Worship Order for Sunday

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
February 1, 2004
Worship 10:00 am Sunday School for all ages 11:15 am
 

      "And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love."    (1 Corinthians 13:13)

  Morning Praise (9:45 am)
  Announcements
  Prelude

  Call to Worship

*Hymn                            "The God of Abraham praise"                               162

*Opening Prayer

  Scripture                                 Jeremiah 1:4-10

  For Children                  "Perfect For The Job"
                                         (Pre-schoolers then leave for playful worship)

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

  Offertory

  Receiving new Members

*Congregational Response                                                                          794

*Hymn                       (vs. 1-2) "Help us to help each other"                           362

  Sharing more joys, and concerns and words of testimony or praise

  Hymn                       (vs. 3-4) "Help us to help each other"                           362

  Pastoral Prayer

  Scripture                                 1 Corinthians 13           "Laughingbird" paraphrase

  Message                  "We are the music of your life"

*Hymn                                     "Bound Together"                              (see insert)

*Benediction


#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship
based on Psalm 71:1-6

One: In you, O God, we find a place of refuge - a strong and secure place
         of shelter and safety. Giving us confidence to believe that you hear us
         and protect us from those who are unjust and cruel.

All: We have known you and your righteousness as far back as we
        can remember.

One: You, O God, are the foundation of our hope, the source of our trust;

All: We praise you continually O God, for being a rock to lean on 
        and a safe place to rest in from the time of our birth.

by Moira B. Laidlaw
    

Opening Prayer

         Living God, we praise you for filling us with the knowledge that in you we do find safety and security. In Jesus Christ, you have given us the confidence to believe that although the worst can happen, your love and your care for us remains as strong and as constant for ever. Jesus demonstrated that rejection, ridicule and even the risk of death did not stop him from proclaiming your love, your mercy and your everlasting life and power.
         We approach you, O God, confident in your constant love and protection. We praise you, we trust you, we adore you. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen

by Moira B. Laidlaw
    

For Children
"Perfect For The Job"

Theme: Everybody is suited for an important ministry
Source: based on one by Eldon Weisheit, in
                God's Promises For Children - Series C, Augsburg, ©1982. (out of print)
                          as adapted by Rev. Richard J. Fairchild.
Object: Three different size boxes with contents for showing love

         Good morning -- In our bible reading this morning God tells Jeremiah - "I chose you before I gave you life and before you were born to be a prophet to the nations." God chose Jeremiah for an important job - he chose him to give a special message to the nations.

         Jeremiah thought God had made a mistake. He said - "God, I don't know how to speak well enough. I am too young." Jeremiah wasn't a child, he was a young man - but he thought he wasn't old enough for the job.

         Do you ever feel that you not very important because you are young? Because you are small?? Do you ever feel that you are not good enough to do a special job that someone wants you to do??? Or does anyone ever told you that???

         It is pretty common for people to think that we can't do some things - and sometimes we can't - but that doesn't mean that we don't have a very special place in God's plan - just like Jeremiah had a special place in God's plan - despite what he thought about it.

         To understand this a bit better I want you to look at these three boxes.... If you wanted a box to put a big puzzle into so that you could give it to someone who loves to do them, which box would you choose.... why? (the others are too small)

         If you wanted a box to carry around stickers in - stickers to brighten up books and papers with - which would you pick? (you can't get much in the little one - and the other is too big to carry around)

         If you wanted a box to give a necklace or a ring to someone special with - which would you choose?? (the little one would be just about right).

         You see - the biggest is not always the best - and the littlest is not always the best. What is best is what does the job best. The job of showing God's love. God doesn't say that old people can show his love better to other people than young people; or that young people can serve him better than old people. God picks each of us for a special job and each of us is the best one for that job. God picks each one of us to love - and to do good things for others. God has a special job for each one of you - no matter how young you are - or how old you are - no matter how big or how small. Each of you is best for something - because God has made you that way. You are an important part of God's people - and no one can replace you.
     

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

         Perfect for the job... That doesn't mean we never make any mistakes. Perhaps Jeremiah, when God called him to be "a prophet to the nations," was afraid of making mistakes. Possibly that's why he tried hiding behind his youth when God came knocking on his door.
         Are you afraid of making mistakes when it comes to your own calling, to making use of the gifts God has given you? The good news about falling down on the job, is that the Lord helps pick up back up again. In addition, we grow from our mistakes. We learn. We perfect our skills. With God's help, we try new things.
         Speaking of "new things," we've been trying out a different way of taking attendance, a path we continue today. As the plates are passed, and you return your offering, please pass the attendance pads down your pew, also. Record your own presence, as well as any young children with you, and hand it to the next person. Before that, however, would you pray with me?

         Lord, thank you for being present with us at all times, for gracing each of us through your Holy Spirit with special abilities, and for perfecting us along the way with your on-the-job training. What we now give is for your glory and our neighbor's good. Help us to make use of it all wisely. In your name, Amen.
    

Receiving new Members

(after being introduced to the congregation by members
who have come to know these newcomers:)

         Friends in Christ, you have previously made confession of your faith and have been members of his church. We rejoice in your decision to become members of this congregation, in full covenant relationship with the believers who worship and serve God in this place.

         Do you now reaffirm your faith in and loyalty to Jesus Christ, our Lord, and his gospel?

If so, please say: "I do."

         As you unite with this church, will you worship, serve, and share in its program, supporting it by your earnest prayers, regular attendance, loyal service, and faithful stewardship, as God gives you strength?

If so, please say: "With God's help, I will."

         Do you promise to live and share with us in the bonds of Christian fellowship, giving and receiving Christian love, sharing and bearing one another's joy and pain?

If so, please say: "I do."
     

Congregational Response

Leader: These persons now presented to you
                 have witnessed to their faith in Jesus Christ
                 and offer themselves as companions in our obedience to Christ.
              It is our privilege and joy to welcome them into our family of faith.

People: We freely receive you, even as Christ has received us.
             We open ourselves to fellowship with you
                    in worship, study, service, and discipline.
             We pledge our willingness to give and receive counsel,
                    to offer and accept forgiveness in the redeemed community.
             We joyfully accept you as partners,
                    both in the care of our spiritual family,
                    and in our mission to the world.

#794 - by John H. Mosemann, adapted from The Mennonite Hymnal,
copyright©1969 Faith & Life Press/Mennonite Publishing House.
    

Pastoral Prayer

 

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

 

song
"Bound together"
by Ken Medema

(chorus:)
Bound together and finely woven.
We’re bound together and finely woven.
We’re bound together and finely woven with love.

Sing and dance when a baby's born.
Sing and dance, it's a joyful morning.
Sing and dance for the joy of birth.
Sing and dance, let your music echo round the earth. (chorus)

Sing and dance for the morning sun.
Sing and dance by the river’s running.
Sing and dance in the pale moonlight.
Sing and dance, let your music echo through the night. (chorus)

Sing and dance through the city streets.
Sing and dance, let the night grow sweeter.
Sing and dance, gather everyone around.
Sing and dance, let your music echo fill this weary town. (chorus)

Sing and dance for the word made flesh.
Sing and dance for the sweet refreshment.
Sing and dance for the flesh made word.
Sing and dance, let your music ever more be heard. (chorus)
    

 

Interested in Sunday School?
Below is a growing list of possible sites to visit. As you discover others, please let us know.

International Lesson thoughts
from the
Mennonite Publishing House

International Lesson
Commentary by
Richard Hughes
(posted on Saturday)

International Lesson
Commentary by
Edwin Elliott

 

©2003 Peter L. Haynes
(unless otherwise stated, worship resources were written by him)

 

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