The Story and the Song: A Hymn Festival in Detroit, Michigan
This hymn festival took place at First CRC in Detroit, MI on October 27, 2013
The congregation of First CRC in Detroit, MI worshiped with a hymn festival featuring the new hymnal Lift Up Your Hearts. The festival encouraged singing the whole story of God and God’s people through vibrant congregational song. The theme for this hymn festival was Singing the Whole Story: On Freedom's Shore.
The Hymn Festival was held on Sunday, October 27 at 5:00 PM at First CRC in Detroit, MI.
Program
The Story and the Song
Gathering Songs:
- Total Praise LUYH 420
- Here on Jesus Christ I Will Stand LUYH 708
Introduction: “The Story and the Song”, from The Jesus Storybook Bible
In the Beginning
Bible Reading: “You’re Good!” refrain – story from Jesus Storybook Bible
Song: O Worship the King LUYH 2
– start playing refrain as reading is wrapping up.
- piano, guitar, bass, trumpet on verses 1,3,5
(interlude one time in between)
Confessional Reading: Belgic Confession Article 2
How do we know God?
First, by the creation, preservation, and government of the
universe, since that universe is before our eyes like a beautiful
book in which all creatures, great and small, are as letters to
make us ponder the invisible things of God: his eternal power
and his divinity, as the apostle Paul says in Romans 1:20.
All these things are enough to convict us and to leave
us without excuse.
Second, he makes himself known to us more openly by his holy
and divine Word, as much as we need in this life, for his glory
and for the salvation of his own.
Song: He’s Got the Whole World LUYH 26
- piano, guitar, bass
Into Darkness
Confessional Reading: Our World Belongs to God, Par. 13
In the beginning of human history,
our first parents walked with God.
But rather than living by the Creator’s word
of life, they listened to the serpent’s lie and
fell into sin. In their rebellion they tried to be
like God. As sinners, Adam and Eve feared the
nearness of God and hid.
Song: What Adam’s Disobedience Cost LUYH 34
- st. 1 –soloist; st. 2-5 – all
- organ (start soft)
Confessional Reading: Our World Belongs to God, Par. 18
While justly angry, God did not turn away from a world bent on
destruction but turned to face it in love. With patience and tender
care the Lord set out on the long road of redemption to reclaim the
lost as his people and the world as his kingdom.
Song: It is Good to Give Thanks to You, Lord LUYH 48:1,2,5
- piano, guitar, bass
God’s plan of redemption unfolded in the covenant promise he made to a special people:
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 7:7-9
7 The Lord did not set his affection on
you and choose you because you were
more numerous than other peoples, for
you were the fewest of all peoples.
8 But it was because the Lord loved you
and kept the oath he swore to your
ancestors that he brought you out with
a mighty hand and redeemed you from
the land of slavery, from the power of
Pharaoh king of Egypt.
9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is
God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant
of love to a thousand generations of those who
love him and keep his commandments.
Song: It is Good to Give Thanks to You, Lord LUYH 48:6
- piano, guitar, bass
Light Dawns
Through the prophets God repeated the promise to redeem his fallen world. Isaiah proclaims the advent of the coming Savior:
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7
2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on
those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled
in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be
no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Song: Hark! the Glad Sound LUYH 60
– organ, trumpet on 1,2,4
The Apostle John tells the world that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise of Immanuel – “God with us”!
Scripture reading: John 1:1-5, 14
1In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through him all things were made; without
him nothing was made that has been made.
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of
all mankind.
5The light shines in the darkness, and the
darkness has not overcome it.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling
among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of
the one and only Son, who came from the Father,
full of grace and truth.
Song: O Come All Ye Faithful LUYH 76
– organ and trumpet
The Light and the Life
Confessional Reading: Apostles’ Creed with music/visuals
Song: I Stand Amazed LUYH 174
– piano, guitar, bass (REAPEAT CHORUS AT END)
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:1-13
1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to
live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient,
bearing with one another in love.
3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit
through the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you
were called to one hope when you were called;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and
through all and in all.
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as
Christ apportioned it.
8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he
took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he
also descended to the lower, earthly regions?
10 He who descended is the very one who ascended
higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole
universe.)
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets,
the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the
body of Christ may be built up
13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge
of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the
whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Song: They’ll Know We Are Christians LUYH 256
- piano, bass, guitar, banjo
All Things New
Jesus Christ brought heaven to earth. In him the broken parts of Creation are brought back together. Jesus’ work of redemption and restoration begins with us:
(Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21)
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly
point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this
way, we do so no longer.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation
has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself
through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
not counting people’s sins against them. And he has
committed to us the message of reconciliation.
20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God
were making his appeal through us. We implore you on
Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that
in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Song: You are Mine LUYH 430
But Jesus doesn’t stop with us. Through him, God the Creator and Redeemer will one day make all things new:
Scripture Reading: Revelation 21:1-5a
1Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the
first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and
there was no longer any sea.
2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down
out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully
dressed for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
“Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people,
and he will dwell with them. They will be his people,
and God himself will be with them and be their God.
4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be
no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain,
for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making
everything new!”
Song: View the Present Through the Promise LUYH 470
– organ
God’s Blessing
Closing Praise: Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow LUYH 964
– organ AND piano