Worship - October 23, 2005

Everlasting God, who created heaven and earth,
         you are our "dwelling place," the true home of every heart -
                                    generation after generation.
                  Out of real Love you gave your Son Jesus -
                                    to be Messiah, Savior, Christ.
                           Trusting in you, we discover abundant life.
         Through your Holy Spirit, you heal and empower your people.
We cannot help but give you the glory and praise.
         In doing so, we lay before you our sin,
                  how we have fallen short of your glory,
                  how we have tarnished your image in us.
         Wonder of wonders, though, not only do you richly forgive,
                  but you live in us,
                           restoring, redeeming, reviving.
         Breathe upon us this hour with your Spirit.
                  From everlasting to everlasting, you are God.
                           AMEN!

For Children
"Surprise us with Love"

         "Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days" (Psalm 90:14). That�s what we just heard the Bible say. Another version of this same verse puts it like this: "Surprise us with love at daybreak; then we'll skip and dance all the day long." (The Message) I like that. "Surprise us with love..."
         Do you like surprises? What sort of surprises do you like? (allow for a variety of responses) Are there surprises you don�t like? (again, allow for a variety of responses) So, let me get this straight - you like these kind of surprises (list what they said), but not these kind of surprises (list what they said). That makes sense.
         Psalm 90 in the Bible, where this verse about being surprised with love in the morning comes from, is what we sometimes call a "lament." Do you know what the word "lament" means? (allow for a variety of ideas and respond appropriately to each, affirming what they understand and nudging toward the following) A lament is a song or a prayer in which we talk to God about the surprises in life that we don�t like.
         For instance, I don�t like that my mom is sick and not getting better. I don�t like that she is stuck in a nursing home bed. It makes me sad, and at times mad, and I often don�t really know what to do about it. I listen to my oldest sister say, "it�s not fair!" and I agree, even though as a pastor I�ve walked with all sorts of people who suffered also.
         When we talk with God about the surprises in life that we don�t like, however, we�re not just complaining. A "lament" is a prayer of faith. We trust God through the bad things that happen, believing that the Lord will "Surprise us with love at daybreak," as the Psalm says. When I hear those words, I have to think about Jesus, who died, and was buried. But, on that wonderful Easter morning, God surprised us with love. Nobody expected Jesus to be alive, but he was. It was a good surprise, the kind of surprise we like, a surprise that satisfies, a surprise that we can�t help but want to jump for joy.
         "Surprise us with love at daybreak; then we'll skip and dance all the day long." I like that verse. As you head back to your seat, or head on to Sunday School, let�s sing a verse of a song that makes you want to skip and dance.

Christ the Lord is risen today! Alleluia!
All creation joins to say: Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high: Alleluia!
Sing, O heavens, and earth reply: Alleluia!
(Hymnal #280)

Pastoral Prayer

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

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

         As you return your offering just now, ponder what it means to "trust in the Lord with all your heart." How have you trusted God this past week? How about this coming week? What lies ahead that requires of you "faith"? Life is full of surprises, you know!
         Please also make sure the attendance pads are filled out and passed to the next person on your row. Now, let�s return to the Lord what God has entrusted into our hands. Ushers?

Benediction