Updated October, 2024
This service was prepared for World Communion Sunday, the first Sunday in October, at Blythefield Christian Reformed Church. The service included songs from around the world sung by the congregation and/or choir, with several instrumentalists, and also a procession of flags of countries from around the world. Check around your community to see if there is an organization, school/church that might let you borrow flags and standards.
—RW
We Gather for Worship
Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship: “Uyai Mose/Come, All You People” Gondo (Zimbabwe)
Processional and Presentation of the Flags of the Nations
God’s Greeting
Mutual Greeting
Songs of Praise
“Te vengo a decir/I’ve Come to Tell” Isáis (Mexico)
“No hay dios tan grande/There’s No God as Great” Traditional (Spain)
Our Profession (from the Belgic Confession, art. 27)
What do you believe about the church of Christ?
We believe and confess
one single catholic or universal church
—a holy congregation and gathering
of true Christian believers.
What binds them all together?
They await their entire salvation in Jesus Christ,
are washed by his blood,
and sanctified and sealed by the Holy Spirit.
How big is this church?
This holy church is not confined, bound, or limited
to a certain place or certain persons.
But it is spread and dispersed throughout the entire world,
though still joined and united in heart and will,
in one and the same Spirit,
by the power of faith.
Prayer for the Church Around the World
We Listen to God’s Word
Song of Preparation: “As We Gather at Your Table” Daw (American Folk Tune)
Scripture: Psalm 63
Sermon: “Let’s Get Together Around the Table”
Prayer
We Celebrate Communion
Invitation to the Table
Song of Preparation: “Let Us Break Bread Together” Unknown (African-American Spiritual)
Prayer
Our Participation in the Bread
Songs for Meditation
“Santo, santo, santo, mi corazón/Holy, Holy, Holy, My Heart” Unknown (Argentina)
“He Came Down” Unknown (Cameroon)
“Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ” Kaan (Jamaican Tune)
Our Participation in the Cup
Songs for Meditation
“Oh, qué bueno es Jesús/Oh, How Good Is Christ the Lord” Unknown (Latin America)
“Christ, You are the Fullness” Polman (Korean tune)
“Santo, santo, santo, mi corazón/Holy, Holy, Holy, My Heart” Unknown (Argentina)
Prayer of Thanksgiving
We Offer Our Lives in Service
Offering
Offertory
Dedication Prayer
We Go Out with Thanksgiving
Song: “Oh, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” st. 1-6 Wesley (England)
God’s Blessing
Song of Response: “Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” st. 7 Wesley (England)
Postlude