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

  Beginning with Praise (9:50 am)                "Christ is our cornerstone"               43
  Announcements
  Prelude                           "From Thy Throne So High"                             Gluck

*Call to Worship                                                                      (back of bulletin)

*Hymn                              "Thou true Vine, that heals"                                 373

*Unison Opening Prayer                                                          (back of bulletin)

  Scripture                                     Isaiah 5:1-7

  For Children                          "The Gardiner"

  Scripture                                 Galatians 5:22-26              (from The Message)

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

  Pastoral Prayer

  Scripture                                Philippians 3:4b-16

  Song                                         "Pressing On"                                 (see inert)

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

  Offertory                    "The Rock That Is Higher Than I"            Johnson/Fischer
                                        (Please sign the attendance pad and pass it on)

  Scripture                                Matthew 21:33-46

  Message                             "Vines and Stones" (mp3)

*Hymn                           "Gracious Spirit, dwell with me"                             507

*Benediction

*Postlude                                 "Darwall’s 148^th"                                  Darwall

*Rise in body or in spirit

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship

All:      Lord, in this place of worship, we ask you to save us. We are often in trouble! You know it, and so do we. We need to seek your shining face.

One:     Apart from you we are like a vineyard whose grapes have been plundered. By ourselves we resemble a city whose walls have been broken down. Without you we are like a frightened people running from wild boars.

All:      Lord, do not forsake us. Come back and watch over us, so that instead of perishing, we might be like a vine that roots deeply and covers the mountains with shade.

One:     Remember, Lord, you have a stake in us. You planted us.

All:      Hear our cries this day, O God. Draw near to us as we worship, and as we pray.

by Jeffrey Copp, pastor
Agape Church of the Brethren, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word Series"
 

Unison Opening Prayer

            Like light shining through sanctuary windows, Lord, penetrate the darkness in our lives. We know the darkness is often of our own making. Forgive us whatever blame we cast on you. We desire to be your fruitful people. May our worship and our lives reflect your light. Amen.

by Jeffrey Copp, pastor
Agape Church of the Brethren, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word Series"
 

For Children
"The Gardiner"

Borrowing something written by Ruth Gilmore, from Saving the Ants (Matthew/ year A), ©2001, Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, p. 110-111.
  

Pastoral Prayer

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

Returning our Tithes and Offerings
  

      In his autobiography (chapter 6), Erastus Johnson, a 19^th century businessman and poet, wrote the following about something that happened during the financial panic of 1871:

“There was a convention of the Y.M.C.A. at Carlisle [Pennsylvania], which I attended as a delegate, and John Wanamaker was president of the convention. About the second day there came a telegram from Philadelphia that the banking house of Jay Cook & Co. had failed, in which Mr. Wanamaker had $70,000 which to him at that time in life was a great amount to lose. Soon followed reports of other firms throughout the country, indicating a general panic. As a matter of course, it threw a pall of gloom over the convention, for nearly all its members were men of business. As an expression of the common feeling I wrote “The Rock That Is Higher Than I.”…Mr. Wm. Fisher of Philadelphia, the composer of many tunes for gospel hymns, was at the convention, and in conjunction with Brother William, led the singing. I gave the words to him and he set them to music, sang them, and they with the music immediately became popular in the convention, especially with Mr. Wanamaker, who several times called for it…” 
  

Ponder this rock as you return your offering. Ushers?
  

Benediction

Welcome Christ into this new week.
            After all, this vineyard really belongs to the Lord.
      Bear fruit.
      Build upon what God has already done in Christ.
      Forget what lies behind.
      Strain forward to what lies ahead.
      Press on.
And God will honor your efforts
      as you recognize and follow his Son,
            present with you
                      and in you through the Holy Spirit.
                                     Amen.