Worship - April 24, 2005

Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
	You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Once you were not a people,
	but now you are God's people;
once you had not received mercy,
	but now you have received mercy.

Hymnal #858
New Revised Standard Version

Opening Prayer

O Lord, you are the firm foundation upon which our lives depend; you are the rock of our salvation; you are the cornerstone so important to the building - the construction, the growth - of this congregation, and of each person and family gathered here. Yes, once we were not a people, but now we dare to believe that we are your people. Once we had not a clue about what mercy is all about, but now confession and forgiveness are not only a part of our vocabulary, they are woven into the fabric of our very lives.
You know us through and through, our sins as well as the spark of the Spirit which you have implanted within us. In these moments of worship, we turn from our darkness and step toward your light in Christ. Therefore, may the words we speak this hour, as well as all that remains unspoken in our minds and hearts, be pleasing to you, O Lord, for you are our rock and our redeemer. In Jesus� name, we pray. Amen.

(2/29/04)

Cowboy Dan

1. You�ve seen in the picture shows I�m sure, the cowboys of our land;
    walking tall and carrying a gun close by their hand.
    Mean and tough, cause that�s what it means in this tough world to be a man.
    Oh, I�ll tell you about another type of cowboy I like to call him cowboy Dan.

        Refrain:
            Working, giving, simple living, Cowboy Dan.
            Never carried a gun he didn�t need one to be a man.
            Bring old outlaw hunger in, that was his plan.
            Working, giving cowboy,
            simple living cowboy Dan.
            Working, giving, simple living cowboy Dan.

2. Hunger is so big and mean, most men simply step aside
    Figure they can�t take him on, so they never even tried.
    Complexity never bothered Dan, he was a simple man,
    So he took his pencil and sat right down,
    And figured out a simple plan..........(Refrain)

3. He knew there were so many people, didn�t have enough to eat
    Figured a cow or two might help to put them on their feet.
    He went all over this great big country to the farmers that he knew,
    Said, "Hey Brothers, I�ve got a plan,
    Can you spare me a cow or two?"

(spoken):

He took goats and pigs and cows and sheep
and loaded them on a boat.
And put them on the Atlantic Ocean
and set them out to float
Sent them to the people in Spain,
didn�t have enough to eat
Said maybe my friends you could use some
goats or pigs or cows or sheep.
Take this cow and milk it, friend,
You know you don�t have to pay.
But on a winter�s morn when your first calf�s born,
Would you kindly give it away?
Take this chick and gather eggs,
You know you don�t have to pay.
But take a few eggs and hatch �em.
Raise some baby chicks and catch �em
And kindly give �em away.

Old outlaw hunger is mighty tough,
and we may not bring him in
But we�ll surely deal him a mighty blow,
he�ll have to take it on the chin,
And it may help a lot of hungry people
sort of get back on their feet
If we keep on, keep on, passing on
these goats and pigs and cows and sheep.
goats and pigs and cows and sheep.
goats and pigs and cows and sheep.
goats and pigs and cows and sheep.
.........(Refrain)

Now you know about another kind of cowboy.
I like to call him cowboy, a rootin tootin cowboy,
not a high falutin� cowboy, He was jus a Dunkard plough-boy,
Working, giving cowboy, simple living cowboy Dan.
Working, giving, simple living cowboy Dan.

song by Andrew Murray about Dan West

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

"Working, giving, simple living, Cowboy Dan.
Never carried a gun he didn�t need one to be a man.
Bring old outlaw hunger in, that was his plan.
Working, giving, simple living cowboy Dan."

With our offerings, we continue the work of Jesus, who "cowboy Dan" himself followed, simply, peacefully, together. Ready?

Dedication

Lord, with these offerings, we freely pass along what you have most graciously provided for us. We've heard the call. May the animals and plants purchased this month bless a multitude of families, allowing them to - in turn - bless even more families, passing along the gift. Help us to make wise use of those offerings which are to be used locally. May it all be done for your glory and our neighbor�s good. Amen.

Pastoral Prayer

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

Benediction