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Worship Order for
Sunday
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Opening Prayer
Grant, O God,
that thinking, we may think your thoughts; that speaking, we may
speak your word; that singing, we may sing to your praise; that
hearing, we may hear your truth; and that willing, we may make
your will our own, so that walking forward at the end of our
worship, we may walk in your love and your peace, and departing
from one another, not depart from you. Through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
by Roy Pearson (adapted)
from Hear Our Prayer
©1961, McGraw-Hill, Inc.
in For all Who Minister, p. 85
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Responsive Scripture Reading
(Psalm
19:7-11)
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the
soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
making wise the
simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the
heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear,
enlightening the
eyes;
the fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
and righteous
altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine
gold;
sweeter also than honey,
and drippings of
the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them
there is great reward.
(Hymnal #813)
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Celebrating and
Dedicating
our Christian Education Ministry
- With Our Children
(Pastor Pete)
I need to read
some words from the Bible right now, but I’m lost. I don’t
know where to look. Can one of you help me find these words? I
know that they are in a book called Deuteronomy. Where is that?
There it is! Thank you for helping me. Oh, dear, that’s not the
page with the words I want. I think I’m looking for ... the
seventh... no, the fifth... no, I think it was the sixth chapter
of the book of Deuteronomy. Where is that? Do any of you know how
to find that? You are such a big help! How would I do this without
you? Now, I think I’m looking for the fourth verse of that
chapter. Can you find the fourth verse? Excellent! Hey, that wasn’t
very hard, was it?!
Knowing how and
where to look for things in the Bible is pretty important. That is
one of the things your teachers help you with in Sunday School.
You were able to help me just now because someone has already
helped you - and you all are such good learners. Of course, Sunday
School involves more than just knowing how and where to look for
"stuff" in the Bible. But that is an important
foundation for all the other things you will learn.
It is our hope
and prayer that you will explore what God says in this book - like
adventurers who head out into the wilderness to discover new
worlds, to climb mountains, to cross mighty rivers. You see, this
is an exciting resource that God has given us. And your Sunday
School teachers are ready to head out with you to explore it, to
journey with you on that fantastic adventure called
"faith." Are you ready to go? A whole new year of Sunday
School starts this morning.
Oh, yes, about
those words I wanted to find in the book of Deuteronomy - I need
some more help. Would one of you like to read these words out
loud, so that everyone might be able to hear them? Thank you for
volunteering. Please read verses 4-9, can you find them? Good!
Here is a microphone. Now, after you finish, I want you all to sit
quietly with me and listen while some people from the Sunday School
committee speak. Can you do that? Great. Okay, let’s listen to
what God has to say.
(A child then reads Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
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- With our teachers
(2 members of the SS committee)
Those words
from Deuteronomy are important to us all. Jesus himself repeated
them. The responsibility for growing in the faith lies upon each
one of us. Nobody learns for us. Growth comes as we allow God to
speak to us every day - as we talk, as we walk, as we lie down, as
we rise. We grow as we allow God’s Word to enfold us and mold us
to be the glasses through which we see our world, to be the
foundation upon which we build our lives.
This is the goal
of Christian Education - that each of us might discover God at
work in us, and grow continually in His grace and truth until that
day when this earthly adventure of faith ends, and an even greater
adventure begins.
We have called
certain individuals to the great task of teaching. The names I
will read have said "yes" to teaching for the next three
months. That’s how we organize the tasks here - so that many
persons will have the opportunity to teach for shorter amounts of
time. As your name is read, please stand.
With the
three and four-year-old preschoolers - ______ ________
With those in
Kindergarten through the second grade - ______ ________
With the bigger
kids in grades three through five - ______ ________
With the Middle
School Youth - ______ ________
With the Senior
High Youth - ______ ________
With the adults
in the "Good Ground" class - ______ ________
With the
International lesson adult class - ______ ________
(He’s the September teacher - others who have agreed to help
lead this team-taught class, would you also stand?)
With those
exploring the possibility of church membership - Pastor Pere
To all of you who have said "yes, I will
teach,"
Will you endeavor
with God’s help, to faithfully fulfill the responsibility to which
you are called, studying the Bible lesson ahead of time each week,
listening for God to speak through it and through your daily
devotions, preparing thoroughly for the journey upon which you are
leading others, and being here on Sunday - prompt and ready?
If so, say "With God’s help, I will."
Will you seek to lead these growing persons - the young and the
not-so-young - who are entrusted into your care, that they might
discover the Good News that the Lord has for each one of them, and
that together we might become all that God created us to be?
If so, say "With God’s help, I will."
To all of you who are ready for the adventure of
being a learner,
no matter what age you are.
If you plan on attending Sunday School, would you stand.
As a child of God,
will you strive to discover more about what the Lord might be doing
with you, in you, and through you, by faithfully listening to God in
your Bible, by keeping this Word in your heart and allowing it to
affect how you think and what you do, by praying every day, and by
coming to church on Sunday and joining in this Sunday School
adventure of faith?
If so, say "With God’s help, I will."
Let’s pray,
Lord, today is special. We stand on the frontier of a whole new year
of learning. Help us to follow the "pioneer of our
salvation," Jesus Christ. Walk with us, as you have promised,
through your Holy Spirit - giving us strength for the journey. May
your Word be our daily bread.
Bless the
adventure. Bless those who point the way, our teachers. Bless those
who step out in faith, the learners. This we pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
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(Pastor Pete:)
Okay, kids,
first things first. ______ is ready to teach most of you some songs
to sing along the way, and in other ways to prepare you for the
adventure. Those of you in pre-school, however, _____ and _____ are
ready to go with you for your special time.
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Hymn
"O Lord, thy benediction give"
(to tune of Doxology, #119)
O Lord, thy benediction give
On all who teach on all who learn,
So that Thy Church may holier live,
And every lamp more brightly burn.
Give those that teach pure hearts of love -
Hearts filled with faith and warmed by prayer;
And souls attuned to thee above,
That they may guide thy people there.
Give those that learn the willing ear,
The spirit meek, the guileless mind.
Such gifts will make the lowliest here
Far better than a kingdom find.
O bless the shepherd, bless the sheep,
That guide and guided both be one,
One in the faithful watch they keep,
One in the joy of work well done.
words by John Armstrong
(From 1951 Brethren Hymnal, #529)
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Pastoral Prayer
written closer to the time (if not at the
moment)
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Returning our Tithes and Offerings
It’s very
tempting to think that all we have to do, when it comes to our
relationship with God, is put some money in the offering plate.
You and I know, however, that while money can purchase a lot of
"things," it can’t buy us love. A relationship, with
God or with each other, requires so much more. The good news is
that what we have to share has already been lavished upon us -
free of charge. On the other hand, though, this relationship
demands every aspect of our lives. Even, as James clearly reveals,
our "tongue."
Can you offer God
your "tongue" this morning? That is, can you give to God
the will behind the words you speak? Are you willing to allow your
relationship with God to guide what you say and how you say it?
Everyday? Ponder this as the plates are passed. Ushers?
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Prayer
(after Offering)
Cleanse my
tongue, O Lord. I offer it to you. May this relationship with you
have dominion over me. Then I shall be able to speak the truth in
love. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be
pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. Amen.
(based upon Psalm 19:12-14)
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Benediction
May the God of steadfastness and encouragement
grant you to live in harmony with one another,
in accordance with Christ Jesus,
so that together
you may with one voice
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hymnal #774, Romans 15:5-6 adapted
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