Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
June 29, 2014
Worship 10:00 am          Summer in Spirit 11:10am

  Beginning with Praise (9:50 am)               “God, who touches earth”               511
  Announcements
  Prelude                 “God, Who Touchest Earth With Beauty”               Lowden

  Call to Worship                    Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18

*Hymn                              “With happy voices singing”                                 83

*Opening Prayer

  God’s Invitation                         Isaiah 55:1-2

  Responding with our Tithes and Offerings

  Offertory                   “Chorale: O God, Thou Holy God”                      Fritzch
                              (Please sign the attendance pad and pass it on)

  Encouragement                        Hebrews 13:1-2            (in various translations)

  For Children                 “Welcome to our Home”

*Hymn                                   “O let all who thirst”                                      495
                             (come forward and receive a drink from a child)

  Sharing our stories (joys, concerns, testimonies)
                                 (please be brief, and aware of God's listening presence)

  Hymn                     (vs.1-3) “Gracious Spirit, dwell with me”                       507

  Pastoral Prayer

  Hymn                     (vs.4-5) “Gracious Spirit, dwell with me”                       507

  Scripture                               Matthew 10:40-42

  Message                            “Best to start small” (mp3)

*Hymn                                     “Go, my children”                                        433

*Benediction

*Postlude                             “Postlude in C (excerpt)”                                Rinck

*Rise in body or in spirit

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship
Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18
Laughing Bird Version

1 - LORD, we will never stop singing about your rock-solid love;
         we will transmit the story of your faithfulness
             on down to every generation to come.

2 - Your love and loyalty were built to last for eternity;
          we’ll go public with that message.
      Your faithfulness is beyond measure;
          as infinite as the sky above us.

1 - You said,
         “I have formed an alliance with my chosen leader;
               I have given my word to David, my servant.
           I have guaranteed a firm foundation for his family forever;
               there will always be one of his descendants on the throne.”

2 - We are on cloud nine
          when we are celebrating in your presence, LORD.
      We all know what to do and say,
          and we bask in the light of your favor.

1 - Every mention of your name
          has us bursting with enthusiasm from dawn till dusk,
      and we tell the stories over and over
          of how you have done the right thing by everyone.

2 - Whatever glory and strength we have comes from you.
          Because you have been good to us, our power has grown great.
      Our safety and security are in your hands, LORD;
          you are our one and only, the ruler of Israel.

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Opening Prayer

We welcome you, O Lord,
      to this house of worship,
          this home of many hearts,
          this fellowship made real in Christ.
You stand and knock at our door,
                  and we open it to you.
      We do so with a bit of fear,
            for you are holy and we are not.
                  Forgive us, and enter in.
                  Sit beside us as our guest.
                  Enter, and dwell within through your Spirit.
                  Empower this hour with your presence.
                  Nudge us beyond ourselves,
                       that we might be propelled toward your Kingdom.
      May we leave refreshed and renewed
            to follow where you lead.
This we pray, in the name of the One
      who says, “Come…”    Amen

God’s Invitation
Isaiah 55:1-2

1 - God’s Invitation from the mouth of the prophet Isaiah

2 - Let those who have ears, hear.

                            (pause)

1 - “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters;

2 - and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!

1 - Come, buy wine and milk
            without money and without cost.

2 - Why spend money on what is not bread?

1 - Why spend your labor on what does not satisfy?

2 - Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
            and you will delight in the richest of fare.”

adapted from the New International Version®, NIV®
© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
  

Responding with our Tithes and Offerings

1 - God’s invitation runs counter to what we normally hear.

2 - Imagine this invitation being broadcast after every commercial we see on television.

1 - Would we keep lovin’ a fast food joint?

2 - Would an automobile really speak “love” to us.

1 - Compared to this free offer, would we still be enticed to “just do it” and spend a fortune on a pair of sneakers?

2 - Who would pay for these words to be broadcast, since they run counter to everything upon which a thriving economy works?

1 - The truth is, that’s the job of the body of Christ.

2 - No, we don’t beat people over the head with a message to stop shopping.

1 - We just share God’s invitation to spend our lives on something better, more satisfying,

2 - something that lasts longer than planned obsolescence. Jesus repeated this call:

1 - “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth,” he encouraged.

2 - “Moths and rust there consume what thieves don’t break in and steal.

1 - Instead, invest your treasures in heaven.

2 - In heaven, moths, rust, and thieves cannot do their worst.”

1 - Then, Jesus went on to say,

2 - “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”                                      (Matthew 6:19-21)

(pause)

1 - Who pays for this message to be shared, in word and deed?

2 - You do, through your offerings and your actions.

1 - Ushers, please come and receive what we have to give.

Encouragement
Hebrews 13:1-2

1 - It helps to hear encouragement repeated. With that in mind, the following is the first 2 verses of Hebrews, chapter 13, read from various translations and paraphrases. Listen.

2 - “Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.”       (a)

1 - “See to it that love continues to run both ways in all your dealings with one another. Don’t limit your hospitality to your friends. Some people who have welcomed strangers into their homes were actually opening their doors to God’s messengers without realizing it.”       (b)

2 - “Keep being concerned about each other as the Lord’s followers should. Be sure to welcome strangers into your home. By doing this, some people have welcomed angels as guests, without even knowing it.”       (c)

1 - “Let love continue among you. Don’t forget to extend your hospitality to all—even to strangers—for as you know, some have unknowingly shown kindness to heavenly messengers in this way.”       (d)

2 - “Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love. Be ready with a meal or a bed when it’s needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it!”       (e)  

(a) 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
 
(b) from the Laughing Bird version
©2001 Nathan Nettleton
 
(c) from the Contemporary English Version
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society
 
(d) from The Voice Bible
© 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc.
The Voice™ translation
© 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society
All rights reserved.
 
(e) from The Message.
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002.
Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group
      

For Children
“Welcome to our Home”

Objects: pitchers of ice water on a cart, along with paper cups, covered by something – thus out of sight until needed.

             Let’s say that someone is coming to your home. You don’t know who they are yet, but you’ve been told that they are very special. Let’s say you want them to feel very welcome in your home. Tell me, what would you do to help them feel welcome, like your home was now their home?

(converse at length, every idea positively received)

             Okay, now let’s say it is a very hot day, and this person has had to walk a long way, out in the sun, to get here. I suppose they would be tired, but I think they might also be very …(try to get the children to say this)… thirsty. What would you do to help them? Give them something to drink? Something cold. Like what? (respond positively or even laugh – “a beer?” – with them over some of the possibilities they might come up with) You know, if I was really hot and thirsty, I would probably like a cup of cold water. That would quench my thirst.

             Now, look out at all these people in this room. Today, they are your guests and this is your home. And I brought some ice water and cups. How about if we invite them to come forward and get some water from you. You can give them a cup and pour from these pictures. Maybe give them a hug and tell them “Welcome to our home.”

While you do that, I’ll sing a song. Let’s do it.

Pastoral Prayer

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

Benediction

Yes, it is a large work
      into which we have been called by Jesus.
            Don’t be overwhelmed by it.
                  Instead, let your cup be filled,
                        for God is already ahead of you
                              to provide what you need along the way.
      Remember, it’s best to start small.