November 23, 2008, 11:00 AM
WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
*Invocation
Great God of heaven and earth, for all that is beautiful in our lives, revealing the image of Christ,
We give you thanks.
For our daily food and drink, our homes and families, and our friends,
We give you thanks.
For minds to think and hearts to love and hands to serve,
We give you thanks.
For health and strength to work, and leisure to rest and play,
We give you thanks.
For all who seek after truth, liberty, and justice,
We give you thanks.
For the great mercies and promises given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord; to you, O God, be praise and glory.
Amen.
*Opening Song – 183:1,3,4 “With Grateful Heart My Thanks I Bring”
*God Greets Us
*We Greet Each Other
*Continuing Praise
“I Will Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving”
“We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise”
“Give Thanks”
Call to Confession
We cannot come before God unless we are first honest with ourselves about who we are, about the mistakes we make, and about how well or poorly we care for others. In this spirit, let us offer our prayers to God.
Prayer of Confession
Holy God, you have given us many good gifts. Today we thank you for all of them, but we also confess that sometimes we love those gifts more than we love you. We confess wanting more and more things: food, clothes, toys, and money. Forgive us for not being content and thankful. Forgive our selfishness. Help us to love you more than everything else. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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.
Thanks be to God!
*Song of Response – 260 “Not What My Hands Have Done”
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Prayer for Operation Christmas Child – Shoe Box Dedication
Prayer of Preparation
Scripture Reading – Mark 1:40-45; Luke 17:11-19
Message – “Thank You”
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
*Song – 453 “Let All Things Now Living”
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 – 402:5 “Alleluia, Alleluia! Give Thanks”
Postlude
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Wednesday, 7:30 PM Thanksgiving Eve worship
Approximately sixty shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child will be delivered to the local pick-up after worship today. Thank you for your most generous help in providing the boxes, the items to put in the boxes, and more than enough money to cover the shipping of the boxes! We will include a blessing of the boxes as part of our worship this morning. Thank you to Florence Doller and her Sunday School class for heading up this project again this year.
This evening at 7:00 PM members of the churches in the Chenango Valley area will join together at the First United Methodist Church in Chenango Bridge for the annual community Thanksgiving service. Let’s have a good response of Valley folk at the service. The combined choirs of several of the churches will be singing.
We will have our annual Thanksgiving Eve service here at Valley Church on Wednesday evening, 7:30 PM. Plan to come for a time of sharing reasons for thanks, also in troubling times. The service will be led by the elders, since the Gelders are spending a few days this week with family in Michigan.
Sarah Peterson had her tonsils removed on Friday. Pray that all goes well with her recovery and that this will put an end to all the throat infections she’s had over the past few years.
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 30, 2008
SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:45 AM There will be NO classes this week. All classes will resume as usual on December 7.
MORNING WORSHIP: 11:00 AM Pastor Gelder will bring the message “Christmas Is for Children” based on Luke 2:21-24. This is the first Sunday in Advent and our service will reflect that fact. Also, we will celebrate with Julie and the Roossien family the baptism of Annabelle Joy Roossien.
There will be a soup and bread lunch following the service, after which all are invited to help us decorate the tree with lights and Chrismons, as well as putting up the lights and decorations inside and outside the building. If you will be staying, please bring a can or two of soup for the soup pots, either tomato based or cream based.
