October 14, 2007, 11:00 AM
All Nations Heritage Sunday

WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
Call to Worship – Psalm 96:1-3
Sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
All the families of the nations will bow down before him.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
*Song of Praise – “O Sing to the Lord”
*God Greets Us
*We Greet Each Other
*Continuing Praise  – “We Bow Down”
“Shout to the North and the South”
Prayer of Confession –
God, please forgive me.
God, forgive my incompleteness:
not growing in Christ, not expanding my knowledge of the Scriptures, not developing all my talents.
God, forgive my disinterest:
a lack of concern for needs around me, apathy regarding the lostness of millions, blindness to hurts I could help heal.
God, forgive my dishonesty:
taking the easy way rather than the right way, speaking in one manner while living in another, silencing truth to preserve tranquility, settling for less than what is best, loving tradition more than obeying your pioneering Spirit.
God, forgive my loudness:
talking when I should be listening, proclaiming when I should be studying, busying myself with new tasks when I should be finding a quiet place to rest.
God, forgive my silence:
feeling love and failing to whisper it, reeling with joy and not shouting hallelujah, knowing truth and forfeiting an opportunity to share it, sensing a need to share my faith and squelching the impulse.
God, please forgive me.
Assurance of Pardon
Here are words you may trust, words that merit full acceptance:  Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.  To all who confess their sins and resolve to lead a new life, he says, “Your sins are forgiven.”  He also says, “Follow me.”  Now to the one who rules all worlds, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.
Amen!
*Song of Response – 250 “I’ve Come to Tell”
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Children’s Time
Scripture Reading – Luke 13:22-30
Message – “A Colorful Table”
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
God summons the nations to dine at his banquet.
As banquet guests, we celebrate the Lamb who was slain, whose blood purchased people for God, from every tribe and language and people and nation.
As banquet guests, we remember there is no Jew or Greek, man or woman, slave or free.  We are all one in Jesus Christ.
As banquet guests, we rededicate ourselves to the ministry of reconciliation, since God has reconciled us to himself through Christ.
God says, “Come!  My banquet is ready.”
The bread that we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.
We who are many are one body, for we all share the same loaf.
The cup for which we give thanks is a sharing in the blood of Christ.
The cup that we drink is our participation in the blood of Christ.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
The gifts of God for the people of God.
The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.
Thanks be to God.
The blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.
Thanks be to God.
*Song of Thanksgiving – 401 “Oh, How Good Is Christ the Lord”
The Offerings – First:  General Fund
  Second:  Indonesian Christian Reformed Church
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Intercessory Prayer
WE ARE DISMISSED TO LOVE AND SERVE
Opportunities for Ministry and Fellowship
*God Blesses Us
*Closing Praise – 501:1,2,7 “Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing”
Postlude

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Today we are celebrating All Nations Heritage Sunday, a time to rejoice in the diversity found in the church of Jesus Christ.  Our readings and songs will show some of that variety.  We will also celebrate Holy Communion, coming from our varied backgrounds to meet at the table of the Lord as one in Christ.  If you have publicly professed that Jesus is your Savior and you are seeking to live in obedience to his leading, please receive the elements as they are passed, eating and drinking after all have been served.

Monday, 7:00 PM Fellowship Team meets
Tuesday, 7:00 PM Elders meet
Thursday, 7:00 PM Prayer Meeting

The second offering today is for the Indonesian Christian Reformed Church in Dover, New Hampshire.  Our generous financial support is a real encouragement to Pastor Michael and Deibi Lapian.

The annual CHOW Hunger Walk will be at Binghamton University next Sunday, October 21.  You can get more information from a deacon or start contacting sponsors if you plan to be a walker.  Betsy Gelder again plans to ride the route in her wheel chair and will be pleased to receive your support.

Reserve time on Sunday evening, October 28, for a congregational forum on the question of whether young children should take part in the Lord’s Supper.  The elders will be presenting material which provides the rationale for our present policy of expecting a public profession of faith before partaking of the bread and cup, as well as the reasons why it may be appropriate to allow all baptized children to receive the elements.  There is no proposal for change; we are simply looking at this question which is being discussed in the CRC and which is practiced different ways in different denominations.

Operation Christmas Child is off to a great start.  Thank you for the 58 shoe boxes and the school supplies.  We hope you are able to bring in lots of hygiene items this week.  The focus next week is on toys.  Remember that it costs $7 to ship each box.  Above all, pray for the children who will receive these boxes. 

Congratulations to Marcy and Jim Canary on the birth of Charlise Annette Canary on Monday.  Pray for these new parents as they rejoice in her birth and as they take on the responsibility for her training as a child of the God.

Continue to pray for Dick Crawford as he receives more chemo treatments.  Jan Patak spent a couple days in the hospital last week.

Next Sunday, October 21, 2007

SUNDAY SCHOOL:  9:45 AM   Classes for all ages.  The adult class continues the class on “Faith”, using the book written by John Ortberg “If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve God to Get Out of the Boat.” 

MORNING WORSHIP:     11:00 AM   Pastor Gelder will lead our worship.