Worship - August 6, 2006

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
August 6, 2006
Worship 10:00 am, Sunday School 11:10 am

Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, "As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die..." (2 Samuel 12:5)

Morning Praise (9:45 am)
Announcements
Prelude

Call to Worship (back of bulletin)

*Hymn "All praise to our redeeming Lord" 21

*Opening Prayer

Scripture John 6:24-35

For Children "Hungry"

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Offertory

Responsive Confession 690

*Hymn "Oh, how wondrous the grace" 147
(Our younger children then leave for Sunday School)

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

Song "Peace, be still, and know that I am God" (see insert)

Pastoral Prayer

Scripture 2 Samuel 11:26-12:1a

Message "Anger greatly kindled"

*Hymn "For the healing of the nations" 367

*Benediction

*Postlude

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship

One: We are gathered together as one body.

All: One body in Christ!

One: Like pieces of a quilt, we are each unique and purposeful,

All: Joined as one through grace-filled stitches, carefully crafted

One: By the One who made and loves us.

All: We are joined as one body because of the love we share in Christ Jesus.

One: Our differing gifts, skills and insights are gifts from God

All: For the purpose of building up Christ's church.

One: So we shall learn of our differences—even disagree.

All: But the love we share in Christ Jesus will keep us side by side.

One: Never boastful nor envious, we will honor and build each other up,

All: Because we are bound together through our love of Jesus Christ. So be it!

Mary Cline Detrick, pastor Daleville (VA) Church of the Brethren
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word Series"

Opening Prayer
(this and the Call to Worship both refer to Ephesians 4:1-16)

One body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all, take this patchwork collection of persons and quilt together your church. Like old pieces of cloth, take these words and songs and prayers in this ‘order of worship,’ take our thoughts and inner hungers, and join them all together into a new and living fabric - the purpose of which is to cover and color your world (or at least our corner of it) with grace and love. In Christ. Amen.

For Children
"Hungry"

to be adapted from "Hungry for Love" p. 94
Sitting on the Rainbow, by Ruth Gilmore

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

         "Your eyes were bigger than your stomach," a parent says when a plate of food sits partly uneaten before a child who ordered it in a restaurant. Nearby, another diner sits engorged and almost unable to move, thinking, "I can’t believe I ate it all..." We often don’t know our appetites. We also can mix up our hungers - filling our tummies when it’s our heart or spirit that is empty.
         In the wilderness, the Lord fed the children of Israel every morning with manna from heaven, which was just enough for one day’s sustenance, so that the people might learn to depend upon God one step / one day at a time. Beside the sea, Jesus filled the stomachs of the surrounding crowd with bread, but he also fed their hearts, minds, and spirits with his words and his very presence. He became the bread, broken and shared.
         In worship, we pay attention to our deeper hungers. Confession is the task of trying to straighten out the mess inside, with all our hungers mixed up demanding us to act upon them. We remember that God provides us our daily manna as we journey through our own wilderness. "I am the bread of life," Jesus reminds us, step by step, along the way. His sharing becomes our sharing. As he was broken and given, so we tear off a bit of what we have been given and freely give ourselves away.
         As the plates are passed, think of your offering as bread freely given. The desire to "share," by the way, is itself a deep hunger we all have. As you give, prepare to make your confession, to let go of lesser things, and thus make a straight path in your life today for the Lord to enter. Ushers, would you help us to take the first step?

Responsive Confession

Leader: Have mercy on us, O God,
                     according to your unfailing love;
People: Blot out all our transgressions,
                     according to your great compassion;
Leader: Wash away all our iniquities
                     and cleanse us from our sin.
People: For we know our transgressions,
                     and our sin is always before us.
Leader: We have sinned against you
                     and have done what is evil in your sight.
    ALL: as a sacrifice we bring our broken and contrite hearts.

(pause for silence)

Leader: God will create in each of us a pure heart.
             God will not take the Holy Spirit form us.
             God will restore to us the joy of salvation
                     and grant us willing spirits to sustain us.
    ALL: Praise to the God of mercy who loves and forgives us.

Pastoral Prayer

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

Benediction