Worship - December 31, 2006

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
December 31, 2006
Worship 10:00 am, Sunday School 11:10 am

The Sunday after Christmas

"...God said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Morning Praise (9:45 am)
Announcements
Prelude

*Call to Worship

*Hymn "Infant holy, infant lowly" 206

*Opening Prayer

Scripture 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

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

Hymn "Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming" 211

Prayer of the People 722

Scripture Acts 2:41-47

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Offertory (Please sign the attendance pad and pass it on)

*Response (vs. 3) "Love came down at Christmas" 208

*Dedication

Scripture 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Message How "Self" - Conscious Are You? Gary Miller

*Hymn "They’ll know we are Christians by our Love" (see insert)

*Benediction

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship

One - The Christmas birthing is over;

All - a new life has been released to the world.

One - Shepherds and magi have come and departed;

All - their news of wonder still resounds in our hearts.

One - Herod's soldiers have failed to thwart God's efforts;

All - our compassion is awakened, our yearnings for peace inflamed.

One - The Christmas birthing is over;

All - let its new life of love begin in us.

by Carol A. Wise
from For All Who Minister, ©1993, Brethren Press, p.38

Opening Prayer

Come, Child of Bethlehem,
         make your presence known to us
         and dwell in our midst as we worship.
Come, servant King,
         teach us the way of your kingdom
         and make our hearts your throne.
Come, Brother of all,
         show us the meaning of our humanity.
         Go before us and lead us to God;
         bring us to the fullness of your kingdom. AMEN

Hymnal #678
by Rebecca J. Slough,
copyright © 1992 The Hymnal Project

For Children

Prayer of the People

(Pause for silence after each intercession. Specific requests may be added)

Leader: Merciful God,
                       your love for us makes us bold to join our prayers
                       with all who need your help.
              We bring our prayers to you:

                       For those who suffer pain;
                       For those who struggle with limits of body and soul;
                       For those who are satisfied with less than the life
                                              for which they were created;
                       For those who know their guilt and their need
                                              but do not know of Jesus;
                       For those who know that they must shortly die
                                              and for those who cannot wait to die.

   ALL: Come, Redeeming God,
                       take all these sufferings upon yourself and transform them.
              Be merciful also to us, who offer these prayers,
                       so that we might enter the sufferings of others
                       and become agents of your healing love,
                       through Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

In this season surrounding the birth of Jesus, we recall as well the birth of his church. From the very beginning, sharing of resources has been the hallmark of the body of Christ. Those who had much gave sacrificially to those who had little. It wasn’t just their daily teaching, fellowship, praise, and prayer that attracted "the goodwill of all the people" around them, it was also their "glad and generous hearts" which touched others and led "day by day" to the increase in their numbers.

As we stand on the threshold of a brand new year, I invite you to give with "glad and generous hearts." This being the fifth Sunday of the month, would you also consider a special offering - on top of your regular contribution - to go toward our Deacon Fund, so that our Deacons can "distribute the proceeds ... as any (have) need"? As always, either designate this special offering on your regular envelope, or place it in one of those manilla envelopes in the pews, and write on it "Deacons."

Will the ushers come forward to receive our offerings. As they do, please sign and pass the attendance booklets.

Dedication

Lord God, we sometimes define a "token" as something small and insignificant, given as a "show" to cover our insincerity. Just now we pray for the courage to be sincere and authentic, that what we share might be a sign of the great, great love you are growing within us. Bless the gifts you are giving to us that we might overflow with "glad and generous hearts" that will deeply touch our fellowship and our neighbors. In Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Benediction

May the babe of the manger,
         turned Calvary's Savior,
                  leap from the pages of history
                           to live in your heart.

from For All Who Minister, ©1993, Brethren Press, p.123
originally from Banquet of Praise: A Book of Worship Resources