Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
May 20, 2012
Worship 10:00 am              Sunday School 11:10am

Seventh Sunday of Easter 

  Beginning with Praise (9:50 am)             "Rejoice, the Lord is king!"              288
  Announcements
  Prelude

  Call to Worship                              Psalm 1

*Hymn                        "All creatures of our God and King"                           48

*Opening Prayer

  Scripture                                     Acts 1:1-14

  For Children                      "Running the race"

  Scripture                                     John 17:6-9

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

  Hymn                         "O Master, let me walk with thee"                           357

  Pastoral Prayer

  Scripture                                   1 John 5:9-13

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

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

  Scripture                                    Acts 1:15-26

  Message                       "Repair, remake, receive" (mp3)

*Hymn                                "Spirit of God! descend"                                  502

*Benediction

*Postlude  

*Rise in body or in spirit

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship

1 - Happy are those who do not follow evil advice,

2 - or walk the path of wrongdoing,

1 - or sit with those who deride and ridicule.

2 - Instead, they love the Lord's Instruction,

1 - they pay attention to what God says 24/7.

2 - They are like trees planted by streams of water.

1 - Their fruit grows in season,

2 - and their leaves do not wither.

1 - They succeed in what really matters.

2 - On the other hand are the wicked.

1 - They are like chaff which the wind blows away.

2 - They won't make it in the long run.

1 - The righteous are guided and protected by the Lord,

2 - but the wicked follow a road that leads to ruin.

(pause)

1 - We have gathered this day to follow the beat of a different drum,

2 - God's drum; and to speak what needs to be spoken,

1 - God's Word; and to sing what needs to be sung,

2 - God's song. So, rise, "all creatures of our God and King,

1 - lift up your voice and with us sing."

2 - #48 in your hymnal.
  

Opening Prayer

In the silence,
which can call us
to pay attention;
in those holy moments
which open our eyes
to your Word;
in the ability to grasp
your grace and never let go:
in all these ways, you give testimony
to your faithfulness to us,
Creative God.

In the gentleness
of a father's touch
which can calm our fears;
in the passion
of a mother's belief
which endures through all our years;
in words, spoken and silent,
which can guide our feet
every step of the way:
through all these gifts, you vouch for
the gracious goodness of Abba,
our Brother and Friend.

In common sense
of the teacher
who dared us to dream;
in the innate wisdom
of the co-worker
who never got past 6th grade;
in those seeds placed
deep within our hearts,
which bear fruit in odd moments:
with all these wonders, you affirm
the One who completes our joy.

We are one with you,
God in Community, Holy in One,
so we lift our prayer to you, saying,
Our Father . . .

by Rev. Thom M. Shuman, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
from Lectionary Liturgies, Easter 7B, 2012.
    

Acts 1:1-14

            We turn now to the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles, the New Testament story of what happened after Jesus left his disciples to return to the kingdom of heaven. This story continues right where the same writer, a physician by the name of Luke, left off at the end of his gospel. In fact, he here repeats what he’s already written about the ascension, but in a slightly different way. The first verse indicates that Luke wrote this work, just like his gospel, for someone named Theophilus, about whom we know nothing. This was a common literary device in the era. If you will, hear your own name spoken when Theophilus is mentioned, for they have been passed down to us. Listen.

read Acts 1:1-14

For Children
"Running the race"

            The account of the Ascension makes it clear that Jesus passes his ministry to his disciples.  Near the end of school many elementary schools have field days featuring, among other events, relay races.  Describe or ask some children to help you demonstrate the passing of a baton in a relay race.  Children could run the perimeter of the sanctuary, carrying a baton which they pass to the next child at the front of the sanctuary.  Then explain that though Jesus did not actually pass a baton to his disciples, he did tell them very clearly that they were to take up his ministry on earth.  His earthly part of the race was complete, but theirs was just starting.

by Carolyn C. Brown
from Worshiping with Children,
Including children in the congregation's worship.
  

John 17:6-9

Shifting from the Acts of the Apostles (to which we will later return) to the gospel story, we enter midway through a prayer. This is not from Luke's account, but from the gospel of John. Starting at this point is a bit like coming into the church sanctuary after worship has already begun. We realize someone is praying, and so we stop where we are, bow our heads, and listen. It's a rather lengthy prayer of Jesus, and we will end this portion long before Jesus finishes. When he was done with the whole prayer, according to John, he and his disciples left the upper room and went to the garden of Gethsemane, where he was arrested and taken, eventually, to his death upon the cross. Listen to this portion of his prayer.

read John 17:6-9

Pastoral Prayer

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

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

            If you have not already looked over what is written on the back of your bulletin, I invite you to do so while we return our tithes and offerings. In it, a "life coach" Terrie Glass, a member of the West Richmond, VA Church of the Brethren, tells the story of a woman whose heart God captured during a life-changing medical mission trip to Haiti…

"Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts," it says in the first letter of John, and the eternal, abundant life we have in Christ can't help but pour out into our daily walk. Ponder this testimony and pray over your offering. Oh, what is possible when God captures our hearts! 

Ushers?

Benediction

Remember
the One who reconciles us to himself
reforms and refines us daily.
God repairs our brokenness
and redeems our sinfulness,
responding to our deepest needs
by releasing our potential,
and resourcing us
with abilities upon which we can rely.

As you head into this week,
take time to reflect upon
Christ’s recreating absence.
Repent, that is – turn yet again
(and again and again)
toward the One
who will resurrect us.
Relax and rest in the One
who will refresh and renew us.
Be ready, once again
(and again and again)
to receive the Holy Spirit
and be revived.

Amen!