Worship

Worship book for the 2006 Calvin Symposium on Worship. Includes outlines of six services based on Includes services based on Isaiah 43:1-3, Exodus 13:17-22, Isaiah 41, John 12:12-26, John 14:1-7, and John 14:25-31.

The services follow a theme taken from the final words of Jesus to his disciples before he ascended into heaven. The Gospel according to Matthew ends with this promise of Jesus: "And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

This promise was not new--Scripture records that promise many times, which is why Jesus used the word "remember." Indeed, every time the people of God gather for worship, we meet to "remember and believe" that God is with us still, in our lives, in our world, and as an active participant in that very service. When we meet for worship, Christ is in our midst, the great High Priest, through the Holy Spirit opening our hearts to hear God speak to us, and bringing our imperfect worship perfectly before the Father as an acceptable sacrifice of praise to our triune God.

In our six worship services during this Symposium, we will rest in that promise, moving from the Old to the New Testament and searching out some of the many facets of what it means to worship in the presence of a God who is with us always. These services build on the same theme that was chosen for the international Assembly of the Reformed Ecumenical Council meeting this past summer in Utrecht, the Netherlands; a team of worship leaders from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship was involved in planning and leading those ten morning services. Some of our international guests at Symposium are here because of contacts made at that Assembly.

We gather as the people of God gathered from many places, languages, traditions, and styles of worship, reflecting both the unity and the diversity of the Body of Christ. Celebrating diversity, we worship with both ancient symbols and new artworks, both pipe organs and praise teams, in both quiet reflection and exuberant praise, using both hymnals and screens. Celebrating unity, we place central emphasis on scripture and prayer, font and table.

We hope that this theme will be pastorally significant for all who lead worship, wherever God has placed you. We know that many come to this conference tired or frustrated in their work in the church. We pray that the promise of God's presence will be a source of strength and peace for you.