1855 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA
On the campus of Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary
© 2025 Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
Closing Communion Worship on Acts 1:1-11: The Ascension at the 2018 Worship Symposium.
Acts 1:1–11: In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Prelude: Improvisation on WEN TI, a Chinese tune
Sung Call to Worship: “Lift Your Eyes unto the Hills”
God’s Greeting and Call to Worship: 2 Corinthians 13:14 and Colossians 3:1–3
Hymn of Praise: “Jesus Shall Reign”
Prayer of the Day
Prayer of Confession
Sung Assurance of Pardon and Doxology: “God Is Gracious to Forgive”
Quiet Reflection
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:15–23
Psalm Reading: Psalm 47
Scripture Reading: Acts 1:1–11
Profession of Faith: Nicene Creed
Prayers of the People
The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right for us to give thanks and praise. . .
The Lord’s Prayer
The Invitation
The Lord has prepared his table for all who love him and trust in him alone for their salvation. All who are truly sorry for their sins, who sincerely believe in the Lord Jesus as their Savior, and who desire to live in obedience to him as Lord are now invited to come with gladness to the table of the Lord.
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Communion Songs:
“Christus Paradox” (choir)
Congregational singing as directed
Acclamation: Psalm 103:1–4
Prayer
Hymn of Praise: “A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing”
Blessing: “To the One Who’s Shown Us Love”
Postlude: “Processional with Fanfares” from Suite for Organ, Op. 50 (Robert Below)
We are grateful to Woodlawn Christian Reformed Church for hosting this service. The service was led by the Conference Choir, directed by Kai Ton Chau, accompanied by Jan Kraybill and Linda Hoisington; Bob Batastini; Michael Joncas; and Urban Doxology. The preacher was Lisa M. Weaver. The Lord’s Supper liturgy is from Eucharistic Prayers by Samuel Wells and Abigall Kocher, published in 2016 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
Jared Ortiz, professor at Hope College, Holland, Michigan, describes the Nicene Creed as a dramatic and powerful statement where every word is like a declaration of war, saying yes to the truth and no to many falsehoods.
Jane Williams, professor of theology at St. Mellitus College in London, England, sees the Nicene Creed, crafted 1700 years ago, as an extraordinary creative and exciting description of who God is and therefore what we trust in as Christians in God's world.
Maria Eugenia Cornou and Mikie Roberts serve on a planning team for an October worship event in Egypt to mark the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the ecumenical creed that emerged in the year 325 and remains firmly embedded in the worship practices of the church today.
Jared Ortiz, professor at Hope College, Holland, Michigan, describes the Nicene Creed as a dramatic and powerful statement where every word is like a declaration of war, saying yes to the truth and no to many falsehoods.
Jane Williams, professor of theology at St. Mellitus College in London, England, sees the Nicene Creed, crafted 1700 years ago, as an extraordinary creative and exciting description of who God is and therefore what we trust in as Christians in God's world.
Maria Eugenia Cornou and Mikie Roberts serve on a planning team for an October worship event in Egypt to mark the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the ecumenical creed that emerged in the year 325 and remains firmly embedded in the worship practices of the church today.
This expression of Psalm 148 was submitted by Ed Willmington, who wrote it with Clayton J. Schmit. The nature of Psalm 148 is total exuberance as all of nature offers praise to God.
