Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
January 26, 2014
Worship 10:00 am          Sunday School 11:10am

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

  Beginning with Praise (9:50 am)             "Come, let us all unite to sing"             12
  Announcements
  Prelude

*Call to Worship – in word                                                                         663
                              in song                                                                     (insert)

*Opening Prayer

*Hymn                         "Christ, whose glory fills the skies"                           216

  Scripture                                     Isaiah 9:1-4

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

  Hymn                             "Bless'd be the tie that binds"                               421

  Pastoral Prayer

  Scripture                                Matthew 4:12-23

  Fishing

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

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

  Scripture                              1 Corinthians 1:10-18

  Message                   "Casting with a stronger line" (mp3)

*Hymn                     "Lord, you have come to the lakeshore"                       229

*Benediction

*Postlude

*Rise in body or in spirit

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship

Leader:   The Lord is my light and my salvation;
People:  whom shall I fear?
Leader:   The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
People:  of whom shall I be afraid?
All:        One thing I ask of you, O Lord,
                       and that I will pursue:
                  to live in your house
                       all the days of my life,
                 to behold your beauty
                      and to seek you in your temple.

Hymnal #663, Psalm 27:1,4 adapted from Revised Standard Version

in song

Opening Prayer

You are our light and our salvation.
You help us to see that which is worthy of praise.
You also guide us to pay attention to fears and sins,
      which get in the way of your glory shining forth.
Stronghold of our life, empower us this hour
      to let go of what needs to be released,
            and to take hold of your calling upon our lives,
                  as individual disciples
                        and as a united body of Christ.
In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Pastoral Prayer

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

Fishing

             After reading Matthew 4:12-23, the preacher will playfully speak of the disciples’ invitation from Jesus to fish in a different way. Noting that their style of fishing was to cast nets, we will shift the imagery slightly to consider casting fishing line. The good thing about the imagery of a net is that it draws in several fish, instead of one. However, for the purposes of this day, we are focusing on the separate lines that are cast. Physically, while speaking of this, the preacher will use four balls of yarn, each a different color. Holding on to one end, he will toss each ball to the back of the sanctuary to be caught by an usher. These lines will be laid down over all the pews, from front to back, two on each side of the congregation, throughout the rest of the service, “dividing” the people.

             At the end of the sermon, five volunteers will be invited to participate in drawing these lines together. Four will stand in the back and hold that end of each line. One will be up front, taking one line at a time and holding it high above the seated congregation, pulling all four, one by one, to the center aisle. While we sing the final hymn, they will weave these four cords together, like a sideways maypole (guided by someone who knows what she's doing). When done, they will carefully bring this multi-colored cord up front and lay it upon the worship center, to symbolize how this fishing for people involves all the separate parts of the body, our fishing line being our unity in Christ.

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

             We marvel, O Lord, at how quickly Andrew, Peter, James, and John left their boats behind and took up the call to fish for people. What might that have meant to them back then: fishing for people?  What does it mean to us today? Would we be so willing to step out like that?
            We wonder, O God, over your calling to each and all of us today. You toss your line into the water of our lives. Interesting things happen as we respond, and are drawn together into your boat. As we share what we have, and pull the oars in unison, you take us to amazing places.
            We do, however, confess that we can all-too-easily become a ship of fools, each pulling in our own direction, emphasizing our own separate calling and gifts, putting our own needs above the needs of others. Forgive us when we navigate in circles like this, and teach us better ways.
            As we return our tithes and offerings, we hear your invitation once again: “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”
                           Amen.

Ushers?

Benediction

(Step over to the worship center)

In the light of the cross,

(point to it above, then pick up the “fishing line” on the table)

      go and follow Jesus.
Don’t be afraid to fish in a whole new way.
As you do so, remember:
      How we are bound together in Christ is not foolishness.

(hold up the “line”)

            It is the very power of God.

(put “line” back on table)

Amen?