Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
September 11, 2011
Worship 10:00 am              Sunday School 11:10am
 

  Beginning with Praise (9:50 am)                  "We gather together"                    17
  Announcements
  Prelude

  Responsive Call to Worship                       Psalm 103:1-18                       822

*Hymn                             "O bless the Lord, my soul"                                   80

*Opening Prayer                                                                               John Ness

  Scripture                                Genesis 50:15-21

  Sharing a joy, a concern, a word of testimony or praise
                                 (please be brief, and aware of God's listening presence)

  Prayer of the People

  Gospel                                  Matthew 18:21-35

  For Children                   "Seventy times seven"                 Georgia Smith

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

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

  Litany                                                                                      back of bulletin

  Hymn                              "Help us to help each other"                              362

  Scripture                                       Psalm 11

  Message                        "The Song of the Strong"
                                               Rev. Tim Bonarrigo

*Hymn                            "A mighty fortress is our God"                              165

*Benediction

*Postlude

*Rise in body or in spirit

Pastor Peter is away at a district youth beach retreat

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Responsive Call to Worship
Psalm 103:1-18

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
         and all that is within me,
         bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
         and do not forget all his benefits - 
who forgives all your iniquity,
         who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the Pit,
         who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good as long as you live
         so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The Lord works vindication
         and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
         his acts to the people of Israel.
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
         slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always accuse,
         nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
         nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
         so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
         so far he removes our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion for his children,
         so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
For he knows how we were made;
         he remembers that we are dust.
As for mortals, their days are like grass;
         they flourish like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
         and its place knows it no more.
But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
         on those who fear him,
         and his righteousness to children's children,
to those who keep his covenant
         and remember to do his commandments.

Hymnal #822 - from the New Revised Standard Version,
copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
  

Opening Prayer

            Remembering and envisioning God, we reflect this day on the past decade of tragedy. We mourn the dead, both on our soil and in lands we have never seen. Some are angry, some are hurt; all are broken. Guide us on the journey of Jesus, reminding us to discern the difference between worldly feelings of retribution and our call to faithful response. Teach us to be a people of peace in a world of violence, responding to injustice with the same spirit and purpose of Jesus. Color our world with the vision of divine mercy that your kingdom of wholeness may be on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

by Christopher Montgomery
from "The way of peace: Resources for
the 10th anniversary of September 11"
  

Prayer of the People

For the following time of prayer, whenever you hear me say, “hear our prayer,” please respond as it is written in your bulletin, “Yes, Lord, hear our prayer.” Let’s begin with a few moments of quiet listening to God’s Spirit and simply resting in the presence of the Lord.

 -Silence-

God of ages past, you have watched through time as those created in your image seek self destruction. In these days of mourning, heal us of our desire for violent solutions. Transform us into people of your peace, seeking the wholeness and welfare of all people with our actions and speaking your love with our words. For those places in your creation, both near and far, where violent words and deeds define the times, hear our prayer…

People: Yes, Lord, hear our prayer.

God of an uncertain present, you watch as we seek security in so many things yet fail to look for you in the changes and people around us. Open our hearts and our minds to the new ways you are at work around us, and quicken our feet to join in your mission. As we seek after your presence, we hold before you a hurting world, struck by natural disasters and those of our own willing. For us as your people and the needs of this world: hear our prayer…

People: Yes, Lord, hear our prayer.

God of the coming Kingdom, you draw us into the vision of the lion sleeping next to the lamb. May we, as your Kingdom’s seeds on earth, bear the fruit of that vision. May our words be full of your truth and our deeds bathed in your love, for in our witness the world catches glimpses of you and your Peaceable Kingdom. For those moments today and to come, when we are blessed to embody your vision: hear our prayer…

People: Yes, Lord, hear our prayer.

God of all life, it is in you that we live, move, and have our being. For this gift we give you thanks, knowing that our words and deeds reveal you to the world around us. May we, your people, be witnesses to the humbled and risen Christ now and in the days to come. And all God’s people say, “Amen.”

by Josh Brockway
from "The way of peace: Resources for
the 10th anniversary of September 11"
  

For Children
"Seventy times seven"

            This is a copyrighted resource, so it can't be printed here. You can find it on pages 104-105 of  Saving the Ants (and 58 Other Kids Sermons from the Gospel of Matthew), by Ruth Gilmore.

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

“Forgive us our sins,” we pray, “as we forgive those who sin against us.” Then we add, as Jesus taught, “lead us not into temptation” – the temptation, that is, “to succumb to the trial,” to give in and give up when the going gets rough, to stop living out of God’s grace when we face into evil. The first followers of Jesus knew all about such struggles. Do we? Please pray with me.

God of Abraham: You have created all peoples from dust; even still we seek to violently return your creation to that same dust in your name. Forgive us for the violence we commit in both word and deed. Embolden us as your people, secure in the hope of your kingdom of peace, that we may seek and witness to ways that make for peace and life. In the name of the One who witnessed to your way, even to death, Jesus the risen Christ. Amen.

Ushers, you come and receive our offerings. As you pass the plates, would you sign the attendance pads on the center aisle side of each pew? Thank you.

prayer by Josh Brockway
from "The way of peace: Resources for
the 10th anniversary of September 11"
  

Litany
based on Romans 14:1-12

One:     There is so much in life that divides us, and there are so many opportunities for us to argue.

All:      We do not live to ourselves.

One:     We hold to our opinions tightly, carrying them through life even unto death.

All:      We do not die to ourselves.

One:     One person may believe in eating anything.

All:      If we live, we live to the Lord.

One:     While another might abstain from certain foods.

All:      If we die, we die to the Lord.

One:     One person believes some days are holier than others.

All:      Observe them in honor of the Lord.

One:     While another thinks all days are alike.

All:      Let all be fully convinced in their own minds.

One:     At worst, our opinions lead us to judge a brother.

All:      We will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

One:     Because of our differences we despise a sister.

All:      We will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

One:     Each of us is accountable to God.

All:      Every knee shall bow.

One:     We do not live to ourselves, but to the Lord.

All:      Every tongue shall give praise to God. We are the Lord's.

by Joel E. Ballew, pastor
Lebanon Church of the Brethren Mount Sidney, Virginia
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word Series"
   

Benediction

to be given by the guest preacher