Worship - November 16, 2014

Worship Order for Sunday

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
November 16, 2014
Worship 10:00 am Sunday School 11:10am

“Since we’re creatures of Day, let’s act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:8 from The Message)

Beginning with Praise (9:50 am) “What is this place” 1
Announcements
Prelude

*Call to Worship

*Hymn “Sing to the Lord of harvest” 98

*Unison Prayer

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

Praying together a Psalm 819

Hymn “O God, our help in ages past” 328

Acting out the Gospel Story Matthew 25:14-30

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

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

Scripture 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Message “When you thought I wasn't looking” (mp3)
(see below for bulletin insert that goes with this)

*Hymn “Brethren, we have met to worship” 8

*Benediction

*Postlude

*Rise in body or in spirit

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship

One: God is our dwelling place.

All: Our strength comes from God, who made heaven and earth and everything in it.

One: What does that statement mean?

All: It means that God is with us in all things, everywhere.

One: Can you accept change in our church family?

All: Yes, we can accept change because God has been our dwelling place in all generations.

One: Are you prepared for the unexpected and unforeseen opportunities for growth?

All: Yes, we are ready for whatever comes our way.

One: Have you thought about what God wants the church to be?

All: Yes, we have seen God’s vision for us.

One: Will you embrace God's call to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, and visit those in prison?

All: Yes, we will embrace God's call and become God's servants to the world around us.

by Don Booz
Overland Park, Kansas
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085,
"The Living Word" Series

Unison Prayer

Gracious God, you are our dwelling place. Your everlasting love gives us the sun to illuminate our days, and the moon and stars to brighten our nights. We are your people united by our diversity and faith. We gather to worship you in expectation of your presence, as it provides refuge and freedom. We gather in this place and at this time to worship and dwell in the house of the Lord, now and forever. Amen.

by Don Booz
Overland Park, Kansas
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085,
"The Living Word" Series

Praying together a Psalm

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
      in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
      or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
      from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
You turn us back to dust, and say,
      “Turn back, you mortals.”
For a thousand years in your sight
      are like yesterday when it is past,
      or like a watch in the night.
You sweep them away; they are like a dream,
      like grass that is renewed in the morning;
in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
      in the evening it fades and withers.
For all our days pass away under your wrath;
      our years come to an end like a sigh.
The days of our life are seventy years,
      or perhaps eighty, if we are strong;
      even then their span is only toil and trouble;
      they are soon gone, and we fly away.
So teach us to count our days
      that we may gain a wise heart.
Turn, O Lord! How long?
Have compassion on your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
      so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Hymnal #819
Psalm 90:1-6, 9-10, 12-14
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.

Acting out the Gospel Story
Matthew 25:14-30

Ahead of time, prepare 15 big talent “bills” (in this case on 8½ x 11 inch sheets of paper – didn’t have the right shade of green, so we went with goldenrod) to be exchanged with flair between those who will be acting out this story at the direction of the storyteller. Call for 4 volunteers – children, if they’re willing, or adults. Make sure the person taking on the role of the one talent slave know ahead of time about her/his role, especially if s/he is a child. An adult might be better here, if it’s a multi-age group. Decide your staging for acting out the story (keep things simple), and instruct them accordingly as you go. Encourage them to exaggerate their actions (especially the handing over of the talent bills).

Notes for the story:

The kingdom of heaven will be like this (borrowing from previous parable, 25:1)

A man (or woman, depending on who volunteers) planned to go on a long journey

So, s/he summoned her/his slaves

S/he entrusted her/his property to them

To one s/he gave five talents

To another two

To another one

(to each according to his ability).

Then s/he went away.

The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents.

The one who had the two talents made two more talents.

But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

After a long time the master of those slaves returned.

S/he summoned her/his slaves

“Show me what you’ve done with my money,” s/he said.

The one who had received the five talents came forward and held up those five talents

Then held up five more talents,

S/he said, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.”

The master said, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”

Then the one with the two talents also came forward and held up those two talents.

Then held up two more talents,

S/he said, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.”

The master said, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”

Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward and held up that one talent.

S/he said, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh wo/man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.”

(add dramatic flair to this part of the reading,
so that it’s obviously a story, not an angry parent berating a bad child)

The master replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest.”

“So take that one talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents.”

“For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.”

“As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Lord, sometimes I am selfish and afraid, unwilling to share the gifts you have so generously bestowed on me. I list excuses for why I can’t or won’t use what I have been given. I know this grieves you. I know you want me to lavish my gifts on others, yet still, I often refuse.
Lord, I am grateful for the gifts you have personally chosen for me. Please give me the courage and strength to invest my gifts to grow your kingdom as you so desire. I yearn to be like the first and second servants in this story—eager to use well what I have been given. Amen.

by Michelle DeRusha
from The High Calling

Bulletin insert

Participants in worship will have the below insert, with extras available from the ushers, to use as part of the sermon.

____________________________,
                    (name)

           When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you:



               And I learned:



Thank you!

Based on the poem by Mary Rita Schilke Korzan,
written and copyrighted in 1980
n Tribute to her Mother, Blanche Montgomery Schilke.
Idea derived from Carolyn Brown
in her blog, “Worshiping With Children”

Benediction

Sisters and brothers,
      daughters and sons of God,
            step out this week
                  into the daylight of what God is doing
                        in this world now.
Encourage one another as you walk.
      Be dressed for the journey
            with faith,
                    love,
              and the hope of salvation.
God has more in store.
      Indeed!