Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
January 25, 2015
Worship 10:00 am          Sunday School 11:10am

  Beginning with Praise (9:50 am)            “God’s Calling”           (insert)
  Announcements
  Prelude

*Where we begin                        Psalm 139:1-6                      (CEV, adapted)

*Hymn                        “Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing”                    110

*Opening ourselves in prayer

  God’s knowledge of us, continued        Psalm 139:13-18                    (CEV)

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

  Hymn                           “I heard the voice of Jesus say”                         493

  Pastoral Prayer

  God calls a child                      1 Samuel 3:1-10                (from The Message)

  Returning our Tithes and Offerings

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

  Jesus calls disciples                    John 1:43-51

  Message                                “Greater things” (mp3)

*Songs of Response                   “God’s Calling”                              (insert)
                                      “I have decided to follow Jesus”                 (insert)

*Benediction

*Postlude

*Rise in body or in spirit

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Where we begin

One: You have looked deep into our hearts, Lord, and you know all about us.

 All: You know when we are resting, or when we are working, and from heaven you discover our thoughts.

One: You notice everything we do and everywhere we go.

 All: Before we even speak a word, you know what we will say,

One: and with your powerful arm you protect us from every side.

 All: We can’t understand all of this! Such wonderful knowledge is far above us.

Psalm 139:1-6, adapted from the Contemporary English Version
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society
      

Opening ourselves in prayer

             Loving God, you know us better than we know ourselves. Our prayers are in your heart even before they are on our lips. And yet we must utter our prayers. We must proclaim our praise of you and all your wondrous creation. Your love surrounds us and you have promised to be with us always. You know our hearts’ desire to serve you. We pray that you will keep us true to that desire. And so we utter our prayer, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

by Laura Jaquith Bartlett
from Worship Elements: January 18, 2015
© 2015 Ministry Matters™
    

Pastoral Prayer

             O God, who truly sees, it is comforting that you know us so well. The thought of it, however, is also a bit formidable. Coming to you in prayer does not depend upon our ability with words, for you are aware of what lies upon our hearts and minds before we even begin our pondering, let alone arrive at our conclusions. You provide a sense of peace in the middle of the muddle, a calm and rest amid the struggle to know what is right and then to act upon it. Your yoke is easy, your burden is light, for you uphold and carry us along the way. (Matthew 11:28-30)

             And yet, God most high, since you know us so well, you are also aware of how far we fall from the mark. You know our potential, and must be so disappointed at not only our outcomes, but also our meagre effort. Forgive us our sins, whether they be what we have actually done or what we have failed to do. Our silence in the face of evil speaks loud and clear. “Let all who are thirsty come to me and drink,” you welcome. “From within shall flow rivers of living water,” you promise (John 7:37-38), streams of justice and righteousness (Amos 5:24).

             Light of the world (John 8:12), whose word is a lamp to stumbling feet (Psalm 119:105), whose rod and staff guide and strengthen through many a dark valley (Psalm 23:4), you have heard our concern for brothers and sisters both known by name or known only by a cry of the heart. Help all to see a path in the wilderness. Provide a way through present difficulty. Nourish them and us with daily bread, both physical and spiritual. And call by name those who can be your light and do your work. Perhaps that name will be our own. Give us ears to hear more clearly and eyes to see more nearly, as well as hearts to love more dearly day by day.

             This we pray, empowered by your Spirit, in the name of the One whom you sent as deliverer, Jesus the Christ, your Son. Amen

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

             There is, of course, more to this story of the calling of Samuel. You may recall that it was a mother’s longing and sacrifice which helped bring this boy to this very moment. There was also corruption involved. The sons of Eli had been pilfering the offerings of the people for their own gain. What God told Samuel, when this boy finally said, “Speak. I’m your servant, ready to listen,” were tough words – for things were soon to change in ways that were difficult to swallow.

            There is more to our story, as well. Much of it has yet to be written down. Like Hannah, Samuel’s mother, we may have dreams for the future of our offspring, for which we are willing to give up a great deal. Like Eli, we may be slow to understand that God is telling us something, even in our darkness – a message we may or may not want to hear, but are willing to receive. Like Samuel, we may simply need to realize that God is speaking to us, and open ourselves to listen.

            Ponder this as you return your offering of thanksgiving. By the end of the offertory, pray (with your own words) what Eli instructed young Samuel to say, “Speak. I’m your servant, ready to listen.”

Ushers, please guide our giving.

Benediction

The One who knows us better than we know ourselves
calls us to step out and follow Jesus.
“Come and see,”
is the invitation as we leave behind our comfortable seats.
“You will see greater things,”
is the promise as we head out into the world this week.
Go in peace.