Worship Order for Sunday
|
Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
The Second Sunday of Lent
Beginning with Praise
(9:50 am)
"Pressing On"
(insert) Call to Worship Philippians 3:12, 15-21 *Hymn
"We
praise thee, O God"
99
Sharing
a joy, a concern, a word of testimony or praise
*Hymn
"Lead us, O Father"
359 *Postlude *Rise in body or in spirit #'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book Worship leaders - see basic guidelines |
|
Call to
Worship "Reaching out for Christ,
who has so wondrously reached out for us…
"Let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want
everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in
mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your
blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right
track, let’s stay on it. Stick with it, friends. Keep track of
those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal.
There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals,
and trying to get you to go along with them… All they want is easy
street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end
street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods;
belches are their praise; all they can think of is their
appetites.
"But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high
heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus
Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies
like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same
powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be,
under and around him. adapted
|
|
O God, who in Christ has so wondrously reached out for us, clear
our blurred vision this hour for the task of worship. In our
prayers and songs, our speaking and our listening, we are reaching
out to you. Speak to us in the multitude of ways you make yourself
known, and through your Spirit help us to know you a bit more
fully, even as we are fully known by you. Guide us this day in
setting our hearts and minds upon the goal of your kingdom come,
your will being done. Indeed, revive us again. Today! This we pray
as citizens of high heaven, in the name of our Savior, our Master,
Jesus Christ, who will transform us. Amen. |
|
Person being interviewed: Steve Schaefer - new member, retired city policeman, active grandfather, nudger of this congregation to be reaching out to our neighbors, man with a thousand ideas for outreach activities and energy to act upon them, recently trained to become a level II Certified Food Service Manager so that our church kitchen can be licensed to serve more people (thus necessitating changes)... A heart attack a few years back changed his life. Interviewer: Gail Hanna - deacon, nurse, active gandmother, always positive and encouraging member willing to help wherever needed, part of our congregational Wellness team. Purpose:
to talk about the changes happening in our outreach, specifically
the impact upon our church kitchen (but also on our congregation
as a whole). This interview is not so much about information (i.e.
we’re doing things different in the kitchen because we have to),
though this info need to be conveyed. The hopeful focus is more
upon transformation (i.e. God is leading us to reach out to people
in different ways, and change is needed in order for us to do so).
Yes, the health department has new requirements we need to meet,
and we need to be aware of them. However, God has new challenges
for us, and these require of us change. Steve has been acting as
one of God’s change agents among us. |
|
Change never comes easy, whether shifting from “the way we have
always done it” or adapting our lives to a different diet and more
exercise… What Jesus said and did long ago threatened the way
things were because he was an advocate of change – not change
merely for the sake of change, however, but transformation that
would lead people toward the kingdom of God instead of away.
In this morning’s gospel lesson, some Pharisees who were
friends of Jesus, came to him with a warning that others were
afraid of his message and wanted to do him harm. Instead of
running away from adversity, thus allowing things to continue in
the same old ways, Jesus stood up to those who would be his
enemies, and spoke truth to power. In this scripture we hear firm
resolve, as well as deep compassion. Listen.
As you return your offering, ponder what changes might need to
happen for you to live more fully and freely the life that God is
calling you to live. In what ways might you be resisting that
change? Amid your mulling it over, may you hear Jesus speak your
name, or the name of this congregation, with words that both
nurture and nudge, love and challenge. For now, let us be led in
giving by our ushers and our sister on the organ. |
|
written closer to the time (if not at the moment)
|
|
Press on, sisters and brothers. Brothers and sisters,
shine on! |
|
Interested in Sunday School? |
||
|
International Lesson: |
International Lesson: |
International Lesson: |
|
International Lesson: |
International Lesson: |
International Lesson: |
|
While one of our adult classes follows the International
lesson above (see
also), using |
For children and youth, we use the new |
|
|
©2012 Peter
L. Haynes
|
|||
|
return to |
return to |
return to |
return to |