Worship - October 27, 2013

Worship Order for Sunday

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
October 27, 2013
Worship 10:00 am Sunday School 11:10am

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:6-18, NIV)

Beginning with Praise (9:50 am) "Rock of ages, cleft for me" (insert)
Announcements
Prelude "How Lovely are Thy Dwellings" Liddle

*Call to Worship "How lovely is your dwelling" 171
(read, not sung, as directed – the words are from Psalm 84)

*Opening Prayer

*Hymn "I am thine, O Lord" 505

Gospel Luke 18:9-14 (from The Voice)

Responsive Confession 690

Song "(Unfinished Hymn) Come to Jesus"

Responsive Reading James 5:13-16 857

Anointing

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

Hymn "Spirit of the living God" 349

Pastoral Prayer

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

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

*Response "Guide my feet" 546

*Prayer

Scripture 2 Timothy 4:6-18

Message "Sizzling to the finish" (mp3)

*Hymn "For all the saints" 636

*Benediction

*Postlude "O Day of Rest and Gladness" modern Psalmist 1839

*Rise in body or in spirit

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Opening Prayer

O God who dwells with us,
            whose Spirit is a constant,
                        empowering presence,
            whose Son promised to be with us always,
                        to the end of the age,
      draw us toward your home.
In these all-too-brief moments of worship,
            inspire,
            guide,
            forgive,
            strengthen,
            uphold, and
            consecrate us for the living of these days.
This we pray in the name of the One
                        who leads us to your dwelling:
            Christ Jesus. Amen.

Gospel
Luke 18:9-14
(from The Voice)

Worship Leader -	Jesus told another parable—this one addressed to people who were confident in their self-righteousness and looked down on other people with disgust.
[As Jesus speaks from the lectern, the Pharisee and the Tax Collector walk down the outside aisles of the sanctuary, the Pharisee on the organ side, the Tax Collector on the piano side. the Pharisee walks all full of himself, with his nose high (looking down on everyone else). the Tax Collector, on the other hand, walks as if half expecting someone to tell him he doesn’t belong. While the Pharisee boldly proceeds to the top step next to the pulpit, the Tax Collector stops at the corner, just inside the post. Jesus times her reading so that she is done by the time the Pharisee is at the top of the steps.]
Jesus -	Imagine two men walking up a road, going to the temple to pray. One of them is a Pharisee and the other is a despised tax collector. Once inside the temple, the Pharisee stands up and prays this prayer in honor of himself:
Pharisee -	“God, how I thank You that I am not on the same level as other people—crooks, cheaters, the sexually immoral—like this tax collector over there. (cast a haughty glance toward Steve, who stands looking down) Just look at me! I fast not once but twice a week, and I faithfully pay my tithes on every penny of income.”
Jesus -	Over in the corner, the tax collector begins to pray, but he won’t even lift his eyes to heaven. He pounds on his chest in sorrow and says,
Tax Collector -	“God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”
Jesus -	Now imagine these two men walking back down the road to their homes. Listen, it’s the tax collector who walks home clean before God, and not the Pharisee, because whoever lifts himself up will be put down and whoever takes a humble place will be lifted up.
(pause to indicate the scripture is concluded, then the Pharisee and the Tax Collector move to the center aisle and stand side by side)
Worship Leader -	Please turn in your hymnal to #690, that we might take this gospel to take the gospel to heart.
(when shuffling of the pages ends, indicating all are ready, continue)
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Responsive Confession
(based upon Psalm 51)

Leader: Have mercy on us, O God,                                        (read by the Worship Leader from Gospel reading above)
                     according to your unfailing love;
People: Blot out all our transgressions,
                     according to your great compassion;
Leader: Wash away all our iniquities                                        (read by the Pharisee)
                     and cleanse us from our sin.
People: For we know our transgressions,
                     and our sin is always before us.
Leader: We have sinned against you                                        (read by the Tax Collector)
                     and have done what is evil in your sight.
    ALL: as sacrifice we bring our broken and contrite hearts.

(pause for silence)

Leader: God will create in each of us a pure heart.                   (read by Jesus)
             God will not take the Holy Spirit from us.
             God will restore to us the joy of salvation
                     and grant us willing spirits to sustain us.
    ALL: Praise to the God of mercy who loves and forgives us.

James 5:13-16

Are any among you suffering?
    They should pray.
Are any cheerful?
    They should sing songs of praise.
Are any among you sick?
    They should call for the elders of the church
        and have them pray over them,
        anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.
The prayer of faith will save the sick,
    and the Lord will raise them up;
    and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.
Therefore confess your sins to one another,
    and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.
The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.

scripture text 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

Pastoral Prayer

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

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

We have anointed a sister for her journey toward health and wholeness, and have prayed for those mentioned in our joys and concerns who walk similar paths. Brothers and sisters, we are all pilgrims and sojourners as we follow Jesus toward the Kingdom of God. Along the way, we share what we have, and seek to release the grip our possessions have upon us, thus lightening the load we carry. With that in mind, let us return our tithes and offerings to God, who provides all that we need for the journey ahead.

Ushers? Please lead us.

Dedication

Indeed, you guide our feet, which have brought us to this place and moment, O Lord. Bless our sharing from the wealth you have provided. May we grow in wisdom as we put it to further use. In the rest of this worship, as well as in the learning time that follows, open us to your Word, that we might not only hear but also live out what, through it, you call us to do and be in the days ahead. Dwell in the words spoken, in the silences between the lines, in the pondering of hearts and minds, and in the feet that take us back out into the world in which we live. Grow us. Challenge us. Send us. Amen.

Benediction

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

(from Romans 15:13)