With Every Good Thing Series - Approach with Boldness - Hebrews 4

A communion worship service originally held at the Calvin Symposium on Worship, planned around Hebrews 13. The last of a six-part series on the book of Hebrews from the 2008 Symposium on Worship. These services are designed to rejuvenate the vigor of the faithful by returning us to our first love: our wonderful Savior Jesus Christ.

Theme of the Service

Gathering Songs

An informal time of singing led by some of our international and student groups, with songs selected from the back of the worship booklet:

The Grace of God Unbounded Is (Chinese, English)

Text: Newton Y. T. Tsiang, 1931, tr. Frank W. Price, 1953
Music: Ernest Y. L. Yang, 1931, des. Juliana C. Y. Kam, 2003
Text, music & tr. © 1977 CCLC. Descant © 2003 Juliana C. Y. Kam
(from Hymns of Universal Praise)

Yesu azali awa / Jesus Christ Is with us (Ngala, Dutch, English)

Text: Congolese folk hymn; Dutch tr., Elly Zuiderveld-Nieman, tr. Emily R. Brink
Music: Congolese folk hymn, traditional

Wat hou ik van uw huis / How I Love Your House (Dutch, English)

Text: Ria Borkent (Psalm 84 is part of a major project of retranslating the psalms from Hebrew into the language of today.)
Music: Cees de Vreede © Boekencentrum Publishers, Zoetermeer, The Netherlands
Text © Ria Borkent
Music © Cees de Vreede

En tus manos / In Your Hands (Spanish, English)

Roger Hernández (Cuba), trans. Linda Gasparovic
© 1989, 2000, Roger Hernández y Arquidiócesis de Miami

Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing (Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish)
[Thurs. night st. 3 sung in Chinese (with transliteration), Friday night sung in Dutch]
[Thurs. night st. 4 sung by the Africans in English, Friday night sung in Spanish]

Text: Charles Wesley (1707-1788), 1739

Service of Light

Procession

Text and music: Marty Haugen (b. 1950), from Holden Evening Prayer
Text and music copyright © 1990, GIA Publications, Inc.

* Evening Hymn: “Joyous Light of Heavenly Glory”

Text and music: Marty Haugen (b. 1950), from Holden Evening Prayer
Text and music copyright © 1990, GIA Publications, Inc.

* Evening Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation.
In the beginning you separated light from darkness
and placed all your works in our hands.
You have given us the light of day
that we might see your wonders
in all we say and do;
you give us the gentle darkness of the night
that we might rest from our burdens
and be refreshed in body and spirit.

Break through the darkness of our sins
with the splendor of your mercy and love.
Send your light to dispel our fears and anxieties
and fill us with hope and joy.

Glory, praise, and honor are yours, O God,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
in the power of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Psalms and Psalm Prayers

Psalm 25: “To You, O Lord, I Lift My Soul”

Text: Psalm 25, adapt. Marty Haugen
Music: Appalachian folk tune, How Can I Keep From Singing?
Text adapt. copyright © 2000, GIA Publications, Inc.

Silence for meditation

Covenant God, remember not our sins, but recall your compassion to your children.
We turn to you for guidance and life, turn also to us and be gracious,
that we may always follow in the way of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen.

Psalm 13: “How Long, O God?” (Refrain)

Text: Psalm 13 Music: Marty Haugen
Music copyright © 1991, GIA Publications, Inc.

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Refrain

Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
and my enemies will say, “I have prevailed”;
my foes will rejoice because I am shaken. Refrain

But I trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me. Refrain

Silence for meditation

Loving and merciful God, hear the prayers of those who cry to you,
and shine with the light of your presence on those who live in the shadow of death.
May we rejoice in your saving help and sing you songs of praise
in the name of our risen Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Psalm 23: “Shepherd Me, O God” (Refrain) (stanzas sung in Chinese and English)

Text and music: Mary Haugen
Text and music copyright © 1986 GIA Publications, Inc.

Silence for meditation

Lord, Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd, in the waters of baptism you give us birth, and at your table you nourish us with heavenly food. In your goodness and mercy, lead us along safe paths, beyond the terror of evil and death, to the house of the Lord where we may rest securely in you forever. Amen.

Proclamation of the Word

Old Testament Lesson: Genesis 14:17-20

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

New Testament Lesson: Hebrews 4:14-5:10

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Sermon: “Approach with Boldness”

Response to the Word

* Hymn: “O God in Heaven”

Text: Daniel T. Niles (1908-1970), alt.
Text copyright © 1964, Christian Conference of Asia.
Music: Halad; Ilonggo (Philippines) trad., adapt. Elena G. Maquiso (1914-2005), 1961, arr. Cantate Domino, 1980. Tune copyright © 1962 Elena G. Maquiso; arr. copyright © 1980 World Council of Churches.

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession

Prayer refrain: “Mayenziwe / Your Will Be Done” (first phrase only)

Prayers for the church in Africa and the Middle East

Refrain

Prayers for the church in Central and South America

Refrain

Prayers for the church in Europe and North America

Refrain

Prayers for the church in Asia and the Pacific Rim

“Mayenziwe / Your Will Be Done”

Text: from the Lord’s Prayer
Music: South African traditional, as taught by George Mxadana; arr. John Bell
Arr. copyright © 1988, WGRG the Iona Community (Scotland), admin. GIA Publications, Inc.

* Benediction

Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The peace of God that passes all understanding,
keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Go in the strength of the risen Christ.

* Song of Joy: “Neither Death, Nor Life”

Text and music: adapted from Romans 8; Marty Haugen
Text and music copyright © 2001, GIA Publications, Inc.

Postlude: “Carillon,” Denis Bedard

Credits

Evening Thanksgiving from BCW, pp. 507-509. Reprinted by permission from Book of Common Worship, © 1993 Westminster/John Knox Press.

Concluding psalm prayer reprinted by permission from Daily Prayer: Supplemental Liturgical Resources 5 © 2006 Westminster/John Knox Press.