and land. Be pleased, O Lord, to give them friends and homes in this land of their choice and adoption. Bless them in basket and in store; but above all, bestow upon them freely and constantly, the richer blessings of Thy grace, that they may live in Thy fear and favor, and at last reach in safety the better country, even the eternal fatherland of the saints in heaven: through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Then the Minister shall bless them, saying:
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Amen.
A Liturgy: or Order of Christian Worship prepared and published by the direction and for the use of The German Reformed Church in the United States of America (Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1857) pp. 279-282. Copyright Public Domain.
Order of Worship for the Reformed Church in the United States (Philadelphia: The Publication and Sunday School Board of the Reformed Church in the United States, 1866) pp. 241-244. Copyright Public Domain.