Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
March 16, 2008
Worship 10:00 am, Sunday School 11:10 am

Palm Sunday

  Morning Praise (9:45 am)
  Announcements
  Prelude

*Call to Worship                   Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

*Hymn                                "Hosanna, loud hosanna"                                  238

   (as we sing, you are invited to bring  forward your palm branch and place it on the front steps leading up to the worship center, then return to your seat)

  Responsive Prayer of Confession

  Hymn                          "Savior, like a shepherd lead us"                            355

  Scripture                                Philippians 2:5-11

  Sharing a joy, a concern, a word of testimony or praise
                                 (please be brief, and aware of God’s listening presence)

  Pastoral Prayer

  Tercentennial Minute            "Peter Nead’s Hat"

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

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

*Response                               "The Christ Hymn"            (see insert/overhead)

*Dedication

  Scripture                                 Matthew 21:1-11

  Message                                  "Back on top"

*Hymn                             "Ride on, ride on in majesty"                               239

*Benediction

*Postlude

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship
(Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29)

1 - With a psalm, we begin worship this morning.

2 - With a palm branch in hand, we welcome Jesus into our midst.

1 - Whenever you hear these words from scripture:

2 - “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say,”

1 - be prepared to respond:

All - "His steadfast love endures forever."

1 - Let us practice once

2 - O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say,

All - "His steadfast love endures forever."

1 - Please stand, if you are able, and worship with psalm and palm.

(pause until all are standing and ready to begin)

1 - Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.

2 - O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say,

All - "His steadfast love endures forever."

1 - I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

2 - O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say,

All - "His steadfast love endures forever."

1 - This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Save us, we beseech you, O Lord! O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!

2 - O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say,

All - "His steadfast love endures forever."

1 - Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord. The Lord is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar.

2 - O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say,

All - "His steadfast love endures forever."

1 - You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you.

2 - O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say,

All - "His steadfast love endures forever."

1 - With a psalm, we have begun worship this morning.

2 - With a palm branch in hand, we welcome Jesus into our midst.

1 – You invited now, as we sing our first hymn, to bring forward your palm branch and place it on the front steps leading up to the worship center, and return to your seat. In so doing, let us prepare the way of the Lord… Come, Lord Jesus. Welcome!

Prayer of Confession

by Lisa Hazen, pastor
Wichita First Church of the Brethren Wichita, Kansas
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word Series"
  

Pastoral Prayer

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

Tercentennial Minute
"Peter Nead’s Hat"

In our own faith history we Brethren have been renewed by widening the circle.  A good example is Peter Nead (1796-1877), one of our most prominent writers and theologians of the 19^th century.  Born in Hagerstown, Maryland, he was a Lutheran by birth, and received a good education, but he was dissatisfied with the faith of his childhood.  Later, after the family moved to Frederick County, Virginia, he became actively involved with the Methodists, but his desire to find a church who followed the New Testament led him to become an itinerant preacher – until he read a booklet published in 1823 by the Brethren minister Benjamin Bowman.  Within a year he was baptized into the fellowship.

He was called to the ministry in 1827 and became known as "the English preacher."  For the rest of his life he devoted himself to preaching and writing.  Though not born Brethren he became the most articulate defender of the faith.  In 1850 his several writings were collected into a single volume, often referred to as Nead's Theology. His books are still held in high esteem by some Brethren bodies.

However in his early years in the ministry he alarmed a few of the Brethren because he wore a tall hat favored by clergy of the day, but quite different from the simple Brethren style. Since he was much beloved they were slow to confront him, but according to the story the same Benjamin Bowman who had written the booklet that caught Nead's eye approached him and said, "Brother Peter, the Brethren feel that the hat you wear is not in harmony with the humble profession you have made.  We love you, and desire that you may do a great deal of good in the church.  Now Brother Peter, here is a new Brethren’s hat that I bought for you.  Will you wear it?"  Brother Nead said he would.

Notice the Brethren used understanding and tact, complimented him on his gifts, and made it clear that the fellowship was very excited to have him in their midst.  Thus they cemented the relationship and enriched the Brethren denomination.

            Peter Nead wasn't born Brethren, preferred speaking English to German, and wore a tall hat.  Despite these obstacles, he was and remains one of the most important figures in Brethren history.  He died March 16, 1877.  Today is the 131^st anniversary of the date of his death. 

And that’s the Tercentennial Minute for Sunday, March 16, 2008

by Frank Ramirez, pastor of the Everett, PA Church of the Brethren
posted by permission                        
The Everett church graciously makes available these weekly vignettes from Brethren history
to all who are interested during this 300th anniversary year of our denomination.
Frank will be the guest preacher for our Homecoming on October 26, 2008
(this is our congregation's 100th anniversary year)
  

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

            "To wear many hats" is a phrase that comes from a time when everyone wore hats, and many of those hats were specific to a given trade, official position or function. Someone who had several roles would have several hats and would wear the appropriate one for each occasion.

Even if we don't literally "wear many hats" today, most of us know what it means to have a variety of roles in life, some very different from others. Our heritage as Brethren encourages us to be the same person in one as we are in all, and to seek to follow Christ in every part of our life, no matter what "hat" we wear.

Dedication

            Lord God, may the "many hats" we wear not cover up and close our minds. Help us to seek the mind of Christ in every part of our lives – even, or especially, our finances. May these offerings reveal our priorities. This we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
  

Benediction