Worship - February 11, 2006

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
February 11, 2007
Worship 10:00 am, Sunday School 11:10 am

"Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream..." (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Morning Praise (9:45 am)
Announcements
Prelude

*Following in God’s way 811

*Hymn "Thou true Vine, that heals" 373

*Opening Prayer

Trusting in the Lord Jeremiah 17:5-10

Bell Ringers "Into my Heart" Clarke

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

Wellness moment

Hymn "God, who touches earth" 511
(Our younger children leave for bell practice & Sunday School)

Pastoral Prayer

A word for disciples Luke 6:17-26

Message "Planted and yielding fruit"

Welcome and Vows

Responding with our Tithes and Offerings

Offertory

(Please sign the attendance pad and pass it on)

*Hymn "Lord, I want to be a Christian" 444

*Dedication

Hymn (if needed) "Come, Holy Spirit, Dove Divine" 445

Baptism

*Hymn "I know that my Redeemer lives" 279

*Benediction

*Postlude

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Following in God's way
Psalm 1 (read in unison)

Blessed are those
      who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
            or take the path that sinners tread,
            or sit in the seat of scoffers;
      but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
            and on his law they meditate day and night.
They are like trees planted by streams of water,
      which yield their fruit in its season,
      and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.

The wicked are not so,
      but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
            nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
      for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
            but the way of the wicked will perish.

Hymnal #811
New Revised Standard Version
vs. 1a is from Revised Standard Version

Opening Prayer

Creator God, we praise you and we adore you. Our landscape testifies to the beauty of creation, where trees clothed in snow now will later blossom and bear fruit by drawing their nourishment through their roots, especially if they are planted near your source of water. Our gathering here for worship testifies to the wonder of your care for us, as you enable our lives to be nourished with Jesus - Life of the world. You also empower us to blossom and to bear fruit through the gift of your Holy Spirit. Even in the most arid times of our lives we are strengthened by the knowledge of your healing presence and your creative power growing and blossoming within us. May this time of worship ground us even deeper in your life and love, O God, in Jesus’ name. Amen

adapted from prayer written by Moira B. Laidlaw
in Liturgies Online

Wellness Moment

Our Wellness Team has chosen a focus for each month of the year. On February's theme of Caring for our Heart, Gail Hanna (a cardiac nurse), will share some wellness insights every week. A challenge for the congregation this month is to collectively "walk" the distance between where Gail and another deacon grew up on the lower eastern shore of Maryland, to the the farm where another deacon grew up in Garrett County on Maryland's far western border. Toward tabulating this figurative walk across our state, pedometers have been made available, and folks are invited to share their distances every week. Exercise builds up the heart, one of the important ways by which we can care for this organ given us by our Creator.

Pastoral Prayer

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

Welcome and vows

(After candidate is introduced to the congregation by a member)

Today you are being received into this community of faith and into the Church of the Brethren. As part of the whole church of Jesus Christ, we offer you our rich heritage and invite you to share fully in our life and mission.
As you are received into the Long Green Valley Church, we intend to be a true family of faith to you. We commit ourselves to be for you a loving fellowship, to be a means of grace in your life, and to offer opportunities for worship, study, and service. One of the happiest times in our life as a church is when new people choose to become members. We welcome you with joy.

Do you believe that Jesus is God's Son and do you receive and trust him as your Savior and Lord? (I do.)

Will you turn away from all sin and will you endeavor by God's grace to live according to the example and teachings of Jesus? (I will.)

Will you be loyal to the church, upholding it by your prayers and your presence, your substance and your service? (I will.)

Congregation: With joy we receive you as part of thus congregation. With you we renew and reaffirm our vows of faith. We promise to surround you with the love and encouragement that will enable you to grow strong in compassion, vigorous in service, and sure in the way of Christ.

(leave to prepare for baptism)

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Listen to what the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:12-20. I’ll be reading from the ‘Laughing Bird Version,’ that vivid Australian paraphrase we’ve used before. Be ready to respond to this good news with more than just what you put in the plate. Plant yourself beside this stream and send your roots deep! Listen:

The message that we preached was that Christ is alive - risen from the dead - and you became Christians when you heard that message. So how come some of you are now saying that the dead won’t be raised to life? If the dead are not raised to life, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then he is still dead in his grave. And if that were the case, then our preaching is a waste of breathe and your faith is not worth a zack. Actually, it would be worse than that. We’d be guilty of misleading people about God - of telling outright lies - because we have been pushing the story that God raised Christ from the dead, and if it’s not true that the dead are raised then that story is a total fabrication.

Let’s face it: if God does not raise the dead, then Christ has not been raised. There is no question that he was dead, so if Christ has not been raised then he’s not alive now. And if he’s not alive now then your faith is an exercise in futility and every black mark that’s ever gone against your name still stands. What’s more, all those who died trusting in Christ, were just clutching at straws and they’ve had the gong. If faith in Christ means nothing more than keeping yourself nice until you die, then we are about the most pathetic bunch of no-hopers on the face of the planet.

But the fact of the matter is that Christ has been raised from the dead and is more alive than ever. And he’s just the first. Now that he’s been raised you can rest assured that there are plenty more to come!

Ushers?

Dedication

In my heart,
         not just the organ that circulates blood throughout this body you gave me,
but in my heart,
         the center of who I am as the person you created me to be,
         the home of my emotions as well as the seat of my conscience and will,
                  out of which I make decisions that affect the course of my life;
In my heart I want to be a Christian, Lord.
         May your love and holiness grow deep in me,
                  so that, like a tree planted by living water, I might bear fruit.

We dedicate these offerings as a symbol of what you are doing within us, O Lord.
In Christ we pray. Amen.

*Baptism*
___________, upon your confession of faith made before God and these people, you are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
	As each name of the Trinity is spoken, the minister shall immerse the candidate forward, pushing the head gently and fully into the water. Then, laying both hands upon the head of the kneeling person, the minister shall pray:
O God, we are thankful for the commitment made today by (name) May (she/he) experience your forgiveness, acceptance, and peace. Send your Holy Spirit upon (her/him) to guide and to empower. Enable (her/him) to walk in newness of life, using (her/his) gifts in praise to you and in service to others. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
	Then the minister shall help the baptized person rise, extend the hand of Christian fellowship, speak a word of blessing, and assist the person in leaving the water.
from *For All Who Minister*, ©1993, Brethren Press, p.137-138.

Benediction

Go now, with your trust in the Lord.
Do not be influenced by the ways of sinners and cynics,
but delight in the Lord’s teaching
and study it night and day.
Rejoice in your union with Christ
even when people reject you for it.

And may God raise you to new life with Christ.
May Christ Jesus heal you of all that troubles you.
And may the Holy Spirit nourish you from the deep
........and keep you fruitful in all you do.