Worship - June 28, 2015

Worship Order for Sunday

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
June 28, 2015
Worship 10:00 am Sunday School 11:10am

“And Jonathan and David made a covenant together because Jonathan loved David as much as himself.”
(1 Samuel 18:3)

Beginning with Praise (9:50 am) “Good Christian friends, rejoice” 210
Announcements
Prelude

*Responsive Call to Worship

*Hymn “All praise to our redeeming Lord” 21

*Opening Prayer

Wisdom from Proverbs (17:17, 17:9, 18:24, 19:4 - NRSV)

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

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

Heifer Global Village

Responsive Reading John 15:12-17 846

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

Hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus” 574

Pastoral Prayer

Scripture 1 Samuel 17:57 - 18:16

Message “Jonathan, David, and the gift of friendship” (mp3)

*Hymn “Blessed by the tie that binds” 421

*Benediction

*Postlude

*Rise in body or in spirit

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Responsive Call to Worship

All: How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!

One: It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes.

All: It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion.

One: For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life forevermore.

Psalm 133 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

Opening Prayer

    Lord God, who befriends the lost and the least;
Risen Christ, who cares for the wounded and broken
                           using the hands and hearts
                                 of good Samaritans few would trust;
   Holy Spirit, who surprises daily
                           with unmerited grace and
                                 unexpected traveling companions
                                         along the way of Jesus;
            journey with us this hour
                            and the week ahead,
            pour out your balm to heal our wounds
                                  and to commission us to become
                                               ambassadors of your peace,
            be to us the true friend we need.
                              Inspire and empower, redeeming Lord.
                                                        Amen.

Wisdom from Proverbs

The following nuggets of wisdom are found in the book of Proverbs. Let’s listen to each, pausing a moment or two between, allowing time for the words to sink in. As Jesus often said, “let those who have ears, hear.”

(pause 10 seconds)

1 - “A friend loves at all times, and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.” (17:17)

(pause 10 seconds)

2 - “One who forgives an affront fosters friendship, but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.” (17:9)

(pause 10 seconds)

1 - “Some friends play at friendship but a true friend sticks closer than one’s nearest kin.” (18:24)

(pause 10 seconds)

2 - “Wealth brings many friends, but the poor are left friendless.” (19:4)

(pause 10 seconds)

scripture 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

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

The letter of James also contains wisdom on “friendship,” the theme of this service of worship. Listen:

1 - “Why do you fight and argue with each other?

2 - Isn’t it because you are full of selfish desires that fight to control your body?

1 - You want something you don’t have, and you will do anything to get it. You will even kill!

2 - But you still cannot get what you want, and you won’t get it by fighting and arguing.

1 - You should pray for it. Yet even when you do pray, your prayers are not answered, because you pray just for selfish reasons.

2 - You people aren’t faithful to God!

1 - Don’t you know that if you love the world,

2 - you are God’s enemies?

1 - And if you decide to be a friend of the world,

2 - you make yourself an enemy of God.”*

             Being a friend of God, rather than God’s enemy, involves caring for those for whom God cares:
                        the lost and the least,
                        the widows and children,
                        those who often get left out
                                    in the world’s mad scramble for power and wealth.
One of the ways we care is through Heifer International. We are blessed this morning to have with us Stewart Lentz to share about the Heifer Global Village at Shepherd's Spring, which he directs. While the ushers pass the plates and receive our regular and special offerings, we will watch another video, then invite Stewart to speak. By the way, those who have worked at Shepherd's Spring in recent years consider him to be a good friend.

Ushers, lead us in giving.

Heifer Global Village

Stewart Lentz III will share about the programs of Shepherd's Spring, specifically the Heifer Global Village there.
Listen to what he had to say. (mp3)

Responsive Reading
John 15:12-17

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.

I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.

You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.

I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

Hymnal #846, 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.

Pastoral Prayer

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

Benediction

In the words of the apostle Paul at the end of his second letter to the church in Corinth:

(start tapping a heartbeat on your chest,
remaining constant through & beyond all the following words.
End with heartbeat.)

“And that’s about it, friends.
      Be cheerful.
      Keep things in good repair.
      Keep your spirits up.
      Think in harmony.
      Be agreeable.
          Do all that,
              and the God of love and peace
                  will be with you for sure.
      Greet one another with a holy embrace.
All the brothers and sisters here say hello.

The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ,
the extravagant love of God,
the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit,
be with all of you.”