Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
September 4, 2005
Worship 10:00 am, Sunday School 11:10 am

  Morning Praise (9:45 am)
  Announcements
  Prelude

  Call to Worship                            Psalm 149

*Hymn                           "Come, we that love the Lord"                               14

*Opening Prayer

  Unison Scripture Reading                                                               (see insert)

  Hymn                                "O little children, gather"                                  489

  Celebrating and Dedicating our Sunday School

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

  Disaster Relief Moment

  Hymn                             "In the wake of new disaster"                   (see insert)
                                              (Pre-schoolers leave for playful worship)

  Pastoral Prayer

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

  Offertory

  Scripture                                 Romans 13:8-14

  Message                       "My, how you’ve grown!"

*Hymn                           "I heard the voice of Jesus say"                             493

*Benediction

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Opening Prayer

Come, Lord,
         who first loved us,
         who is the source of every joy,
                  and every song worth singing;
         who knows your children better than we know ourselves,
         who feeds the hungry and quenches those who thirst,
         who gives hope to the hopeless,
         who strengthens the weak
                  that they, that we may - indeed -
                           come "marching to Zion."
Come, Lord,
         and walk with us this hour,
                  for this is your ground upon which we tread.
Forgive our faltering enthusiasm,
            our willingness to let others answer your call,
            our lack of compassion,
            our outrage over the wrong things,
            our failure to simply follow you.
Through your forgiveness make us teachable,
         willing, ready, and inspired
                  to "march" to those "fairer worlds on high."
This we pray in the name of the One
         who is our "Immanuel," Jesus. AMEN
   

Unison Scripture Reading
Psalm 119:33-40 (The Message)

GOD, teach me lessons for living
         so I can stay the course.
Give me insight so I can do what you tell me--
         my whole life one long, obedient response.
Guide me down the road of your commandments;
         I love traveling this freeway!
Give me a bent for your words of wisdom,
         and not for piling up loot.
Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets,
         invigorate me on the pilgrim way.
Affirm your promises to me--
         promises made to all who fear you.
Deflect the harsh words of my critics--
         but what you say is always so good.
See how hungry I am for your counsel;
         preserve my life through your righteous ways!

Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson
   

Celebrating and Dedicating our Sunday School

Disaster Relief Moment

A member of our Witness Commission will speak of
         our special offering emphasis in September for Disaster Relief
                           (in light of hurricane Katrina), and
         our upcoming Disaster Relief Bazaar on Sept. 17
                  which will raise funds for Church World Service
                                                  and Brethren Disaster Response
                           and give visibility to these endeavors in our community.
  

Pastoral Prayer

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

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

         To a man outside the Temple gate, outside the safety net of that society, the apostle Peter once said "I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you." And then; "in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth," Peter simply told this lame-from-birth man, "stand up and walk." And the man did. (Acts 3:6)
         Well, friends, we do have silver and gold. We also have something to share which is far greater. The question is, will we? Will we share? Will we "stand up and walk?" As you return your offering just now, mindful of all we have seen in the news this week, rise to the occasion with what you have to share and follow Jesus. God will provide a way to help.

Ushers?
  

Benediction