Divine Glory: The Cruciform Glory - 2 Corinthians 4

An order of worship planned around 2 Corinthians 4, originally held at the Calvin Symposium on Worship. Includes video clips.

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symposium 2005

Worship Service

posted on June 1, 2005

Theme of the Service

I. Opening for Evening Prayer

Greeting, followed by a time for quiet reflection and prayer

Richard Dirksen, Christ, Mighty Savior, arr. John Ferguson (GIA G-6204)

st. 1 - choir
st. 2 - men
st. 3 - all
st. 4 - women
st. 5 - all, gently

Text: Mozarabic, 10th c.; tr. Alan G. McDougall (1895-1964), rev. Anne K. LeCroy (b. 1930)
Music: Innisfree Farm/Decatur Place; Richard Wayne Dirksen (1921-2003)
Tr. © 1982 The United Methodist Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Music © 1984 Richard W. Dirksen, admin. by Washington National Cathedral Music Program. All rights reserved. Used by permission. (GIA G-6204)

"Speak, O Lord," Keith and Kristyn Getty

Led by Keith and Kristen Getty, with congregation joining on st. 3

Text and music: Keith Getty and Stuart Townend © 2005 Thankyou Music. Used by permission.

* Psalm 96

O sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples.
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be revered above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts.
Worship the Lord in holy splendor;
tremble before him, all the earth.
Say among the nations, "The Lord is king! The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.
He will judge the peoples with equity."
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord;
for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with his truth.

II. Advent and Christmas Glory

Old Testament Lesson

Isaiah 40:1-4, ending with "And the Glory of the Lord," G. F. Handel fromMessiah

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Psalm 24

Refrain: Gloria / Glory, Pablo Sosa

Sing as directed

Text: Luke 2:14
Music: Cuequita; Pablo Sosa (b. 1947), Argentina
© 2006 GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. (GIA G-7010)

New Testament Lesson: John 1:1-4, 14

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

* "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," Psalter Hymnal 345, arr. John Ferguson (GIA, G-3747)

III. Paschal Glory

Hymn: "O Christ, Your Loving Power"

Text: Mary Louise Bringle (b. 1953), 2006
Music: Genevan 12; Louis Bourgeois (c. 1510-c. 1561); 1551; harm. Howard Slenk (b. 1931), 1985
Text © 2006, GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
Harmonization © 1987, CRC Publications. All rights reserved.

Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 53

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

"Ah, Holy Jesus," arr. John Ferguson

St. 1 choir
St. 2 men
St. 3 women
St. 4 choir
St. 5 all

Text: Johann Heermann (1585-1647), tr. Robert Bridges (1844-1930), alt. J.F.
Music: Herzliebster Jesu; Johann Cruger (1598-1662), arr. John Ferguson (Augsburg Fortress 11-10572)

New Testament Lesson: John 12:20-36

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Meditation: Cruciform Glory
. Listen (4.0 MB)

Christ Is the World's Redeemer, arr. John Ferguson

St. 1 choir
St. 2 all
St. 3 choir
St. 4 all

Text: St. Columba (521-597), tr. Duncan McGregor (1854-1923), alt.
Music: Moville; Irish trad. melody, arr. John Ferguson (b. 1941)
Music arr. © 2005 GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. (GIA G-6665)

* Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia / / Mfurahini, Haleluya

Refrain: Congregation
Verses: Choir

Text: Bernard Kyamanywa (b. 1938), tr. Howard S. Olson (b. 1922)
Music: Mfurahini, Haleluya; traditional Tanzanian
Tr. © 1977 Howard S. Olson. All rights reserved.

IV. Reflected Glory

New Testament Lesson: 2 Corinthians 3:6-11, 17-18

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!

Choir Anthem: And Can It Be?, arr. James and Wilma Wilson, Everett Sanders

Prayers of the People

Spoken Prayers

El Cielo Canta Alegría / Heaven Is Singing for Joy

Text and music: Pablo Sosa, Argentina
Text and music © 1991 Pablo Sosa. Used by permission. (GIA G-7014)

* Benediction

* Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, arr. John Ferguson

St. 1 women
St. 2 men
St. 3 all in harmony
St. 4 all in unison

Text: Charles Wesley (1707-1788), 1747 (v. 2 from Lutheran Book of Worship 315)
Music: Hyfrydol; Rowland H. Prichard (1811-1887), 1831

* Please stand if able

2007 marks the 300th anniversary of the birth of Charles Wesley. Tonight's service includes several well-known Wesley texts: "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing," "And Can It Be," and "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling." At a college named after John Calvin, it might be helpful to note that despite the significant differences between Calvin and Wesley over exactly how to think about the relationship of divine and human action in the expression of faith, the two share a remarkably common interest in Trinitarian worship, a vivid awareness of the Holy Spirit's role in the sacraments, and in expressing the glory of God. For more on these themes, see the work of Methodist theologian Geoffrey Wainwright, Wesley and Calvin: Sources for Theology, Liturgy and Spirituality.

Tonight, we especially welcome the Greenville College Choir, and their conductor, Dr. Jeffrey S. Wilson. Greenville College is located in Greenville, Illinois, 45 miles from St. Louis in southern Illinois. Since its inception in 1892, the college has maintained a rich legacy of mutual support in a voluntary relationship with the Free Methodist Church. Currently, Greenville College has a student population of 1,400 students who come from more than thirty denominational backgrounds to participate in an increasingly diverse community.

The Greenville College Choir was founded in 1927 by Dr. Robert Woods. Its mission has been to cultivate a love for sacred choral music among students, audiences, and congregations. In celebration of its 75th Anniversary, the choir went on an extended Heritage Tour of England in January 2002, where it performed in leading English cathedrals and churches. A tour of Austria, Hungary and Romania is being planned for March, 2008. In spring of 2006, they welcomed St. Olaf College's John Ferguson to lead an Easter celebration hymn festival in Greenville. Tonight, as we hear this choir from a Free Methodist school sing Lutheran chants and hymns at a Calvinist school for an international and ecumenical conference with many non-denominational participants, we rejoice in all the core convictions about the gospel of Jesus Christ that we share and can sing together.