Worship Order for Sunday

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
April 18, 2004
Worship 10:00 am Sunday School for all ages 11:15 am

Second Sunday of Easter

      Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."    (John 20:29)

  Morning Praise (9:45 am)
  Announcements
  Prelude

  Hymn                   (vs. 1) "Christ is alive! Let Christians sing!"                      278

  Call to Worship                           Psalm 150

*Hymn                          "Alleluia, Alleluia! Give Thanks"                    (see insert)
                                                                    (words, music)

*Opening Prayer

  Scripture                            Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 (CEV)

  For Children         "How do you expect an answer
                                 when you don't even listen?"
                                         (Pre-schoolers then leave for playful worship)

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

  Shalom!                           "I should have been crucified"                           Jensen

  Pastoral Prayer

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

  Offertory

  Preface to the Message

  Scripture                                  John 20:19-24

  Hymn                          "Breathe on me, breath of God"                              356

  Message                                   "My Lord..."
                                                            (Thomas tells his story)

*Hymn                         "Proclaim the tidings near and far"                            282

*Benediction


#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Opening Prayer

Living God,
         for whom no stone is too heavy to roll aside,
         to whom we turn through every struggle and discouragement in life,
         from whom we derive strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow;
                  we sing our praise to you.

Let every instrument be tuned for your glory.
         Yes, Lord, tune our very lives to glorify you,
                  that we may hear echoes of your song throughout this week.
                           Fill not only this hall,
                                    but also our places of work,
                                    our class rooms,
                                    our kitchens and bedrooms,
                                    our play grounds,
                                             with the sound of your glory,
                           that we might be always aware that
                                    there is no place we can go
                                             that you haven’t been there first,
                                                      preparing the way.

We open our heart, soul, and mind to you now.
         In the name of the risen Christ, we pray. Amen.
    

For Children
"How do you expect an answer
when you don't even listen?
"
Psalm 46:10

         I intend to talk with the children about when I received my first set of walkie-talkies  as a child, and how - with a walkie-talkie - you can't listen unless you stop talking and release the button. It's often like that when we pray. We are always talking to God. Maybe we need to take our fingers "off the button" and listen. We like to hear ourselves talk. However, we need to be still at times. Beyond prayer, can we give your brothers and sisters a chance to express themselves, also? People today intrude on other people with their music - often playing it at a loud volume so that other folks hear it loud and clear, whether or not they care to listen. It seems today we are all trying to out-shout others. But God is still whispering to us. Can you hear?

Ed Lewis
  

I Should Have Been Crucified
by Gordon Jensen

I was guilty with nothing to say
and they were coming to take me away;
But then a voice from heaven was heard that said,
"Let him go, take me instead!"

          chorus: And I should have been crucified!
                      I should have suffered and died!
                      I should have hung on the cross in disgrace,
                      but Jesus, God's Son, took my place!

Crown of thorns, the spear in His side,
and the pain should have been mine,
The rusty nails were meant for me,
yet Christ took them and let me go free.  (chorus)

©1972 by John T. Benson Pub. Co.
All rights reserved. To purchase online, click here
   

Pastoral Prayer

 

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

 

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

         For us in the northern hemisphere of this globe, Easter comes with the signs of Spring. All nature seems to proclaim that new life is sprouting and blooming around us. However, what if we lived on the other half of this globe? There it is the time of harvest. Plants are preparing for Winter. As you return your offering just now, think about what would Easter mean for us if, instead of lilies and tulips, this season of resurrection came to us with sheaves of gathered grain and fallen leaves...    Please pray with me.

         Thank you, Lord, for the good news that, from now on, every morning is Easter morning, no matter what the season of life may be. Bless the harvest that these offerings represent. As we put them to use, bless our planting and sowing. In the name of the risen Christ, we pray. Amen.
    

Benediction

 

 

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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