Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
June 20, 2004
Worship 10:00 am

Father’s Day

  Morning Praise (9:45 am)
  Announcements
  Prelude

Call to Worship                           Psalm 42:1-4

*Hymn                                        "As the Deer"                                      (insert)

*Opening Prayer

*Doxology                                                                                               119A

  For Children                    "The Father's Look"

  Sharing the Joy - all children

*Affirmation (all men)                                                         (back of bookmark)

*Response (all)                         "Lead me, Lord"                                         538
                                             (Pre-schoolers leave for playful worship)

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

  Offertory

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

  Hymn                           "I heard the voice of Jesus say"                              493

  Pastoral Prayer

  Scripture                                Galatians 3:23-29

  Message                    "Beyond the disciplinarian"

*Hymn                            "Lord, I am fondly, earnestly"                                514

*Benediction

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Opening Prayer

         God of wonder and glory, this world around us is awesome. You created it! You continue to hold it together, even as we threaten to tear it apart.
         God of justice and righteousness, to you we look for the truth. You are the ultimate judge. Your wisdom cuts through the lies.
         God of grace and mercy, the love you have shown us in Jesus is more than we deserve. Your arms are open wide, like a waiting father for his prodigal children, ready to welcome and restore.
         We come to you just now thirsting for your living water. Guide us to the streams of your wonder and glory, your justice and righteousness, your grace and mercy, that we may drink and be satisfied, renewed for our continuing journey with Jesus.
         This we pray in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit....

(Immediately into the Doxology, with the "Amen" at the end)
   

For Children
"The Father's Look"

         Our children's storyteller, Ed, will bring a photograph of his nephew beside his wife in the hospital, holding their newly born child. (hold up picture)
         "Kids, I want you to look at this man's face and tell me how you would describe how he feels." (wait for answers - all of which are correct - sum up all of them as the "father's look:" the first time a father sees his child).
         Noting that hard-to-describe look upon that new father's face, Ed will go on to recall the birth of his own first child and speak with the children of the joy of being a father.
         Conclusion: God is present when children are born, and the joy and love is shared by this thing called "fatherhood."   Close with prayer.
            

Sharing the Joy / Affirmation

         After the children's time, they will pass out presents to all the Dads (really, all the men, for it won't be up to the children to figure out who is a Dad) in the congregation - a pen and a bookmark, each with a picture of a compass superimposed over a map with the words: "God's direction is always best ... Special Dad" on it. On the back of the bookmark are these words from Proverbs 3:5-6, which will then be read in unison by the men as an affirmation:

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

         To say that we "return" our offerings to God is to imply that whatever we have came first from our Creator. We are returning to the Lord what God has already given to us in trust. "Trust" is the key word here. Not only do we trust God, but God trusts us. It takes a lot of trust in the Lord to be a Dad! But think about it from the other side. A father is entrusted by God with a child to help raise this precious bundle into adulthood. When grown, this young man or woman is, in a way, "returned" to the Lord. However, between then and now much has happened. He has become his own person. She is ready to step out on her own. This miracle is built upon trust.
         As you return your offering just now, ponder this word "trust." Are you trusting in the Lord with all your heart? What has God entrusted into your hands? Return to the Lord more than just cash or check. Make it a matter of trust.

Will the ushers now come forward to receive these offerings we return?
  

Pastoral Prayer

written closer to the time (if not at the moment)

Benediction