Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
May 4, 2008
Worship 10:00 am, Sunday School 11:10 am

National Senior High Youth Sunday

  Morning Praise (9:45 am)
  Announcements
  Prelude                         "Wonderful grace of Jesus" (150)

  Call to Worship

  Video                                     "Are You Here?"

  Invocation

  Song                                          "Who am I?"

  Children’s Story

  Scripture                              Colossians 3:12-15

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

  Prayer

  Creative Reading

  Song                         "You are my King" (Amazing Love)

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

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

  Skit                                            "Hot Head"

  Scripture                                  1 Peter 5:6-11

  Songs                                  "Trading my sorrows"
                                                    "Undignified"

*Benediction

*Postlude

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship

One: As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved. How shall we be recognized?

  All: By the manner of our living!

One: What shall you put on to show the manner of your living?

  All: We will clothe ourselves with compassion for others, kindness to all, humility, gentleness with each other and patience in all we do.

One: What is the most important to be sure we have?

  All: Over all these virtues we put on love, so we can truly be recognized By the Manner of Our Living.

by Patricia Ziegler, Sebring, FL
2008 National Youth Sunday resources
Church of the Brethren Youth and Young Adult Ministries Office
  

Invocation

         God of compassion, we come this day to worship you in humility and love. Hear our prayers, take joy in our praise, enjoy the music, and be glorified through our words praise and thanksgiving. We are your children, oh God, teach us, lead us, forgive us and use us we pray. Amen.

by Jerri Heiser Wenger, Petersburg, PA
2008 National Youth Sunday resources
Church of the Brethren Youth and Young Adult Ministries Office
  

For Children
On God's Team

THEME - We are members of God’s team
SCRIPTURE - Colossians 3:12-15
OBJECT - various items with sport team logos

         Good morning. I am glad to see all of you. I am glad you are part of our church family. This morning I have some things in the bag to show you. (Adapt these next few sentences to speak about your team items) First, I have a blue shirt. Who recognizes this design on the front the shirt? Yes—this is Joel’s cross country shirt. I have another shirt—this is Aaron’s tennis shirt. Here is a hat that says PSU. What does PSU stand for? Penn State—you are right. This is an official Penn State baseball hat. How about this? This is a Huntingdon Bearcats football. And, where is this sweatshirt from? You are right—Juniata College.

         Some of these clothing pieces are actually worn by the team. They dress alike to show they are members of the team. Hats or shirts tell us who members of a team are. Sometimes we wear clothing that shows we are fans of a certain team.

         There is another group or team that we are all members of and that is God’s team. We are all members of God’s family. God has a worldwide family. Skin color doesn’t matter, our language doesn’t matter, and what we wear doesn’t matter. We are all members of God’s team. Everyone is a member of God’s worldwide family. Even someone you may not like very well is a member of God’s family.

         We don’t wear something special to show we are a member of God’s team. But, our actions show that we are a member. Each day do things that God would want you to do. Be kind and helpful. Care for one another. Show love to other people. Your actions can show that you are a member of God’s team. When we show love, patience and kindness, we are sharing God’s love.

         The early Brethren who lived many, many years ago taught us to live our lives carefully and to be thoughtful of other people. The early Brethren were very careful to live their lives like Jesus wanted them to live.

         There is a phrase that many Brethren people think about. It says, “Be known by the manner of your living.” That means that we don’t need a shirt or a hat to let people know we are followers of God; our actions of love and kindness and other good actions will let others see God’s love.

Let’s pray:
         Dear God, We are glad we are that we can be a member of your team. Thanks for you love and being with us always. Amen.

by Donna Rhodes, Huntingdon, PA
2008 National Youth Sunday resources
Church of the Brethren Youth and Young Adult Ministries Office
  

Prayer

         Dear Heavenly Father, we gather here today, as Your chosen people. What a blessing it is to be Yours, however, we do not deserve it. But you love us and care for us. Thank you. We pray that we can work and live as one people, Father, a kind, humble, and compassionate people. Allow us to love one another, Lord. As hard as it may be, through troubling times, times of sorrow and jubilation, love will get us through. We pray that through these virtues that others will recognize us by the manner of our living, and that we may be lights for You in this world of darkness. In you Holy, matchless, and precious name, Amen!

by Seth Keller, Dover, PA
2008 National Youth Sunday resources
Church of the Brethren Youth and Young Adult Ministries Office
  

Creative Reading
Time of Confession using the Text: Colossians 3. 12-15

Song: Verse one and chorus of "If we are the Body" by Mark Hull

One Voice: So, Chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you:

Choir of voices or single voice from different parts of the sanctuary:
            Front: Compassion
            Back: Kindness,
            Left: Humility
            Right: Quiet strength
            Right,left,front,back: Discipline

One Voice: Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put one, wear love. It’s your basic, all purpose garment. Never be without it.

Song: Verse two and chorus of “If we are the Body” by Mark Hull
(If you have CCLI this should cover this song’s use)

One Voice: Let the peace of Christ keep you in Tune with each other, instep with each other.

Right and left voices: Let the peace of Christ keep you in Tune with each other, instep with each other.

Front and back: Let the peace of Christ keep you in Tune with each other, instep with each other.

Youth Chorus: If we are the Body why aren’t his arms reaching?
                         If we are the body why aren’t his hands healing?
                         If we are the body why isn’t his word teaching?
                         If we are the body why aren’t his feet going?
                         If we are the body why aren’t we showing them there is a way?

One Voice: In the silence we ask you to share with God, why you personally find it hard to “dress in the wardrobe of love exhibiting Compassion, Kindness, Humility, Quiet strength, and discipline?”

SILENCE (at least one minute)

Voice Continues: God hears those things you hold dear in your hearts. May God’s grace empower you top be the body of Christ in the world in which you live.

by Sara Haldeman-Scarr, San Diego, CA
2008 National Youth Sunday resources
Church of the Brethren Youth and Young Adult Ministries Office
  

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Invitation to Giving

         This is inventory time. You have spent money to get here, to buy new clothes, to buy food, to buy things to have fun and entertainment. Now comes the time to spend for God.
         The fun of giving is a sign of life. A fruit tree gives fruit and we know it is alive. When it no longer gives fruit, we know the tree is really no longer alive. The person who spends only for self is no longer alive with God’s love.
         To give is to live. To give shows the manner of our living.

Prayer of Blessing - In a moment of silence, take inventory.

         Just as Jesus asked His first disciples, He asks us just now, “How much bread do you have?” God is able to multiply beyond what we can imagine … when we give what we have. Thank you, God, for trusting us with so great a mission.
         We give now in the name and after the manner of Jesus who, while on earth was known by His giving. And we ask that You multiply our gifts, even as You did centuries ago. Amen.

by Emily Mumma, Lorida, FL
2008 National Youth Sunday resources
Church of the Brethren Youth and Young Adult Ministries Office
  

Benediction

Leave with the peace of Christ to live this day and this week:
         - Tomorrow thank God who chose you as His people.
         - In the middle of the week encourage each other
                 and let the words of Christ guide your lives.
         - As the week ends care for each other and forgive one another.
         - And then let’s gather again next Sunday to sing and praise
                 our Lord Jesus Christ for His abounding love and eternal salvation,
                 paid with a price on that rugged cross of Calvary.
Now get out of here because the world needs you to show everyone Jesus and the way to Heaven. Amen.

by Jonathan Bream, Wellsville, PA
2008 National Youth Sunday resources
Church of the Brethren Youth and Young Adult Ministries Office