Worship - August 4, 2002

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
August 4, 2002
Worship 10:00 am Sunday School for all ages 11:15 am

"And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full." (Matthew 14:20)

Opening Prayer

Gathering Hymn (vs. 1-2) "Here in this place" 6

Call to Worship Isaiah 55:1-5
(Contemporary English Version)

Gathering Hymn (vs. 3-4) "Here in this place" 6

*Praise Hymn "Praise, my soul, the God of heaven!" 63

Quiet Moments for Confession

Scripture Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21
(Children grade 2 and younger then go to Sunday School)

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Offertory

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

Pastoral Prayer

Hymn "Break thou the bread of life" 360

Scripture Matthew 14:13-21

Message "And all ate ... and were filled"

*Hymn                            "Be present at our table, Lord"                             457
                                                             and
                                   "Praise God from whom" (Doxology)                       119A

*Benediction

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Opening Prayer

Bread of life,
         awaken in us that deep hunger
                  which only you can satisfy.
Living Water,
         flow through this gathering,
                  that we may drink
                           and our real thirst be quenched.
For you are the source of all we truly need,
                       our Creator,
                       our Redeemer,
                       our Strength today and always.
         This we pray as we open the door
                  to the One who stands and knocks.
                           Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Quiet Moments for Confession

I invite you just now to become quiet on the inside as well as the outside. That�s not always easy to do. Even when we are silent, many voices continue to speak out within us. In addition to the sound of all the details of daily life which we must attend to at some point, other concerns arise in the hectic chatter of our minds. Fear. Unresolved anger. Something we did (or failed to do) which continues to nag at us. Something someone else did to us which has not been dealt with. There are a multitude of voices within which can prevent us from hearing the One voice we truly need to hear, the One who says, "be still and know that I am God."
In these quiet moments, let go of these inner voices. Place them into the hands of the Lord, perhaps saying in prayer, "I am sorry for this, God. Help me to deal with it such that it will not get between you and me." This "letting go" is know as "confession," and "sin" is what gets in the way of our relationship with God. So, take this time of silence to confess to the Lord what you know needs to be confessed.

(after appropriate time has passed, read:) Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

We have offered our confession, and heard God�s Word of grace and mercy. We now have the opportunity to offer a portion of what God has richly provided to us. As you give, remember that everything you have belongs to the Lord, who has entrusted you with its care. Invite God into how you manage your wealth. When the plate passes you, ask God to help you this week to wisely - with justice and righteousness- make use of what you have received.
Will the ushers now come forward to serve?