Worship - May 9, 2004

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
May 9, 2004
Worship 10:00 am Sunday School for all ages 11:15 am

Mother’s Day

"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another." (John 13:34)

Morning Praise (9:45 am)
Announcements
Prelude

Opening Prayer

*Hymn "Low in the grave he lay" 273

*Scripture Psalm 148 (Laughing Bird paraphrase)

Unison Prayer of Confession 699

Assurance of God’s Promise

Celebrating the gift of nurture All children
(Pre-schoolers then leave for playful worship)

Hymn                                    "Lord of the home"                                      490
                                                     vs. 1-3 - duet
                                                                vs. 5 - Congregation

Scripture John 13:34-35

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

Responsive Scripture Reading 860

Pastoral Prayer

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Offertory

Hymn "Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling" 491

Scripture Acts 11:1-18

Message "Turning the head"

*Hymn "Joy to the world" 318

*Benediction

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Opening Prayer

God, you sent your Son, the One closest to your heart, to us. In living, Jesus has shown us how to die. In dying, Christ has shown us how to live. Thank you, Lord, for this promise of resurrection that we have come to know through our Savior. Help us to sing this melody even in our darkest and lowest moments. May the song ring out in our worship this morning, as clearly as it did a few weeks back when we sang, "Christ the Lord is risen today." It’s your music, God. The wind of your Holy Spirit is the very breath with which we sing. Just now, we open our hearts as well as our mouths, as we rise and praise you. Amen.

Unison Prayer of Confession

Lord, our God,
      great, eternal, wonderful
      utterly to be trusted:
            you give life to us all,
            you help those who come to you,
            you give hope to those who cry to you.
Forgive our sins, secret and open,
      and rid us of every habit of thought
      that stands against the gospel.
Set our hearts at peace,
      so we may live our lives before you
            confidently and without fear,
            through Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN

Hymnal #699, based on a prayer from
The Liturgy of St. Basil of Caesarea, 4th c.,
adapted from Contemporary Prayers for Public Worship,
ed. Caryl Micklem, copyright © 1956 1967 SCM Press, Ltd.

Assurance of God’s Promise

There is therefore now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
has set us free from the law of sin and death.

Hymnal #709, Romans 8:1-2,
adapted from New Revised Standard Version

Celebrating the gift of nurture

An informal sharing of a rose pin with all the women in our congregation, passed around to them by the children with a hug. A poem on the card (to which the pin is attached) reads:

Cherish the Roses of Life -
A Daughter, a Mother, a Wife.
Their smile, their strength and their love,
Like Blessings sent down from above.

Responsive Scripture Reading
Revelation 21:1-4

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.  And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
         "See, the home of God is among mortals.
         He will dwell with them as their God;
         they will be his people,
         and God himself will be with them;
         he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
         death will be no more;
         mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
         for the first things have passed away."

Hymnal # 860, (NRSV)

Pastoral Prayer

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

Returning our Tithes and Offerings
- a father (2) and son (1) dialog -

1 - "Behold, I am making all things new." That’s what "the one seated on the throne said" in John’s revelation,

2 - right after those comforting words about tears being wiped away, and death being no more, along with "mourning and crying and pain" in the "the home of God."

1 - "Behold, I am making all things new."

2 - That’s a future promise. It’s also a present hope.

1 - God is making all things new.

2 - Right here. Right now.

1 - Do you believe that? (pause)

2 -This time of returning our Tithes and Offerings is not just about putting cash or a check in the plate. It’s about stepping into this promise.

1 - To be honest, there’s a lot of stuff I’d rather spend my hard-earned money on.

2 - Indeed, it’s a stretch to give, especially when what we offer isn’t just our surplus, what we have leftover once all our other needs and wants are taken care of.

1- But if I give from what I have up front, there might not be enough for everything I want.

2 - ...Well....

1 - I know, I know: what I want and what I need are two different things.

2 - Couldn’t have said it better myself. But there is more to it.

1 - That bit about how "God is making all things new"?

2 - Yup! God surprises us along the way. We may have our doubts that there will be enough even to cover our needs.

1 - And then God calls to say, "Behold, I am making all things new."

2 - You got it.

1 - It’s a stretch, Dad.

2 - It’s called living by faith, stepping into God’s promise. Let’s pray.

1 - Trustworthy God, help us to step into your promise.

2 - You are making all things new.

1 - Right here. Right now.

2 - We believe in the One who is our Alpha and Omega, our beginning and our end.

1 - In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Benediction