Norma de Waal Malefyt
Authors
Howard Vanderwell
Published on
December 10, 2012
First worship service in a collection of building blocks for a series of worship services based on key themes from the Belhar Confession

Belhar Confession Service #1

Our declaration of faith begins with our belief in the Triune nature of God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This triune God has been engaged since the beginning of time in gathering, protecting and caring for his church.  This he does through His Word and Spirit.

Belhar References: (excerpts from sections 1 and 2)

We believe in the triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who gathers, protects and cares for the church through Word and Spirit. This, God has done since the beginning of the world and will do to the end. We believe in one holy, universal Christian church, the communion of saints called from the entire human family…that true faith in Jesus Christ is the only condition for membership of this church.

Suggested Scriptures

References in Other Confessional Documents

, III.4, VI.15, 2, 23, 1, 8, 9, 25.1

Possible Songs

All those notated with an asterisk will be found in “” (LUYH), to be published in 2013 by Faith Alive Christian Resources.

*
     [paired with ABBOTS LEIGH in LUYH]
* PsH 162
     [Psalm 23: paired with PASTOR]
*, LUYH 2.4.1
     [paired with IN CHRIST ALONE]
*, PsH 540
     [paired with MC KEE]
*, PFAS 115B
    [Psalm 115: paired with VATER UNSER/alternate MELITA]
*, PFAS 63B
     [Psalm 63: paired with GRATUS/alternate RESIGNATION]
*, GSW 5 James Hart Brumm
     [paired with CRUCIFER, text permission at Permissions@BrummhartPublishing.com]

Liturgy Resources

Prayers

We praise and worship you, O God, because you are with your people:
powerfully and miraculously you defend your church and your Word
against all fanatic spirits, against the gates of hell,
and against the assault of flesh and sin.
All glory and praise to you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forevermore. Amen.
Taken from Psalms for All Seasons, © 2011 Faith Alive Christian Resources, Psalm 46, p. 281

Triune God,
you have called us to live in unity with each other
and with our brothers and sisters around the world.
Help us to sense that our love for Jesus binds us together.
May our worship today be a witness
to the kind of unity that comes only
through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Taken from The 91 Sourcebook, 2004 Faith Alive Christian Resource, S.1.1.1

Loving God,
we have heard your call to live as one body.
We thank you for your Son, the head of the body.
We praise you for your Spirit, who works to make us one.
Now as we leave to worship you
in our work, fellowship, and leisure,
we pray for the grace to live together in harmony.
We pray for imagination
to find ways to strengthen our unity in Christ.
We also pray for courage
to carry out these commitments in a spirit of joy,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
Taken from The 91 Sourcebook, © 2004 Faith Alive Christian Resources, S.9.1.5

Lord God, you are a redeeming God.
It is not your desire that any of your children should suffer.
You hear their cries and you come from heaven to save.
As we gather to remember your saving purposes for all who are oppressed, 
give us minds, hearts and wills to hear your word to us, and then live it.             
We pray this in the name of Christ the Savior. Amen.
Taken from African American Church 91 Resources, © 2002 GIA Publications, Inc

Affirmation

We believe in the triune God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
who gathers, protects and cares for the church through Word and Spirit.
This, God has done since the beginning of the world
and will do to the end. Amen.                    
Belhar Confession, Article 1

Glossary

Confessions and Testimonies:

(Note: When we use the term “Other Confessional Documents” we are using the term “confessional” broadly to include those which have been formally adopted as a Confession of Faith by a denomination, but also those which more loosely are considered a Testimony or Declaration of Faith by a denomination.)

Belhar –
BC –
HC –
OWBTG –
OSOH –
WC –
WCRC –
WLC –
WSC –

Hymnals/Resources:

ELW –
CSW –
GSW –
LUYH –
PFAS –
PsH –
SNC –
SNT –
TWS –

General Hymns:

*, GSW 44
*, LUYH [paired with TWO OAKS]
*, LUYH [paired with SLANE]
*, LUYH [paired with ARGENTINA]
*, SNC 172 [paired with LUX PRIMA]
*, LUYH [paired with CEM RHONDDA]
, ELW 710 [paired with THAXTED]
, [JOYOUS LIGHT Morningstar MSM-50-7800 SATB and Congregation]                                            
*, LUYH 2.2.1 [paired with CONFESSION]
*, SNC 50
, ELW 729 [paired with WAREHAM]
*, PsH 502 [paired with AURELIA], David Alexander  [sung to O WALY WALY, Unity, Reconciliation and Justice: Apppendix C, p.87]