September 28, 2008, 11:00 AM
WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
*Call to Worship –
The God of creation makes us one in body!Let us join hears and voices in praise of the Lord!The God of Christ makes us one in the Spirit!Let us join hearts and voices in praise of the Lord!*Opening Song – 96:1,5,6 “Sing to the Lord, Sing His Praise”
*Invocation
*We Greet Each Other
*Continuing Praise –
“Come, Now Is the Time to Worship”
“Shout to the North”
“He Is Lord”
Call to Confession
We are called by God to be a new community in Christ. Yet we remain divided, living from fear, anxiety, prejudice and misunderstandings. Let us confess our sins and deepen our resolve to advance the unity of your church.
Prayer of Confession
Across the barriers that divide race from race:
Reconcile us, O Christ, by your cross.
Across the barriers that divide rich from poor:
Reconcile us, O Christ, by your cross.
Across the barriers that divide people of different cultures:
Reconcile us, O Christ, by your cross.
Across the barriers that divide Christians:
Reconcile us, O Christ, by your cross.
Across the barriers that divide men and women, young and old:
Reconcile us, O Christ, by your cross.
Confront us, O Christ, with the hidden prejudices and fears that deny and betray our prayers. Enable us to see the causes of strife, remove from us all senses of superiority. Teach us to grow in unity with all God’s children. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
I Peter 2:9-10
People of God, all of us together have received God’s mercy in Christ. In Christ we are forgiven, redeemed, and made to be a community united in faith.
Thanks be to God!
*Song of Response – 517 “There’s No God as Great”
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Children’s Time
Prayer of Preparation
Scripture Reading – Hebrews 11:32-12:3
Message – “The Surrounding Cloud”
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
*Song of Thanksgiving – 620 “By the Sea of Crystal”
The Offerings – First: General Fund
Second: Calvin Theological Seminary
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Intercessory Prayer
WE ARE DISMISSED TO LOVE AND SERVEOpportunities for Ministry and Fellowship
*God’s Parting Word
*Closing Song – 291:1,5 “May the Mind of Christ, My Savior”
Postlude
ANNOUNCEMENTSThis morning our worship will help us focus on the amazing diversity found in the body of Christ, the church. This week many Christian Reformed churches are observing All Nations Heritage Sunday. Let us pray that Valley Church too may more and more reflect in its members the rich variety found in the human race.
The second offering today 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.
There is an opportunity today after morning worship for those “techies” or tech “wannabes” who are interested in helping with sound or projection systems to find out what that involves from the “experts” who have been doing most of the work. We want 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.
Saturday, 8AM – 2:30PM Youth sponsored garage sale
Continue to pray for Ann De Jager and her family as she faces chemo treatments starting October 6. She had minor surgery on Thursday to clean out the incision from the earlier surgery. Pray that it will heal well so that the next treatments can start.
Aiden Wood will be undergoing surgery this Friday in Rochester. If all goes well, he should be home again the next day. Pray for a speedy and uneventful recovery, as well as for peace of mind for his parents and brothers at this time.
Delegates from the churches of Classis Atlantic Northeast will meet this Wednesday and Thursday at the Lakeside Retreat Center in Pittsfield, MA for the regular fall meeting. Pastor Gelder, elder George De Jager and deacon Paul Peterson will represent Valley Church. Bill Kutz will be examined at the meeting as he seeks a license to exhort in the churches of classis. Pray for him as he gives a good testimony of his knowledge of God’s Word, his personal faith and his call to be one who proclaims God’s truth. Pray too for safe travel for all the delegates and guests and for business to be done in a way that builds up the body of Christ in the Northeast. In addition to Bill’s examination, three others will be examined for various positions in Christ’s church.
Council notes:
1.Jim Conrad led the devotions, reading from Hebrews 11:1-6 and encouraging us to value the faith we have in Christ.
Jim Conrad led the devotions, reading from Hebrews 11:1-6 and encouraging us to value the faith we have in Christ.2.Council officers for the next year are: President – Al Gelder; Vice-president – George De Jager; Secretary – Paul Peterson; Treasurer – David Derzanovich.
Council officers for the next year are: President – Al Gelder; Vice-president – George De Jager; Secretary – Paul Peterson; Treasurer – David Derzanovich.3.We assigned council liaisons to ministry teams and updated council teams to serve as contacts to the five districts into which the congregation is divided.
We assigned council liaisons to ministry teams and updated council teams to serve as contacts to the five districts into which the congregation is divided.4.We prepared the credentials for classis, along with the praise and prayer items to be shared. The agenda for the meeting was reviewed.
We prepared the credentials for classis, along with the praise and prayer items to be shared. The agenda for the meeting was reviewed.5.The results of the pastor’s regular performance evaluation were presented to council. Council continues to affirm the pastor in his work.
The results of the pastor’s regular performance evaluation were presented to council. Council continues to affirm the pastor in his work.6.Council endorsed the youth team’s plans for a work camp next July in Canonsburg, PA.
Council endorsed the youth team’s plans for a work camp next July in Canonsburg, PA.7.We reviewed reports from ministry teams and the financial report.
We reviewed reports from ministry teams and the financial report.Youth Announcements:
October 4 Garage sale, and bonfire in the eveningOctober 19NEXT SUNDAY, October 5, 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 “I’m Sorry”, based on Mark 1:4-11. This is the first message in a series on “Words that Become Habits”, taking words we lightly say to other people and encouraging us to see them as a vital part of our relationship with God.
