We Meet God
Prelude and Processional:
"Praise to the Lord, the Almighty," Neander
[The congregation is asked to join the choir in singing in unison stanzas 1,2, and 4 at the conclusion of the processional]
Reading:
Psalm 95:1-2
Psalm 98:
"Sing, Sing a New Song," Westra
Stanza 1—All
Stanza 2—Choir
Stanza 3—All
Welcome
Hymn:
"Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet" Sleeth
Introduction: Junior Bells (arr. N. deWaal Malefyt)
Stanza 1—All
Stanza 2—All
We Praise God
Reading:
Psalm 96:1-6
Anthem:
"Hallelujah, Praise the Lord," Post
Junior Choir
Hymn:
"In the Presence of Your People" Integrity Music
[This Bible Song, based on Psalm 22:3,22; 145:7 will be sung 3 times.]
1. Junior Choir
2. All
3. All with Choir descant
Reading:
1. As followers of Jesus Christ,
living in this world—
which some seek to control,
and others view with despair—
we declare with joy and trust:
Our world belongs to God!
2. From the beginning,
through all the crises of our times,
until the kingdom fully comes,
God keeps covenant forever:
Our world belongs to God!
God is King: Let the earth be glad!
Christ is victor: his rule has begun!
The Spirit is at work: creation is renewed!
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
—"Our World Belongs to God," art. 1,2
Hymn:
"I Will Exalt My God, My King" Cardenas
[This Bible Song, based on Psalm 145:1-3, will be sung 3 times.]
1. Solo
2. Choir
3. All
We Trace God's Redemptive Plan
Reading:
19. Although Adam and Eve were expelled
from the garden
and their days burdened
by the weight of sin,
the Lord held on to them in love
and promised to crush
the evil forces
they had unleashed.
24. As the second Adam,
Jesus chose the path we had rejected.
In his baptism and temptations,
teaching and miracles,
battles with demons
and friendships with sinners,
Jesus lived a full and righteous human life before us.
As God’s true Son,
he lovingly obeyed the Father
and made present in deed and word
the coming rule of God.
27. Jesus ascended in triumph,
raising our humanity to the heavenly throne.
All authority, glory, and sovereign power
are given to him.
There he hears our prayers
and pleads our cause before the Father.
Blessed are all
who take refuge in him.
—"Our World Belongs to God," art. 19,24,27
Hymn:
"As Moses Raised the Serpent Up" Post
Introduction: Senior Bells (arr. N. deWaal Malefyt)
Stanza 1—Choirs
Stanza 2—All
Stanza 3—Choir, sung in canon
Stanza 4—All, sung in canon—east side of congregation beginning.
Anthem:
"When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" Watts
Senior Choir
Hymn:
"A Shout Rings Out, A Joyful Voice" Gerdes
Stanza 1—Men of Choir
Stanza 2—All
Stanza 3—Choir
Stanza 4—All
Hymn:
"The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns" Greek
Stanza 1,2—Choir
Stanza 3-5—All
Hymn:
"Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" Liturgy of St. James
Stanza 1—Duet
Stanza 2—Choir
Stanza 3—Choir
Stanza 4—All
We Celebrate God's Work in Our Lives
Reading:
37. God meets us in the sacraments,
communicating grace to us
by means of water, bread, and wine.
In baptism,
whether of the newly born
or newly converted,
God reminds and assures us
of our union with Christ in covenant love,
the washing away of our sin,
and the gift of the Holy Spirit—
expecting our love and trust in return.
38. In the Lord’s Supper, Christ offers
his own crucified body and shed blood
to his people,
assuring them a share
in his death and resurrection.
By the Holy Spirit, he feeds us
with his resurrection life
and binds us to each other
as we share one loaf and cup.
We receive this food gladly,
believing, as we eat,
that Jesus is our life-giving food and drink
and that he will come again
to call us to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
—"Our World Belongs to God," art. 37,38
Hymn:
"Eternal Spirit, God of Truth" Cotterill
Stanza 1—All
Stanza 2—All
Anthem:
"The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power" Crouch
Senior Choir
Psalm 17:
"Lord, Listen to My Righteous Plea" CRC Publications
Stanza 1—Solo
Stanza 2—Choir
Stanza 3—All
Stanza 4—Choir
Stanza 5—All [congregation will echo trumpet; please watch director]
Psalm 23:
"The Lord, My Shepherd, Rules My Life" Idle
Stanza 1—All
Stanza 2—Women
Stanza 3—All, unaccompanied
Stanza 4—Junior Choir (arr. Bitgood)
Stanza 5—All with descant
We Commit Ourselves to God
Reading:
31. God gives this world
many ways to know him.
The creation shows his power and majesty.
He speaks through prophets, poets, and apostles,
and, most eloquently, through the Son.
The Spirit, active from the beginning,
moved human beings to write the Word of God
and opens our hearts to God’s voice.
32. The Bible is the Word of God,
the record and tool of his redeeming work.
It is the Word of truth,
breath of God,
fully reliable in leading us
to know God
and to walk with Jesus Christ
in new life.
33. The Bible tells the story
of God's mighty acts
in the unfolding
of covenant history.
As one revelation in two testaments
the Bible reveals God’s will
and the sweep of God’s redeeming work.
Illumined and equipped by the Spirit,
disciples of Jesus hear and do the Word,
witnessing to the good news
that our world belongs to God,
who loves it deeply.
—"Our World Belongs to God," art. 31,32,33
Hymn:
"Seek Ye First the Kingdom" Lafferty
Stanza 1—All
Stanza 2—Junior Choir with Junior Bells
Stanza 3—All
Anthem:
"If You But Trust In God to Guide You," Neumark
Junior Choir
Hymn:
"Precious Lord, Take My Hand" Dorsey
Stanza 1—All
Stanza 2—All in parts, unaccompanied
Stanza 3—All
Reading:
56. We long for that day
when our bodies are raised,
the Lord wipes away our tears,
and we dwell forever in the presence of God.
We will take our place in the new creation,
where there will be no more death
or mourning or crying or pain,
and the Lord will be our light.
Come, Lord Jesus, come.
58. With the whole creation
we join the song:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
He has made us a kingdom of priests
to serve our God,
and we will reign on earth.
God will be all in all,
righteousness and peace will flourish,
everything will be made new,
and every eye will see at last
that our world belongs to God.
Hallelujah! Come, Lord Jesus!
—"Our World Belongs to God," art. 56,58
Recessional Hymn:
"Lift High the Cross" Kitchin
[The refrain shall be sung by all]
Stanza 1—All
Stanza 2—Choir
Stanza 3—All
Stanza 4—Men
Stanza 5—All with soprano descant
Stanza 6—Women
Stanza 7—All with soprano descant
Postlude:
"Lift High the Cross," arr. Busarow
