Worship Order for Sunday

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
January 2, 2011
Worship 10:00 am              Sunday School 11:10am

Epiphany 

      The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board.”  (Ephesians 3:6, from The Message)

  Beginning with Praise (9:50 am)
  Announcements
  Prelude

  Call to Worship                                                                      (back of bulletin)

*Hymn                            "As with gladness men of old"                               218

*Opening Prayer

  Scripture                                    Isaiah 60:1-6

  Video by Children          "The Christmas Story"

  Scripture                              Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14

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

  Hymn                                "Some children see him"                                (insert)

  Pastoral Prayer  (an .mp3 audio file)

  Scripture                                 Ephesians 3:1-12

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

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

*Response                                 (vs. 3) "What child is this"                                   215

*Dedication

  Scripture                                 Matthew 2:1-12

  Message           "Elway, Clayton, and Vince" (revisited)
                                                         (text version    .mp3 audio)

*Hymn                            "We three kings of Orient are"                          (insert)

*Benediction

*Postlude


*Rise in body or in spirit

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship
(Reader's Theater)

One:     Beacon of light, bright,
                      announcing the birth of a king

Two:     Beacon of light, bright,
                      beckoning wise men from afar

Three:   Beacon of light, bright,
                      promising the dawn of a new age

Two:     Beacon of light, bright,
                      revealing darkness in the hearts of men

One:      Beacon of light, bright,
                      bringing joy to genuine seekers

Three:    Beacon of light, bright,
                      guiding travelers to the Christ child

Two:      Beacon of light, bright,
                      rising Star of Christ, the Light of the world

One:      Wise men from the East followed the star

Three:    Seeking the king

Two:      Kneeling in worship

Three:    Obeying the voice of God

All:         So too may we follow, seek, worship, and obey,
                      welcoming the light of Christ in us

by Kathleen Miller, pastoral team
Conestoga Church of the Brethren
Leola, Pennsylvania
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word Series"
  

Opening Prayer

            God of all time, we praise and adore you for breaking into the darkness of this world with the glorious light of your presence.  A light which made your love for the world visible in the babe born in Bethlehem - Jesus Christ, your Son, our Savior.  A light which guided those gift-bearing travellers from afar to find and worship the Christ-child.  A light which leads us to you, now revealed in Jesus Christ.  We pray that you will accept our worship for it arises from hearts and minds in awe over the enormity of your gift to us of pure love. In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen

from Liturgies Online,
by Rev Moira Laidlaw,
Uniting Church in Australia
    

Video by Children
"The Christmas Story"

 
  

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

            In this passage of scripture, the apostle Paul briefly touches upon how the light of Christ dramatically illuminated his life. This light then compelled him to reach out to all the people who were outside the covenant God made with the children of Israel, and draw them to Jesus. Like one of those wise men in the Christmas story, he came bearing gifts – the “boundless riches of Christ,” which he freely shared.

            As you return your offering just now, think about what gifts you can freely share with the people around you who may feel outside the covenant of God. What of your “boundless riches” in Christ might you bear to them? How might you be like the Magi, following the light to places and into the lives of people you’ve not yet met? What is your gold, frankincense, and myrrh?

Ushers, please guide us in giving our offerings.
 

Dedication

            We dedicate these offerings, O Lord, to the work our your church. Help us to use them wisely. Challenge us daily to reach out with what light we have to share freely the riches we have in Christ. Consecrate each of us to this work. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
 

Benediction

Go now, seek out the Christ wherever he may be found,
and share the good news with all who bear him no ill will.
Bring light to those in thick darkness,
a voice to those no one speaks for,
and hope to those no one cares for.

And may God make you a sharer in the promised light.
May Christ Jesus fill you with his sense of what is right.
And may the Holy Spirit be to you like rain
that gives life to the fertile earth.

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net
   

(para traducir a español, presione la bandera de España)

 

Interested in Sunday School?
Below is a growing list of possible sites to visit. As you discover others, please let us know.

International Lesson:
Faith and Life Resources

Mennonite Publishing House

International Lesson:
Mennonite Weekly Review

(scroll down on left to "Sunday School lessons)

International Lesson:
Christian Standard
(one week ahead)

International Lesson:
Living Web Sunday School Project

 
International Lesson:
Adult Bible Studies
from The United Methodist Publishing House
(click "supplemental resources" and "current events supplement" under both the "Student" and "Teacher" sections in the left hand column)
  

While one of our adult classes follows the International lesson above (see also), using
A Guide for Biblical Studies,
published quarterly by our denomination,
another class often uses one of the
Good Ground series.

For children and youth, we use the new
Gather Round curriculum
(developed jointly by the Church of the Brethren and the Mennonite Church)

 

©2010 Peter L. Haynes
(unless otherwise stated, worship resources were written by him)

 

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