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Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Ascension Day
Beginning with Praise
(9:50 am)
“God of our strength”
36 *Call to Worship Psalm 47 *Hymn
“Rejoice, the Lord is king!”
288
Sharing
a joy, a concern, a word of testimony or praise
*Hymn
“Heart with loving heart united”
420 *Postlude “God Be With You” Williams *Rise in body or in spirit #'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book Worship leaders - see basic guidelines |
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2 For
the Lord,
the Most High, is awesome,
(Response)
5 God
has gone up with a shout,
(Response)
8 God
is king over the nations;
(Response)
Psalm 47 from
the New
Revised Standard Version |
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Giver of power and strength, Keeper of all time, Constant Presence of hope, God in Community, Holy in One,
by
Thom M. Shuman |
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Among the last words of Jesus to his disciples before he was
arrested, according to the gospel of John, is a prayer. It is long
and somewhat hard to understand at points, like the rest of John’s
gospel. It is loaded with heavy theology, almost like a sermon.
Only this message is addressed to God, and we just listen in. We
will read it from the Good News Bible, a paraphrase which
tries to bring it down to earth a bit for our ears. By the way,
this is only the beginning portion of what is sometimes called
Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. Listen.
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For
Children
With a pack of seeds make a big show of having bought some
beautiful flowers from the store. After opening it, look really
dejected and confused over what is inside. Let the kids tell you
what is supposed to happen with the seeds – the work involved in
preparing and planting them, and then waiting for something to
happen. Does it take place immediately? No. But you need to weed
and water.
Slowly shift, still in a “let the kids point it out” mode to
making a connection to prayer. Don’t force meaning onto them. Some
may get it, some may not. A child’s literal thinking only goes so
far. Prayer is “like” planting seeds. Yes, there is work involved,
getting the ground ready, and we are the ground. What we pray for
doesn’t happen immediately. Weeding and watering is involved, but
God makes things grow. The children may point out things about
planting prayers that go beyond what this adult mind thought.
We begin our summer quarter of Sunday School (which follows
worship here) today. Instead of going to classrooms, split up by
age groups, we are approaching this intergenerationally all
together. Our first “Summer in Spirit” is to plant seeds. We will
take home the containers of planted seeds and tend them over the
summer, and bring them back in September when we will install and
dedicate our Peace Pole for International Day of Prayer for Peace.
These will get re-planted around it. Also of the docket for this
“Summer in Spirit” day in June is planting already potted plants
outside, around our meetinghouse to add beauty. In fact, if the
weather cooperates, all of the Sunday School hour will be spent
outdoors together. The theme song for this will be, “In the bulb
there is a flower” (hymnal #614).
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written closer to the time (if not at the moment)
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1 - Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery
ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, 2 - Yes, do not be surprised as though
something strange were happening to you. 1 - But rejoice insofar as you are sharing
Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for
joy when his glory is revealed. 2 - If you are reviled for the name of
Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the
Spirit of God, is resting on you. 1 - Humble yourselves therefore under the
mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. 2 - Cast all your anxiety on him, because he
cares for you. 1 - Discipline yourselves, keep alert. 2 - Like a roaring lion your adversary the
devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. 1 - Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for
you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are
undergoing the same kinds of suffering. 2 - And after you have suffered for a little
while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal
glory in Christ, 1 - will himself restore, 2 - support, 1 - strengthen, 2 - and establish you. 1 - To him be the power forever and ever. 2 - Amen.
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Returning our Tithes and Offerings
As our God of all grace restores, supports, strengthens, and
establishes us, we then become part of this restoring, supporting,
strengthening, and establishing work. That’s what our tithes and
offerings are all about. It’s not a tax we pay. It’s a mission
into which we are called. God gives to us what we need to
accomplish it, or at least to get one further step down the road
towards its fulfillment. That’s not just money, my friends. It’s
also time and ability and energy and a sense of purpose that our
Lord provides. It’s amazing what can happen as we let go of our
anxiety and step into God’s active caring for us. What then
surprises us are not all the bad things that can and do happen in
this world. What takes our breath away, instead, is what God is
doing all around us in this world, if only we have eyes to see and
hands ready to become involved.
As you give your offering today, think beyond what you place in
the plate. What might God be doing in your neck of the woods this
week? Are you ready and willing to get your hands dirty in the
Lord’s work?
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In the words of the prophet Isaiah:
So, return to where you need to be.
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Interested in Sunday School? |
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International Lesson: |
International Lesson: |
International Lesson: |
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International Lesson: |
International Lesson: |
International Lesson: |
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While one of our adult classes follows the International
lesson above (see
also), using |
For children and youth, we use the new |
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©2014 Peter
L. Haynes
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