1855 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA
On the campus of Calvin University
© 2026 Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
A worship service held at Worship Symposium 2017
Prelude Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
Welcome and God's Greeting
O magnify the Lord with me.
Let us exalt God’s name together!
We will give thanks to you, O Lord, with our whole heart;
we will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
We will be glad and exult in you;
we will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
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.
Amen.
Sung Call to Worship: Mari beribadah/Let Us Come and Worship
Words and Music: Traditional Batak; J.A.U. Doloksaribu, Indonesia © J.A.U. Doloksaribu;
English para. Andrew Donaldson © 2015 World Council of Churches
Hymn of Praise: All People That on Earth Do Dwell (Psalm 100) Lift Up Your Hearts, 1
Call to Confession Psalm 139
Prayer of Confession: Take, O Take Me As I Am
Assurance of Pardon Ezekiel 36:25-26
Song of Response: I Love the Lord; He Heard My Cry Lift Up Your Hearts, 439
Confession of Faith: from the Belhar Confession Lift Up Your Hearts, 259
Prayer for the Witness of Justice and Reconciliation
Song of Response: Miren qué bueno/Oh, Look and Wonder (Psalm 133)
Lift Up Your Hearts, 260
Passing of the Peace
As God has given us peace through Christ, so let us pass the peace of Christ to each
other saying, “The peace of Christ be with you.” “And also with you.”
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Reading Revelation 1:1-20
Sermon: What Do You See?
Song of Application: Que a nadie le falte/Let No One Miss Out
Words: Gerardo Oberman © Gerardo Oberman; English tr. Emily R. Brink
Music (NO MUY RÁPIDO): Merengue Dominicano; arr. Horacio Vivares © Horacio Vivares
Prayers of the People
Song of Dedication: Go to the World
Parting Blessing 2 Corinthians 13:13
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
Conference Welcome
Organ Postlude: Pièce d´Orgue J.S. Bach
Leaders:
Luke Powery, preaching
The planning team for the 2017 General Council of the World Communion of Reformed Churches,
musicians and liturgists: Alison Adam, André Bartlett, Christiane Brautigam, Nina Ciesilski,
María Cornou, Sabine Dressler, Chineta Goodjoin, Dwight Kelly, Hanns Lessing, Gerardo Oberman,
Kathy Smith, Bruce Theron, and Ester Widiasih
Coro Polifónico, musicians
Calvin College students, musicians
Explore the compelling beauty of the Bible's covenantal vision of the divine-human relationship and the transformative difference this makes for how we worship the triune God. This session will feature insights from the authors of two influential books: Esther Lightcap Meek's Loving to Know: A Covenantal Epistemology and Daniel Block's Covenant: The Framework of God's Grand Plan of Redemption.
While Christian baptism is predominantly a transcultural practice, distinct faith communities worldwide experience this initiation rite through unique contextualizing elements. Join us in a fascinating conversation with Christian leaders from five continents about the rich cultural diversity reflected in baptismal liturgies, imagery, and practices, and how they shape Christian life in their contexts.
This panel will explore the intersectionality between culture and disability. What can we learn from the experiences of people across varying cultures and contexts? What do experiences of racism and ableism in the church have in common? How do they overlap? How does belonging for people with disabilities look different in a variety of cultural contexts?
Explore the compelling beauty of the Bible's covenantal vision of the divine-human relationship and the transformative difference this makes for how we worship the triune God. This session will feature insights from the authors of two influential books: Esther Lightcap Meek's Loving to Know: A Covenantal Epistemology and Daniel Block's Covenant: The Framework of God's Grand Plan of Redemption.
While Christian baptism is predominantly a transcultural practice, distinct faith communities worldwide experience this initiation rite through unique contextualizing elements. Join us in a fascinating conversation with Christian leaders from five continents about the rich cultural diversity reflected in baptismal liturgies, imagery, and practices, and how they shape Christian life in their contexts.
This panel will explore the intersectionality between culture and disability. What can we learn from the experiences of people across varying cultures and contexts? What do experiences of racism and ableism in the church have in common? How do they overlap? How does belonging for people with disabilities look different in a variety of cultural contexts?
Teenagers’ desire to encounter God has been realized throughout history as youth ministry has grown and evolved. Indeed, teenagers have expressed needs and desires to practice and grow their faith at church, school, and home as well as at camps and conferences or on short- and long-term mission trips. On the one hand, these worship efforts have been deeply formative. On the other hand, these worship efforts have focused on attracting and keeping teenagers as much as, if not more than, on spiritual formation. This session will identify key historical patterns in adolescent worship and examine how we might engage their wisdom for faithful worship practices with teenagers today.
