June 26, 2011
10:00 AM

WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
Call to Worship
Let us call to mind the reason for our hope:
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.  (Lamentations 3:21-26)
*Song of Praise – 556:1-3, then refrain “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
*God Greets Us
*We Greet Each Other
Call to Confession
We know that nothing is able to separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ.
Let us in freedom confess the wrong we have done.
Prayer of Confession
God of love, in the wrong we have done and in the good we have not done, we have sinned.We have sinned in ignorance; we have sinned in weakness; we have sinned through our own deliberate fault.  We are truly sorry.  We repent and turn to you.  Forgive us and renew our lives through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.
*Song of Assurance – 489:3-4 “It Is Well with My Soul”
Sharing Joys, Concerns and Ministry Opportunities
Intercessory Prayer
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Children’s Time
Prayer of Preparation
Scripture Reading – John 9:1-7; Matthew 5:14-16
Message – “One Last Word:  Keep Shining!”
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
*Songs of Praise –
461:1,3,4 “Beautiful Savior”
“Shine, Jesus Shine”
“This Little Light of Mine”
The Offerings – First:  General Fund
  Second:  Project Concern
Offertory Prayer
WE ARE SENT TO LOVE AND SERVE
A Liturgy of Farewell
Elder:  Our church family is constantly changing.  People come and go.  Babies are born.  Children grow up.  People commit themselves to one another.  Loved ones and friends among us come to the end of their lives.  Individuals move into our community and church life.  Others leave us, moving away to new places, new experiences, and new opportunities.  It is important and right that we recognize these times of passage, of endings and beginnings.  Today we share the time of farewell with friends who are leaving.
Words of Recognition and Remembrance
Elder:  On April 24, 1994, Al Gelder was installed as pastor of Valley Christian Reformed Church.
Pastor Gelder:  I thank Valley Church, its members and friends, for the love, kindness, and support shown me these last seventeen years.  I ask forgiveness for the mistakes I have made.  I am grateful for the ways my leadership has been accepted.  I thank God for the support of council during those years.  As I leave, I carry with me all that I have learned here.
People:  We receive your thankfulness, offer forgiveness, and accept that you now leave to retire from full-time pastoral work and to continue in ministry at Calvin Theological Seminary.  We express our gratitude for your time among us.  We ask your forgiveness for our mistakes.  Your influence on our faith and faithfulness will not leave us at your departure.
Pastor Gelder:  I forgive you and accept your gratitude, trusting that our time together and our parting are pleasing to God.
*Elder:  Do you, the members and friends of Valley Church, release Al Gelder from the duties of being your pastor?
*People:  We do, with the help of God.
*Elder:  Do you offer your encouragement for his ministry as it unfolds in new ways?
*People:  We do, with the help of God.
*Elder:  Do you, Pastor Al Gelder, release the people of Valley Church from turning to you and depending on you?
*Pastor Gelder:  I do, with the help of God.
*Elder:  Do you offer your encouragement for the continued ministry of Valley Church and on the relationship with Pastor Dave and with others who will come to serve?
*Pastor Gelder:  I do, with the help of God.
*Elder:  Let us pray.
*All:  God, whose everlasting love for us all is trustworthy, help each of us to trust the future which rests in your care.  The time we were together in your name saw our laughter and tears, our hopes and disappointments.  Guide us as we hold these cherished memories but move in new direction, until that time to come when we are completely one with you and with each other, in the name of Jesus Christ we pray.  Amen.
*Sent to Serve
People of God, go to love and serve your God;
Go to love and serve your neighbor.
We will go; we will love; we will serve.
*God Blesses Us
*Parting Song – 637 “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”
Postlude

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our worship this morning is Pastor Gelder’s last service as pastor of Valley Church.  The service includes a liturgy of farewell as we publicly acknowledge the change of relationship which is occurring this week after seventeen years.

The second offering today is for Project Concern, the local clothing and household item source for many people in our area who are financially struggling to provide for themselves and their families.  Several Valley folk volunteer there.  Your generous financial help in the offering, along with your donations of usable clothing and household goods, are needed and appreciated.  If you were not aware that the offering was planned for today, you can always place a gift in the plate next week, clearly designating it for Project Concern.

Wednesday, 6:00 AM Men’s breakfast at the Spot
                   9:30 AM Women’s Bible study at Ruth Giese’s home

Please be strong in prayer this Thursday.  Pray for Matt Martinichio as he has surgery to remove the rod and pins that were put in his back after his serious accident last summer.  Pray for Tim Brown as he has hernia repair surgery that same day.  And while you are praying, include the Gelders as that is the day they expect to load the moving van and, with Betsy, leave for their home in Michigan.
                 
Just a reminder - you can now contact Pastor Dave by phone at his home (648-4430) or at church (648-8224.)  Also, please note that Pastor Gelder’s cell phone number is 607-765-2061.  The last two numbers were mistakenly reversed in last week’s bulletin.  The phone number 648-4430, which was for many years the parsonage number and then the number at the Gelders’ home, has now been transferred to the home where Pastor Dave and Sara are living.


NEXT SUNDAY, July 3, 2011

MORNING WORSHIP:  10:00 AM Independence Day weekend worship will be led by Pastor Dave.