The Story of Creation and Redemption: A Hymn Festival in Grand Rapids, Michigan
This hymn festival took place at Calvin CRC in Grand Rapids, MI on October 20, 2013.
The congregations of Calvin CRC and Woodlawn CRC in Grand Rapids, 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 20 at 5:00 PM at Calvin CRC in Grand Rapids, MI.
Program
The Story of Creation and Redemption
The Prelude: Preludes on “From All That Dwell below the Skies” (570)—Flor Peeters; David Cherwien
Choral Introit: Jesus Christ Is with Us LUYH 600
The Call to Worship: Psalm 96:1-4
The Opening Prayer:
O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship; we join the heavenly chorus to offer to you our songs of praise. We thank you for your servants who offer their gifts of music to the church and who assist us in singing your praises from day to day and forevermore; through Christ our Lord, Amen
*The Opening Hymn: From All That Dwell below the Skies LUYH 570
*The Greeting
The Welcome
Old Testament Life & Witness
Hymn: The First Place LUYH 15
Reading: Jesus: Image of the Invisible God (16: Colossians 1:12-18)
*Hymn: How Lovely, Lord, How Lovely LUYH 46
Advent Expectation
Prayer of Advent Expectation:
Leader: Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
When he humbled himself to come among us as a man,
he fulfilled the plan you formed long ago
and opened for us the way to salvation.
Now we watch for the day,
hoping that the salvation promised us will be ours
when Christ our Lord will come again in his glory.
All: Amen.
Hymn: My Soul in Stillness Waits LUYH 63
Christ’s Life
*A Declaration of Faith from the Belgic Confession, Article 10
All: We believe that Jesus Christ,
according to his divine nature,
is the only Son of God--
eternally begotten,
not made nor created,
for then he would be a creature.
He is one in essence with the Father; coeternal;
the exact image of the person of the Father
and the "reflection of his glory,"
being in all things like him.
He is the Son of God
not only from the time he assumed our nature
but from all eternity.
*Hymn: From a Distant Home LUYH 106
Christ’s Passion & Exaltation
A Declaration of Faith from the Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 15
Leader: What do you understand by the word “suffered”?
All: That during his whole life on earth,
but especially at the end,
Christ sustained
in body and soul
the wrath of God against the sin of the whole human race.
This he did in order that,
by his suffering as the only atoning sacrifice,
he might deliver us, body and soul,
from eternal condemnation,
and gain for us
God’s grace, righteousness, and eternal life.
Hymn: Oh, to See the Dawn LUYH 177
A Prayer of Easter Expectation LUYH 180
*Hymn: Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia LUYH 188
A Reading from The Iona Community, “The Savior Leaves”
Leader: Forsaking chariots of fire
and fanfared brass,
as strangely silent as he came,
the Savior leaves
and God, with heaven's caress,
the Son receives.
He has to go, as from the grave
he had to rise:
in order to be everywhere
he must depart
to live, not in one place,
but in each heart.
So, Christ ascends; air cradles him,
disciples stare.
Their Easter joy, his seven weeks' stay
seem now to end.
But no! The Spirit's sending
they portend.
Let angel harmonies resound;
let trumpets blare;
let heaven's banquet guests applaud
the welcomed Word,
and earth anticipate
her coming Lord.
Anthem: Christus Paradox
Text: Sylvia Dunstan 1991; Music: France, 17th century;
Setting: Alfred Fedak, 2000
(Text and music found in LUYH 225: You, Lord, Are Both Lamb and Shepherd)
Joining in the Spirit’s Work
*Hymn: Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation LUYH 250
*Affirmation: The Church Universal LUYH 253
The Offertory Prayer
The Offertory: Variations on “Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation” (250)—David N. Johnson
Hymn: Salaam/Peace LUYH 298
Text & Music: Manal Samir, 2002
Stanzas 1-3: All
Affirmation: Joining the Mission of God LUYH 263
Trusting in the Triune God
Hymn: Give Me Jesus LUYH 423
Text & Music: African American spiritual
Stanza 1: Choir
Stanzas 2-4 All
Hope for Things to Come
*Hymn: In the Day of the Lord LUYH 485
Text & Music: M. D. Ridge, 1992
Refrain: Choir
Repeat Refrain: All (remaining refrains to be sung by All)
Stanza 1: Choir
Stanza 2: All
Stanza 3: All Women
Stanza 5: All Men
Stanza 6: All
*A New Heaven and Earth LUYH 486
*Hymn: Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending LUYH 479
*The Benediction
*The Postlude: Toccata on “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” (965)
—Michael Burkhardt
Liturgist: Rev. Douglas MacLeod
Ministry of Music: Woodlawn CRC Choir and Calvin Church Sanctuary Choir Choir Director: Roy Hopp
Organist: Kenneth Bos