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Worship Order for
Sunday
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Call to
Worship
based on Psalm
71:1-6
One: In you, O God, we find a place of refuge - a strong and
secure place
of shelter and
safety. Giving us confidence to believe that you hear us
and protect us from
those who are unjust and cruel.
All: We have known you and your righteousness as far back as we
can remember.
One: You, O God, are the foundation of our hope, the source of
our trust;
All: We praise you continually O God, for being a rock to lean
on
and a safe place
to rest in from the time of our birth.
by Moira
B. Laidlaw
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Opening
Prayer
Living God, we
praise you for filling us with the knowledge that in you we do find
safety and security. In Jesus Christ, you have given us the
confidence to believe that although the worst can happen, your love
and your care for us remains as strong and as constant for ever.
Jesus demonstrated that rejection, ridicule and even the risk of
death did not stop him from proclaiming your love, your mercy and
your everlasting life and power.
We approach you, O
God, confident in your constant love and protection. We praise you,
we trust you, we adore you. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen
by Moira
B. Laidlaw
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For
Children
"Perfect For
The Job"
Theme: Everybody is suited for an important ministry
Source: based on one by Eldon Weisheit, in
God's
Promises For Children - Series C, Augsburg, ©1982. (out
of print)
as adapted by Rev.
Richard J. Fairchild.
Object: Three different size boxes with contents for showing love
Good morning
-- In our bible reading this morning God tells Jeremiah - "I
chose you before I gave you life and before you were born to be a
prophet to the nations." God chose Jeremiah for an important
job - he chose him to give a special message to the nations.
Jeremiah
thought God had made a mistake. He said - "God, I don't know
how to speak well enough. I am too young." Jeremiah wasn't a
child, he was a young man - but he thought he wasn't old enough
for the job.
Do you ever
feel that you not very important because you are young? Because
you are small?? Do you ever feel that you are not good enough to
do a special job that someone wants you to do??? Or does anyone
ever told you that???
It is pretty
common for people to think that we can't do some things - and
sometimes we can't - but that doesn't mean that we don't have a
very special place in God's plan - just like Jeremiah had a
special place in God's plan - despite what he thought about it.
To understand
this a bit better I want you to look at these three boxes.... If
you wanted a box to put a big puzzle into so that you could give
it to someone who loves to do them, which box would you choose....
why? (the others are too small)
If you wanted
a box to carry around stickers in - stickers to brighten up books
and papers with - which would you pick? (you can't get much in the
little one - and the other is too big to carry around)
If you wanted
a box to give a necklace or a ring to someone special with - which
would you choose?? (the little one would be just about right).
You see - the
biggest is not always the best - and the littlest is not always
the best. What is best is what does the job best. The job of
showing God's love. God doesn't say that old people can show his
love better to other people than young people; or that young
people can serve him better than old people. God picks each of us
for a special job and each of us is the best one for that job. God
picks each one of us to love - and to do good things for others.
God has a special job for each one of you - no matter how young
you are - or how old you are - no matter how big or how small.
Each of you is best for something - because God has made you that
way. You are an important part of God's people - and no one can
replace you.
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Returning
our Tithes and Offerings
Perfect for the job... That doesn't mean we never make any
mistakes. Perhaps Jeremiah, when God called him to be "a
prophet to the nations," was afraid of making mistakes.
Possibly that's why he tried hiding behind his youth when God came
knocking on his door.
Are you afraid of
making mistakes when it comes to your own calling, to making use
of the gifts God has given you? The good news about falling down
on the job, is that the Lord helps pick up back up again. In
addition, we grow from our mistakes. We learn. We perfect our
skills. With God's help, we try new things.
Speaking of
"new things," we've been trying out a different way of
taking attendance, a path we continue today. As the plates are
passed, and you return your offering, please pass the attendance
pads down your pew, also. Record your own presence, as well as any
young children with you, and hand it to the next person. Before
that, however, would you pray with me?
Lord, thank you for being present with us at all times,
for gracing each of us through your Holy Spirit with
special abilities, and for perfecting us along the way
with your on-the-job training. What we now give is for
your glory and our neighbor's good. Help us to make use of
it all wisely. In your name, Amen.
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Receiving
new Members
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(after being
introduced to the congregation by members
who have come to know these newcomers:) |
Friends in
Christ, you have previously made confession of your faith and have
been members of his church. We rejoice in your decision to become
members of this congregation, in full covenant relationship with
the believers who worship and serve God in this place.
Do you now
reaffirm your faith in and loyalty to Jesus Christ, our Lord, and
his gospel?
If so, please say: "I do."
As you unite
with this church, will you worship, serve, and share in its
program, supporting it by your earnest prayers, regular
attendance, loyal service, and faithful stewardship, as God gives
you strength?
If so, please say: "With God's help, I
will."
Do you promise
to live and share with us in the bonds of Christian fellowship,
giving and receiving Christian love, sharing and bearing one
another's joy and pain?
If so, please say: "I do."
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Congregational
Response
Leader: These persons now presented to you
have witnessed to their faith in Jesus Christ
and offer themselves as companions in our obedience to Christ.
It is our privilege and joy to welcome them into our family of faith.
People: We freely receive you, even as Christ has received us.
We open ourselves to fellowship with you
in worship, study, service, and discipline.
We pledge our willingness to give and receive counsel,
to offer and accept forgiveness in the redeemed community.
We joyfully accept you as partners,
both in the care of our spiritual family,
and in our mission to the world.
#794 - by John H. Mosemann, adapted from The Mennonite Hymnal,
copyright©1969 Faith & Life Press/Mennonite Publishing House.
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Pastoral Prayer
written closer to the time (if not at the
moment)
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song
"Bound together"
by Ken Medema
(chorus:)
Bound together and finely woven.
We’re bound together and finely woven.
We’re bound together and finely woven with love.
Sing and dance when a baby's born.
Sing and dance, it's a joyful morning.
Sing and dance for the joy of birth.
Sing and dance, let your music echo round the earth. (chorus)
Sing and dance for the morning sun.
Sing and dance by the river’s running.
Sing and dance in the pale moonlight.
Sing and dance, let your music echo through the night. (chorus)
Sing and dance through the city streets.
Sing and dance, let the night grow sweeter.
Sing and dance, gather everyone around.
Sing and dance, let your music echo fill this weary town. (chorus)
Sing and dance for the word made flesh.
Sing and dance for the sweet refreshment.
Sing and dance for the flesh made word.
Sing and dance, let your music ever more be heard. (chorus)
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