Worship Order for Sunday

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
September 25, 2011
Worship 10:00 am              Sunday School 11:10am
 

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus…(Philippians 2:5)

  Beginning with Praise (9:50 am)                               "Give me Jesus"
  Announcements
  Video Prelude                              "Psalm 25"

*And he teaches the humble his way (an affirmation)                                    714

*Hymn                        "All hail the power of Jesus’ name"                           106

*Opening Prayer

  Gospel                                  Matthew 21:23-32

  For Children                           "The Big Brag"                         by Dr. Seuss

  Hymn                      (vs. 1) "I know not why God’s wondrous"                      338

  Prayer of Confession

  Hymn                       (vs. 2) "I know not why God’s wondrous"                      338

  Assurance of Forgiveness

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

  Response to each item shared:
                         “For this we pray”   or   “We thank you, Lord

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

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

  Scripture                                 Philippians 2:1-13

  Song                                      "The Christ Hymn"                   (insert/overhead)

  Message                              "Living the Song" (text and mp3)

*Responding with a Prayer                                                      (insert/overhead)

*and a Hymn             "Lord, whose love in humble service"                         369

*Benediction

*Postlude


*Rise in body or in spirit

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Video Prelude
"Psalm 25"

 

And he teaches the humble his way
(an affirmation)

He was the Son of God.
         He was the Son of Man.
He came down from heaven.
         He was born in a stable.
Kings came to his cradle.
         His first home was a cave.
He was born to be a king.
         He was a child of Mary.
He was the greatest among rulers.
         He was the least among servants.
He was loved and honored.
         He was despised and rejected.
He was gentle and loving.
         He made many enemies.
He counseled perfection.
         He was a friend of sinners.
He was a joyful companion.
         He was a man of sorrows.
He said, "Rejoice."
         He said, "Repent."
"Love God with all your heart."
         "Love your neighbor as yourself."
"Don't be anxious."
         "Count the cost."
"Deny yourself."
         "Ask and receive."
In him was life.
         He died on a cross.
He was a historic person.
         He lives today.
He was Jesus of Nazareth.
         He is Christ the Lord.

Hymnal #714
adapted from We Gather Together, Kenneth I. Morse,
©1979 Brethren Press.
     

Opening Prayer

            We sing, O Lord, not with the confidence of those who think we have it all together, but with the humility of those who hope that we are teachable. In these moments broken open by your presence,
                        reveal to us glimpses of glory,
                        overwhelm us with grace,
                        rekindle our passion for your kingdom, and
                        nudge us toward footsteps of faithfulness.
            This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
  

For Children
The Big Brag

We'll read together this story by Dr. Seuss. A youtube of a youth reading it aloud to children can be heard/seen here.

 

Prayer of Confession

God does not seek to condemn but to save.  Let us confess our sin. 

            Most merciful God, we are not completely useless sinners, devoid of all light and love. To loathe ourselves would be to blaspheme your name as our Loving Creator. Nor are we hopelessly locked within our flawed genes and the vicious circles of world evil. To cynically settle for repeating old mistakes without hope of change, would be to blaspheme your name as our Loving Savior. Yet we know we have been seduced by the evil of the world, and to some degree we have added to the frustration and pain of life.

But you have never ceased to love us,
            never forgotten our names,
never ceased to recognise the potential for greatness
            that lies within each of us,
never stopped working for our rescue
            and for our healing and fulfilment.

            Please continue your work of redemption. Forgive our  sins, cleanse us from the taint of evil, and deliver us from our individual weaknesses. In the hour of temptation help us to be aware of what is happening and to name evil for what it is.

Abiding in the love of Jesus,
            may we withstand evil’s insidious pressures,
            and take delight in small victories.
May we be both the recipients of salvation
            and the gracious agents of it.
To your endless glory, through Christ Jesus our Saviour.
Amen!

by Bruce Prewer, Uniting Church in Australia
  

Assurance of Forgiveness

            My sisters and brothers, embrace your salvation. Once you have honestly made your confession, and prayed for absolution, don’t insult God by returning to past sins and poring over your shame. Let the past go. Embrace the future without burden or anxiety. For you “know in whom you have believed, and that he is able to keep safe all you have committed to him until the Great Day” of final victory comes. Thanks be to God! Amen!

by Bruce Prewer, Uniting Church in Australia
  

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Please pray with me:

Faithful God, we gratefully acknowledge that you are the giver of all things.  You call us to share these gifts so that we may experience the joy and humility of giving to others.  We pray that this very act of offering our gifts to you will enable us to be obedient disciples of your work.  We are blessed to receive and to offer the message of salvation.  Jesus Christ is Lord.  Praise your holy name!

Ushers, please guide us in returning our tithes and offerings.

Copyright © 2011 David S. Bell.
Reprinted with permission
from www.DavidSBell.org
  

Responding with a Prayer

Help me empty myself, Lord,
Of things that resist your will.
Like pride and selfishness
Ego and worldly ambition.

Help me empty myself, Lord,
So that I can stumble my way
Into your plans for me.
To extend healing hands to the hurting,
To speak words of comfort to those who mourn,
To keep watch with my eyes on behalf of the powerless.
To cradle the forlorn in your love.

Help me empty myself, Lord.
You empty me.
So that Christ may be seen in my life.

(written by the Rev. Dr. Safiyah Fosua,
Copyright General Board of Discipleship.
www.GBOD.org    Used by permission.)
  

Benediction

Go now to will and to work for God’s purposes.
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.
Be filled with the same love
and look to the interests of others.
With reverence for God, work out your salvation.

And may God quench your thirst with love and consolation;
May Christ Jesus strengthen you and encourage you;
And may the Holy Spirit lead you on and make your joy complete.

©2002 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)

 

return to
Worship Orders
page

return to
Worship
page

return to
Sermon
page

return to
Long Green Valley Church
page