Worship - May 5, 2013

God of many wonders, You are so strong yet so gentle.
You have a place for us all.
You know our every move and watch over us.
Call to us as we strive to grow closer to you.
We all yearn for Your power and glory to reign over us.
Show us that power so we can be more like You.
Help us to grow in Your glorious image.
We pray this in your name, Amen

by Michael Himlie
from materials for National Youth Sunday

For Children
"In God�s Image"

Theme:      We are all made in the image of God
Scripture: Genesis 1:26-27
Object:      Silly Putty (instructions on how to make it), comic strips

             GOOD MORNING! I would guess that at least some of you like to draw, paint, or do some other kind of craft. Do all of you like to create things? When we make crafts, we have pictures or ideas in our minds that we want to create. Then we work to put those ideas into forms such as drawings, paintings, or pieces of pottery.

I brought a page of comic strips with me today. Each of these comics started as an idea or an image in the creator's mind. Then she or he put those images on paper.

I also brought Silly Putty with me. Have you ever played with Silly Putty? (Demonstrate how Silly Putty picks up the image of the comic strip.) The putty picks up the image. It reflects the image. Isn't that interesting? Let's try it again with this comic strip. (Pick another strip.) It did it again!

When God created our world, God had some ideas in mind. God created the parts of nature�mountains, sun, water, birds, and many other things. Then God created people. The Bible tells us God created us in God's image. That means God copied us from God's own self! We certainly are not as powerful as God, but we are made in the image of God. Each of us is made in the image of God.

We saw how the Silly Putty reflects the image of the comic strip. Each of us reflects God because we are made in God's image. As we live each new day in our lives, we should try to let our words and actions reflect the image of God.

Let's pray:

Dear God, thank you for your wonderful creation. Help us to be good reflections of you. Amen.

by Donna McKee Rhodes,
from More Little Stories for Little Children,
�1997, Herald Press, Scottdale, PA, p. 25.

Invitation to Share

Several of us leading worship this morning attended the last National Youth Conference in 2010. Some of us were there in 2006, and still others of us attended in 2002. The next NYC is in 2014 � little over one year away. As you sent us, so we challenge you to send the next youth group, who today are still in middle school. It�ll be a young group.

The theme for NYC 2010 was �More than meets the eye,� which fits in well with today�s worship theme of �in God�s image.� As followers of Jesus, in order to see ourselves as created in God�s image, we need to fully open our eyes to the One who leads us. There definitely is more to Jesus than meets the eye at first glance, just like there is much more to who you and I are as his disciples, who are created in God�s image.

We invite you to share from your earthly treasure an offering that reflects this. As we give, we�ll remember the last NYC by singing the theme song written especially for it. By the way, theme for the next youth conference will be: �Called by Christ, Blessed for the Journey Together.� Shall we return a portion of what has so richly provided to us?

Active Meditation

I invite you to close your eyes. Take a deep breath in (pause) and out... (pause) Clear your mind from outside distractions. (pause) Set aside your worries or fears. (pause) Focus on this time with God. (pause)

� Think about the masks you wear every day, disguising yourself from other people, but also disguising yourself from God. (pause) As you consider the reasons you wear these masks, reach up, and pretend to remove them from your face, and hold them in your hands. (pause)

� What mask do you wear for society (pause) Peel it away and offer it to God. (pause)

� What mask do you wear in the workplace or in school? (pause) Peel it away and offer it to God. (pause)

� What mask do you wear at home? (pause) Peel it away and offer it to God. (pause)

� What masks remain? (pause) Peel them away and offer them to God.

� Now open your eyes. Next time you look in the mirror, see God reflected in you and feel renewed.

by Kinsey Miller and Laura Neher
from materials for National Youth Sunday

Scripture Jam

Voice 1: In the beginning � God�

Voice 2: God created�

Voice 3: God created a whole lot!

Voice 4: and then...

3: �He made a man.

1: �So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.�

4: He created mankind�

2: �more special than the other things in his creation.

3: This mankind - He created - was in His own image.

1: To be created in God�s image is special!

2: Unique!

3: Important�

4: Fascinating!

1: Remarkable!

ALL: God created us in His own image.

3: What is an image?

4: An impression�.

2: A reflection or reproduction�

1: An attitude�

4: What is your image?

3: What is my image?

2: Casual�

4: Cool�

1: Calm�

3: Crazy�

2: Convicted�

1: Correct�

4: Is that God�s image of me?

2: Is that how God sees me?

3: How am I the image of God?

1: Who does God say that I am?

3: I am a child of God!

4: John 1:12 - �But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.�

2: I am a branch of the true vine!

1: John 15:5 - �I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.�

4: I am a friend of Jesus!

3: John 15:15 - �I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master�s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.�

1: My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells in me!

2: First Corinthians 6:19 - �do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own�

3: I am a NEW creature in Christ!

4: Second Corinthians 5:17 - �So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!�

2: I am chosen, holy and blameless before God.

1: Ephesians 1:7 - For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in His sight in love.

4: I am in God�s plan, created to produce good works.

3: Ephesians 2:6 - God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That�s why he sent Christ to make us what we are.

2: I have been chosen of God!

1: I am Holy!

3: I am Loved!

4: As God�s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. - Colossians 3:12

1: I am created in God�s image!

2: I am created in God�s image!

3: I am created in God�s image!

ALL: We are created in God�s image!

by Linda Dows-Byers
from materials for National Youth Sunday

Video

Benediction

Lord, as we go from this place, help us to see Your reflection when we look in the mirror. We are not perfect and we will always see our flaws. Cultivate in us the desire to have a special relationship with You, so our negative thoughts and insecurities will be erased by Your love. Be a living, personal presence in our lives, so we may reflect Your image in all that we do.
Amen.

by Marissa Witkovsky
from materials for National Youth Sunday