Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
March 11, 2012
Worship 10:00 am              Sunday School 11:10am
 

  Beginning with Praise (9:50 am)        "God, whose purpose is to kindle"       135
  Announcements
  Prelude

  Call to Worship                         Psalm 19:1-6

*Hymn                                     "Joy to the world"                                       318

*Opening Prayer

  Scripture                                   Psalm 19:7-14

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

  Hymn                         "God, whose purpose is to kindle"                          135

  Pastoral Prayer

  Scripture                                   Exodus 20:1-7

  With our Children         "Climbing and Listening"

  Scripture                             1 Corinthians 1:18-25

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

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

  Scripture                                    John 2:13-22

  Message                 "Cleansing rod on greed and lies" (mp3)

*Hymn                         "Strong, righteous man of Galilee"                            540

*Benediction

*Postlude

*Rise in body or in spirit

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship
Psalm 19:1-6

1 – The heavens are telling the glory of God;

2 – Yes, we could have stayed in bed an hour longer this morning, but then we would have missed out on how…

1 – the firmament proclaims God’s handiwork.

2 – Wake up! Not just physically, but mentally and spiritually, because…

1 – Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.

2 – All around us, each and every moment, God’s re-creating Word is being spoken.

1 – There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;

2 – Amid the silence, as well as in the middle of all our noise, listen…

1 – yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

2 – Are you listening? Are you making space for the Holy One to dwell in your life? Are you ready to meet God in this a tabernacle?

1 – In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy.

2 – Arise, O bride of Christ. The Son is coming to greet you, O church. Stand up, as you are given strength and meet him with joy.

1 – Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.

2 – Yes, arise with the Son and spring forward. Sing out God’s “Joy to the world.”

scripture text from the New Revised Standard Version, adapted
copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
  

Opening Prayer

The joy of your coming kingdom erupts all around us,
      O Creator and Ruler,
            on earth as it is in heaven.
You fill our days with goodness and mercy,
      O Provider and Sustainer,
            from the rising of the sun to its setting.
By the light of moon and stars,
      O Guide and Deliverer,
            your promises inspire faith
                  amid our doubts and fears.
Rise within us,
      O Savior and Redeemer,
            that we might worship you
                  in spirit and in truth.
Overturn our false hopes and lies,
      O Son of Man and Son of God,
            that we might seek your Word
                  and live in your Light.
                                    Amen!
  

Pastoral Prayer

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

For Children
"Climbing and Listening"

This is an “activity” more than a “story.” With little ones who are getting used to being with us during worship, the intent is to move, not just sit still (yet a struggle for the newly mobile). We will simply remember when Moses climbed the mountain to meet God. Thus, we will pretend to “climb” back the center aisle. On this mountain, God gave some commandments. Before the service, we will distribute 10 sheets of paper (scattered around the sanctuary, each person holding one and sitting near an aisle).

One at a time, in numerical order, each will stand when the pastor says “Then God spoke all these words.” Encourage the youngest (helped by older children) to look for and see the person who is standing, and go over to him or her. When the children arrive – and are paying attention (which is important) – that person will read (maybe prefaced with “listen to this” or “pay attention”) his or her commandment from God to the children, showing the words as s/he does so.

Proceed through all ten, one at a time. We are not explaining, just experiencing. After the last one, we will pretend to climb down the mountain to the front of the sanctuary, closing with a simple prayer.

     Thank you, God, for legs that can climb and for ears that can listen. Thank you for all your words. Amen.

Scripture
1 Corinthians 1:18-25

For the following scripture, I will be reading from the Cotton Patch version. This paraphrase was written in the context of the deep south of our country during the struggle for civil rights. Baptist preacher Clarence Jordan wrote as if Jesus had come to Georgia, and was speaking to church folks there, both white and black. In this paraphrase, the cross on which Jesus died becomes the hangman’s noose of a lynching. Both are horrible and despicable symbols, something we too easily forget. To say that Jesus was killed (or murdered) in either of these ways, and to place this symbol at the core of the gospel message, is - indeed - hard to swallow. Listen to what the apostle Paul wrote, according to the Cotton Patch.

-------------------------

To the so-called "practical" people, the idea of the noose is a lot of silly talk, but to those of us who have been let in on its meaning, it is the source of divine power. It’s just like the Scripture says:

            I will tear to bits the dissertations of the Ph.D’s;
            I will pull the rug from under those who have all the answers.

Then what becomes of the "bright" boy? What does this do to the "egghead"? Where does the worldly-wise professor wind up? Hasn’t God made human reasoning appear utterly ridiculous? Therefore, since the world with all of its learning was unable to understand God, God in his own wisdom decided to save, through the "folly" of the Christian message, all those who put their trust in it. So, while the church people are always demanding some miraculous display and the scientists are looking for intellectual answers, we go right on proclaiming a lynched Christ. To be sure, this is an insult to some churchmen, and so much bunk to the non-Christians, but to those in the fellowship, whether they are churchmen or scientists, white or black, Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom. And bear in mind that God’s "foolishness" is far superior to human wisdom, and that God’s "weakness" is stronger than man’s might.

©1968 by Clarence Jordan. Used by permission of Koinonia Partners
This translation by Dr. Jordan is based on the Nestle-Aland Greek text, twenty third edition (1957).
    

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Please pray with me.

            Yes, Lord, we struggle to grasp your “foolishness.” We want a sanitized cross and a less demanding message. We want to be strong as the world defines strength. However, we know enough to realize that such “wisdom” is utterly ridiculous, and that amid what seems “weak” you are at work doing far more than we dare hope and imagine.
            Bless these gifts we are about to give toward what we humbly perceive to be your work in this world. As we do so, though, shake us up a bit. Turn our thinking upside down or, in reality, right-side up, that we may proclaim – in word and in deed – the foolishness of the cross, which is the power of God. In Christ Jesus. Amen.

Ushers?
  

Benediction

Go now, with God’s foolishness and weakness
........as your only wisdom and strength.
Proclaim Christ crucified,
and seek riches only in the love of God’s Word
and in zeal for God’s house.

And may God’s just demands be your nourishment & delight.
May Christ be the power and wisdom of God to you.
And may the Holy Spirit keep you, thought and word,
........in God’s good grace.

©2003 Nathan Nettleton www.laughingbird.net