1855 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA
On the campus of Calvin University
© 2026 Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
The music for this worship service comes from One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, a new ecumenical hymnal that pulls together songs from historic African American traditions and denominations.
Opening Greeting
Scripture Reading: Psalm 150
Songs: 16 “Total Praise”
67 “Holy One, We Worship Thee”
Prayer of Response
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:7–12
Songs: “Shall Tribulation or Distress"
(choral anthem based on Romans 8 by Mary Louise Bringle & Sally Ann Morris)
473 “Be Still, God Will Fight Your Battle
455 “Beams of Heaven”
Prayer of Response
Scripture Reading: Luke 15:11–32
Songs: 418 “I Am Redeemed”
238 “Jesus, You Brought Me All the Way”
(choral anthem arr. by Kenneth W. Louis)
Prayer of Response
Scripture Reading: Romans 5:1–5
Songs: 121 “I Will Make the Darkness Light”
113 “The Solid Rock”
108 “It Is Well with My Soul” (choral anthem arr. by James Biery)
Prayer of Response
Announcements
Blessing
Sung Blessing: 472 “Let the Church Say, ‘Amen’”
Leaders: James Abbington; Doug Brouwer; Choir, Liturgical Movement, and Scripture Arts Teams;Norma de Waal Malefyt; Duane Kelderman; Eron Lauchie; Hannah Barker Nickolay; Jackson Nickolay; Debra Perry; Lisa Sung; Kathleen Turner; and Lisa Weaver.
Carmen Imes has spent the past fifteen years immersed in the book of Exodus, writing about it for both her master’s thesis and her doctoral dissertation. In this lecture, Imes will share some of the most paradigm-shifting insights she’s had while reading Exodus through an Egyptian lens.
This panel considers the psalms as a source of artistic and theological engagement, exploring how musicians and songwriters draw from these ancient texts to navigate the emotional complexity of the human experience. Through diverse musical approaches and cultural perspectives, the panelists will consider how the psalms continue to resonate in modern contexts by offering language for lament and praise, shaping liturgical practice, and fostering resilience in both personal and communal experience.
“Deconstruction” is a popular term among young people who grew up in the Christian church. In this public lecture, Robert Chao Romero will consider the challenge of widespread deconstruction while offering a hopeful path forward. Expanding on Phyllis Tickle’s analogy of the church having a rummage sale of ideas every few centuries, Romero invites us to consider the contributions of Latina/o theology and the history of the Brown Church as valuable resources for reconstruction on the other side of deconstruction.
Carmen Imes has spent the past fifteen years immersed in the book of Exodus, writing about it for both her master’s thesis and her doctoral dissertation. In this lecture, Imes will share some of the most paradigm-shifting insights she’s had while reading Exodus through an Egyptian lens.
This panel considers the psalms as a source of artistic and theological engagement, exploring how musicians and songwriters draw from these ancient texts to navigate the emotional complexity of the human experience. Through diverse musical approaches and cultural perspectives, the panelists will consider how the psalms continue to resonate in modern contexts by offering language for lament and praise, shaping liturgical practice, and fostering resilience in both personal and communal experience.
“Deconstruction” is a popular term among young people who grew up in the Christian church. In this public lecture, Robert Chao Romero will consider the challenge of widespread deconstruction while offering a hopeful path forward. Expanding on Phyllis Tickle’s analogy of the church having a rummage sale of ideas every few centuries, Romero invites us to consider the contributions of Latina/o theology and the history of the Brown Church as valuable resources for reconstruction on the other side of deconstruction.
In this workshop, the McGrath family and Kiran Young Wimberly will discuss how spiritual practices, particularly singing the psalms, can build resilience in our lives. In a retreat-like experience, interwoven with psalms set to Celtic music, we will sing together as we reflect on what brings us joy, strength, and hope so we can flourish in the face of daily challenges.
