Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
August 14, 2005
Worship 10:00 am

  Morning Praise (9:45 am)
  Announcements
  Prelude

*Responsive Call to Worship

*Hymn                         "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty"                             37

*Opening Prayer (#c-4)

  Hymn                           (vs. 1,2,3, & 6) "Amazing grace!"                             143

  Scripture                                 Isaiah 56:1, 6-8

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

  Offertory                  (Pre-schoolers leave for playful worship)

  Annual Conference Moment

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

  Hymn                        "Seek ye first the kingdom of God"                         324

  Pastoral Prayer

  Scripture                                Matthew 15:1-20

  Message                        "What ‘defiles’ a person"
                              The Very Right Reverend Dr. Farah Seah

  Unison Scripture Reading                                                                         818

*Song                                    "Heart of Worship"                             (see insert)
                                       (lyrics/chords - midi file - short clip - full length)

*Benediction

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Responsive Call to Worship
Psalm 67 NRSV

One - May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us,

All - that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth.

One - Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us. May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him.
   

Annual Conference Moment

         Our congregation's delegate to our denomination's Annual Conference (July 2-6 in Peoria, IL) will share about this experience and of some of the business that transpired, in this third of several Annual Conference moments.
   

Pastoral Prayer

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

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Pray with me.

         You, O Lord, have gathered these people to you. We are not "outcasts" like some in this world who struggle for their daily bread. However, we confess, there are days when we feel distant from you and your promises; when "life goes on" and we seem left behind. Fill us again with the awareness of your outstretched arms, and the sheer joy of living in your presence. May this gathering be a "house of prayer for all people" like Isaiah prophesied. May these offerings just now be pleasing to you, not because we give them in exactly the right way, but because you have made things right with us through your Son, Jesus. In the joy of our salvation in him we pray. AMEN
    

Unison Scripture Reading
Psalm 51:1-12,15-17

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
and blameless when you pass judgment.
Indeed, I was born in the midst of iniquity;
in the midst of sin my mother conceived me.

You desire truth in the inward being;
therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be purer than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.

O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
For you have no delight in sacrifice;
if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Hymnal # 818
Verses 5,7 - ©1991, Eugene F. Roop
c/o Bethany Theological Seminary
615 National Rd. W., Richmond, IN 47374?4095.
    

Benediction