Although this service was used for the dedication of Sing! A New Creation, it could also be used as a pattern for the dedication of other songbooks, or simply as a stand-alone service on Psalm 98. A lay person read the Psalm passages and an elder read the prayers. —JH
Reading: Psalm 67:3
Sing to the Lord a New Song
Reading: Psalm 98:1
Songs
“Sing a New Song” SNC 1, WR 10
“We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise” CH 213, SNC 12, WR 651
Prayer of Adoration*
Creating God of the universe,
we come before you humbled by your greatness
and overwhelmed by your majesty,
for you have indeed done marvelous things.
We praise you for the wonder of the world around us—
(include your own statements, such as “for the smallest atom and the largest mountain”)
We praise you for the miracle of our salvation—
that you would choose to send your Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us,
a people prone to forgetfulness,
more apt to complain than praise,
more quick to ask for help than give it,
more willing to blame than forgive.
With hearts full of praise we come before you,
desiring to glorify you, the Lord of lords,
for you are the great I Am.
Amen.
Song: “We Will Glorify” CH 105, SNC 21, SFL 18, WR 337
Reading: Psalm 98:2-3
Song: “Lord God Almighty” SNC 9
Prayer of Confession and Assurance*
Lord God, Almighty, Savior, Redeemer,
we come knowing that we are a sinful people.
We do not love you as we ought.
We love ourselves more than even our closest neighbor.
We have failed to live as your followers.
Yet we approach your throne confidently,
knowing that you are a God who remembers his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel.
We are not dismayed but are filled with hope
because we are a people already redeemed—
when we are sorry for our sins and desire to follow your ways
you declare us to be your children; we belong to you.
And so we stand as your witnesses and declare to the world with confidence
that you are the Lord of all the earth.
Amen.
Apostles’ Creed
Shout for Joy to the Lord, All the Earth
Reading: Psalm 98:4-6
Song: “For the Music of Creation” SNC 37, WR 641
Offering Prayer
Offertory: “We Are an Offering” CH 678, SNC 230
Let the World and All Who Live in It Praise the Lord
Reading: Psalm 98:7-9
Songs
“Lord Most High” SNC 47
“You Are Holy” SNC 20
Intercessory Prayer
Scripture: Psalm 98
Meditation: “Joy to the World”
Closing Song: “Let All Creation Bless the Lord” SNC 34, WR 25
God’s Parting Blessing: Ephesians 3:20-21
Doxology: “My Friends, May You Grow in Grace” SNC 288, SWM 234
Postlude
* Prayers added by RW staff.