Worship Order for Sunday

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
July 15, 2012
Worship 10:00 am
 

      "He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves." (Mark 6:31-32)

  Beginning with Praise (9:50 am)       "This is the day the Lord has made"       642
  Announcements
  Prelude

  Responsive Call to Worship                                                                      662

*Hymn                           "When morning gilds the skies"                              644

*Opening Prayer (a-9)

  Scripture                                   Mark 6:30-46

  Message             "A Lonely Place ... a Crowded Shore"

  Hymn                                 "Where winds the road"                              (insert)

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

  Hymn                            "There is a place of quiet rest"                                 5

  Pastoral Prayer

  Scripture                                    John 6:35-40

  Invitation

  Hymn                                    (vs. 1-3) "I am the Bread of life"                             472

  Prayer of Thanksgiving

  Eating

  Hymn                                    (vs. 4-5) "I am the Bread of life"                             472

  Drinking

  Unison Scripture Reading               Psalm 23                                            814

  Responding with our Tithes and Offerings

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

*Hymn                            "Sent forth by God’s blessing"                              478

*Benediction

*Postlude


*Rise in body or in spirit

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship

Leader: Come, let us worship 
People: For we are the people of God's pasture.
Leader: Come, let us worship and bow down, 
People: For we are the sheep of God's hand.
Leader: Come, let us worship and bow down, 
               before the Lord, our Maker.
All: For the Lord is our God,
               and God desires our worship!

Hymnal #662
by Earle W. Fike, Jr., from We Gather Together,
©1979 Brethren Press.
    

Pastoral Prayer

 

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

 

Scripture
John 6:35-40

In the gospel of John, we find a somewhat different account of what happened beside the sea. John remembered a boy who shared his leaves and fish which then were multiplied to feed a multitude. However, in this telling, Jesus moved beyond filling bellies toward filling the minds, hearts, and spirits of those who gathered around him.
            On this day of rest, having turned aside together to this “desert” place, perhaps his words (remembered by John) can feed our minds, hearts, and spirits as we prepare to share communion. Listen:

35Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; 38for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 39And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.”   (John 6:35-40)

scripture text 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.
  

Invitation

In this desert moment, this wilderness space, we come away from the frantic pace of our daily work to rest a while with the One who continues to call out, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” … Be still my friends, and be open to receive the broken bread and the cup of communion. It is for you.

            Just as the manna in the wilderness was enough to feed the children of Israel for one day of their journey, so this tiny piece of bread is enough to nourish our spirits for this day of rest. Remember the body of Christ which was broken for all. Just as water flowed from the rock in the desert to sustain those who followed Moses, so this little cup of grape juice is enough to quench our thirsty spirits today. Remember the blood of Christ which was shed for us all.

            No matter who you are, come and receive. This time of rest, this place in the wilderness is for you. Jesus is here. The Spirit moves among us. Your Creator awaits. Let us pray.

  

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Gracious God,
            who provides rest to the weary,
            guidance to those who humbly seek,
            healing to those who are broken,
            freedom to those who are imprisoned,
            hope to those who have lost it,
            peace to the anxious heart,
            abundance to those who only see scarcity,
            life in a world preoccupied with death;

      God of grace and glory, we ask your blessing
                  upon this time and place,
                  upon this bread and cup,
                  upon this gathered body
                              - the church of Jesus Christ.

We are filled with gratitude
      for what you have done
            through the One who died for us.
We are touched by grace
      for what you continue to do
            within, around, beyond, and through us.
We rest in you, O Lord, Master of the Universe.
      In the name of Christ Jesus, we pray.
            Amen.

  

Eating

This bread is the communion of the body of Christ,
which was broken for all.
Take and eat.
  

Drinking 

This cup is the communion of the blood of Christ,
which was shed for all.
Take and drink.
  

Unison Scripture Reading
Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;
      he makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters;
      he restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
      for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
            I fear no evil;
      for thou art with me;
      thy rod and thy staff,
            they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me
            in the presence of my enemies;
      thou anointest my head with oil,
            my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
            all the days of my life;
      and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Hymnal #814
from the Revised Standard Version.
Copyright 1946, 1952, 1959, 1973
by the Division of Christian Education of
the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
  

Responding with our Tithes and Offerings

        Great, holy, and just Lord, you bless us so richly. Help us to better see your gifts, be they great or small. And grow in us a desire to pass on each gift, that like loaves and fishes, our baskets might overflow. May these offering plates be a sign of what you are doing in us. Bless them and bless us, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Dedication (off-e-1)
  

Benediction

May the re‑creative power,
        the Sabbath rest of the Lord
                 empower you this coming week
                          to live out your faith,
                                   rooted in God,
                                   balanced in the Holy Spirit, and
                                   sent forth in the name of Jesus Christ.
                                             To him be glory and honor. Amen.

  

 

Interested in Sunday School?
Below is a growing list of possible sites to visit. As you discover others, please let us know.

International Lesson:
Faith and Life Resources

Mennonite Publishing House

International Lesson:
Mennonite Weekly Review

(scroll down on left to "Sunday School lessons)

International Lesson:
Christian Standard
(one week ahead)

International Lesson:
Adult Bible Studies
from The United Methodist Publishing House
(click "supplemental resources" and "current events supplement" under both the "Student" and "Teacher" sections in the left hand column)

International Lesson:
International Bible Lesson
a weekly column by L.G. Parkhurst, Jr.
in "The Oklahoman" newspaper
also found
here

International Lesson:
Living Web Sunday School Project

While one of our adult classes follows the International lesson above (see also), using
A Guide for Biblical Studies,
published quarterly by our denomination,
another class often uses one of the
Good Ground series.

For children and youth, we use the new
Gather Round curriculum
(developed jointly by the Church of the Brethren and the Mennonite Church)

 

©2012 Peter L. Haynes
(unless otherwise stated, worship resources were written by him)

 

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