Worship - July 14, 2002

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
July 14, 2002
Worship 10:00 am Sunday School for all ages 11:15 am

"And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow......." (Matthew 13:3)

Call to Worship Psalm 65:1-13

*Hymn "Praise, I will praise you, Lord" 76

*Opening Prayer

*Hymn "Sing amen" (in English, 3x) 64
(Children grade 2 and younger then go to Sunday School)

Sharing a joy, a concern, a word of testimony or praise

Hymn "Great is thy faithfulness" 327

Pastoral Prayer

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Offertory

Scripture Matthew 13:1-9

Message "Fertile Ground"

Song                                  "For such a time as this"
                                (NYC bound youth & advisors come forward as he sings,
                                                  children return from Sunday School)

Responsive Reading

Commissioning Prayer

*Hymn "You shall go out with joy" 427

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship
Psalm 65 in two voices

Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion; and to you shall vows be performed,

O you who answer prayer! To you all flesh shall come.

When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us, you forgive our transgressions.

Happy are those whom you choose and bring near to live in your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, your holy temple.

By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.

By your strength you established the mountains; you are girded with might.

You silence the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples.

Those who live at earth's farthest bounds are awed by your signs; you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.

You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it.

You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.

You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness.

The pastures of the wilderness overflow,

the hills gird themselves with joy,

the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,

the valleys deck themselves with grain,

they shout and sing together for joy.

New Revised Standard Version
©1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA.

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

         In less than 2 days, some of us will be on our way to National Youth Conference. The theme this year is taken from the book of Esther in the Old Testament, a story of how one woman stood up in answer to God's call, and how the Lord - through her - saved the children of Israel. It was "for such a time as this" that her life had been directed.
         In what direction is your life leading right now? Perhaps there is a key moment for you lying ahead, when all that God has sowed into the soil of who you are will be needed for some purpose only God knows at the present.
         As you return your offering just now, think about the story of this woman and ponder the path you are currently traveling. Are you growing in such a way that you will be ready for such a time as when God may call you to stand like Esther?
         Will the ushers come forward to serve?

Responsive Reading
FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

Youth: National Youth Conference is a journey physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We will travel many miles to NYC, but the emotional journey and, more importantly, the spiritual journey will have an impact on us long after we return home.

All: Journey, for such a time as this.

Youth: We will gain knowledge and understanding about our world. We will discuss our faith and issues important to our everyday lives.

All: Learn, for such a time as this.

Youth: We want to experience the joy of worshiping with thousands of youth. We want to know that our peers are struggling with the same issues we are. We want to remind ourselves of the capacity for hope and positive change that God gives us.

All: Experience, for such a time as this.

Youth: We long to grow as Christians. We want to live our lives in the manner of Jesus, with an attitude of service and full of compassion and love. We want to grow into the incredible beings God desires us to be.

All: Grow, for such a time as this.

Youth: We want to laugh, cry, pray, and exist in a community saturated with God s presence. God will bless us as we nurture each other s spirits, so that we may then nurture our world.

All: Journey, learn, experience, grow, laugh, cry, pray, and live for such a time as this. We give our lives to you, 0 Lord.

- Becky Ullom, coordinator
2002 National Youth Conference
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word Series"

Commissioning Prayer

Eternal and ever living God, we open ourselves to you in this time of prayer.

We pray for your guiding spirit as we have gathered to send these, your people, into a new and exciting experience.

Loving God, we ask that their faith will deepen and that Your Kingdom will unfold in new ways for each of them as they discover and rediscover the roots of their faith. May their love for Jesus grow with new desire to know him. Through worship, service, study, play and rest, 0 God, our prayer is that they will become closer to You, building new trust in You, your Church and each other.

Sometimes it is scary to leave the familiar and those we love, but we know at this time, the way has been prepared for new growth and new adventure. Calm those fears.

Knowing God, we pray that you will bless all those in leadership of this 2002 NYC. May their words and their example be pleasing to You. Grant traveling safety for all who will attend this great conference.

Lord, wrap your loving arms around ___________, _____________, ___________ ____________ as they leave us for a time. May they feel a growing strength only You can give. We pray that each one will return, empowered to live out the call You have put in their hearts.

We pray these things in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

- Jeannine Steiner