Worship Order for Sunday

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
June 19, 2005
Worship 10:00 am

Father’s Day

      "Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife..." (Genesis 22:10)

  Morning Praise (9:45 am)
  Announcements
  Prelude

  Call to Worship                  Lamentations 3:22-26

*Hymn                                "Great is thy faithfulness"                                 327

*Opening Prayer

  A Word for Fathers (and everyone else) to remember        Romans 6:1-11

  For Children                 "Learning Morse Code"

  Lord’s Prayer

  A Gift for Fathers                     (Pre-schoolers then leave for playful worship)

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

  Hymn                           "Precious Lord, take my hand"                             575

  Pastoral Prayer

  Annual Conference Minute                                                       (our delegate)

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

  Offertory

  Scripture                                  Genesis 22:1-2

  Hymn                                      "Obey my voice"                                       163

  Message                       "On the edge of the knife"
                                                           (a father shares his story)

  Scripture                                Hebrews 11:17-19

*Hymn                            "The God of Abraham praise"                             162

*Benediction


#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Opening Prayer

         Your steadfast love never ceases, O Lord. Your mercies, indeed, never come to an end. Every morning is truly a resurrection day, as we follow your Son Jesus. May we discover anew your love and mercy, as we rise with Christ this hour. Through your Holy Spirit help us to make you our chosen portion, to hope in you, to wait for your salvation, to seek you - knowing in our souls the promise we have received that in seeking first your kingdom and your righteousness, all that we really need will be given to us. From the depths of our hearts we cry just now, beginning and ending our worship today with this affirmation - "Great is thy faithfulness!" AMEN!
   

For Children
"Learning Morse Code"

needed: some kind of Morse code transmission device

         A long time ago, my father and I took a trip together, just the two of us. Do you like doing special things with your Mom or Dad - just the two of you? It’s important to spend time together. Since today is Father’s Day, we’ll talk about Dads and children doing stuff together, though I know not every kid has a Dad in their life. I was blessed to have one.

         My father and I had attended a boy scout camp together down in Virginia, and after that was over the two of us just took off on our trip. We were headed to Kentucky. Dad had a conference he was attending there which had activities for children. I don’t remember a thing I did at that conference. I do remember the trip there and back. Why? Because along the way, as we headed down the road, Dad and I taught each other Morse Code.

         Do you know what Morse Code is? It’s a way people communicated long distance before there were telephones. It sounded like this (using a transmission device tap out the following:)

o= _ _ _
u= . . _
r= . _ .
  
  
  
  
f= . . _ .
a= . _
t= _
h= . . . .
e= .
r= . _ .
  
w= . _ _
h= . . . .
i= . .
c= _ . _ .
h= . . . .
  
  
a= . _
r= . _ .
t= _
  
  
  
  
i= . .
n= _ .
  
  
  
  
  
h= . . . .
e= .
a= . _
v= . . . _
e= .
n= _ .
  

         Doesn’t that sound cool? In Morse code, which was invented by a guy named Samuel Morse (which is why it’s called "Morse" code), each letter of the alphabet is represented by a sound, a combination of what we call a "dot" (a short sound) or a "dash" (a long sound). For instance, the letter "A" in Morse code is ( . _ ), a dot followed by a dash. "B" is ( _ . . . ), a dash followed by 3 dots. "C" is ( _ . _ . ), a dash then a dot then a dash then a dot. And so forth.

         In the years since, I’ve forgotten a lot of the Morse code my Dad and I learned that summer. However, I’ve never forgotten the trip, and the special time we spent together. By spending time with me, my Dad gave me a glimpse of my heavenly father, who loves me more than my Dad ever could - which was a lot!

         By the way, did any of you figure out what message I was tapping out earlier in Morse code? It was actually only the beginning of a message. Of course you didn’t, for you probably haven’t learned Morse code yet. Maybe that’s something you and your Dad could do sometime, learning Morse code or something else together. The "together" part is what’s most important.

         Anyway, let me tap out the beginning of that message again in Morse code, this time speaking each letter as I tap. You’re pretty smart kids. See if you put the letters together. Here goes (using a transmission device tap out the above message again).

         Excellent! You figured it out. It’s the beginning of the Lord’s prayer. Jesus taught his disciples that prayer, but it’s not a code. It’s just talking with God, our "heavenly Father." The important part of prayer is spending time together with God. Hey, let’s everyone pray it together just now.

         Okay, before you head back to your seats, or out to your pre-school class, would you help me pass these books out to all the Dads in our church? Thanks!
   

Pastoral Prayer

 

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

 

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

         "Fixing our eyes on Jesus." That’s the theme of this year’s Annual Conference. It is based upon the first few verses of the twelfth chapter of the book of Hebrews, which state: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God."

         The "cloud of witnesses" mentioned in those verses include another "pioneer" by the name of Abraham, who is sometimes referred to as the "father of faith." In a short while, we will hear from this father figure, which seems appropriate on a day set aside for honoring fathers. Oh, we know the fellow behind the costume is just Pastor Pete, but perhaps God can open our minds to imagine a moment in time this father Abraham is remembered in the Bible as having faced.

         In this story, "Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey," took his son Isaac with him, and set out to make an offering to God... Now is time in our worship for us to make an offering to God. We didn’t saddle our donkeys to get here, just our Fords, Chryslers, or Hondas. As you return your offering, and prepare your imagination to hear from father Abraham, fix your eyes upon Jesus. Abraham will not mention Christ in what he has to share, but Jesus is very much a part of this story. Pray that the Holy Spirit will help you see him.

Will the ushers now come forward to receive our offerings?
   

Benediction

 

(para traducir a español, presione la bandera de España)

 

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

"Jesus is all"
commentary on the
International Lesson

Living Web Sunday School Project

 

©2005 Peter L. Haynes
(unless otherwise stated, worship resources were written by him)

 

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