Worship - July 15, 2001

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
July 15, 2001
Worship 10:00 am Sunday School for children 10:15 am

"... we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:9-10)

Call to Worship Psalm 25:1-10

*Hymn "Praise, I will praise you, Lord" 76

*Opening Prayer

Receiving new members

*Congregational Response 794

Hymn "God of our life" 486

Dedicating a child and his parents

*Congregational Response 791

Special Music "Your Whole Life Long" (real audio clip) Paris

Responding with our Tithes and Offerings
(children leave for Sunday School)

Offertory

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

Pastoral Prayer

Scripture Colossians 1:1-14

Message "that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord"

*Hymn "My hope is built on nothing less" 343

*Benediction

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Responding with our Tithes and Offerings

         Remember the story of "the good Samaritan?" (Luke 10:25-37) For those who truly hear it, this parable turns our world upside down, for the one who reaches out and loves his neighbor in that story is not the person everyone would expect to do so.
         Brothers and sisters, we live in a world that can be very dangerous, especially for children. It takes a tremendous amount of trust to raise a child - that there will be good Samaritans along the way who take seriously the call to "love your neighbor as yourself." We pray that we may grow to become such persons, even when those whom we are called to love are not as cute and lovable as the child we just dedicated.
         As you return your offering, pray your own simple prayer - perhaps something like, "Lord, help me to love you with all my heart, soul, strength, and mind; and to love my neighbor as myself. Amen." .. Will the ushers come forward to serve?