November 2, 2008, 11:00 AM
World Hunger Sunday
WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
*Call to Worship – Psalm 24:1-6
*Opening Song – 253:1,3,4 “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
*God Greets Us
*We Greet Each Other
*Continuing Praise –
“I Worship You, Almighty God”
“Create in Me a Clean Heart”
“I Give You My Heart”
World Hunger Litany
Arise, cry out in the night. Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord.
Let us lift our hands for the lives of our children who faint from hunger at the head of every street.
Arise, shine, for our light has come. The glory of the Lord is risen upon us.
Let us lift up our eyes and look around. Let us look at the abundance the Lord has brought upon us.
Arise, for the Spirit of the Lord is upon us.
God has sent us to bring good news to the oppressed, to provide a garland for those who mourn, instead of ashes.
Arise from your sleep, and Christ will give you light.
Let us live in the light, for the fruit of the light is all that is good and right and true.
They shall build houses and inhabit them
They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity
They shall be offspring blessed by the Lord, and their descendants as well.
Like the days of a tree shall the days of God’s people be.
Arise! Let us be glad and rejoice in what God is creating in us.
Prayer of Dedication
Creator God, you blessed us with earth’s abundance, and charged us with stewardship of all your creation.
Your prophets called us to faithfulness, to bring good news to the poor and to proclaim Jubilee. May your message ring out through our words and deeds.
Open the eyes and hearts of our leaders, that we may as a nation rise to the challenge and dedicate our resources to ending hunger in your world. May we see the light of Christ shine to the ends of the earth. Amen.
*Song of Commitment – 611 “As Stewards of a Vineyard”
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Children’s Time
Prayer of Preparation
Scripture Reading – Mark 1:32-39
Message – “Why?”
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
*Song – 209 “Seek Ye First the Kingdom”
The Offering - General Fund
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Intercessory Prayer
WE ARE DISMISSED TO LOVE AND SERVEOpportunities for Ministry and Fellowship
*God’s Parting Word
*Closing Song – 408:1,2,4 “Rejoice, the Lord Is King”
Postlude
ANNOUNCEMENTSToday we, along with many other Christian Reformed churches in the US and Canada, will observe World Hunger Sunday. This Sunday, which is mid-way between the Canadian and US observances of Thanksgiving Day, reminds us not only to thank God for the necessities of life we easily take for granted in North America but to also pray and work for sharing food and other necessities with people around the world who have much less than we do.
Thank you to all the folk at Valley Church who so generously supported Betsy Gelder’s involvement in the CHOW Hunger Walk last Sunday. Thanks to your help she raised $300.00 for CHOW!
Thursday, 7:00 PM Council meets
Continue to pray for Ann De Jager as she again has a couple weeks break before her next chemo treatment. Pray for daily strength to deal with the tiredness that comes as a result of the treatments.
Thank God with Julie Roossien that she was able to pick up Annabelle Joy in Guatemala on Monday. May God richly bless them both, as well as big sisters Abigail and Ava.
Congratulations to Dick Thomas on the occasion of his retirement after fifty years of service with the Tri-Cities Opera Orchestra. He was honored with a recognition gathering last Sunday evening.
Operation Christmas Child is heading toward the delivery of the boxes to the local pick-up point on November 23. In the meantime, your financial gift toward the cost of shipping ($7.00 per box) and your help in wrapping the boxes in Christmas wrap (see the table in the room behind the worship center) is greatly appreciated. Thank you to Florence Doller and her Sunday School class for heading up this project again this year.
Repeat Harvest Dinner announcement
Youth Announcements:
Grapevine wreath sale (repeat announcement)NEXT SUNDAY, November 9, 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 will start a five-week series on the Belhar Confession. What is it? Why does it matter to us? Should it be part of our Reformed creeds and confessions? Come to class and find out. Copies of the Belhar Confession are available in advance for all who are interested in learning more.
MORNING WORSHIP: 11:00 AM Pastor Gelder will bring the message “Bless You” based on Matthew 16:13-20. This continues the series on “Words that Become Habits”, helping us see the ordinary words we say so glibly as words that direct our relationship with God. We will also celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Take some time this week to review your relationship with your Lord so you can receive all Jesus offers you through the bread and cup.
There will be a reverse offering next Sunday when you draw from the plate the names of food items you then bring for the Thanksgiving baskets the deacons will prepare for needy families in the Chenango Forks area. Once again the social workers at the CF Schools will identify families with the greatest need and will get the food baskets to them in our behalf.
