January 21, 2007, 11:00 AM
Small Group Sunday
WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
Call to Worship – Psalm 95:6,7
*Opening Praise –242 “Come, All You People, Praise Our God”
*God Greets Us
*We Greet Each Other
*Continuing Praise – “Lord, Prepare Me”
“Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus”Call to Confession – Psalm 139:1-3
Prayer of Confession –
Gracious Father, the God of life, teach us ever more to respect and love all the lives you create.
Forgive us our lack of concern and love for those who are yet unborn, who are born with handicapping conditions, who are rejected by their parents.
Teach us to open our hearts and our homes to all your children.
Forgive us when we are negligent and uncaring for those who are elderly, for those who are forgotten in nursing homes, who merely exist in their old age, who cannot afford medical care, who suffer from a careless society.
Teach us to open our hearts, to open our homes and churches, to visit the lonely, to bring your love into their lives on this earth. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon – Psalm 139:13-14, 23-24
Song – 548:1 “When We Walk with the Lord”
WE HEAR GOD’S WORDChildren’s Time
Katie’s Koffee House
*Song – 553:1,2,4 “Jesus Calls Us; O’er the Tumult”
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Reading – Matthew 10:1-8, 24-25a
Message – “Jesus: The Wise Mentor”
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
*Song – 421 “Spirit Divine, Inspire Our Prayer”
The Offering – General Fund
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Intercessory Prayer
WE ARE DISMISSED TO LOVE AND SERVE Opportunities for Ministry and Service
*Parting Song – 291:1,4 “May the Mind of Christ, My Savior”
*God Blesses Us
*Parting Song – 291:5 “May We Run the Race before Us”
Postlude
THIS WEEK IN THE LIFE OF VALLEY CHURCHToday we are focusing our attention on the small group ministry of Valley Church and encouraging every person to consider how being a part of a small group will be one of the means God will use to help you “get connected and stay connected” with Christ and with his people. We will be paying a final visit to Katie’s Koffee Shop. You are all urged to stay for a while after the service to learn more about existing groups and to consider some new options that will be presented. To encourage your staying, there will be refreshments served as well, including chocolate covered espresso beans!
This is also the day when many Christians are celebrating life on Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. Let us pray and work to protect those who cannot speak for themselves, the unborn and those with significant disabilities. The baby bottles from the All Women’s Help Center are here – use one to collect your pocket change and return it in a few weeks. Also there is a bookmark inserted in the bulletin which you can use in your Bible or another book to remind you throughout the year to pray and work to value human life in a society which too often thinks only in utilitarian terms.
Wednesday, 11:30 AM Women’s Luncheon at Cracker Barrel
Thursday, 7:00 PM Elders’ meeting
The game night that had been planned earlier for Saturday evening has been cancelled.
Friday, Feb. 9 there is an adult Valentine’s dinner. 6:30 will be punch and social time, 7:00 will be dinner. See Edele Thompson or Jan Patak to sign up.
The second offering next Sunday is for
Hilda Palmer pick up announcement
Joe and Thea Huizinga are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this week Thursday. It would be very encouraging to them if they received many cards from Valley Church. In addition to their anniversary, they are celebrating Thea’s return home last week after several months of rehab in the nursing home in Owego.
Junior youth group meets this afternoon at for Bible Study and fun.
Next Sunday, January 7, 2007
SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:45 AM Sunday School classes resume for all ages. The adults will continue a study of the life of David, “A King under Construction”.
MORNING WORSHIP: 11:00 AM Our worship will be led by Pastor Gelder. He will continue the series on “Who Is Jesus?” The message this week will be “Jesus: The Story Telling Man” based on Matthew 13:44-52.
