September 21, 2008, 11:00 AM

WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
*Call to Worship –
This is the day the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
*Opening Song – 241 “This Is the Day”
*Invocation
*We Greet Each Other
*Continuing Praise –
           “I Worship You, Almighty God”
           “The Heart of Worship”
           “O How He Loves You and Me”
           “O How I Love Jesus”
Call to Confession
The proof of God’s amazing love is this:  While we were sinners, Christ died for us.  Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  Trusting in God’s faithfulness and compassion, let us confess our sin before God and one another.
Prayer of Confession
God of everlasting love, we confess that we have been unfaithful to our covenant with you and with one another.  We have worshiped other gods:  money, power, greed, and convenience.  We have served our own self-interest instead of serving only you and your people.  We have not loved our neighbor as you have commanded, nor have we rightly loved ourselves.  Forgive us, gracious God, and bring us back into the fullness of our covenant with you and one another.  Through Christ, our Lord we pray.  Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  (Romans 5:8-9)
Thanks be to God!
*Song of Response – 263:1,2,4 “Just as I Am, without One Plea”
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Children’s Time
Prayer of Preparation
Scripture Reading –
Message –
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
*Song of Thanksgiving –
The Offering – General Fund
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Intercessory Prayer
WE ARE DISMISSED TO LOVE AND SERVE
Opportunities for Ministry and Fellowship
*God’s Parting Word
*Closing Song – 547:1 “Fill Thou My Life, O Lord, My God”
Postlude

ANNOUNCEMENTS
We welcome Mr. John Aukema back to Valley Church as he brings us a message from God’s Word.  Pastor Gelder and Jan are on vacation this week and will be returning on Thursday.  Thank you, John, for being available and willing to share God’s Word with us today.

Thursday, 7:00 Council meets

If you need pastoral care while Pastor Gelder is away, please contact one of the elders.  See the list on the back of the bulletin if you aren’t sure who are the current elders and deacons.

There will be an opportunity next Sunday after morning worship for those “techies” or tech “wannabes” who may be interested in helping with sound or projections to find out what that involves from the “experts” who have been doing most of the work.  We’d like to develop a small group of people who know the systems and can step in when the regulars need a break or are away.  There will be pizza and soda available, provided by the worship ministry team, which is facilitating the meeting.  If you are interested and plan to attend, notify Al Vos.  We don’t want to run short of pizza.

The Growth and Renewal Team thanks all who had a part in making the fourth annual Fall Festival the best ever.  We are especially thankful to God for giving us another beautiful day.  Thanks too to all who invited, welcomed, worked a game or table, helped with set up and take down, baked, or did the many things that together made it a great day.  Pray now that God will use what we did or said to motivate people in our neighborhood to come and receive the services we offer in Christ’s name.

Youth Announcements: 
October 4
October 19

NEXT SUNDAY, September 28, 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 an eight-week study “Developing a Heart for God” based on the wisdom literature in the Old Testament.  Let’s all take advantage of the opportunities we have to grow together in God’s Word.

MORNING WORSHIP:     11:00 AM  Pastor Gelder will bring the message “The Surrounding Cloud”, based on Hebrews 12:1-2.  The will also be our observance of All Nations Heritage Week, giving thanks for the wonderful diversity found in the body of Christ.

The second offering next Sunday is for Calvin Theological Seminary, which continues to prepare men and women for service as pastors and leaders in the Christian Reformed Church.  Your generous support helps keep the cost of tuition down, enabling more people to enter ministry without impossible debt loads to burden them.