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Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Beginning with Praise
(9:50 am)
“Peace,
O God” *Hymn “Fresh as the morning” Sharing
a joy, a concern, a word of testimony or praise *Hymn “Peace, O God” *Postlude *Rise in body or in spirit #'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book Worship leaders - see basic guidelines |
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One:
The invitation is given to every person by Jesus Christ: "Come
to me! Follow me! Be my disciples!" All:
We come to this place, to this time, at the invitation of Jesus
Christ. One: In
the name of Christ, All:
we accept the invitation to discipleship. One: In
the name of Christ, All:
as his disciples, we worship and praise God. One: In
the midst of a world where cruelty abounds, All:
we proclaim the God of Compassion. One: In
the midst of despair that threatens to swallow up whole lives,
whole peoples, All:
we proclaim the God of Hope. One: In
the midst of indifference and apathy, All:
we proclaim the God of Love. One:
Come, let us worship together and share our witness of God's
living presence in the world. from COB
National Youth Conference 2006 |
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1 - God of grace 2 - and God of glory, 1 - you have drawn us together 2 - in your presence. 1 - We are far from what you want us to be, 2 - yet you call us your own. 1 - We have made so many mistakes, 2 - yet you call us and send us. 1 - We depend daily upon your forgiveness, 2 - as we walk by faith toward your Kingdom. 1 - Your Spirit helps us let go of sins that
cling too closely. 2 - Your Spirit empowers us to do great
things. 1 - In your grace, may we grow in doing to
others as we would have others do to us. 2 - In your glory, may we grow in loving as
Jesus loved. 1 - Take these moments of grace 2 - and glory, and move in us this hour. 1 - For you are our God 2 - and we are your people. 1 - In the name of the One who is our peace: 2 - Jesus Christ. Amen.
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The Prophet’s Cry 1 - In days to come the mountain of the
Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised above the hills; 2 - all the nations shall stream to it. Many
peoples shall come and say, 1 - “Come, let us go up to the mountain of
the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us
his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” 2 - For out of Zion shall go forth
instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 1 - He shall judge between the nations, 2 - and shall arbitrate for many peoples; 1 - they shall beat their swords into
plowshares, 2 - and their spears into pruning hooks; 1 - nation shall not lift up sword against
nation, 2 - neither shall they learn war any more.
from
the New
Revised Standard Version |
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(follows The Prophet's Cry)
Listen to this
Good morning. Thank you so much for allowing me to speak this
morning about On Earth Peace.
I also want to thank you for being the nurturing community who
introduced me to peace in the first place, and has me seeking
every clay what it means to create a just and peaceful world.
When I listen to the scripture from Isaiah that we just read, I
see an awesome image of a world united in efforts to create and
build. The call to “beat swords into plowshares” to me is God’s
call to lay down destructive and hurtful practices for ones that
create and build relationships with each other. To me, this call
begins with my own swords - the ones that come out in my words
when I’m winning an argument with my partner, irritated with my
coworker, and especially when I’m talking with someone who is
saying things I completely disagree with (including on
facebook). Those are
moments when I struggle the most to transform my anger and
righteousness into plowshares that look like letting go of winning
the argument, actually listening to the other person and getting
the world of where they are coming from, and creating a space for
honest conversation. I think many of you have experienced that –
it’s amazing what happens, right?
For me, On Earth Peace
has been an organization and part of the
Church of the Brethren
where I have been able to consistently learn more about what it
takes to beat my sword into a plowshare -what it takes to have
peace and justice in my life and the lives of those around me. I
first met On Earth Peace when I was at camp at Shepherd's Spring and the
Youth Peace Travel Teams
visited to teach us about peace. For those of you who might not be
familiar, Youth Peace Travel
Team is a program of On
Earth Peace where 3-4 youth are selected each summer and
trained together in peace and conflict resolution skills before
they are sent around the country to various Brethren camps to
engage kids and teach them those same peace and conflict
resolution skills. How many of you in this room are familiar with
YPTT? The result is
often life-changing for the youth and campers alike Relationships
are built, kids are empowered to become peace-makers, and lasting
conversations are begun.
Throughout the rest of today’s service I am going to be sharing a
little more about On Earth
Peace's programs and you'll also be seeing a few video
snippets from others about their visions and dreams for peace,
which came out of a project
On Earth Peace created last year to celebrate their 40th
Anniversary… First let's hear a little from Matthew, about the
Jesus Challenge. Peace moment #1 by Caitlin Haynes |
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The Jesus Challenge 1 - Here’s another old saying that deserves a
second look: 2 - ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ 1 - Is that going to get us anywhere? Here’s
what I propose: 2 - ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ 1 - If someone strikes you, stand there and
take it. 2 - If someone drags you into court and sues
for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a
present of it. 1 - And if someone takes unfair advantage of
you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. 2 - No more tit-for-tat stuff. 1 - Live generously. 2 - You’re familiar with the old written law, 1 - ‘Love your friend,’ 2 - and its unwritten companion, 1 - ‘Hate your enemy.’ 2 - I’m challenging that. 1 - I’m telling you to love your enemies. 2 - Let them bring out the best in you, not
the worst. 1 - When someone gives you a hard time,
respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out
of your true selves, your God-created selves. 2 - This is what God does. He gives his
best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone,
regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. 1 - If all you do is love the lovable, do you
expect a bonus? 2 - Anybody can do that. 1 - If you simply say hello to those who
greet you, do you expect a medal? 2 - Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. 1 - In a word, what I’m saying is, 2 - Grow up. 1 - You’re kingdom subjects. 2 - Now live like it. 1 - Live out your God-created identity. 2 - Live generously and graciously toward
others, the way God lives toward you. from
The Message. |
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Listen to this
One of On Earth Peace's
biggest projects is
Agape-Satyagraha.
Agape-Satyagraha is a leadership training program for youth
teaching skills for conflict resolution and social change based on
the nonviolent teachings of Jesus and Gandhi.
On Earth Peace partners
with local churches and organizations to establish the site and
program, which mentors youth through five levels of skills
training. Youth move through the levels with the help of an adult
volunteer coach, learning skills in the areas of 1) Understanding
conflict escalation, 2) Anger management, 3) De-escalating
conflicts, 4)Negotiation and mediation, and 5) Community social
change. There are several
Agape-Satyagraha sites around the country, with one of the
biggest (and first) in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. These programs
have made a huge impact in the life of many youth and leave them
empowered to make a difference with their friends, families, and
communities. I wanted to let you hear from some of them directly
in these videos.
Peace moment #2 by Caitlin Haynes |
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Returning our Tithes and Offerings after reading Micah 6:6-8
Justice, kindness, humility – these are the benchmarks of
“Shalom,” God’s peace. This is what the Lord desires of us, more
than any offering. Justice, you see, is not some law in a legal
code. It is a lifestyle of seeking and doing what is right. Being
kind is not the same as being nice. And humility involves feet on
the ground, walking with God, not trying to be God.
Justice, kindness, humility – these are the benchmarks of
“Shalom,” God’s peace. As you return your tithe or other offering
just now, think about this past week. Where and when have you been
just or kind or humble? Look ahead to the coming week. How might
these benchmarks of “Shalom” be lived out in your everyday walk in
the next seven days, or even just today? Ushers? |
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Focus and Promise
1 - Rejoice in the Lord always. 2 - I will say it again: Rejoice! 1 - Let your gentleness be evident to all. 2 - The Lord is near. 1 - Do not be anxious about anything, 2 - but in every situation, 1 - by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, 2 - present your requests to God. 1 - And the peace of God, 2 - which transcends all understanding, 1 - will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus. 2 - Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever
is true, 1 - whatever is noble, 2 - whatever is right, 1 - whatever is pure, 2 - whatever is lovely, 1 - whatever is admirable - 2 - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy
- 1 - think about such things. 2 - Whatever you have learned 1 - or received 2 - or heard from me, 1 - or seen in me - 2 - put it into practice. 1 - And the God of peace will be with you. from the
New
International Version®, NIV® |
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[this was prayed extemporaneously] |
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On Being Genuine 1 - Let love be genuine; 2 - hate what is evil, 1 - hold fast to what is good; 2 - love one another with mutual affection; 1 - outdo one another in showing honor. 2 - Do not lag in zeal, 1 - be ardent in spirit, 2 - serve the Lord. 1 - Rejoice in hope, 2 - be patient in suffering, 1 - persevere in prayer. 2 - Contribute to the needs of the saints; 1 - extend hospitality to strangers. 2 - Bless those who persecute you; 1 - bless and do not curse them. 2 - Rejoice with those who rejoice, 1 - weep with those who weep. 2 - Live in harmony with one another; 1 - do not be haughty, but associate with the
lowly; 2 - do not claim to be wiser than you are. 1 - Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but
take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 2 - If it is possible, so far as it depends
on you, live peaceably with all. 1 - Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but
leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, 2 - “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says
the Lord.” 1 - No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed
them; 2 - if they are thirsty, give them something
to drink; 1 - for by doing this you will heap burning
coals on their heads.” 2 - Do not be overcome by evil, 1 - but overcome evil with good.
from
the New
Revised Standard Version |
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Listen to this
“Overcome evil with good’ and “let love be genuine” … These are
such nice thoughts and such a daunting task for me. Sometimes I am
overwhelmed by what to me seems evil in the world. There are so
many times when I can’t believe what hurtful and hateful words
come out of people’s mouths,
and what heinous acts people commit against each other. And
sometimes hateful words leave my own mouth. How am I ever going to
overcome all that evil with good? What does that even look like?
And this whole “genuine love” thing - I don't know about you, but
I’ve gotten really good (and I think being a pastor’s kid helped
me with this (eek!) at putting on a really loving and caring look,
“An enemy is one whose story we have not heard.”
One of On Earth Peace’s
other programs is the
Ministry of Reconciliation. This ministry consists of trained
volunteers who have been present at Annual Conference and NYC, or
sometimes at District Conferences or congregational events, to be
a peaceful presence, mediate conflict, and provide support in
processing conflict.
Mediation work so often involves being able to really hear the
other person – hear where they are coming from. Often, when we are
able to let go of what we think they are really saying, or our
resistance to what they are saying, we can really listen and hear
their story. And hearing another’s story fully can tear down so
many walls and make us related in a whole new way – a way where
genuine love can emerge.
This work can be hard, though - like I said before, and daunting.
But it is so good to know we don’t have to take it on alone. There
is our God, who is there to guide us through it, and offer so many
blessings along the way. Listen to these
promises and blessings from God. Peace moment #3 by Caitlin Haynes |
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And Finally 1 - “How
beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who
announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation,
who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’”
(Isaiah 52:7) 2 - “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they
will be called children of God.
(Matthew 5:9) 1 - “I have
said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the
world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome
the world.”
(John 16:33) 2 - “A harvest of
righteousness is sown in peace for those
who make peace.”
(James
3:18) 1 - “And let the peace of Christ rule in your
hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be
thankful.”
(Colossians 3:15) 2 - “Finally,
brothers and sisters, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one
another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of
love and peace will be with you.”
(2 Corinthians 13:11) 1 - “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give
to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your
hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
(John 14:27)
from
the New
Revised Standard Version |
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Listen to this
Questions to end with:
- What is your vision for building peace?
- With all the blessings and words of assurance from God we have
just heard, Peace moment #4 by Caitlin Haynes |
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May God deny you an easy peace, by ©
Carol Wise,
Minneapolis, MN |
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Interested in Sunday School? |
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While one of our adult classes follows the International
lesson above (see
also), using |
For children and youth, we use the new |
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©2015 Peter
L. Haynes
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