Worship - October 17, 2010

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
October 17, 2010
Worship 10:00 am Sunday School 11:10am

For a while (the judge) refused; but later he said to himself, “Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.” (Luke 18:4-5)

Beginning with Praise (9:50 am)
Announcements
Prelude "Toccata in F Major" Buxtehude

Call to Worship Psalm 121

*Hymn "From all that dwell below the skies" 49

*Opening Prayer

Scripture 2 Timothy 3:14-17

For Children "Reading the Instructions"

Scripture 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Responsive Reading "We be preachers" (back of bulletin)

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

Hymn "My hope is built on nothing less" 343

Pastoral Prayer

Scripture Jeremiah 31:27-34

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Offertory "O Love That Will Not Let Me Go" Peace/Hughes
(Please sign the attendance pad and pass it on)

Scripture Luke 18:1-8

Message "A Bothersome Gospel" (mp3)

*Hymn "Awake my soul" 609

*Benediction

*Postlude "Bounding Heart" Brightbill

*Rise in body or in spirit

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Opening Prayer

O God eternal, without whom life has no adequate meaning for these times or any time, but with whom there is purpose for the past, power for the present, and promise for the future; we wait and worship. Transform us by your wisdom and love. Amen.

by Sam Flora,
from For All Who Minister,
Brethren Press, ©1993, p.87

For Children
"Reading the Instructions"

Theme: In the Bible, God tells us how to live.

The importance of the Bible is a fact that needs to be taught to each generation of children, as well as repeated to adults. As the basis for our faith and Christian identity, the Bible's priority as a resource must be maintained. That priority is far from assured in a culture filled with self-help books and personal gurus and other ways of selling happiness. Distinctively, the Bible offers God's advice, God's teaching, and God's instruction about life and success. People need to be made aware of God's manual as a source of wisdom.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3: 16

Device: A plastic model kit

Technique: Ask the children if they have ever put together a model kit. Did they find it easy or hard? Were they able to follow the directions? Open up your kit and display all the parts and the instructions. Comment on how many pieces there are in the model. Do they think they could ever get the model all together without directions? We might get a few things right, but we'd never get it perfect. We'd probably leave things out or get them in backward. That's why we have the instructions, to tell us how to put the model together.

The Bible is like that. The Bible is a book with instructions. Who wrote those instructions? The Bible has God's instructions. And who are those directions for? They're for us. The Bible is like an instruction book for people, just like one for models. If we want to know what to do, if we want to know what's good or bad, the Bible is a place we can go to find out.

Read the Bible passage. The Bible is good for teaching and correcting and for telling us what's best. The Bible is God's book, telling us how to live so that we'll be happy.

Note: You can give an example of what the Bible says about an important question for kids, or you can ask if they have any questions they'd like to ask the Bible.

by Bucky Dan, from More Children's Sermons,
©1993, Westminster/John Knox Press, Philadelphia, p. 79

Responsive Reading
"We be preachers"

One: Preachers, preach!

All: In season, out of season; wandering, wondering; speaking, listening; saying what must be said, leaving some things unsaid ...

One: ... we preach. Here, there, and everywhere, we preach.

All: Connecting our lives to the gospel, and this gospel to our world, we preach.

One: As the Spirit leads, in word and deed, we preach!

All: As we uplift and inspire, as we challenge and change - ourselves and our world ...

One: ... we be preachers!

All: We be preachers! Amen?

One: Amen!

by David Radcliff, director New Community Project Elgin, Illinois
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)

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Please pray with me.

Gracious God, as described in the Book of Jeremiah, you pour out your new covenant for your people. We rejoice in unison by sharing the messages you have written on our hearts. Salvation in Jesus Christ is the prosperity we need to proclaim to those searching for your mercy and love. Multiply these gifts so that ministries are provided with your people today who seek to be in a faithful relationship with you. Amen.

Ushers?

Benediction

Go now, awakened to the voice of God
      who speaks in his Word and his world.
As you leave this place,
      be listening amid the noise of your everyday life.
      Be persistent, for the One whom you follow is not dead,
            nor are his teachings and his promises.
      Don’t get discouraged.
      Keep asking … seeking … knocking,
            for times of receiving, finding, and opening will come.
Christ Jesus is alive.
      Be alive in him,
            the Word written upon your heart, always there.
Amen.