Worship - July 29, 2007

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
July 29, 2007
Worship 10:00 am

"These sorts of things are a bit like travel brochures: they may whet your appetite for what’s ahead, but they are nothing like actually arriving there."
(Colossians 2:17, Laughing Bird Version)

Morning Praise (9:45 am)
Announcements
Prelude

Coming Before God

Call to Worship

*Hymn "Holy, holy, holy!" 120

*Confession

Scripture Luke 11:9-10

For Children "Reading Minds"

Song "Seek and ye shall find" (see insert)
(Our younger children, ages 3-7, then leave for Sunday School)

Scripture Luke 11:5-13

Sharing a joy, a concern, a word of testimony or praise
(Please sign the attendance pad and pass it on)

Litany of Faith - based on Psalm 85 (see insert)

Pastoral Prayer

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Offertory

Hymn "The church's one foundation" 311

Scripture Colossians 2:6-19 (Laughing Bird Version)

Message "Living beyond the travel brochures"

*Hymn "When peace, like a river" 336

*Benediction

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Coming Before God

Holy God,
         we come asking for more of your Spirit in our lives,
         we come seeking a clearer understanding of your will,
         we come knocking for doors of opportunity to open,
         we come, knowing that you are always more ready to give
                  than we are to receive
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen!

by Bruce Prewer, Uniting Church in Australia

Call to Worship
Luke 11:1-4 (NIV)

1 - One day Jesus was praying in a certain place.
When he finished, one of his disciples said to him,

2 - "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."

1 - He said to them,

3 - "When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name,
         your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread.
        Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who
        sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’"

(pause)

1 - Luke’s shorter version of this familiar prayer calls us to worship in this time and place.

3 - "Hallowed be your name," we pray as we enter into God’s presence.

2 - "Teach us," we ask as our song raises us heavenward.

1 - "Holy, holy, holy!," we stand as we are able and sing #120.

Confession

"Forgive us our sins," Jesus taught, "for we also forgive everyone who sins against us."
                                    (pause) Not exactly, Lord.
         There was that person on the highway,
                  and the woman at the cash register,
                           and that guy who butted ahead in line...
         There was my co-worker the other day,
                  my child last night,
                           my father a long time ago,
                                    my spouse over and over again...
Please don’t forgive us like we forgive everyone else, Lord.
                  Forgive us, instead, like your Son.
         This "turning the other cheek" business is a tough lesson.
                  Thank you for doing so with us,
                           pardoning our transgressions
                                    when we are far from being worthy of it.
                  Help us to grow in Christ, such that this prayer
                           becomes less a joke and more a reality.
         May the day come - maybe even today -
                  when our "not exactly" response
                           is transformed into an "amen."
This we pray, in your name.

For Children
"Reading Minds"

Theme: Ask for what you want.

Another obvious fact of our physical natures is that we live apart from others. We cannot enter into their minds and hearts and know everything they think and feel. This enables us to live independently, but it also makes communication extremely important. Without good communication, others will not know us. While this may seem too apparent to mention, many people do not communicate well and, instead, act as though others can read their minds. This guarantees that their wants, needs, thoughts, and feelings will go largely unknown.

Scripture: Luke 11:9

Device: A game

Technique: Ask the children if any of them are good at reading other people's minds. Tell them you're going to test them. Think of something and see if they can guess what it is. When they have failed, tell them what was really on your mind and then say you'll make it a little easier for them. You'll think of a number; have them read your mind and guess the number. Be sure you pick one they won't guess, like 3,393. When they have failed that test, tell them you'll make it easier yet. Have them guess the color in your thoughts. Be sure to pick an unusual color, such as chartreuse or mauve. When they have failed once more, point out to the children how difficult it is to read a person's mind. We can't do it. But sometimes we act as if we want people to do just that. We'll want things or feel things, but we won't tell anybody. We'll expect them to guess. Have they ever had a question in school but were afraid to ask the teacher? Have they ever felt sad but didn't tell anyone?

What does Jesus tell us to do? You're thinking what Jesus says, can they guess that? Jesus tells us to ask for what we want. If you have a question in school, what does Jesus say? Ask the question; don't hope your teacher will read your mind. And if there's something you'd like at home, it's OK to ask for it. If you feel sad or happy, tell somebody rather than hope they will figure it out. Sometimes people do things that bother us, but if we don't tell them, they probably won't even know. Jesus tells us to ask for what we want.

Note: Make the game fun by thinking of unusual things. At the end, you can have them guess what it's time for them to do now.

Litany of Faith
based on Psalm 85

One: Let us declare our faith in God; declare and do not doubt.

Many: But how can we build faith to trust the Lord?

One: Remember!

Many: Remember?

One: The psalmist remembered God and said, "You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned all their sin" (v.2).

Many: We remember!

One: "You withdrew all your wrath; you turned away from your hot anger" (v. 3).

Many: We remember!

One: Now speak like a psalmist; cry out to the Lord!

Many: "Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away indignation toward us." (v. 4)

One: Cry out to the Lord!

Many: "Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation" (v. 7).

One: Trust God!

Many: "He will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts" (v. 8).

One: Declare this!

Many: "Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet" (v. 10a).

One: "Righteousness and peace will kiss each other." (v. 10b).

Many: "Faithfulness will spring up from the ground" (v. 11a).

One: "And righteousness will look down from the sky" (v. 11b).

All: And the glory of the Lord will dwell in our land. And in our homes. And in this place. And in us.

by Kwasi I. Kena, Director of Evangelism Ministries
21st Century Africana Liturgy Resources: "Worship Resources for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, Year C"
Copyright © 2007 The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church,
PO Box 340003, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Worship website: www.umcworship.org.

Pastoral Prayer

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

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

         Jesus has taught us to ask and seek and knock, with faith that we will receive, that we will find, and that doors will be opened. On the other hand, God asks and seeks and knocks as well. Faith increases as we give in the manner in which we have received, as we respond, "Here I am, Lord, send me," as we open our door for Jesus to come in.
         As you return your offering just now, think back over the past week. Where have you been faith-fully asking and seeking and knocking? And, on the other hand, where have you seen or heard or sensed God asking and seeking and knocking? Make these offertory moments a time of prayer, as you become more aware that God has been part of each day. Imagine, then, the possibilities for this coming week.
         Ushers, would you come forward now and assist us by passing the plates?

Benediction

not yet decided, may be reprise of "Seek and ye shall find"