August 29, 2010
10:00 AM

WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
*Call to Worship
The eternal Father, who loved us and set us free from our sins, who loves us still with that love that will not let us go, and who will love us forever, calls us to worship him today as the only true lover of our souls.
The Lord stoops to receive the love of our poor hearts.  He calls us to remember the depth of his love for us in Christ.  God seeks our love!
*Opening Praise – 284 “Father, I Adore You”
*God Greets Us
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
Amen!
*We Greet Others
*Continuing Praise
“The Joy of the Lord”
“The Trees of the Field”
“I Could Sing of Your Love Forever”
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
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 sins we have done to please others.
Forgive us the sins that we know, and the sins that we know not;
forgive them all, O Lord,
forgive them all because of your great goodness.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  Who then can condemn?  No one.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, and certainly not my confessed sins, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (adapted from Romans 8:31-39)
*Song of Response – 489:3,4 “It Is Well”
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Children’s Time
Prayer of Preparation
Scripture Reading – I Corinthians 7:17, 25-35
Message – “Family Life:  Living a Single Life”
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
*Song of Response – 547 “Fill Thou My Life, O Lord, My God”
The Offering - General Fund
Offertory Prayer
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Intercessory Prayer
WE ARE SENT TO LOVE AND SERVE
Opportunities for Ministry and Fellowship
*Blessed to Serve
May the blessing of God, the giver of every good and perfect gift;
and of Christ, who summons us to service;
and of the Holy Spirit, who inspires generosity and love,
be with you all.
Amen.
*Parting Song – 573:1,4 “O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee”
Postlude

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sunday, 2:00 PM Softball game at KAA with St. James
Monday, 7:00 PM Elders meet
Wednesday, 6:00 AM Men’s breakfast and Bible study at the Spot

The final softball game of the season is today at 2:00 PM at the KAA field with the St. James team.  This is also the league end-of-season picnic.  See Cheryl De Voe or Janet Crawford for more information.
TAKE NOTE:  Sunday, September 12, we will resume the regular worship schedule of Sunday School classes for all ages at 9:15 AM and morning worship at 10:30 AM. 

The sixth annual Fall Festival is Sunday, September 19 from 1-4 PM.  We will again need the help of all of you to make this a successful in-reach to our community.  Sign up sheets listing places, times and ways to serve are on the table in the foyer.  Please consider where you can best help and indicate that in the next week or two.  Start mentioning it to your neighbors and friends, inviting them to participate with you.

Pray for those in the Valley Church family who are beginning college.  Some are off to new places and new schools; others have returned to continue their education in a familiar environment.  All will be facing challenges and opportunities.  Pray for the ability to focus on their education while enjoying new freedoms.  Pray that they will hold firm to the faith they profess.  Keep parents and siblings in prayer too, especially those whose family member has moved away from home for the first time.

Congratulations to Mike and Beth Komaromi on the birth Wednesday of twins.  All are doing well and grateful for many answered prayers.  Big brothers Jacob and Andrew, along with grandparents John and Barb Komaromi, share the joy of welcoming Allison and Tanner into the family.

Council notes:
1.Florence Doller opened the meeting by reading Ephesians 1 and led in prayer.
2.New council members were welcomed and those concluding service were thanked for their work.  Installation of new elders and deacons will be September 5.
3.We reviewed the church membership in preparation for filling in the annual report on membership and financial support.
4.Several matters were considered regarding pastoral leadership transition:
a.Pastor Gelder will be retiring as of June 30, 2011.
b.The Growth and Renewal team will begin developing a church profile as part of the transition process, gathering data regarding church and community composition, plus financial and facilities information.
c.Council members will be visiting with all church families in the coming three months to seek input on how you see Valley Church and what we should look for in our next pastor.
d.We will get more information from Calvin Seminary regarding a summer ministry intern for next summer.
5.We invited Beth Swagman from the CRC Safe Church Office to come in early November to do a training on safe church practices for council, all children’s and youth workers, and anyone interested.
6.The finance team is beginning work on the 2011 budget.  Council expressed concern that offerings so far this year are about $8,000 behind last years levels.
7.Ministry team reports were reviewed.

NEXT SUNDAY, September 5, 2010
MORNING WORSHIP:  10:00 AM   Pastor Gelder will lead our worship, concluding the summer series of messages in observance of “Ordinary Time.”  The focus this week is on “Working”, based on II Thessalonians 3:12-13.
New elders and deacons will be ordained at this service.  Greg Huck begins a term as elder; Marsha Conrad, Beth Cunningham and Henry Huizinga begin terms as deacons.