Worship - April 7, 2013

Worship Order for Sunday

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
April 7, 2013
Worship 10:00 am Sunday School 11:10am

Second Sunday of Easter

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (John 20:21)

Beginning with Praise (9:50 am) "Christ has arisen" 267
Announcements
Prelude "Fairest Lord Jesus" German Folk Melody

Call to Worship (back of bulletin)

*Hymn "Christ is alive! Let Christians sing!" 278

*Opening Prayer

Scripture Psalm 150

For Children "Words from God"
(Revelation 1:4b-8)

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

Hymn "We walk by faith" 570

Pastoral Prayer

Scripture Acts 5:27-32

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Offertory "Andante Religioso" Nevin
(Please sign the attendance pad and pass it on)

Scripture John 20:19-31

Message "From fear to faith" (mp3)

*Hymn "Low in the grave he lay" 273

*Benediction

*Postlude "This Joyful Eastertide" David’s Psalmen

*Rise in body or in spirit

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship

One: God gave the beauties of springtime in the dawn of creation.

All: We are witnesses.

One: God gave the promises of the kingdom in the life and death of Jesus of Nazareth.

All: We are witnesses.

One: God gave the sure and certain hope of life eternal in the empty tomb of Easter.

All: We are witnesses.

One: God gave the privilege of sharing this good news to disciples in Jerusalem.

All: And it is given to us as well, for we are witnesses.

by Donna Ritchey Martin, pastor
Grossnickle Church of the Brethren
Myersville, Maryland
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word Series"

Opening Prayer

O God, the news that the tomb is empty and death is defeated seems too good to be true. Yet we hear that news in the voices of Mary and Peter and believers all throughout the ages. And today, in this hour of worship, we claim their witness as our own.
Bless us as we hear anew the good news that Christ is alive. Bless our hearing, our understanding, and our living, for Jesus' sake, we pray. Amen.

by Donna Ritchey Martin, pastor
Grossnickle Church of the Brethren
Myersville, Maryland
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word Series"

For Children
“Words from God”

The preceding scripture came in the form of a video on Psalm 150. Attached to the bottom of the retractable screen upon which the video is shown will be a large sheet of paper in the form of a cloud. At the top of the cloud are these words: “Grace & peace from God.” Along the left edge are “who is and was,” and on the right are “who is to come,” both written vertically. At the bottom of the cloud are these words: “Alpha and Omega,” (or “Α and Ω”). Standing upon the bench behind the organ, the children will be able to reach this cloud when the screen is in the down position.
To the side, have seven construction paper shapes (be creative) with the following phrases in large print (see-able from the back of the sanctuary) which the children will tape to the cloud. First is “Jesus Christ” (in larger print than the rest). Then “faithful witness,” “first to rise,” “chosen ruler,” “loves us,” “freed us,” and “formed us,” surrounding “Jesus Christ.”

On this second Sunday of Easter, I need your help. Have you noticed that we read the Bible out loud a lot when we worship? Even when we don’t fully understand everything that we hear, we still say the words. Because … it is important for us to listen to what God has to say.

Now, I need your help with our next Bible reading. It comes from the very last book of the Bible. We call this book, “The Revelation,” because of what it “reveals.” Now, some people think that what Revelation reveals is a bunch of information about the end of time. And yes, this last book in the Bible has a lot to say about last things. But it’s also the last word about a lot of other things.

However, I’d like you not to think of it as just a bunch of information about God and what God is doing now and will do in the future. In Revelation, just like in the rest of the Bible, God is reaching out to us and drawing us to himself. God is speaking to us. That’s why we call it “God’s Word.” In these words, God is inviting us to join in with what he is doing, sort of like a friend who calls and asks us to come out and play.

Where I need your help is in placing some of these words up on this poster, which is shaped like a cloud. These are words we will hear God say in the Bible reading. Let’s start with these two words, “Jesus Christ.” Who would like to put them in the middle of the cloud? All the other words are connected to Jesus, and so we will surround him with them, sort of like a circle. I’ll let decide where to place the other words: “faithful witness,” “first to rise,” “chosen ruler,” “loves us,” “freed us,” and “formed us.”

Great! I like how that looks. Let’s raise up this cloud so that everyone can see it. Now, I’m going to read out loud some words from the last book of the Bible. Don’t worry if there are words you don’t understand. Just imagine that God is speaking, and know that you are a part of what God is saying. You helped put these words up in front of us.

(Read Revelation 1:4b-8, and as you do so, point to the words on the cloud as you read them).

             Grace and peace to you from God, who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits gathered before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first to rise from death, and the chosen Ruler over all the kings and rulers of the earth.
            To the One who loves us and freed us from our sins by dying on the cross, and who formed us to be a royal household serving God. May glory and power be his throughout all ages. Amen.
            Look! He is coming with the clouds, he’ll be seen by every eye. Even those who mocked and killed him will see him. All people everywhere will grieve over how he died. So it is to be. Amen.
            “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

Revelation 1:4b-8 above is my own translation,
tho I acknowledge some borrowed phrases
from various versions, including
NRSV, NIV, The Message, and the Voice,
for which I am grateful.

Pastoral Prayer

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

Acts 5:27-32

This “royal household serving God” that Jesus brought into being through his crucifixion and resurrection, forming it into his earthly body - early on, this “church” faced persecution. The fifth chapter of Acts tells of how the apostles were arrested for a second time and thrown into jail by the religious authorities in Jerusalem. During the night, however, an angel opened the prison doors, and the very next day these followers of Jesus went right back to what got them in trouble the first time - teaching in the Temple. The following scripture continues that story of how they were arrested for a third time. Listen.

²⁷When the guards brought in these followers of Jesus, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, ²⁸saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.” ²⁹But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. ³⁰The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. ³¹God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³²And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

text asapted from The New Revised Standard Version,
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.

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Can you believe it? Previously, these folks were a bunch of perceived misfits who ran away in fear when Jesus was arrested and later put to death. And yet, here they are boldly speaking up to power... I wonder, are timid disciples still transformed by God into apostles with chutzpah? … Pray with me…

Lord, we pray for more confidence when it comes to living out this life into which you have called us. Help us to boldly go where we hear you leading us. When it comes to finances, may we grow as wise stewards of what you provide, but instill in us also a courageous heart willing to risk for your sake instead of playing it safe. Form us into an audacious household of faith. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

Ushers?

Benediction

Peace to you from the One who is and was,
and is to come.
Grace and peace to you
from the One who loves us and frees us,
the One who gives us repentance and forgiveness.
As God sent Jesus into the world,
so the Spirit now sends us
to continue God’s holy work.
To God be glory and dominion forever and ever!
Amen.