November 15, 2009
10:30 AM
WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
*Opening Prayer
On this day of rest and gladness, we praise you, God of creation, for the dignity of work and the joy of play, for the challenge of witness and the invitation to delight in your presence.
Renew our hearts through your Sabbath rest, so that we might be refreshed to continue in your work of restoring the world to wholeness. Amen. 
*Opening Praise – 428:1,3,5 “O Worship the King”
*God Greets Us
*We Greet Others
*Continuing Praise
“Call to Confession
As God’s creatures we are made in his image to represent him on earth and to live in loving communion with him. By God’s appointment we are earth-keepers and caretakers: loving our neighbor, tending the creation, and meeting our needs. God uses our skills in the unfolding and well-being of his world.
Yet often we neglect our task. Recalling our task leads us to confess our sin and to yearn for God’s forgiveness. (Our World Belongs to God, stanza 10)
Prayer of Confession
O God, the earth is full of your creatures; in wisdom you have made us all, and you have delivered us into one another’s care, asking that we love one another as you first loved us.
But we have fostered discord rather than unity, contempt rather than respect, ignorance rather than love. Communities, peoples, creatures, lands, seas – they have been set apart, or torn apart, or driven apart, by conflicting claims and thoughtless ambitions. You know our works and our thoughts, Lord.
So do this day as you have promised: Gather together all our tribes and tongues, and restore us to harmony. Reconcile us in your spirit of peace, and from new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall worship your name. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Our world, broken and scarred, still belongs to God. He holds it together and gives us hope.With the whole creation we wait for the purifying fire of judgment.For then we will see the Lord face to face.God will be all in all, righteousness and peace will flourish, everything will be made new,
And every eye will see at last that our world belongs to God! Hallelujah! Come, Lord Jesus. (Our World Belongs to God, stanzas 18, 58)
*Song of Assurance – 483:1,3 “How Great Thou Art!”
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Children’s Time
Prayer of Preparation
Scripture Reading – Mark 4:35-41
Message – “Quiet! Be Still!”
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
*Song of Thanksgiving – “Be Still, My Soul”
The Offering – General Fund
Offertory Prayer
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Intercessory Prayer
WE ARE SENT TO LOVE AND SERVE
Opportunities for Ministry and Fellowship
*God Blesses Us
*Parting Song – 483:4 “How Great Thou Art!”
Postlude
ANNOUNCEMENTS
We welcome back to Valley Church this morning Mr. John Aukema, a lay pastor from Homer, NY who will be bringing us the message from God’s Word. Pastor Gelder expects to be back from vacation on Tuesday evening.
Thank you to all who brought food items today for the Thanksgiving baskets being prepared by the deacons for distribution to needy families in our area. If you were not here last week and did not get to participate in the reverse offering, you can do so today. There are still plenty of papers with food items on them. Take some today and return the food next Sunday.
Wednesday, 7:00 PM Aerobics class
Thursday, 7:30 PM Worship team meets
Saturday, 6:30 PM Harvest Dinner
Continue to pray for both Bill Keller and Dick Crawford, Valley Church members now in Florida who are dealing with recurrent cancer. Pray for healing and for God’s presence to be powerful in their lives during this time. Pray too for grace for Vivian Keller and Judy Crawford as they provide care and encouragement.
The annual Harvest Dinner will be held this Saturday evening starting with punch at 6:30 PM. You can still sign up today to attend and to indicate what food you will bring to the meal. Esther Hamlin, Ann de Jager and Sue Brown will have sign up sheets. All are encouraged to attend as we together give thanks to God for all our blessings.
Corrected information about the Project Concern Food Truck.
The annual Chenango Valley area ecumenical Thanksgiving service will be next Sunday evening, Nov. 22 at 7:00 PM at St. Francis of Assisi Church on Chenango St. in Hillcrest. There will be music by the massed choir and Pastor Gelder will be bringing the message. Plan to attend as we join our neighbors in giving thanks.
The Valley Church Thanksgiving Eve service will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 7:30 PM.
Council notes:
1.John Moomey led the devotions, reading from Acts 14 and reminding us that we
John Moomey led the devotions, reading from Acts 14 and reminding us that we must appreciate what we have, not obsess over what we don’t have.
2.With regret we accepted the resignation of Mark Gryskevicz from the office of deacon. It was decided not to fill this position at this time but to continue with five deacons (and five elders.)
With regret we accepted the resignation of Mark Gryskevicz from the office of deacon. It was decided not to fill this position at this time but to continue with five deacons (and five elders.)3.After months of discussion and prayer, we adopted a revised statement on the placement of the American flag in the church building. A copy of the policy and rationale for it is in your mail slot.
After months of discussion and prayer, we adopted a revised statement on the placement of the American flag in the church building. A copy of the policy and rationale for it is in your mail slot.4.The winter congregational meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 2 at 7:00 PM.
The winter congregational meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 2 at 7:00 PM.5.We reviewed the proposed 2010 budget of $142,093 (a 0.7% decrease from 2009) and passed it on to the congregation for adoption at the congregational meeting. Copies are also in your mail slot.
We reviewed the proposed 2010 budget of $142,093 (a 0.7% decrease from 2009) and passed it on to the congregation for adoption at the congregational meeting. Copies are also in your mail slot.6.Council asks the congregation to notify an elder if you would attend a New Year’s Eve service or not. In recent years very few attended. We ask your input.
Council asks the congregation to notify an elder if you would attend a New Year’s Eve service or not. In recent years very few attended. We ask your input.NEXT SUNDAY, November 22, 2009
SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:15 AM Classes for all ages meet. The adult class continues studying the book of Revelation, “God Wins: a Look at the Mysteries of Revelation.” The discussion will cover Revelation 12-14, “Unique Personalities”.
MORNING WORSHIP: 10:30 AM Pastor Gelder will bring us God’s Word, concluding the series of messages on “Good Questions, Great Answers.” The question is “Where Were You?” found in Job 38:4.
The second offering will be for our local CHOW Pantry. We have had a lot more clients coming lately so your financial gifts as well as the food items you bring will enable us to serve more people and show them Christ’s love.
