Worship - November 11, 2012

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

“For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:44)

Beginning with Praise (9:50 am) "I need thee every hour" 555
Announcements
Prelude

Call to Worship (insert)

*Hymn "Praise, my soul, the King of heaven!" 65

*Opening Prayer

Affirming Faith (unison) 713

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

Hymn "Lord, whose love in humble service" 369

Pastoral Prayer

Seeing & Doing Scripture Mark 12:38-44

Response "Take, O take me as I am" (insert)

“Two Rhymes for a Widow”

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

*Response "Take, O take me as I am" (insert)

*Dedication

Scripture Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17

Message "Risking Everything" (mp3)

*Hymn "How firm a foundation" 567

*Benediction

*Postlude

*Rise in body or in spirit

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship

One: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, my soul!

All: I will praise him as long as I live; I will sing to my God all my life.

One: Don’t put your trust in human leaders; no human being can save you. When they die, they return to the dust; on that day all their plans come to an end.

Left: The Lord created heaven, earth, and sea, and all that is in them.

Right: The Lord keeps every promise;

Left: The Lord judges in favor of the oppressed

Right: The Lord gives food to the hungry.

Left: The Lord sets prisoners free

Right: The Lord gives sight to the blind.

Left: The Lord lifts those who have fallen;

Right: The Lord loves righteous people.

Left: The Lord protects the strangers who live in our land;

Right: The Lord helps widows and orphans, but takes the wicked to their ruin.

One: The Lord is king forever. Your God, O Zion, will reign for all time.

All: Praise the Lord!

Psalm 146, based on the Good News Translation,
as suggested by Carolyn C. Brown

Opening Prayer

Ever living God, instill in us, we pray,
      the trust and self-giving that your Word imparts to us.
Teach us again during this time together
      that you are always with us.
Remind us that all that we have is a gift from you
      and is meant to be shared.
The Holy Spirit calls and empowers us
      to live beyond our own desires.
So, send your Holy Spirit, we pray,
      that we might be overcome
            with its liberating courage and sustenance.
                              Amen.

written by the Rev. Dr. Bertrice Wood,
pastor of Solon Community Church, Solon Ohio
from "Risk and Restoration," Worship Ways, UCC, 2012.

Affirming Faith

worship leader:
In faith we have gathered here this day.
In faith we have been worshipping God.
In faith we have come to the Lord,
praying for ourselves and others.
Please turn with me to #713 in your hymnal,
and let's profess what we mean by "faith,"
realizing that all our words
could never encompass everything.
Even so, we need to speak up
and confess the hope within us.
Would you join me?

              All:
We believe in Jesus Christ,
    who was promised to the people of Israel,
    who came in the flesh to dwell among us,
    who announced the coming of the rule of God,
    who gathered disciples and taught them,
    who died on the cross to free us from sin,
    who rose from the dead to give us life and hope,
    who reigns in heaven at the right hand of God,
    who comes to judge and bring justice to victory.

We believe in God,
    Who raised Jesus from the dead,
    who created and sustains the universe,
    who acts to deliver God's people in times of need,
    who desires everyone everywhere to be saved,
    who rules over the destinies of people and nations,
    who continues to love us even when we turn away.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
    who is the form of God present in the church,
    who moves us to faith and obedience,
    who is the guarantee of our deliverance,
    who leads us to find God's will in the word,
    who assists those who are renewed in prayer,
    who guides us in discernment,
    who impels us to act together.

We believe God has made us a people,
    to invite others to follow Christ,
    to encourage one another to deeper commitment,
    to proclaim forgiveness of sins and hope,
    to reconcile people to God through word and deed,
    to bear witness to the power of love over hate,
    to proclaim Jesus the Ruler of all,
    to meet the daily tasks of life with purpose,
    to suffer joyfully for the cause of right,
          to the ends of the earth,
          to the end of the age,
          to the praise of Christ's glory.

Hymnal #713
adapted from The Mennonite Hymnal,
© 1969 Faith & Life Press/Mennonite Publishing House.

Pastoral Prayer

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

Seeing & Doing Scripture
Mark 12:38-44

Invite the children to come forward to help you lead this portion of worship. Tell them that we (storyteller and children) are going to pretend to be Jesus and his disciples. However, there are some other characters in this story. Some adults are needed to portray the parts of the scribes/rich people (tell, as simply as possible, what a scribe was), have the children go out a get 2 or 3 adults to play these parts. Maybe have those willing to be chosen raise their hands.

When these adults are up front, instruct them on the two things you are asking them to do while you read the scripture lesson. In the first part, they need to stut around up front trying to look very important. For this task, you might borrow some choir gowns, or some minor prop to help them act the part. In the second part, they will – one at a time, after you read “Many rich people put in large sums” – go up to the worship table and loudly (with much fanfare) dribble their many coins into the metal offering container.

Ahead of time construct some offering box that will make noise when coins are tossed in. This can be a box with a metal pie tin under a hole in the top. I used 2 items I had on hand: the removable bell from an old euphonium that fit nicely into a hole I had cut out a long time ago in the top of a 2 foot tall metal milk can (something we use periodically for special offerings).

When the “scribes” know what they are supposed to do, have the children recruit a woman to be a poor widow. By the way, instruct all these characters not to interact with each another. Her part is the very last action in the Bible story. When in the reading you mention “a poor widow,” she is to quietly and slowly go up and put in 2 coins and return to her seat. Pause for effect, then go on and read the rest of the story to the children, who are the disciples.

If you wish, you can then talk through what just happened to explain it, or just let it be and send them back to their seats. The goal is to experience (see and do) the scripture more that to understand it.

Mark 12:38-44

“Two Rhymes for a Widow”

There was a widow of prayer
whose pantry was utterly bare,
when all else was spent
she gave her last cent
as God’s own daughter and heir.

There was a woman of Zion
with nought but her faith to rely on,
as she came to God’s house
rich fools saw a mouse
but to Jesus she was a lion.

A question to ponder as you return your offering just now is this: In the eyes of Christ, are you a mouse or a lion? … Ushers, please serve by receiving our tithes and offerings.

Dedication

We lift up these offerings
      as a sign of our gratitude for your love and care, O God.
We pledge ourselves, time, talent, and treasure.
We pray that we may follow
      in the spirit of the poor woman
            who gave her all without hesitation.
We dedicate our lives to you
      and seek to grow in our faithfulness to your Word.
                              Amen.

written by the Rev. Dr. Bertrice Wood,
pastor of Solon Community Church, Solon Ohio
from "Risk and Restoration," Worship Ways, UCC, 2012.

Benediction

When it comes to the risky business of trusting God,
                                                          of stepping out by faith,
                        we are surrounded by a “cloud of witnesses.”
            On this day we have remembered Ruth and Naomi,
                        and that nameless widow who gave everything.
                                    These stories are profiles in courage.
                                                The living out of our stories awaits.

As you step into the days which lie ahead of you,
                        trust in the firm foundation
                                    which has been laid for your faith.
            In times of bitterness,
                        through fiery trials,
                                    when sorrow threatens to overwhelm
                                                (and at all points in between),
                        remember:
                                    you are never alone.
                                    Fear is not the final word.
                                    Nor is powerlessness,
                                                even when you have expended
                                                            that last ounce of courage,
                                                                        or given your all.
                        Hear the promise:
                                    “I am your God.
                                                I will give you aid.
                                                I will strengthen you.
                                                I will help you to stand,
                                                            and uphold you in my hand.”
            Step forth by faith.

refers to "How firm a foundation"