This was planned as a joint community worship service bringing together four congregations and their unique offerings. The introit was sung by members of a community choir, the other choral pieces by a mass choir comprised of members of all the congregations, the two trumpeters came from yet another community organization, and a 3rd-5th grade children from the congregations sang during the offering. It truly was a festive event as together we worshiped our ascended Lord.
We Gather to Worship
Prelude:
"Jesus Shall Reign"
[Callahan]
Introit:
"Lift Up Your Heads"
[from Messiah, Handel]
The Greeting
People of God, the Lord of glory, Jesus Christ, sends his greeting to you. And his greeting is this: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, through the working of the Holy Spirit. This is the greeting of Christ, who arose from the grave.
He died and rose that we might have eternal life. All thanks be to him!
This same Christ has ascended to the Father.
He ascended that we might experience God's presence and power. All praise be to him!
The Scripture: Acts 1:1-11
Response:
We Hear the Word of the Lord
The Old Testament Lesson: Psalm 47
Response:
"Psalm 47" Psalter Hymnal, 1987
[Concertato setting of "Psalm for Ascension" by Valerie Sterk, CRC Publications #2410-4700]
The New Testament Lesson: Luke 24:28-50
Response:
"Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise" Wesley
The Sermon: "Ascension: The Temple Fulfilled"
We Respond in Praise, Prayer, and Service
Hymn:
"Crown Him with Many Crowns" Bridges
[Hymn concertato by Walter Pelz for choir, organ, and trumpets. Augsburg 11-9093.]
The Confession
People of God, Let us believe in our heart and confess with our mouths that which concerns the ascension of Christ. What do we mean by saying, "He ascended into heaven?"
That Christ,
while his disciples watched,
was lifted up from the earth to heaven
and will be there for our good
until he comes again
to judge the living and the dead.
How does Christ's ascension to heaven benefit us?
First, he pleads our cause
in heaven
in the presence of his Father.
Second, we have our own flesh in heaven
a guarantee that Christ our head
will take us, his members, to himself in heaven.
Third, he sends his Spirit to us on earth
as a further guarantee.
By the Spirit's power
we make a goal of our lives,
not earthly things, but the things
above where Christ is,
sitting at God's right hand.
[Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 18]
Pastoral Prayer
Offering
Offertory:
"The King of Glory Comes" Jabusch
Hymn:
"At the Name of Jesus" Noel
[Setting by Ralph Vaughan Williams (with trumpets playing the descant along with the sopranos). Oxford 40.100.]
We Go Out to Serve God
Benediction:
He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon."
Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints.
AMEN!
Postlude:
Crown Him with Many Crowns
[Young]
Service Notes
- This service was planned by Karen De Mol, chair of the Department of Music at Dordt College and member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center, Iowa, for a joint service for the four Christian Reformed churches in Sioux Center.
- This was a community service not only in the sense of assembling several congregations as the worshiping body, but also because it incorporated several resources of the community. The introit, from Handel's Messiah, was sung by those members of the Sioux County Oratorio Chorus that belonged to the participating churches. The twenty-eight such members were distributed among the voice parts to form a balanced choir.
- The other choral pieces, concertato hymn settings, were sung by a vt choir composed of the church choirs of the four congregations. The two trumpeters were from the Sioux County Orchestra.
- The offertory, "The King of Glory Comes," was sung by the children in grades 3-5.
