Worship Order for Sunday

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
April 23, 2006
Worship 10:00 am, Sunday School 11:10 am

The Second Sunday of Easter

      "He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself."                  (Philippians 3:21)

  Morning Praise (9:45 am)
  Announcements
  Prelude

  A Resurrection Story and Call to Worship

*Hymn                                "Low in the grave he lay"                              273

*Opening Prayer

*I believe (the apostle’s creed - unison)                                                   712

*Response               (vs. 2) "Proclaim the tidings near and far"                    282

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

  Offertory

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

"For this we pray" (a response to each item)

  Unison Prayer                                                                                        747

  Drama               "The Seven Deadly Sins, part 6: Gluttony "

  Hymn                             "Break thou the bread of life"                            360
                                              (Pre-schoolers leave for Sunday School)

  Scripture                               Philippians 3:17-4:1

  Message                      "When enough is enough"

*Hymn                               "God, who touches earth"                                511

*Benediction

*Postlude


#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

A Resurrection Story
and Call to Worship
John 21:1-14

1 - After he rose from the dead, "Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way.

2 - Gathered there together were Simon Peter,

1- Thomas called the Twin,

2 - Nathanael of Cana in Galilee,

1- the sons of Zebedee,

2 - and two others of his disciples.

1 - Simon Peter said to them,

2- ‘I am going fishing.’

1 - They said to him,

2 - ‘We will go with you.’

1 - They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them,

2 - ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?

1 - They answered him,

2 - ‘No.’

1 - He said to them,

2 - ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’

1 - So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter,

2 - ‘It is the Lord!

1 - When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them,

2 - ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’

1 - So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them,

2 - ‘Come and have breakfast.’

1 - Now none of the disciples dared to ask him,

2 - ‘Who are you?

1 - because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.

2 - This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead...."

(pause)

1 - Did you ‘catch’ something beside fish from that resurrection story? As you ‘cast the net’ of your attention to this Word from God, did you ‘pull in’ some of the excitement of the disciple Peter? Once he knew it was Jesus on the beach, he couldn’t wait for the boat to row ashore. He jumped in and swam.

2 - Did you hear Jesus’ invitation to come and eat? An abundant catch filled their nets, reminiscent of an earlier haul the day those disciples first said "yes" to him. A fire crackling on the sand, fish cooking on a stick, bread broken and multiplying into many hands. An abundant feast!

1 - Come, brothers and sisters, let’s share the goodness of the Lord!

2 - Come, sisters and brothers, let’s sing our resurrection songs!

1 - "Low in the grave he lay," Yes, that’s true.

2 - But "up from the grave he arose!" #273
   

Opening Prayer

         O God, who raised Christ from the grave, roll away the stone and lead us forth into the Son-light of this hour. Forgive our wandering hearts that seek fulfilment in things and places which only leave us empty in our own "dark domain." Encourage us, instead, to cast our nets in a resurrection direction that we might pull in the abundance only you provide. Open our eyes to your presence, here and now. And help us to "swim" to shore, where you await to welcome us to your fire, and share with us what we truly need to be satisfied. In your name we pray. Amen
   

I believe
(the apostle’s creed - unison)

          Please remain standing while we speak together the "Apostles’ Creed," #712 in your hymnal. Allow these old, old words to open your heart and mind to a faith which is bigger than us, a faith which goes back nearly two millennia to the early church. As soon as we are finished, be ready to let your "glory, hallelujah!" ring out as we sing the second verse of "Proclaim the tidings near and far."

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
         creator of heaven and earth
I believe in Jesus, God's only Son, our Lord,
         who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
                  born of the Virgin Mary.
                  suffered under Pontius Pilate.
                  was crucified, died, and buried;
         he descended to the dead.
         On the third day, he rose again;
         he ascended into heaven,
         he is seated at the right hand of the Father
                  and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
         the holy catholic* church.
         the communion of saints,
         the forgiveness of sins,
         the resurrection of the body,
         and the life everlasting.

* universal

#282, "Proclaim the tidings near and far," verse 2 only.

Hymnal #713, English translation of The Apostle's Creed,
prepared by the English Language Liturgical Consultation ELLC, © 1988.
       

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

         We tell the story that "the Lord is risen" with more than words. Our "glory, hallelujah" is more than just a song. We live it out with our lives. If Christ is alive, he has risen in our homes. If God’s glory is anywhere, He is present in our everyday decisions - even in events as mundane as balancing the checkbook. Did you involve the Lord in how you determined what you will return to Him today? Do you have faith that, with the offering you are about to give removed from your income, you will have "enough" to live? ... Pray with me.

         O Lord who multiplied the loaves and fishes long ago, such that there was "enough" for the multitude to eat their fill with plenty leftover, fill us. May this act of emptying our pockets, releasing our hard-earned cash for the work of your body, open our eyes to the abundance you have already provided. Help us to be satisfied in you, rejoicing that you invite us to share in your work. Bless these offerings, and the hands which share and receive them. Amen.

Ushers?
   

Unison Prayer

God of resurrection and life, 
         the shadows of Good Friday have been dispersed 
                  by the light of Easter. 
We rejoice in your power 
         that turns sorrow into joy, 
         despair into hope, 
         defeat into victory, 
         and evil into good ness.
Set us free on this day of resurrection 
         to burst out of the tombs that have trapped us.
Let new life spring forth and bring grace to all,
         through Jesus Christ, the Risen One. AMEN

Hymnal #747, by Robert H. Midgley,
from Flames of the Spirit, ed. Ruth C. Duck,
© 1985, The Pilgrim Press
   

Benediction

 

(para traducir a español, presione la bandera de España)

 

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International Lesson thoughts
from the
Mennonite Publishing House

"Jesus is all"
commentary on the
International Lesson

Living Web Sunday School Project

 

©2006 Peter L. Haynes
(unless otherwise stated, worship resources were written by him)

 

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