Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
September 16, 2007
Worship 10:00 am, Sunday School 11:10 am

  Morning Praise (9:45 am)
  Announcements
  Prelude

*Responsive Call to Worship                                             (see back of bulletin)

*Hymn                                "Praise him, praise him!"                                   100

*Invocation

  Refrain                                           "Kyrie"                                                152

  Confessional Scripture Reading                                                                  818

  Time with Children           "Itching in the pews"

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings                   1 Timothy 1:12-17

  Offertory             (Please sign the attendance pad and pass it on)

  Hymn                        "Immortal, invisible, God only wise"                            70

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

  Pastoral Prayer

  Scripture                                   Luke 15:1-10

  Message                           "More joy in heaven"

*Hymn                                      "Amazing grace!"                                        143

*Benediction

*Postlude

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship

One:  Come, let us walk together on a journey with God.

  All:  Are we worthy to take this journey?

One:  We are not worthy, but Christ Jesus' overflowing grace has provided a way.

  All:  Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, the greatest and the least.

One:  Then let us enter into his presence.

  All:  We journey together, because we have received mercy.

-by Glenn E. Bollinger, pastor 
Beaver Creek Church of the Brethren Bridgewater, Virginia 
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word Series"
   

Invocation

         O God of beauty and life, grant us this day an encounter with your presence. We live our lives preoccupied and often in opposition to your desire. Still, you love us. We ask you, God, to open our eyes to the hurt and pain we have brought to those around us. May our souls be awakened by the knowledge that your Spirit can surround and sustain us. Let our voices be still as we hear you speak to our hearts. From the dark crevices of our brokenness, may the beauty of your mercy spring forth. Let all that is said and done in this worship today reflect our love for you. Amen.

-by Glenn E. Bollinger, pastor 
Beaver Creek Church of the Brethren Bridgewater, Virginia 
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word Series"
   

Confessional Scripture Reading

(Congregation prays/reads in unison a section of Psalm 51, then sings the "Kyrie")

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.

                                                "Kyrie"

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.

                                                "Kyrie"

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.

                                                "Kyrie"

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.

                                                "Kyrie"

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.

                                                "Kyrie"

Hymnal #818, New Revised Standard Version
verses 5 & 7 adapted by Eugene F. Roop, copyright©1991 
c/o Bethany Theological Seminary,
615 National Rd. W., Richmond, IN 47374-4095. 
     

For Children
"Itching in the pews"

         Last week we moved from our summer schedule, with the youngest children leaving part-way through the service for Sunday Sunday, to our regular schedule. In it the children now sit through the entire service, "itching in the pews." We'll talk together about what this change means. Along the way I may remember some of the things I did as a child to occupy myself during church. Perhaps we can nudge toward "quiet, sit still" time as being a blessing - time to allow our imagination to grow. 
         Scripture is full of imagination, even the Psalm we just read as a prayer of confession. Like that line, "teach me wisdom in my secret heart." What is a "secret heart"?  Imagine your heart.  It's on the inside of your body.  I can't see your heart.  You can't see mine, but we both have one. We imagine our feelings coming from our hearts, cause when we are happy or sad, that's where we feel it. Imagine our feelings in our "secret heart."  God knows us even there...
         This time with the children is less a lesson, though. Together, we'll process the change in our worship - along the way being assured that it's okay to be "itching in the pews." Even adults get itchy. So does God (who takes "no delight in sacrifice," but instead connects up with "a broken and contrite heart.") ............. Pray together and end.
   

Pastoral Prayer

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

Benediction