Worship - August 10, 2008

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
August 10, 2008
Worship 10:00 am

“Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.” (Matthew 14:22)

Morning Praise (9:45 am)
Announcements
Prelude                        A Medley of Gospel Songs:
                        "Loyalty to Christ"                                    Cassel
                        "Stepping in the Light"             Hewitt/Kirkpatrick
                        "If Jesus Goes with Me"                              Miles

Call to Worship

*Hymn "Immortal, invisible, God only wise" 70

*Opening Prayer

Tercentennial Minute

Hymn (vs. 1) "Lord, I want to be a Christian" 444

Scripture 1 Kings 19:9-18

Godspeed

Hymn (vs. 2) "Lord, I want to be a Christian" 444

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

Hymn (vs. 3) "Lord, I want to be a Christian" 444

Pastoral Prayer

Hymn (vs. 4) "Lord, I want to be a Christian" 444

More Highlights from Annual Conference

Offertory "Jesus Loves Even Me" Bliss
(Please sign the attendance pad and pass it on)

Scripture Matthew 14:22-33

Message "After…"

*Hymn "When the storms of life are raging" 558

*Benediction

*Postlude "There is a Land of Pure Delight" Watts/Root

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship

We are eager to hear all you have to say, LORD God,
........for your words bring peace and wellbeing
................to those who stick with you
........................and leave behind their foolish ways.

Surely for all who respect you,
........the life you saved us for is within reach.
................Our land will be ablaze with your presence.

What a life it will be!
........Love and loyalty will link arms;
................justice and peace will become lovers.

Faithfulness will sprout and reach for the sky;
........integrity will beam down on the earth.

You will give us every good thing, LORD,
........and the land will give bumper crops.

Justice and integrity will spring up as you approach,
........lining the road to welcome you among us.

Opening Prayer

Lord, we come to you this day, seeking your healing and restoring love. Give us courage to reach out to you in the good and easy times as well as in the times of strain and stress. Open our hearts to receive your message of peace and hope. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. AMEN.

by Rev. Nancy Townley, from Worship Connection.

Tercentennial Minute
Spies Give a Report of an Early Brethren Baptism

The earliest Brethren were too busy spreading the gospel to keep the sort of records we would like today. The group at Schwarzenau grew by leaps and bounds, and it wasn't long before Alexander Mack and others traveled on evangelistic missions to spread the gospel.

In 1711 Mack performed a baptism in the Marienborn region, near the village of Düdelsheim. This baptism led to Mack's expulsion as well as the mother of the woman who was baptized. The baptism itself, described by a group of spies, was reported by J.L. Winter and Louis Herman Rosa, a local pastor. Their report to the local councilors, who they addressed as "Reverend, Honorable, and Dread Sirs," said,

“We will obediently report without reservation in response to the order received on the thirty-first of past month about the baptismal act in the water here, which we were diligent to investigate in detail immediately. We learned that this was carried out on the twenty-first of August in the Seeme brook in the woods. It was seen by some subjects, named John Fegebrandt, John Ernest Lüder, John George Nantz, Kristopher Krafft., etc. A person named Alexander Mack, born at Schriesheim near Heidelberg and usually residing at Schwarzenau but now staying with Jacob Bossert… performed this act…."

Brethren witnesses included Martin Lucas and Daniel Ritter as well as their spouses. Eva Elizabeth Hoffman was baptized, and her sister was also in attendance. The official report goes on to say:

These are the circumstances of how the baptism was carried out: they knelt around an oak tree with lifted hands, and prayed. The baptizer, however, went at once into the brook, measuring the depth with a stick. He then said, "Come in." The person in question (who looked as if she did not want to go into the water but was held to it by the others) entered the water and knelt, resting on her heels. The baptizer then began to question her: "If you are willing to renounce the world, and the devil and your own flesh, then answer with 'Yes'." She answered, "Yes." He then grasped her braids and dipped her three consecutive times under the water with these words: "I baptize you in the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." After this he went with her out of the water and said, "Now your spirit and faith are strengthened." She went to the tree where the other women held a linen sheet around her to one side.

When she changed her clothes, they all sang the last verse of the hymn "Lord Jesus Christ, Turn Toward Us". After this they kissed one another and went to the house of the buttonmaker, Martin Lucas.

How much of Eva Elizabeth's reluctance to be baptized, as observed by the spies, was wishful thinking on their part is unclear, but eventually her mother and Mack were expelled by local authorities. Mack returned to perform baptisms on more than one occasion, and it was from this region that several important Brethren leaders, such as John Naas and Peter Becker, were converted.

And that's the Tercentennial minute for Sunday, August 10, 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)

Godspeed

One our members - today's worship leader, in fact - is moving to Wisconsin this week to begin graduate school. We're taking few minutes to recognize what she has contributed to the life of this church and to bless her as she journeys onward. Our prayer is for "Godspeed," that the Lord will take care of her along the way, and that wherever the road leads, she will listen for God to speak, even in "the sound of sheer silence." We'll pray and share a simple gift with which she can remember us. (for examples of previous services like this, click here.)

Pastoral Prayer

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

More Highlights from Annual Conference

Our delegate to this year's Annual Conference will share for a second time this summer during worship about this event, ending with a prayer something like the following:

By your grace, O Lord, our denomination has lived for your glory and our neighbor’s good yet another year in this three century long story. Thank you for drawing your people together yet again to seek your guidance and the courage to continue walking by faith beyond this celebration. You have brought us together here this morning for the very same purpose. Inspire us for the journey that lies ahead. Help us to put to wise use the resources from you that we now share with one another. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Ushers?

(He provided the following write-up for a bulletin insert:)

2008 Annual Conference minutes

The 220th Recorded Annual Conference celebrating the 300th Anniversary of the beginning of the Brethren was held in Richmond, Virginia, July 12 - 16, 2008. The theme as stated was "Surrendered to God, Transformed in Christ, Empowered by the Spirit." In addition to the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, the Brethren Church held it’s General Conference, concurrently, resulting in joint celebration of 300 years of Brethren existence.

Moderator James Beckwith and Moderator-elect David Shumate presided over the Business Sessions held Monday and Tuesday, July 14th and 15th in the Richmond Coliseum.

Items of business included the following:

"Resolution Urging Forbearance" (approved as amended). What it means (WIM) is that we respect differences of opinion; that we see them as the blessing that is available with openness; and that we allow the Holy Spirit to draw us together to be of one heart.

"Query: Conference Witness to Host City" was adopted and is to be referred to the Program Arrangements Committee to coordinate with the host district (city) of Annual Conference each year. WIM is that while there we can assist the locality with activities such as blood drives, food contributions, and other caring and nurturing activities.

"Resolution on Slavery in the 21st Century" (approved as amended). WIM is that this resolution is a call to be aware that many forms of slavery continue to exist today, to care for those who have been victimized, and to change our personal lifestyle habits that support it.

"Update to Ministerial Ethics" (approved with three amendments after much discussion). WIM is that this update replaces the "1996 Ethics in Ministry Relations" and all other ethics papers.

"Resolution of Ministers’ Medical Insurance Crisis" (approved). WIM is that congregations should provide medical insurance for pastors and their families.

"Revision to Unfunded Mandates" (approved) WIM is that the costs of new programming, etc. may not be included in current budgets. If this is so, Standing Committee may recommend to delay a decision by Annual Conference for one year. Also, the Program Feasibility Committee may have to conduct a study and cost analysis of the proposed program.

The 2009 Annual Conference to be held in San Diego, California, will utilize David Shumate as Moderator, and Shawn Flory Replogle as Moderator-elect, to preside over the Business Sessions

Benediction