November 16, 2008, 11:00 AM
WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
*Call to Worship
The eternal God, who loved us and set us free from our sins, who loves us still with a love that will not let us go, and who will love us forever, calls us to worship him today as the only true lover of our souls.
The Lord stoops to receive the love of our poor hearts. He calls us to remember the depth of his love for us in Christ.
God seeks our love!
*Opening Song – 499:2-5 “My God, How Wonderful You Are”
*God Greets Us
*We Greet Each Other
*Continuing Praise
“That’s Why We Praise Him”
“O How I Love Jesus”
“I Love You, Lord”
Call to Confession
Jesus said, “’Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”
Because we have not lived in full obedience to these commands, let us now confess our sins to God, trusting Christ as our Savior and Lord.
Prayer of Confession
Lord, we are like sheep, and we get lost.
We forget the needs of our neighbors
And do not love you above all else.
We need a Savior, so we long for Jesus.
Come, fill our lives, Jesus. Amen.
*Song of Assurance – 571:1-2 “Jesus Loves Me, This I Know”
A Testimony – “He Giveth More Grace”
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Children’s Time
Prayer of Preparation
Scripture Reading – John 14:15; 15:9-17
Message – “I Love You”
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
*Song – 557:1-3 “My Jesus, I Love Thee”
The Offering – General Fund
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Intercessory Prayer
WE ARE DISMISSED TO LOVE AND SERVEOpportunities for Ministry and Fellowship
*God’s Parting Word
*Closing Song – 634 “Father, We Love You”
Postlude
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The financial statement reflecting giving and expenditures for the first three quarters of the year is in your mail slots today. Thank you for your generous financial support for Valley Church’s ministries. We are confident that your giving in the remainder of the year will enable us to end the year with a balanced or surplus budget.
Thursday, 7:00 PM Deacons meet
Saturday, 6:30 PM Harvest Dinner
Approximately sixty shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child will be delivered to the local pick-up point next Sunday, November 23. In the meantime, your financial gift toward the cost of shipping ($7.00 per box) is greatly appreciated. Thank you to Florence Doller and her Sunday School class for heading up this project again this year.
All are invited to join us for our annual Harvest Dinner this Saturday evening. Punch is served at 6:30 and dinner at 7. Please sign up today to let us know how many are coming as well as what side dish you will bring.
Congratulations to the Woodnorths on the birth of another grandchild. Julianna Grace was born to Jesse and Kara Woodnorth-Ohara on Monday afternoon. All are doing well. We thank God for this precious gift.
Sarah Peterson is scheduled to have surgery to remove her tonsils on Friday. Pray that all goes well and that this will put an end to all the throat infections she’s had over the past few years.
Ann De Jager will have the third of four chemo treatments this Monday. Pray for strength to endure the side effects that come along with the treatment.
Some upcoming events:
November 23, 7:00 PM Chenango Valley area community Thanksgiving worship at Chenango Bridge First United Methodist Church
November 26, 7:30 PM Thanksgiving Eve worship at Valley
November 30 First Sunday of Advent. There will be a soup and bread lunch following worship, after which all are invited to help us decorate the tree and the inside and outside of the church for the Christmas season.
Youth Announcements:
Grapevine wreath sale (repeat announcement)It’s time to order your 2009 calendar. There is a sign-up sheet for this on the table in the entry. Remember, for every calendar you purchase for $6.00, we will have another one to give away to our neighbors at the Live Nativity on December 22.
NEXT SUNDAY, November 23, 2008
SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:45 AM Classes for all ages meet today and each Sunday. There’s a class appropriate to your age and interest. The adult class continues a five-week series on the Belhar Confession. What is it? Why does it matter to us? Should it be part of our Reformed creeds and confessions? Come to class and find out.
MORNING WORSHIP: 11:00 AM Pastor Gelder will bring the message “Thank You” based on Mark 1:40-45. This concludes the series on “Words that Become Habits”, looking at the ordinary words we say so glibly as words that shape our relationship with God.
