Fairlawn Christian Reformed Church

The Sunday of the Ascension

of Jesus Christ

April 27, 2008        10:15 A.M.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Preparation And Praise

Upon entering the sanctuary please maintain silence and turn off all electronic devices

 for the sake of the congregation’s preparation for worship.

    Prelude:  “Come, Thou Almighty King”                                                                     Travis

    Welcome and Announcements 

    Silent Prayer and Preparation

*  Call to Worship:                                                                                                     Psalm 24

Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

Who is the King of glory?  The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

Who is he, this King of glory?  The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory!

*  Hymn:  PH 410                   “Crown Him with Many Crowns”                              Diademata

*  God’s Greeting:

Grace and peace be to you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

    Amen.

The Lord be with you.

    And also with you.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,

    Who made heaven and earth.

Blessed be God,

    And blessed is his kingdom, now and forever.  Amen.

*  Prayer of the Day: 

Lord God Almighty, the Ancient of Days, you have set your Son Jesus Christ on the glorious throne of your kingdom, and exalted him above all powers and principalities, dominions and thrones; grant that he, who has taken our flesh and carried our humanity into your holy presence, may pour out upon your church the gifts of your grace, and may he be both our righteous judge and merciful intercessor, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit, be all power, majesty, glory and praise. Amen.

*  Response:                        “Crown Him with Many Crowns”                                Diademata

Crown him the Lord of heaven, enthroned in worlds above;

Crown him the King to whom is given the wondrous name of Love.

Crown him with many crowns, as thrones before him fall;

Crown him, ye kings, with many crowns, for he is King of all.

Confession and Prayer

    Confession of Faith:  Heidelberg Catechism; Lord’s Day 18, Q. & A. 49

Q.    How does Christ’s ascension to heaven benefit us?

A.    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 the goal of our lives, not earthly things, but the things above where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand.

    Prayer of Confession:                                                                                                            

Almighty God, maker of all things and judge of all men, we acknowledge our many sins and wickedness before you, which we, from time to time, have committed in thought, word, and deed against your majesty. We do earnestly repent and are sorry for these our sins. The remembrance of them is grievous, and the burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father, and for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son, forgive us for all that is past, and grant that we may from now on serve and please you in newness of life, to the honor and glory of your name, through Christ our Lord.

Silent Prayer and Confession

Minister: Amen.

    Assurance of Pardon:                                                                                     Ephesians 1

    Vocal Solo:  “We Shall Behold Him”                                                                      Rambo

      Congregational Prayer

The Service Of The Word

*  Hymn:  PH 406                      “Alleluia!  Sing to Jesus”                                             Lowell

    [Children age 3 - grade Pre-K may leave during the hymn.]

    Choral Anthem:  “Go Ye Into All the World”                                                              Butler

    Reading from the Old Testament:                                                             Isaiah 60:1-14

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

    Reading from the New Testament:                                            Revelation 21:22–22:5

    Sermon:   When the Kings Come Marching In

    Prayer

*  Hymn:  Insert                       “Come, We That Love the Lord”                             St. Thomas

The Offering of Tribute

*  Offertory Prayer

    Offerings:  Fairlawn General Fund

                        Faith Promise for Missions

            Offertory:  “Christ the Lord Ascends to Reign”   (PH 407)                                Krapf

Blessing and Dismissal

*  Blessing:

May the Lord bless you and keep you.  May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you.  May the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you and give you peace.  Amen.                

*  Doxology:            “All Hail King Jesus”                                                                                

All hail, King Jesus!  All hail, Emmanuel.

King of kings, Lord of lords, Bright Morning Star.

And throughout eternity I’ll sing Your praises,

and I’ll reign with You throughout eternity.

Dave Moody, 1981, Temple Music, CCLI 1099351

    Postlude:  “See, the Conqueror Mounts in Triumph”                                          Niblock

*Indicates congregation stands

_____________________________________________________________________________________