The Apostles’ Creed and the Christian Year

A Service of Faith and God’s Faithfulness

"The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning” (Lamentations 3:22–23, NLT).

This service celebrates God’s faithfulness as expressed in the faith of God’s people and summarized in the words of the Apostles’ Creed. Originally designed to be used with the celebration of the New Year because it connects the creed to different aspects of the Christian year, it can easily be adapted for any occasion of worship. Though it doesn’t follow the exact pattern of the liturgical calendar, it does highlight significant moments in the Christian year and gives opportunity to reflect on the larger narrative the calendar is meant to unfold. 

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We Believe

Prelude

Call to Worship     

We gather today to worship God. 

We believe in the Father, who created us.

We believe in the Son, who died and rose to save us.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who equips us to serve.

With joyful hearts, let us worship our triune God. 

God’s Greeting    

Passing the Peace

 

Creation / Providence / Thanksgiving 

Testimony of Faith 

Beloved of God, what do you believe? 

We believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Reading: Genesis 1:1–2, 27    

Sung Response: “How Great Thou Art” Chisholm, LUYH 553, GtG 39, SSS 48    

 

Advent / Christmas

Testimony of Faith 

Beloved of God, what do you believe? 

We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit

and born of the virgin Mary.

Readings: Isaiah 9:6–7, Matthew 1:18–25

Sung Response: “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” vs. 1–3 Brooks, LUYH 88, GtG 121, SSS 80

Prayer of Confession

Option 1: For the beginning of a new year 

For all the things we have done wrong in the past

against God and against people,

we now ask the Lord and one another to forgive us.

Silent confession

LORD Jesus, yours are the seasons and the ages.

Give us a new heart and a new spirit:

LORD, have mercy. 

LORD, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, you are the beginning and the end

of all that is, including our lives.

Make a new beginning with all of us:

Christ, have mercy. 

Christ, have mercy. 

LORD Jesus, you breathe your Spirit on all creation.

Make our old world new again:

LORD, have mercy. 

LORD, have mercy.

Have mercy on us, LORD,

and let your forgiveness and love

come down on us day after day.

Lead us to everlasting life. 

Amen.

—from Liturgy Alive: Models of Celebration, Claretian Missionaries of East Asia © Bibleclaret 2023. All Rights Reserved. Bibleclaret.org  

 

Option 2: For general use.

O God, in the beginning you spoke, 

and creation was born, the object of your loving care.

In the fullness of time you spoke, 

and the Word became flesh, Jesus, gift of your love. 

We wonder at the miracle of creation;

we stand in awe before the mystery of the incarnation.

Forgive us earthbound creatures, feeble in faith,

empty in hope, lacking in love.

—from Pray to the Lord: Prayers for Corporate Worship. The Commission on Worship, Reformed Church in America. Reformed Church Press, 1988. Used by permission.

O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray.

Cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today. . . .

O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel. 

Amen. 

—Phillips Brooks (1835–1893), “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” v. 4, P.D. 

Sung Prayer: “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” v. 4 Brooks, LUYH 88, GtG 121, SSS 80

 

Epiphany 

Words of Assurance 

Beloved of God, our God hears our prayers of confession and forgives us our sin. Jesus Christ has come to bring light and forgiveness to all people. Listen to these words from Isaiah: 

Reading: Isaiah 60:1–3

Suggestions for a Sung Response

“Shine on Us” Smith & Smith

“Arise, Your Light Is Come!” Duck, LUYH 102, GtG 744

“Songs of Thankfulness and Praise” Wordsworth, LUYH 104, SSS 104

Offering Introduction

Christ came to be a light to this world, to gather to himself all people, including you and me. Out of gratitude for the salvation we have experienced and in order to join the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing the light of Christ to all places, we give back some of what God has given to us through the giving of this offering. 

Offering

Prayer of the People

 

Ash Wednesday / Lent / Holy Week

Testimony of Faith 

Beloved of God, what do you believe? 

Christ suffered under Pontius Pilate,    

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended into hell.

Readings: Isaiah 53:1–7; Mark 15:22–30; Philippians 2:5–8

Sung Response: “In Christ Alone” Getty & Townend, LUYH 770, SSS 656

 

Easter

Testimony of Faith 

Beloved of God, what do you believe? 

The third day Christ rose again from the dead. 

Reading: Mark 16:1–7

Sung Response: “See, What a Morning” Getty & Townend, LUYH 181, SSS 201

 

Ascension of Our Lord / Christ the King

Testimony of Faith 

Beloved of God, what do you believe? 

Christ ascended to heaven

and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Reading: Acts 1:1–11    

Sung Response: “Crown Him with Many Crowns” Bridges, LUYH 223, GtG 268, SSS 208

 

Pentecost / Trinity Sunday

Testimony of Faith 

Beloved of God, what do you believe? 

We believe in the Holy Spirit.

Reading: Acts 2:1–12    

Sung Response: “Wonderful, Merciful Savior” Rogers & Wyse

 

Unity of the Church / Communion of the Saints

Testimony of Faith 

Beloved of God, what do you believe? 

We believe in the holy catholic church

and the communion of saints. 

Reading: 1 John 4:7–8

Testimony of Faith 

Beloved of God, what do you believe? 

We believe in the forgiveness of sins.

Reading: John 3:16–17

Encouragement and Challenge from the Elders or Pastor

[This is an opportunity for the elders or pastors to provide a short message,  reflect on the state of your local church, or offer encouragement for living one’s faith boldly in everyday life.]

Prayer of Thanksgiving 

Testimony of Faith 

Beloved of God, what do you believe? 

We believe in the resurrection of the body    

and the life everlasting. Amen.

Reading: Luke 21:25–28; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 1:7

Spoken response: Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus! Come quickly!

God’s Blessing: Revelation 1:4–6

Sung Response: “Sing to the King” Foote & Horne, LUYH 474

Faye Dykema is a long-time member and worship leader/planner at Peace Christian Reformed Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Reformed Worship 147 © March 2023, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Used by permission.