September 27, 2009, 10:30 AM
WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
*Opening Prayer
Eternal God, neither death nor life can separate us from your love. Grant that we may serve you faithfully here on earth, and in heaven rejoice with all your saints, who ceaselessly proclaim your glory;
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
*Opening Praise – 234 “Alleluia/Alabare”
*God Greets Us
*We Greet Others
*Continuing Praise
“God of Wonders”“Before the Throne of God Above”
“All Hail King Jesus”
Call to Confession
Christ calls us to share the heavenly banquet of his love with all the saints in earth and heaven. Knowing our unworthiness and sin, let us ask from him both mercy and forgiveness.
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, you made us in your image, with a mind to know you, a heart to love you, and a will to serve you. But our knowledge is imperfect, our love inconstant, our obedience incomplete. Day by day we fail to grow into your likeness. In your tender love, forgive us through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Renew in us your image until we reflect your glory more completely in the new heaven and on the new earth. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
The God who challenges us is also the God who encourages us. The God who confronts us is also the God who accepts us. Be assured that God is with us even now, accepting guiding, forgiving. Be assured that the God who is with us now will bring us complete and restored into the perfect family of God. And it has not been made known what we then will be.
Thanks be to God!*Song of Response – 346:2,4,5 “He Came Down to Earth from Heaven”
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Children’s Time
Prayer of Preparation
Scripture Reading – Revelation 21:1-7, 22-27
Message – “The Church in New Jerusalem”
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
*Song – 618:1,2,4 “Jerusalem the Golden”
The Offerings– First: General Fund
Second: CHOWOffertory Prayer
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Intercessory Prayer
WE ARE DISMISSED TO LOVE AND SERVE
Opportunities for Ministry and Fellowship
*God Blesses Us
*Closing Song – 620 “By the Sea of Crystal”
Postlude
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Christian Reformed churches across the US and Canada are encouraged to join Honduran Christians in a day of prayer for justice and calm in that country where the CRC has both World Missions and CRWRC staff and where many college students have participated in semester-long and interim courses.
Today is also Abuse Awareness Day in the Christian Reformed Church. Did you know that the CRC has a Safe Church Ministry which develops resources, makes them available through its web site, conducts training for congregations and for regional resource teams, and has persons available for consultation if situations of abuse come to light? To know more, check out the Safe Church Ministry at www.crcna.org and click on “Our Ministries”.
Tuesday, 7:00 PM Council meets
Thursday, 7:00 PM Deacons meet
The second offering today is for the Broome County Council of Churches CHOW ministry. When our local pantry runs short of food, we are able to get staples from the CHOW warehouse. Your generous support helps not only the Valley pantry but also more than twenty other pantries in Broome County.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD: Thank you all for so many plastic shoe boxes and school supplies. We are off to an awesome start. We have 45 boxes, so just 20 more to go. In the bulletin today is an insert for you to hang on your refrigerator to remind you of the items needed over the coming weeks to fill these boxes. Information will be coming your way every Sunday regarding Operation Christmas Child, but if you have other questions, please contact Florence Doller or Tilly Huizinga.
The September issue of “Capital Commentary” is available in the narthex. The two articles are “Missing Balance in Healthcare Reform” and “The Fallacy of Nation Building.” Whether or not you agree with everything in this resource, it does challenge us to think about the Christian response to the important social and political issues of our time.
A reminder to all ministry team chairpersons and council liaisons – your 2010 budget request forms should be returned to David Derzanovich today so the Finance team can present a proposed 2010 budget for council and congregational approval in a timely way.
Christian Reformed Home Missions has created a series of short devotions for Reformation Week, October 19-25. Designed for all ages, each one has a prayer, a challenge to the reader, and a family discussion topic. Please go to www.crhm.org/transformation to receive these devotions, which will be available via e-mail on October 16.
NEXT SUNDAY, October 4, 2009
SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:15 AM Classes for all ages meet. The adult class continues a discussion on Worship. Books are available for your preparation and reflection.
MORNING WORSHIP: 10:30 AM God’s Word will be brought by Mr. John Aukema since Pastor Gelder will be in Wappingers Falls assisting in the examination process for their new pastor Mr. James Kirk. We are glad to welcome John back to Valley Church and will pray God’s blessing as he brings the message.
We will also be welcoming a speaker to represent the ministry of the Gideons International. This Christian lay ministry distributes Bibles in many settings around the world. The New York State convention of the Gideons will be held in Owego this week so there are speakers available from around the state to represent the ministry in local churches. You will have an opportunity to give your financial support after the presentation is shared.
