1855 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA
On the campus of Calvin University
© 2025 Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
Artwork "Celebration" by John August Swanson
Our everlasting God “who was, and is, and is to come” is not bound by time (Revelation 1:8). God can answer prayer in an instant but often chooses to work over the course of generations. Indeed, the promised Messiah came from the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, through descendants like David and Mary, and even foreigners like Ruth. Still today, while Jesus has already defeated Satan and conquered death, we know that the full manifestation of God’s peaceable kingdom is yet to come.
“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.”
- Psalm 145:3–4
Like Simeon and Anna, we wait to see God’s salvation fully worked out. We long for the day when war will cease, when hunger will be satisfied, when the lion will lie down with the lamb, and when God will set right all that sin has broken. With the psalmists, we cry to God in our distress, even as we extol God for the mighty acts we see God doing in our midst. We bless God for those we see joining in God’s work of renewal and for the many ways we can testify to God’s work in our own lives.
During the 2025-26 academic year, Calvin University marks its 150th anniversary, and the Calvin choirs offer their 50th annual Lessons and Carols service held in person at LaGrave CRC. In this evening’s service we celebrate these milestones, joining with the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship in commemorating Calvin’s anniversary through a year of events focused on “Dwelling in the (150) Psalms.” As we praise God for the gift of salvation in the person of Jesus Christ, we also give thanks for the people and institutions who have helped us to know and love our God more deeply. God has indeed been faithful from generation to generation!
Livestream of the 3:00 p.m. (EST) service on Dec. 7, 2025:
Livestream of the 6:00 p.m. (EST) service on Dec. 7, 2025:
“People Look East!” by Kristina Langlois
Music: Kristina Langlois © 2000 MorningStar Music.
Used by permission and under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.
“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus,” by Kristina Langlois
Music: Kristina Langlois © 1996 MorningStar Music
Used by permission and under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.
From “O Antiphon Sequence,” by Cecilia McDowall
O Radix Jesse—“to you the nations will make their prayer”
O Emmanuel—“come to save us, O Lord our God”
Music: Ceclia McDowall © 2018 Oxford University Press
Used by permission and under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.
Noëls 1, 2, 5, and 6 from “Six Noëls,” by Marcel Tournier
Music: Marcel Tournier (1926), P.D.
Four Variations on “Sleepers, Wake!” by Robert Lau
Music: Robert Lau © 2009 Paraclete Press
Used by permission and under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.
“The Glory of the Father” (based on John 1:1–4), by Egil Hovland
Words and Music: based on John 1; Egil Hovland, ed. Frank Pooler © 1957 and 1974 Harald Lyche & Co.
Used by permission and under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.
“Blest Be the God of Israel” (based on Luke 1:68–79, the Song of Zechariah), arr. Carlton R. Young
Words: based on Luke 1:68-79; Carl P. Daw Jr. © 1989 Hope Publishing Company
Music: English folk tune; adapt. and harm. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906, P.D.; arr. Carlton R. Young © 2000 Birnamwood Publications
Used by permission and under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.
Pastor: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come,
and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
—Revelation 1:4–5, NRSVUE
All: To him who loves us
and freed us from our sins by his blood,
and made us a kingdom,
priests serving his God and Father,
to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
—Revelation 1: 5–6, NRSVUE
Pastor: Beloved in Christ, in this season of Advent, we prepare ourselves so that we may be shown its true meaning. We have gathered to hear, in readings from the holy scriptures, how the prophets of Israel and the apostles of Jesus foretold that God would visit and redeem his waiting people. We rejoice, in carols and hymns, that the good purpose of God is being mightily fulfilled. We encourage each other in Christian hope so needed in a world filled with sorrow and despair.
We unite our hearts to pray for the world which God so loves, for those who have not heard the good news of God or who do not believe it; for those who walk in darkness and the shadow of death; and for the Church in this place and everywhere, that it may be freed from all evil and fear, and may in pure joy lift up the light of the love of God. These prayers we humbly offer as we meditate on the readings from holy scripture, including the prayer we say together now using the words that our Lord Jesus Christ taught us.
All: Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
May your kingdom come.
May your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.
For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.
Amen.
“Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain” (based on Isaiah 40:9–11), by Carolyn Jennings
Words and Music: based on Isaiah 40:9–11; Carolyn Jennings © 1981 Curtis Music Press
Used by permission and under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.
“Prepare Ye!” (based on Isaiah 40:3–5), by Marc. A Robinson
Words: based on Isaiah 40:3, Matthew 3: 3, Mark 1: 30, Luke 3:40 by Marc A. Robinson © 1996 Neil A. Kjos Music Company
Music: Marc A. Robinson © 1996 Neil A Kjos Music Company
Used by permission and under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.
“Prayer for Peace” + (based on Luke 1:78–79, the song of Zechariah), by Emily Brink, arr. Margaret Burk
Words and Music: based on Luke 1:78–79; Emily Brink, arr. Margaret Burk © 2025 Emily Brink and Margaret Burk
Used by permission.
+ Dedicated to John D. Witvliet, founder and director of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (1997–2025) and director of Campus Choir (1997–2003).
“Comfort, Comfort” (based on Isaiah 40:1–5), arr. John Ferguson
Words: based on Isaiah 40:1–5; Johann G. Olearius (1611–1684); tr. Catherine Winkworth (1829–1878), P.D., alt.
Music: Louis Bourgeois, 1551; arr. John Ferguson © 1987 Augsburg Fortress
Used by permission and under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.
“Song of Ruth” (based on Ruth 1:16–17), by David N. Childs
Words and Music: based on Ruth 1:16–17; David N. Childs © 2004 Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Inc.
Used by permission and under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.
“One Generation Will Call to the Next” (based on Psalm 145), by Greg Scheer
Words and Music: based on Psalm 145; Greg Scheer © 2006 Faith Alive Christian Resources; arr. Greg Scheer © 2019 Faith Alive Christian Resources
Used by permission and under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.
“Magnificat” from Collegium Regale (Luke 1:46–55), by Herbert Howells
Words: Luke 1:46-55, P.D.
Music: Herbert Howells © 1947 Novello & Co.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Sing Praise to God, Whose Mighty Acts” (based on Psalm 9), arr. James Biery
Words: Carl P. Daw Jr. © 1996 Hope Publishing Co.
Music: traditional English, harm. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906, P.D.; arr. James Biery © 2017 Birnamwood Publications
Used by permission and under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.
“This Little Babe,” by Benjamin Britten
Words: Robert Southwell (1561-1595), P.D.
Music: Benjamin Britten © 1943 Boosey & Co.
Used by permission and under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.
“Christ the Appletree,” by Stanford E. Scriven
Words: Joshua Smith, 1803, P.D.
Music: Stanford E. Scriven © 2009 Stanford E. Scriven.
Used by permission.
“Once in Royal David’s City,” arr. Larry Visser
Words: Cecil F. Alexander, 1848, P.D.
Music: Henry J. Gauntlett, 1849, P.D.; arr. Larry Visser © 2023 Larry Visser
Used by permission.
“The Dream Isaiah Saw” (based on Isaiah 11:6-9), by Glenn L. Rudolph
Words: Thomas H. Troeger © 1994 Oxford University Press
Music: Glenn L. Rudolph © 2010 Oxford University Press
Used by permission and under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.
“Joy to the World” (based on Psalm 98), arr. David Cherwien
Words: Isaac Watts, 1719, alt. P.D.
Music: George Frederick Handel, 1742, P.D.; arr. Lowell Mason, 1848, P.D.; arr. David Cherwien © 2020 Birnamwood Publications
Used by permission and under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.
“Nunc Dimittis” (based on Luke 2:29–32, the Song of Simeon), by Robert Scholz
Words: Luke 2:29-32, KJV, P.D.
Music: Robert Scholz © 1995 Augsburg Fortress
Used by permission and under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.
Pastor: God of grace and glory,
in this world so filled with despair, we cling to your promise:
surely Christ is coming soon.
As we wait for this glorious appearing,
we pray for the world that you so love:
we long for your Holy Spirit to bring healing, justice,
and peace that surpasses understanding
to every place of suffering and hopelessness,
including those we name now in our hearts. . . . [silence]
As this Advent season continues to unfold,
challenge and strengthen us to be people of eager expectation
and ministers of your peace.
Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Pastor: But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
All: To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
—2 Peter 3:8–9, 13–15, 18, NRSVUE
Pastor: May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
—1 Thessalonians 5:23–24, NRSVUE
All: Alleluia! Amen.
“O Come, All Ye Faithful,” arr. John Ferguson and David Willcocks
Text: attr. John F. Wade, 1743, P.D.; tr. Frederick Oakeley, 1841, and others, P.D.; stanza 3 by Amy Sonheim © 2025 Amy Sonheim
Music: John F. Wade, 1743, P.D.; arr. John Ferguson © 1992 GIA Publications; desc. David Willcocks © 1961 Oxford University Press
Used by permission and under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.
“Toccata on ‘Joy to the World’,” by Pamala Decker
Music: Pamela Decker © 2009 Wayne Leupold Editions
Used by permission and under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.
“Postlude on ‘Go, Tell it on the Mountain’,” by Norah Duncan IV
Music: Norah Duncan IV © 2017 GIA Publications, Inc.
Used by permission and under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.
“Carillon for Christmas (‘Ding, Dong, Merrily on High’),” by Brenda Portman
Music: Brenda Portman © 2023 Sacred Music Press
Used by permission and under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.
