Preludes:
"Great Is Thy Faithfulness" (piano)<
"My Jesus, I Love Thee" (organ)
Welcome
Psalter Reading: Psalm 111, read in unison
Hymn: "New Songs of Celebration Render" (Psalm 98)
[Tune: RENDEZ A DIEU; PH 28, RL W, TH14; concertato by Dale Grotenhuis available from CRC Publications (1-800-333-8300)]
Reading on God's Word
John Calvin (1509-1564)
The retreat was coming to a conclusion. All week the young people had been struggling with the issue of leadership. On this final morning they would have a chance to exercise that leadership by planning and leading our worship together.
We waited eagerly to see what they would come up with. Would it be something totally new, filled with the rhythm of the music they live by? Would it be irreverent to our adult eyes and ears? Would we truly be able to worship with them?
Worldwide Communion Sunday (or 'All Nations Heritage Sunday/' as it is often called in the Christian Reformed Church) is held each year on the first Sunday of October. The day presents a wonderful opportunity to broaden the perspective of the local church and experience and celebrate "the Communion of the Saints," as is professed in the Apostles' Creed.
"Hey you guys, let's put on a play!"
"Great idea, Lucy! My dad has some old boards laying around for a set. I'll get them"
"Mom threw out some curtains the other day. We can make costumes!"
"Fantastic. Who can get some paint?"
"Abby, you do publicity. Barney, see if Mom mill give you some of her lipstick.
"Can I be the bad guy? "
The author, a Reformed Church in America pastor in New Jersey and frequent contributor to Reformed Worship, completed this work as his doctoral dissertation at Drew University. Meeter has provided an invaluable historical service in the study of this liturgy, which was officially approved as the English text for the Dutch Reformed Church when it became independent of the Church in the Netherlands in 1793.
Thank you for the excellent article "Take Time to Celebrate" by Cynthia de Jong in the December, 1992 issue (FW 26). Personally I would have appreciated it even more a year earlier since we also celebrated our 40th anniversary in December, 1992. Out of our experience with that celebration I would like to add the following thoughts to her many wonderful suggestions.
Naomi (college junior):
When I came to college as a freshman, I was really excited about the new experience. But I couldn't believe how lonely I was. I missed my family and friends, of course. But Sunday was especially bad, because I really missed my church.
Interviewer:
What did you miss about your church?
New Hymn Search: "Stewardship of Creation"
That's the question underlying this theme issue of Reformed Worship.
Call to Worship: Mark 12:28-31
This is Jesus' statement about the two greatest commandments. Thus the service begins with a foil that the minister can use later on in the sermon.
Opening Hymn: "Christ Is Alive!" (another foil)
[RSH 413, PH 108]
Law:
Read responsively the Ten Commandments, alternated with some of our Lord's moral teachings (e.g., the Sermon on the Mount). You'll find a good example on page 1013 of the worship edition of the 1987 Psalter Hymnal.
