Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
October 24, 2004
Worship 10:00 am, Sunday School 11:10 am

  Morning Praise (9:45 am)
  Announcements
  Prelude

  Call to Worship                         Psalm 84:1-7

*Hymn                        "All people that on earth do dwell"                            42

*Opening Prayer  (f-6)

*Hymn                            "Christ, we do all adore thee"                              105

  Responsive Confession                                                                            690

  For Children                         "All Puffed Up"        (based upon Luke 18:9-14)
                                         (Pre-schoolers then leave for playful worship)

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

  Hymn                                "Spirit of the living God"                                  349
                                                                (words - music/midi)

  Pastoral Prayer

  Scripture                                  Psalm 84:8-12

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

  Offertory

  Scripture                                 2 Timothy 4:6-8

  Message                                   "Poured out"

*Hymn                                     "Awake my soul"                                       609

*Benediction

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship
(Psalm 84:1-7 NRSV)

1 - How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!

2 - My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD;

1 - my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.

2 - Even the sparrow finds a home,

1 - and the swallow a nest for herself,
              where she may lay her young,

2 - at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.

1 - Happy are those who live in your house,
              ever singing your praise.

2 - Happy are those whose strength is in you,
              in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

1 -As they go through the valley of Baca
              they make it a place of springs;

2 - the early rain also covers it with pools.

1 - They go from strength to strength;

2 - the God of gods will be seen in Zion.
   

Responsive Confession
(based upon Psalm 51)

Leader: Have mercy on us, O God,
                     according to your unfailing love;
People: Blot out all our transgressions,
                     according to your great compassion;
Leader: Wash away all our iniquities
                     and cleanse us from our sin.
People: For we know our transgressions,
                     and our sin is always before us.
Leader: We have sinned against you
                     and have done what is evil in your sight.
    ALL: as sacrifice we bring our broken and contrite hearts.

                         (pause for silence)

Leader: God will create in each of us a pure heart.
             God will not take the Holy Spirit form us.
             God will restore to us the joy of salvation
                     and grant us willing spirits to sustain us.
    ALL: Praise to the God of mercy who loves and forgives us.

Hymnal #690
©1988, Ruth A. Yoder
26175 Woodridge Dr., Elkhart, IN 46517.
   

For Children
"All Puffed Up"

         With 2 balloons (blown up ahead of time with faces drawn on them), tell the story of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14). Two children hold up the balloons, each representing a character, and blow a bit more air into their balloon when you point to them. Of course, the Pharisee balloon gets pointed to more and becomes "all puffed up." Possibility: pop the puffed up balloon and blow up the other, to connect with Jesus' reversal in the story. End with prayer.

(read the full blown text from Scolding the Snakes,
by Ruth Gilmore, pp. 118-119)
   

Pastoral Prayer

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

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

         You could have been somewhere else right now, but you’re not. You’re here. "Better is one day in (God’s) house than a thousand elsewhere," the Psalm sings. Is that your song right now? "No good thing does the Lord withhold ... Happy are those who trust..." Responding to God’s goodness with our offering is not like going to the Dentist to have a tooth pulled. As the offering plates are passed, release your grip on all your "stuff," and open your hands and your heart to receive. Pray your own prayer of gratitude to the Lord.

Ushers? Please lead us.
  

Benediction