52-1. It is proper to begin the public worship in the sanctuary with the Doxology followed by a short prayer, in which the minister shall lead the people, humbly adoring the infinite majesty of the living God, expressing a sense of our distance from Him as creatures, and our unworthiness as sinners; and humbly imploring His gracious presence, the assistance of His Holy Spirit in the duties of His worship, and His acceptance of us through the merits of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is appropriate that this prayer conclude with the Lord’s Prayer in which all may unite.

DIGEST: The current text dates to 1975 [M3GA, 3-69, p. 81] and remains unchanged from that time.

BACKGROUND AND COMPARISONS :
PCA 1975, 53-1, (M3GA, 3-69, p. 81.)
It is proper to begin the public worship in the sanctuary with the Doxology followed by a short prayer, in which the minister shall lead the people, humbly adoring the infinite majesty of the living God, expressing a sense of our distance from Him as creatures, and our unworthiness as sinners; and humbly imploring His gracious presence, the assistance of His Holy Spirit in the duties of His worship, and His acceptance of us through the merits of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is appropriate that this prayer
conclude with the Lord’s Prayer in which all may unite.

1. PCA 1973, Adopted text, DfW, 5-1, M1GA, Appendix, p. 156.
2. Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, Proposed text, DfW 5-1, p. 64.
3. PCUS 1933, DfW, V, §317.
4. PCUS 1929, DfW, V, §317.
It seems very proper to begin the public worship of the sanctuary with the doxology, followed by a short prayer, in which the minister, leading the people, shall ask for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. It is appropriate that this prayer conclude with the Lord's Prayer in which all may unite.

PCUS 1927, DfW, V, §317.
PCUS 1894, DfW, V-1 [§ 296]
It seems very proper to begin the public worship of the sanctuary by a short prayer ; humbly adoring the infinite majesty of the living God ;:expressing a sense of our distance from him as creatures, and our unworthiness as sinners ; and humbly imploring his gracious presence, the assistance of his Holy Spirit in the duties of his worship, and his acceptance of us through the merits of our Lord and Saviour.Jesus Christ.

COMMENTARY:
Morton H. Smith, Commentary on the Book of Church Order, 6th edition, 2007, p. 419.
This paragraph suggests an order for a worship service. The beginning of the service with the doxology was traditional way in which Presbyterian churches opened their worship. This was followed by an invocation, which included the elements described in this paragraph. As indicated, this was often ended with the Lord's prayer. That the New Testament Church prayed in worship is clear from both the Gospels and the book of Acts (Acts 2:42; 3:1; 4:23-31). Jesus gave the Lord's prayer both as a pattern for prayer (Matt. 6:9), and as a prayer to be prayed (Luke 11:2).