Our World Belongs to God: a Hymn Festival Using the CRC Contemporary Testimony

WE MEET GOD

Prelude and Processional: "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty," arr. M. Shaw, H. Hopson [PsH 253]

[The congregation is asked to join the choir in singing in unison stanzas 1,2, and 4 at the conclusion of the processional]

Reading: Psalm 95:1-2

Psalm 98: "Sing, Sing a New Song," arr. D. Grotenhuis [PsH 98]

Stanza 1—All
Stanza 2—Choir
Stanza 3—All

Welcome

Hymn: "Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet" [PsH 569] Introduction: Junior Bells (arr. N. deWaal Malefyt)

Stanza 1—All
Stanza 2—All

WE PRAISE GOD

Reading: Psalm 96:1-6

Anthem: "Hallelujah, Praise the Lord," arr. J. Ferguson [PsH 189] Junior Choir

Hymn: "In the Presence of Your People" [PsH 160]
[This Bible Song, based on Psalm 22:3,22; 145:7 will be sung 3 times.]

1. Junior Choir
2. All
3. All with Choir descant

Reading: "Our World Belongs to God," art. 1,2

Hymn: "I Will Exalt My God, My King" [PsH 186]
[This Bible Song, based on Psalm 145:1-3, will be sung 3 times.]

1. Solo
2. Choir
3. All

WE TRACE GOD'S REDEMPTIVE PLAN

Reading: "Our World Belongs to God," art. 19,24,27

Hymn: "As Moses Raised the Serpent Up" [PsH 219]
Introduction: Senior Bells (arr. N. deWaal Malefyt)

Stanza 1—Choirs
Stanza 2—All
Stanza 3—Choir, sung in canon
Stanza 4—All, sung in canon—east side of congregation beginning.

Anthem: "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" arr. G. Martin [PsH 384]
Senior Choir

Hymn: "A Shout Rings Out, A Joyful Voice" arr. D. Grotenhuis [PsH 392]

Stanza 1—Men of Choir
Stanza 2—All
Stanza 3—Choir
Stanza 4—All

Hymn: "The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns" [PsH 615]

Stanza 1,2—Choir
Stanza 3-5—All

Hymn: "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" arr. Butcher [PsH 341]

Stanza 1—Duet<> Stanza 2—Choir
Stanza 3—Choir
Stanza 4—All

WE CELEBRATE GOD'S WORK IN OUR LIVES

Reading: "Our World Belongs to God," art. 37,38

Hymn: "Eternal Spirit, God of Truth" [PsH 422]

Stanza 1—All
Stanza 2—All

Anthem: "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power" arr. Seal [PsH 552]
Senior Choir

Psalm 17: "Lord, Listen to My Righteous Plea" arr. D. Groten-huis[PsH 17]

Stanza 1—Solo
Stanza 2—Choir
Stanza 3—All
Stanza 4—Choir
Stanza 5—All [congregation will echo trumpet; please watch director]

Psalm 23: "The Lord, My Shepherd, Rules My Life" [PsH 23]

Stanza 1—All
Stanza 2—Women
Stanza 3—All, unaccompanied
Stanza 4—Junior Choir (arr. Bitgood)
Stanza 5—All with descant

WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO GOD

Reading: "Our World Belongs to God," art. 31,32,33

Hymn: "Seek Ye First the Kingdom" [based on Matthew 6:33, 7:7, 4:4] [PsH 209]

Stanza 1—All
Stanza 2—Junior Choir with Junior Bells
Stanza 3—All

Anthem: "If You But Trust In God to Guide You," arr. M. & B.A. Ramseth [PsH 446]
Junior Choir

Hymn: "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" [PsH 493]

Stanza 1—All
Stanza 2—All in parts, unaccompanied
Stanza 3—All

Reading: "Our World Belongs to God," art. 56,58

Recessional Hymn: "Lift High the Cross" [PsH 373]
[The refrain shall be sung by all]

Stanza 1—All
Stanza 2—Choir
Stanza 3—All
Stanza 4—Men
Stanza 5—All with soprano descant
Stanza 6—Women
Stanza 7—All with soprano descant

Postlude: "Lift High the Cross," arr. Busarow

In this service of praise, the Hillcrest Christian Reformed Church, Hudsonville, Michigan, recalled and celebrated the music that their various choirs had performed during the September-May season.

Hymns were selected from the Psalter Hymnal (PsH). Copies of Our World Belongs to God, a confession of the Christian Reformed Church, are available from CRC Publications.

Reformed Worship 19 © March 1991, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Used by permission.