This service was originally held with the congregations of Pleasant Street and Fahiawn Christian Reformed Churches, Whitinsville, Massachusetts. It was submitted by Wilma Vander Baan, organist at Fairlawn Christian Reformed Church.
Prelude: "Come, Holy Spirit, God and Lord"
[arr. G. Winston Cassler]
"Creator Spirit, by Whose Aid"
[arr. for brass, Vaclav Nelhybel]
Hymn: "Holy God, We Praise Your Name"
[arr. John Ferguson (G.I. A.); PsH 504, PH 460, RL 619, TH 103]
Call to Worship
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord.
Let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving.
And extol him with music and song.
Hymn: "Sing, Sing a New Song to the LORD God"
All: stanzas 1 & 3
Choir: stanza 2
[arr. D Grotenhuis (CRC Publications); PsH 98]
God's Greetings
We Believe in God the Father
Affirmation of Faith
We believe that the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and everything in them, who still upholds and rules them by his eternal counsel and providence, is our God and Father because of Christ his Son. We trust him so much that we do not doubt he will provide whatever we need for body and soul, and he will turn to our good whatever adversity he sends us in this sad world. He is able to do this because he is almighty God; he desires to do this because he is a faithful Father. Nothing will separate us from his love.
[Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 9]
Hymn: "Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise"
[PsH 460, PH 263, RL 7, TH 38]
We Believe in Jesus Christ
Affirmation of Faith
We believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal Word made flesh. He is the long-awaited Savior, fully human and fully divine, conceived by the Spirit of God and born of the virgin Mary, sent by God to reconcile the world to himself.
[Our World Belongs to God, st. 24, adapted]
Hymn: "Of the Father's Love Begotten"
Choir: stanza 1
Women: stanza 2
Men: stanza 3
All: stanzas 4 & 5
[PsH 342, PH 309, RL 191, TH 162]
Affirmation of Faith
We believe that Jesus, in the events of his earthly life—his temptations and suffering, his teaching and miracles, his battles with demons and talks with sinners—made present in deed and in word the coming rule of God.
[Our World Belongs to God, St. 25, adapted]
Hymn: "Amen"
[PsH 365,PH 299]
Affirmation of Faith
We believe that as our substitute, he suffered all his years on earth, especially in the horrible torture of the cross. He carried God's judgment on our sin, and his sacrifice removes our guilt.
[Our World Belongs to God, st. 27a]
Choral Anthem: "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"
[G. Martin]
Affirmation of Faith
Thanks be to God! He walked out of the grave, the Lord of life! He conquered sin and death. He ascended in triumph. He hears our prayers, pleads our cause, and rules the world.
[Our World Belongs to God, St. 27b, 29, adapted]
Hymn: "Sing, Choirs of New Jerusalem"
Choir: stanzas 1 & 2
All:stanzas 3 & 4
[PsH 404,TH 271]
Prayer
Offering
Offertory: "Spirit of God"
We Believe in the Holy Spirit
Scripture Lesson: Luke 24:45-49, Acts 2:1-4
Message: Pentecost is for Today
Hymn: "For Your Gift of God the Spirit" (verses 1 & 5; descant on 5 from RW 3:38)
[PsH 415,RL 382,TH 399]
Affirmation of Faith
We believe that at Pentecost the Holy Spirit was given to the church. Jesus stays with us in the Spirit, who renews our hearts, moves us to faith, leads us in the truth, stands by us in our need, and makes our obedience fresh and vibrant.
[Our World Belongs to God, St. 30a, 32]
Choral Anthem: "Spirit of God"
[Carter]
Affirmation of Faith
We believe that in our world, bent under the weight of sin, Christ gathers a new community. Satan and his evil forces seek whom they may confuse and swallow; but Jesus builds his church, his Spirit guides, and grace abounds. The Spirit thrusts God's people into worldwide mission with the good news of God's grace. He empowers them, going before them and with them. We rejoice that the Spirit is waking us to see our mission in God's world.
[Our World Belongs to God, St. 37,31,44, adapted]
Hymn: "Church of God, Elect and Glorious"
[PsH 533]
Affirmation of Faith
We believe that the church is sent with the gospel of the kingdom to make disciples of all nations, to feed the hungry, and to proclaim the assurance that in the name of Christ there is forgiveness of sin and new life for all who repent and believe—to tell the news that our world belongs to God.
[Our World Belongs to God, St. 44a]
Choral Anthem: "Go Ye into the World"
[Butler]
The Blessing of God
Doxology: "Our World Belongs to God" (verse 3)
[PsH 459]
Postlude: "Now Thank We All Our God"
[Bach / Fox]
Affirmations of faith are from The Heidelberg Catechism and from "Our World Belongs to God" the Contemporary Testimony of the Christian Reformed Church, and may be reprinted with acknowledgment of CRC Publications. Illustrations are from the Handbook to The Baptist Hymnal. © Copyright 1991 Convention Press. All rights reserved. Used by permission. The hymns in this service were selected from the most recent editions of the following hymnals: The Psalter Hymnal (PsH), The Presbyterian Hymnal (PH), Rejoice in the Lord (RL), and the Trinity Hymnal (TH).