Worship - August 2, 2015

Worship Order for Sunday

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Long Green & Kanes Rds., near Glen Arm, Md.
August 2, 2015
Worship 10:00 am Sunday School 11:10am

“God’s goal is for us to become mature adults — to be fully grown, measured by the standard of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13b Common English Bible)

Beginning with Praise (9:50 am) “Blessed assurance” 332
Announcements
Prelude “The Glory of God in Nature” Beethoven

*Call to Worship

*Hymn “O bless the Lord, my soul” 80

*Opening Prayer

Scripture Ephesians 4:7, 11-13

School-kit Lesson “The Crayon Box that Talked”

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Offertory “Andantino” Schubert
(Please sign the attendance pad and pass it on)

Scripture Ephesians 4:14-16

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

Hymn “Breathe on me, breath of God” 356

Pastoral Prayer

Scripture 2 Samuel 11:26 - 12:13

Message “Lamb stew” (mp3)

Responsive Confession 690

*Hymn “Be thou my vision” 545

*Benediction

*Postlude “None But Christ” McGranahan

*Rise in body or in spirit

#'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book

Worship leaders - see basic guidelines

Call to Worship

1 - As a prisoner of the Lord,

2 - (this is the apostle Paul writing to the folks in Ephesus)

1 - I beg you to live in a way that is worthy of the people God has chosen to be his own.

2 - Always be humble and gentle.

1 - Patiently put up with each other and love each other.

2 - Try your best to let God’s Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace.

1 - All of you are part of the same body.

2 - There is only one Spirit of God, just as you were given one hope when you were chosen to be God’s people.

1 - We have only one Lord,

2 - one faith,

1 - and one baptism.

2 - There is one God

1 - who is the Father of all people.

2 - Not only is God above all others,

1 - but he works by using all of us,

2 - and he lives in all of us.

Opening Prayer

Come to us, O God!
Come as wind and inspire,
come as fire and empower,
come as dove and bring us peace,
come as water and cleanse our hearts,
so that we may know your presence and walk
more closely to you. Amen.

by Carol Bowman Gnagy
from For All Who Minister, p. 93
Copyright ©1993 by Brethren Press

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

We are grateful, O God, for your generosity. Your gifts color our world for the better. Help us to grow in the varied ways you empower us to serve, each one of us with a unique ability which makes us all complete. We’re far from perfection, however, for it takes time to mature. There are often stumbling steps along the way. By faith we walk, trusting that when we fall you will help us to stand and keep on keeping on. So - receive now what we have to offer, as our response to your generosity, taking seriously our responsibility for what you have so richly provided. Thank you. Amen.

Pastoral Prayer

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

Responsive Confession
(based upon Psalm 51)

Leader: Have mercy on us, O God,
                     according to your unfailing love;
People: Blot out all our transgressions,
                     according to your great compassion;
Leader: Wash away all our iniquities
                     and cleanse us from our sin.
People: For we know our transgressions,
                     and our sin is always before us.
Leader: We have sinned against you
                     and have done what is evil in your sight.
    ALL: as sacrifice we bring our broken and contrite hearts.

(pause for silence)

Leader: God will create in each of us a pure heart.
             God will not take the Holy Spirit form us.
             God will restore to us the joy of salvation
                     and grant us willing spirits to sustain us.
    ALL: Praise to the God of mercy who loves and forgives us.

Benediction

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

May God create in you a clean heart,
                       planting,
                       tending, and
                       growing wisdom there;
        and in the depths of your being
                place a revived, faithful, willing spirit.
May the joy of your salvation be restored by the Lord,
        so that you can speak,
                          and live, good news.
                For this is your very heartbeat,
                        in the name of the Father,
                                        and the Son,
                                        and the Holy Spirit. Amen