Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
December 2, 2012
Worship 10:00 am          Sunday School 11:10am

First Sunday of Advent 

  Beginning with Praise (9:50 am)          "Lo, how a rose e’er blooming"          211
  Announcements
  Prelude                            "Shepherd's Sunday Song"                         Kreutzer

  Call to Worship                                                               (back of the bulletin)

*Hymn                            "O come, O come, Immanuel"                             172

*Opening Prayer

  Scripture                                Jeremiah 33:14-16             (from The Message)

  For Children             "Fresh from the David-Tree"

  Song                                     "O Christmas Tree"                                 (insert)

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

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

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

  Praying Psalm 25:1-10 in unison                                   (pew Bibles page 476)

  Hymn                         (vs. 3) "O little town of Bethlehem"                           191

  Pastoral Prayer

  Gospel                                     Luke 21:25-36

  Message         Reclaiming “Prophecy” & “Repentance” (includes mp3)

*Hymn                            "Oh, how shall I receive thee"                              182

*Benediction

*Postlude                            "Musicalisch Handbuch"                     arr. Havergal

*Rise in body or in spirit

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Read at end of announcements before Prelude:

            Have you ever thought about the power of a promise? When someone makes a promise to you, do you anticipate how they will keep it? A promise has the power to set our mood. In Luke 2:25-35, Simeon was a righteous man living in anticipation of a promise. The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would see the Lord's Christ, the Messiah. And God fulfilled his gracious promise to Simeon.

(this, the Call to Worship & the Opening Prayer
are on the back of the bulletin)
by Sandi Evans Rogers, associate pastor
Frederick (MD) Church of the Brethren
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word Series"
  

Call to Worship

One:     As we remember the promises the Lord made to his children, to Simeon, and to us, may we live in anticipation of their fulfillment.

All:      The days are coming ... a promise to fulfill.

One:     May we allow God's gracious and hopeful promise to set the mood for our journey through Advent.

All:      The days are coming ... a promise to fulfill.

One:     May the light of this candle remind us of a promise, a promise fulfilled in Christ Jesus alone.

As we light the first Advent candles, please rise in body or spirit and sing "O come, O come, Immanuel"                                                    #172 (wait until they begin singing, then light the candle in the front)

words to the Call to Worship written by Sandi Evans Rogers, associate pastor Frederick (MD) Church of the Brethren Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word Series"

Opening Prayer

Jesus, in a world filled with broken promises, in a world laden with disappointments, may we always remember that in you we find our hope fulfilled. As we anticipate all that God has for us this season, all that God has graciously promised, may we recognize that only through you will God's promises be fulfilled in us. Amen.

by Sandi Evans Rogers, associate pastor
Frederick (MD) Church of the Brethren
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word Series"
  

For Children
"Fresh from the David-Tree"
based upon Jeremiah 33:14-16 (from The Message)

Does your family put up a Christmas tree? Is it up yet? (talk about what their family traditions are concerning the tree – artificial, bought from a lot, or a tree farm, etc.)  In my family, every year we went out together to find a tree at a place where they grow them. It always seemed like we looked at every tree on the farm in search of the perfect one. When we all agreed on the best, the deciding vote usually being that of my children’s mother, I’d get down on the ground with a saw and cut it. Then we’d drag it back to the car and bring it home. What we left behind was a stump, like this – tho’ maybe not quite this wide.

We just listened to what the prophet Jeremiah long ago had to say to people who felt like this stump. Some bad things had happened to them. It was like the beautiful tree above them had been cut down, and all that was left was a stump. But God had in mind something different, because the Lord really cared about these people. Out of this stump, Jeremiah promised, would grow something green and new. He was thinking about the family of David, who had been king many years before.

David’s children and grandchildren and great grandchildren also had all been kings after David. Some of them didn’t do a very good job, which is what led to the “David-Tree” (this family of kings) to be cut down. And when the “David-Tree” was cut down, the whole nation was cut down. But looking at that rotting, old stump, Jeremiah promised that a new branch would grow from it. A new tree, fresh and green and alive, was coming. A new leader would rise up to help God’s people.

            When we hear what Jeremiah said, we think of someone whose birthday we will celebrate in 23 days. Who is that? Of course, Jesus. He was a descendent of David. We believe that Jesus was the fresh and true shoot sprout from the “David-Tree” of whom Jeremiah promised. He set things right long ago. He still makes things right today, and he will do so in the future. That is our hope as followers of Jesus, even during those times when we feel like a stump.

            As part of our worship this morning, I want you to help me bring in a Christmas tree. This one, however, is not artificial, nor is it one that has been cut down. We will place it on this stump. We will add decorations to it the next three Sundays of Advent during our children’s time. When you look at this “living” Christmas tree, I want you to think of the “David-Tree” that had been cut down and the promise of God that a new branch would grow from the stump. Let’s go to the back of the sanctuary now and bring in this new tree, while the adults sing God a song ("O Christmas Tree").

(series continued next week)
  

O Christmas Tree

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
How steadfast are your branches! (repeat)
Your boughs are green in summer's clime
And through the snows of wintertime.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
How steadfast are your branches!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your boughs can teach a lesson (repeat)
That constant faith and hope sublime
Lend strength and comfort through all time.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your boughs can teach a lesson.

listen to a midi file of the music
  

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

As you prepare to return your offering, may these words of gratitude and blessing from the apostle Paul add color to your giving. Listen.

⁹How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? ¹⁰Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.

¹¹Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. ¹²And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. ¹³And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Ushers, please receive what we have to give.

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 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.
  

Praying Psalm 25:1-10 in unison
(pew Bibles page 476)

¹ To thee, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
² O my God, in thee I trust,
      let me not be put to shame;
      let not my enemies exult over me.
³ Yea, let none that wait for thee be
            put to shame;
      let them be ashamed who are
            wantonly treacherous.

⁴ Make me to know thy ways, O LORD;
      teach me thy paths.
⁵ Lead me in thy truth, and teach me,
      for thou art the God of my salvation;
      for thee I wait all the day long.

⁶ Be mindful of thy mercy, O LORD,
            and of thy steadfast love,
      for they have been from of old.
⁷ Remember not the sins of my youth,
            or my transgressions;
      according to thy steadfast love
            remember me,
      for thy goodness' sake, O LORD!

⁸ Good and upright is the LORD;
      therefore he instructs sinners
            in the way.
⁹ He leads the humble in what is right,
      and teaches the humble his way.
¹⁰ All the paths of the LORD are steadfast
            love and faithfulness,
      for those who keep his covenant and
            his testimonies.

Revised Standard Version
copyright ©1952 [2nd edition, 1971]
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.
  

Pastoral Prayer

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

Benediction

“For surely I know the plans I have for you,
                  says the Lord,
      plans for your welfare and not for harm,
            to give you a future with hope.” *

Turn toward and welcome those
      passionate words of prophecy from Jeremiah
            into your world this new season and year,
                  and may the Lord add living color to your life.

*Jeremiah 29:11 is taken 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.