Worship - December 28, 2003

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
December 28, 2003
Worship 10:00 am Sunday School for all ages 11:15 am

The Sunday after Christmas

"Did you not know that
I must be in my Father’s house?"
(Luke 2:49c)

Morning Praise (9:45 am)
Announcements
Prelude

Call to Worship

*Song Medley
          "Praise Him, all ye little children" (vs.1)
                           "Alleluia, (repeat 7 times)
                          I will praise Him, (repeat 7 times)
          "Praise Him, all ye little children" (vs.2)
                         "Father I Adore You,
                                lay my life before you;
                                     how I love you.
                           Jesus, I adore you,
                                lay my life before you;
                                     how I love you." (chords)
          "Praise Him, all ye little children" (vs.3)

*Opening Prayer

Hymn "Good Christian friends, rejoice" 210

Introduction

Drama "In God’s House" Act 1

Hymn "More about Jesus would I know" (see insert)

Scripture Colossians 3:12-17

Sharing a joy, a concern, a word of testimony or praise
(Pre-schoolers then leave for playful worship)

Special Music "O Holy Night" Dwight/Adam

Prayer of the People

Drama "In God’s House" Act 2

Hymn "Tell me the stories of Jesus" (see insert)

Scripture Luke 2:41-52

Drama "In God’s House" Act 3

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Offertory

*Hymn "Go, tell it on the mountain" (see insert)

*Benediction

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship

PRAISE THE NAME OF THE LORD
A reflection on Psalm 148

Praise the name of the Lord.

The voices of children raise in uninhibited praise.
         Their eyes look to the choir director for guidance, yet search
                                             the congregation for a glimpse of the face of a parent.
                  The young voices are supported by the rhythms and tones of instruments.
                           Tender hands, yet to know the struggles of life, reach high
                                             in praise to the Lord.

Praise the name of the Lord...

Oh, to so freely offer the same praise as adult children of God!

Our inhibitions often prevent us from offering childlike praise.
         And yet, our eyes look toward God, our Guide as we journey through life.
                  Our voices can join together - young, old, male, female - in a
                                             chorus of praise.
                           Our hands, work-worn and toughened by life occurrences,
                                             can praise through service in so many ways.

May we praise the name of the Lord.
         Men, women, children - together raising voices and hands in
                                             a chorus of praise to God...
                  The Babe in the Manger.
                           The Teacher of disciples.
                                    The Resurrected Christ.
                                             Our God who walks with us daily.

Praise the name of the Lord!

by Donna McKee Rhodes
Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
Director of Academy Training
Susquehanna Valley Satellite
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word Series"

Opening Prayer

With simple praise, we come to you, Lord. Bless these moments with your presence. Not the kind that are wrapped and placed under a tree, but the kind that was wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. We have made room in our Inn. Come, our door is open. Amen.

Introduction

Good Christian friends, we are in the middle of the "twelve days of Christmas." Our celebration of Jesus’ birth did not end with the setting of the sun on December 24^th. The gifts we give now, however, are no longer packages to be unwrapped. Instead, we offer arms to be opened, as we visit with loved ones and friends.

At this time of year we often find ourselves on the road. That’s definitely the case for the family in this morning’s three part drama. Imagine, if you will, an automobile ride.........

Pastoral Prayer

Almighty God,
         you have given us grace at this time with one accord
                  to make our common supplications to you,
         and you have promised through you well-beloved Son
                  that when two or three are gathered together
                  you will hear their requests.
Fulfill now our desires and petitions,
                  as may be best for us,
         granting us in this world
                  knowledge of your truth,
         and in the age to come
                  eternal life,
                  through Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN

Hymnal #728
Attributed to St. John Chrysostom, 4th c., adapted

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

How quickly children grow. One minute they are infants. The next they on the edge of adolescence. All-too-quickly they are launched into adulthood. In the gospel story as we have received it, there are no childhood recollections of Jesus between his birth and the episode we heard earlier, when he remained behind in his "Father’s house." Perhaps those who were inspired to pull together our New Testament prayerfully decided to leave out the childhood stories of Jesus to emphasize that he was still a boy, just like any one of our children in this room today. However, just like all of God’s children, he belonged in his "Father’s house."

As you return your offering just now, consider what resolutions you might be making this week, as we approach the start of a new year. How might you resolve to be in your heavenly "Father’s house" more throughout 2004? Pray for the ability to live out your resolutions, as you place your offering in the plate.... Ushers?

Benediction

Leader: Go in love,
People: for love alone endures.
Leader: Go in peace,
People: for it is the gift of God.
Leader: Go in safety,
People: for we cannot go where God is not.