Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
September 21, 2003
Worship 10:00 am Sunday School for all ages 11:15 am

  Morning Praise (9:45 am)
  Announcements
  Prelude

  Call to Worship                          Psalm 1:1-3

*Hymn                              "With happy voices singing"                                  83

*Opening Prayer

  Scripture                                   Mark 9:33-37

  Dedication of an Infant and his Parents

  Congregational Commitment                                                                      793

  Special Music              "My Lord, I do not ask to stand"
                                    (children leave for choir practice or pre-school play)

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

  Inward Song                           "Teresa’s Prayer"                              (see insert)

  Pastoral Prayer

  Scripture                                James 3:13-4:3, 7

  Invitation to Walk for the hungry

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

  Offertory

  Scripture                               Proverbs 31:10-31

  Message                            "Household Wisdom"

*Hymn                                    "Lord of the home"                                       490

*Benediction

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Opening Prayer

Though streams of water may rise, O Lord,
         when clouds release and pour;
The trees may threaten to fall to earth,
         when winds begin to roar;
Our hearts do tremble and fear the worst,
         but still we know it’s true,
There is no trouble we face in life
         that you can’t bring us through.

And so, our Father, we come this day,
         to lift our voice in praise.
Our hearts are happy, but with a joy
         that storm-clouds cannot faze.
Amid the tumult we’ve heard your voice,
         though some may think it odd,
"Be still," you tell us in rain or shine,
         "and know that I am God."        Amen.

©2003, Peter Haynes
(as a hurricane passes by)
      

Pastoral Prayer

written closer to the time (if not at the moment)

Invitation to Walk for the hungry

         October 19^th will be our community's annual CROP Walk. Our Witness commission chairwoman is extending the invitation today to either walk or financially support someone who will walk in this fundraiser on the North-Central Rail Trail. 75% of the proceeds go beyond our area to CROP/Church World Service or other donor-designated organizations to help alleviate world hunger. 25% stays locally to assist in the feeding ministry of Beans and Bread (a soup kitchen in downtown Baltimore), and UCAN (an ecumenical food pantry and assistance organization in Towson).
         Note: the presenter is planning on having us close our eyes and listen to the grumblings in our own stomachs at this moment, and think about those on the receiving end of assistance. Her own sister, now an active member of our congregation, was once on the receiving end of the ministry of  Beans and Bread. Thus, this is very personal.
      

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

         While the plates are passed this morning, take time to silently meditate on the prayer of confession printed on the back of your bulletin. Make it personal by changing the language from "we come to worship," to "I come to worship." Make it your own responsive prayer.
         Will the ushers now come forward to serve...

WISDOM FROM ABOVE
Prayer of Confession

All: The righteousness that God expects of us comes from the divine wisdom of humility and peace, not from those who exalt their own wisdom and achievements. Today we come to worship seeking wisdom from above.

One: Lord, we confess our romance with a culture of violence. We know wars and rumors of wars. We know all too well the images on the evening news, the statistics of child and spousal abuse, the violence depicted in television programming.

All: Lord, we come seeking wisdom from above. We would make the Prince of Peace our model and mentor.

One: Lord, we confess our fascination with technology. The World Wide Web enables people of differing backgrounds to develop mutual understandings and respect. The Web provides access to libraries and schools. It redefines the words by which we live - like truth, freedom, wisdom, memory, fact.

All: Lord, we come seeking wisdom from above. We come seeking to be formed by you, not simply to acquire information about you.

One: Lord, we confess that we are more enamored with the Prayer of Jabez (1 Chron. 4:10) than with the prayer of Jesus. We want you to legitimize our possessions and positions.

All: Lord, we come seeking wisdom from above, praying in Jesus name: "Our Father, who art in heaven..." (join in unison).

Glenn Timmons, executive director
Congregational Life Ministries
Church of the Brethren General Board
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word Series"
       

Benediction

still to come