Worship - March 7, 2010

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
March 7, 2010
Worship 10:00 am Sunday School 11:10am

Third Sunday of Lent

“So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:12-13)

Beginning with Praise (9:50 am) "In your sickness" 585
Announcements
Prelude "The Souls of the Righteous" Noble

Call to Worship (see back of bulletin)

*Hymn "O Love that will not let me go" 577

*Opening Prayer

Scripture Psalm 63:1-8

For Children "when I think of you on my bed"

Scripture Isaiah 55:1-3

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

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

*Response (vs. 4) "All praise to thee, my God" 658

*Dedication

Scripture Luke 13:1-9

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

Hymn "Lord, whose love in humble service" 369

Pastoral Prayer

Scripture 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Message "Self watch" (mp3)

*Ending in Song                  "Go to dark Gethsemane"                                  240
                                                "In your sickness"                                       585
                                           "Praise God from whom"                                   119

*Benediction

*Postlude "For God So Loved Us" Thuringer melody

*Rise in body or in spirit

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship

One: In the midst of life’s struggles and uncertainties, life’s challenges and times of grief, we gather to give voice to the deep thirst within us-

All: Thirst for a fresh taste of God’s abiding presence,

One: Thirst for God’s justice and compassion to find full expression in our hearts,

All: Thirst for wisdom and courage to drink deeply from the fount of God’s goodness and grace.

One: “O God, you are my God, I seek you,

All: My soul thirsts for you ...

One: Because your steadfast love is better than life,

All: My lips will praise you” (Psalm 63:1, 3).

One: People of God, come. Let us give thanks for the One who satisfies our deepest longings, the One who loves us with a love that knows no limits.

by Joel D. Kline, pastor
Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren Elgin, Illinois
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word Series"

Opening Prayer

God of abundant light and love, we open our hearts to you, seeking a love that will not let us go, a light that guides our way, and a joy that sustains us even in times of darkness and pain.
Grant us courage to journey in the footsteps of the One who beckons us to deny ourselves, take up a cross, and follow in the ways of compassion and grace beyond measure. Amen.

by Joel D. Kline, pastor
Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren Elgin, Illinois
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word Series"

For Children
"when I think of you on my bed"

Do you ever have a hard time going to sleep at night? Me, too. Or how about waking up in the middle of the night – do you ever do that? I know I do, usually because I have to go to the bathroom. Sometimes it’s hard to go back to sleep afterward, isn’t it. Well, now, have I got a Bible verse for you. Sarah just read it, but I want to read it again, only from a different translation. Listen.

“I think about you before I go to sleep,
and my thoughts turn to you during the night.”
(Psalm 63:6 – Contemporary English Version)

Repeat that after me… Again… In that Bible verse, who is the “you,” as in “I think about you”? (after playful interaction) That’s right. The “you” is God. It’s saying that God is my last thought as I close my eyes at bedtime, and when I wake up in the night – because I have to go to the bathroom, or because I had a bad dream, or because my eyes just couldn’t stay closed – when I’m awake in the night, I start thinking about God. And that’s a good thing!

Why might it be good to think about God at bedtime or in the middle of the night? (Listen, restate, and affirm) Those are all wonderful reasons! Want to hear some of why that verse in the Bible says, “I think about you before I go to sleep, and my thoughts turn to you during the night”? You’ve already said some of it. It’s because God is like a cup of water when you’re really thirsty. I bet no one has ever woken up in the night and asked your mom or dad for a glass of water. Oh, you have. Well, then, God is like a drink of water that helps you feel better.

Another reason is because God loves us more than anyone else, and will always love us. That’s what it says. It’s a good thing to remember when you get scared in the dark. God, who loves us, is always with us. We can call out and God will hear and will help us. Actually, when you cry in the night and your mom or dad comes to you, they are doing what God wants. Maybe it was even God who woke them up to hear you. Even when you get older, and don’t call out to mom or dad any more, God is still there. Even big people need to think of God and how God’s arms hold us when we are scared, and protect us when we need protection, and provide for us when we are hungry and thirsty.

Do any of you say your prayers before you go to bed? That’s very good. Don’t ever forget to do that. As you get older, maybe you can make it your own regular practice, not just something you do because mom or dad are with you (tho’ it’s nice to do it together, isn’t it? - especially after they read to you – that’s something I loved to do when my children were little). Praying at bedtime used to be called a “watch.” In fact this verse I quoted actually is talking about waking up on purpose in the middle of the night, not to pee or because you had a bad dream, but you wake up in order to pray and to think about God.

In worship, we sometime sing a chorus we call the "Doxology." Any of you remember singing it? It goes, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise him all creatures here below. Praise him above ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.” Remember hearing that? A fellow by the name of Thomas Ken wrote those words over 300 years ago as the last verse of 3 different songs. Two of the songs he wrote especially for school children, one for them to sing after they woke up, during what was called the “Morning Watch.” The other was for bedtime, the “Night Watch.”

This “Night Watch” song is in our hymnal. In fact it is the very last song in the hymnal, #658. I’m not going to read it to you now. Perhaps you can read it yourself when Ms. Eva plays the organ while the ushers collect the offering. Or someone next to you can quietly read the words to you. It’s a good song. After the offering, we’ll sing just the last verse of Thomas Ken’s night song. But for now, let’s pray.

God, help these children, whom you love, to think of you at bedtime and in the middle of the night. For your steadfast love is better than life. You satisfy our hunger and thirst, and you help and protect us. Thank you. Amen.

may be shortened/simplified

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

The mall is a great place to visit, but is it our sanctuary? We can go there for “retail therapy” to fight the late winter blues, or we can turn toward something that, turn toward Someone who more deeply satisfies. “Seek the Lord while he may be found,” Isaiah invites, “call upon him while he is near” (55:6)… As you return your offering just now, turn your heart and mind even more toward God, whose gifts to us are priceless. Simply delight yourself in God’s blessings.

Ushers, would you assist us?

Dedication

Holy God, we offer these gifts in gratitude for the blessings you bestow upon us. Despite our unfruitful ways, we have endless opportunities to reflect your glory in our lives. We turn our hearts and minds to the commitment that you have made to us through your son Jesus Christ. May these gifts become symbolic of our desire to renew our covenant relationship with you, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

Pastoral Prayer

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

Benediction

Go now; turn to the Lord, and let his thoughts fill your minds.
Do not expend your resources on that which cannot satisfy,
and do not become overly sure of yourselves,
lest you fall into temptation.
Instead seek the Lord while he may be found,
and take the path to freedom that opens before you.

And may God’s love be better to you even than life;
May Christ Jesus be to you a rock and a life-giving spring;
And may the Holy Spirit strengthen you
and guide you in the ways of life.