Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
October 26, 2008
Worship 10:00 am

100th Anniversary Homecoming Celebration

  Morning Praise (9:45 am)                                                                                    Praise Band
  Announcements
  Prelude                                      "Psalm XIX"                                    Marcello

God of our life

  Call to Worship

  Choral Introit                             "Hymn to Joy"                Beethoven/van Dyke

*Opening Prayer

*Hymn                                "We praise thee, O God"                                   99

Through all the circling years

  Responsive Gospel Reading                                                                      834

  Video Presentation     

  Greetings from
       the Mid-Atlantic District     - Dale Posthumus, 2008 Moderator
       the Church of the Brethren  - Sue Ellen Wheatley, AC Standing Committee
                                                        (for Stan Noffsinger, General Secretary)

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

  Prayer Song                            "Give Me Jesus"

  Morning Prayer

We trust in thee

  For Children 

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

  Offertory Anthem               "The Heavens Resound"                       Beethoven
                                        (Please sign the attendance pad and pass it on)

  Dedication

Through all our hopes and fears

  Scripture                                Jeremiah 29:11-14

  Hymn                            "The church's one foundation"                              311

  Scripture                                 Romans 8:31-39

  Message                          "A Future with Hope"                Frank Ramirez

Thy hand we see

  Choral Anthem                      "Great God Above"                  arr. Christiansen

  A Litany of Thanks

*Hymn                                      "God of our Life"                                      486

*Benediction

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship
Psalm 16
(Laughing Bird paraphrase)

1 - Protect me, God, you are my place of refuge.

2 - I’m acknowledging you as the one in charge, LORD; you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

1 - I delight in the company of those who dedicate themselves to you; they are the salt of the earth.

2 - Those who worship other things will have nothing but grief. I will not buy into their futile devotions; I will not utter the names they revere.

1 - You are all I want, LORD, and all I need; you hold my future in your hands.

2 - You mark out the best of everything for me; you’ve set me up with a bright future.

1 - I heap accolades on you, LORD, for you always give me wise advice; even in the dead of night you fill my heart with your teachings.

2 - I’ll always stick close behind you, LORD; with you near by, I’ll never be pushed off track.

1 - You fill me with delight, LORD; joy erupts from deep in my bones; my body relaxes, safe in your care.

2 - You’ll never let the grave drag me down; your faithful servants are never left for dead.

1 - You set my feet on a life-giving track, LORD. To be in your presence is absolute bliss.

2 - All I could dream of comes from your hand.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net
  

Opening Prayer

God of glory, Lord of love,
shower with blessings from above
these your people gathered here.
Draw us inward, pull us near,
that the whispers of your Word,
may refresh us as they’re heard.
Dwell within the things we share,
even things we wouldn’t dare.
These we lay before the cross.
Sin released and burden lost.
That with Christ, Lord, we may rise,
holy ones before your eyes,
powered by your Spirit’s fire,
opened wide and lifted higher.
Nudge us outward, when we’re done
to continue what’s just begun,
as your glorious work on earth,
this our purpose from our birth.
Amen.
  

Responsive Gospel Reading

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.  Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored?  It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

You are the light of the world.  A city built on a hill cannot be hid.

No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

Hymnal #834, Matthew 5:1-16 from the New Revised Standard Version,
copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
  

Video Presentation

         As part of our upcoming Homecoming celebration, Gary Miller and Mark Lane have been producing a video highlighting the history of our congregation, decade by decade. This is the final installment, introduced by Gary. DVD's of it can be ordered by contacting the church.
  

Morning Prayer

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

For Children
“Fruit Salad”

            This is a special time in the service for our children led by Melanie Jones, who was called to the ministry from this congregation, licensed in 1986, and ordained in 1989.
  

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

In 1978, sister Martha Reed, whose painting graces the entryway of this meetinghouse, wrote the following poem, entitled, “Thy Kingdom Come.” As you prepare to return your offering just now, allow these words to return you to God. Listen.

(momentary pause and posture shift to indicate poem is finished)

Brothers and sisters, give out of God’s abundance. Ushers?
  

Dedication

            It’s not just the heavens that resound with your praises, O Lord. Our tithes and offerings this morning, though meager in comparison, echo your glory. We bring our blessings and our prayerful thanks, for - indeed - there is “enough and to spare for all.” This we pray in the name of the one who fed the multitude with a few loaves and fish. Amen
  

Romans 8:31-39

(After the guest preacher is introduced, these 3 voices read this scripture as if one person, flowing smoothly. Using microphones, 1 stands at lectern, 2 is in front of the piano, and 3 is in front of the organ.)

1 - What then are we to say about these things?

2 - If God is for us, who is against us?

3 - He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?

1 - Who will bring any charge against God’s elect?

2 - It is God who justifies.

3 - Who is to condemn?

1 - It is Christ Jesus, who died,

2 - yes,

3 - who was raised,

1 - who is at the right hand of God,

2 - who indeed intercedes for us.

3 - Who will separate us from the love of Christ?

1 - Will hardship,

2 - or distress,

3 - or persecution,

1 - or famine,

2 - or nakedness,

3 - or peril,

1 - or sword?

2 - As it is written,

3 - “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”

1 - No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

2 - For I am convinced that neither death,

3 - nor life,

1 - nor angels,

2 - nor rulers,

3 - nor things present,

1 - nor things to come,

2 - nor powers,

3 - nor height,

1 - nor depth,

2 - nor anything else in all creation,

3 - will be able to separate us from the love of God

All - in Christ Jesus our Lord.

from the New Revised Standard Version.
  

A Litany of Thanks

O Lord our God, for the vision of those who planted this congregation, and for the commitment and dedication of all who served together in the beginning,

We give you thanks, O Lord.

For those who have served so faithfully in leadership positions down through the years,

We give you thanks, O Lord.

For those who have willingly sought to teach, encourage, counsel and mentor,

We give you thanks, O Lord.

For those who have been such a part of our fellowship for so many years, and now serve you in the church triumphant in heaven,

We give you thanks, O Lord.

For the ways in which we have been able to care for one another, support one another on the journey of life, and give strength to one another,

We give you thanks, O Lord.

For baptisms we've celebrated, professions of faith we have heard, and answers to prayer that we have experienced,

We give you thanks, O Lord.

For the joy of worshipping you faithfully and vibrantly, hearing your Word, singing your praise, and seeking your strength,

We give you thanks, O Lord.

For a commitment to remain true to your Word in a world of confusing and conflicting voices,

We give you thanks, O Lord.

For generosity that has enabled us to reach far beyond this community with the Gospel of Christ, in word and deed,

We give you thanks, O Lord.

For all the children and youth who have learned here how to follow Jesus and serve him in this world,

We give you thanks, O Lord.

And for this land which has given us opportunity to thrive and worship and serve for the sake of your Kingdom,

We give you thanks, O Lord.

adapted from litany written by Howard Vanderwell and Norma de Waal Malefyt,
Resource Development Specialists at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship.
 

Benediction

Delivered by guest preacher