Worship - May 29, 2005

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
May 29, 2005
Worship 10:00 am, Sunday School 11:10 am

For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, "The one who is righteous will live by faith." (Romans 1:16-17)

Morning Praise (9:45 am)
Announcements
Prelude

Scripture Psalm 46

Call to Worship "Peace Pilgrim’s Prayer" (see insert)

Silence

*Opening Prayer

*Song of Praise "My life is in you, Lord" (see insert)

Unison Prayer of Confession 696

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

Hymn "I know not why God’s wondrous" 338

Pastoral Prayer

Children’s Time (Pre-schoolers then leave for playful worship)

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Offertory

*Response "Grant us, Lord, the grace" 388

*Dedication

Scripture Romans 1:16-17 (in unison, see top)

Message "Not ashamed"

*Hymn "Come, thou fount" 521

*Benediction

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Opening Prayer

(as the Call to Worship ends,)

Through the prophet Isaiah, we hear this from "the Holy One of Israel: ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength’" (30:15)... Take a few moments of silence to "be still and know..."

(silence)

To you we turn yet again and discover life, strength, and hope. Trusting in you, we are made whole, set free to serve, called to continue the work of Jesus unashamed and without fear. Empower this hour. Our life is in you, Lord. Amen.

Unison Prayer of Confession

God of love and justice
      we long for peace within and peace without.
We long for harmony in our families,
      for serenity in the midst of struggle,
      and for commitment to each other's growth.
We long for the day when our homes
      will be a dwelling place for your love.

Yet we confess that we are often anxious;
      we do not trust each other,
      and we harbor violence.
We are not willing to take the risks
      and make the sacrifices that love requires.

Look upon us with kindness and grace.
Rule in our homes and in all the world;
show us how to walk in your paths,
through the mercy of our Savior. AMEN

by Ruth C. Duck, Flames of the Spirit, ed. Ruth C. Duck,
© 1985, The Pilgrim Press, altered as found in The Hymnal, #696.

Pastoral Prayer

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

Children's Time

A member of our congregation, a police officer, has asked for the opportunity to share with the children concerning the importance of wearing seat belts - part of a national "Buckle-Up America!" campaign (May 23 - June 6, 2005)

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9)

As you "buckle up" with this good news of God’s grace in Christ Jesus, respond with your tithes and offerings. Ushers?

Dedication

..."the grace of giving"... Too easily we see it as a burden, Lord, your call to freely share. May this spirit within grow, such that we cannot help but open our arms and offer our lives to others and to you. May we be known by this "grace of giving," even as we have known the grace of your giving in Jesus. Amen.

Benediction