January 28, 2007, 11:00 AM

WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
Call to Worship – Psalm 63:1
*Opening Praise - 244:1,2 “God Himself Is with Us”
*God Greets Us
*We Greet Each Other
*Continuing Praise – “Shout to the North”
“The Joy of the Lord”
“Days of Elijah”
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 –
Forgive us our sins, O Lord.
Forgive us the sins of our youth and the sins of our age,
The sins of our soul and the sins of our body,
Our secret and our whispering sins,
Our presumptuous and our careless sins,
The sins we have done to please ourselves,
And the sings we have done to please others.
Forgive us the sins that we know,
And the sins that we know not;
Forgive them, O Lord,
Forgive them all because of your great goodness.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.
Assurance of Pardon –
To all who turn from sin in sorrow, to all who turn to God in hope, this is God’s Word of grace:  We are accepted, we are forgiven, we are loved.  This gift we have from God.
           Thanks be to God.
           Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another.
           The peace of Christ be with you.
            And also with you.
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Children’s Time
*Song – 209 “Seek Ye First the Kingdom”
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Reading – Matthew 13:10-17, 31-35
Message – “Jesus:  The Storytelling Man”
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
*Song – 416:1,3,5 “For Your Gift of God the Spirit”
The Offering – General Fund
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Intercessory Prayer
WE ARE DISMISSED TO LOVE AND SERVE
Opportunities for Ministry and Service
*God Blesses Us
*Parting Song – 316:1,2 “God Be with You Till We Meet Again”
Postlude

THIS WEEK IN THE LIFE OF VALLEY CHURCH

We extend our sincere Christian sympathy to several of Valley Church’s families who are mourning the loss of loved ones in the past week.  Pray that God will comfort and sustain Doug and Pat Aukema and John and Grace Roossien on the death of their brother-in-law Myles Kuperus last Sunday.  Also, Willis and Edele Thompson mourn the death of Tommy’s half-brother (and former Valley member) Gary Thompson.  Finally, pray for the Ron Crawford family on the death of Janet’s mother (and Ryan and Lindsey’s grandmother) Sue Parker on Tuesday.  After many years of struggle with multiple sclerosis, Sue is free from the limits of her disease and enjoying being in the presence of her Lord.  You can visit the family today from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at Wm. R. Chase Funeral Home (Chenango St. in Port Dickinson).  Sue’s funeral will be held at the funeral home Monday at 11 AM.  In all these situations, may these families find hope and peace in the resurrection victory of Jesus.

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 Small Group information that was posted last Sunday as part of the “Small Group Sunday” event is still available for you to review today.  Take note of groups that are meeting and you can sign up if you are interested in becoming a part of one of them.  Also, there are a number of ideas already mentioned that might interest you – you can sign up for one of them as well and the Small Group team will see if we can find a leader to initiate such a group.  There is also a paper where you can write down your ideas for a group that is not already being investigated.  Your input and participation in small groups is an important part of how Valley Church hopes to help all of us grow in Christ.  “Get Connected, Stay Connected.”

Plans for the Franklin Graham Festival coming in June are progressing well.  Prayer continues to be a priority.  You will find a prayer card for the rest of January and for February inserted in today’s bulletin.  Use it to direct your daily prayer.  There will be many other opportunities to be involved in the Festival, including training for evangelism and counseling, singing in the choir, and helping out directly the days of the festival.  If you want more information, you can talk with Al or Jan Gelder, Bill Kutz or Edele Thompson.

Next Sunday, February 4, 2007

SUNDAY SCHOOL:  9:45 AM Sunday School classes 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 Teacher and Doer of Prayer” based on Luke 11:1-13.