December 30, 2007, 11:00 AM

WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
*Call to Worship –
People of God, on this last Sunday of 2007, what is your source of comfort and encouragement?
Our help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
With joy receive these words of greeting from God:  Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever.
Amen!
Praise, O children of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.
We love you, Lord, for you hear our voices; you hear our cry for mercy.
How can we repay the Lord for all his goodness to us?
We will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.  We will fulfill our vows to the Lord, in the presence of all his people.
*Opening Song – 483:1,3,4 “How Great Thou Art”
*We Greet Each Other
*Continuing Praise  – “
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
Merciful God and Father in heaven, you are faithful and just; you are willing to forgive our sins and to purify us from all unrighteousness.  Before you and our sisters and brothers, we confess that we have spoken many empty words and have at times broken even our most sacred vows.  Our sins are an affront to you; they are a disgrace before the watching world, and they have caused us unspeakable pain.  Through our Lord Jesus may we begin a new year with the joy of knowing we belong to you, with the freedom of being purified by your blood, and with the healing which your grace alone can bring.  In the name of our blessed Savior we pray, Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Hear the good news!  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, and forgiving.
Thanks be to God!
*Song – 556:1,3 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Prayer of Preparation
Scripture Reading –
Message – “”
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
*Song – 337 “Joy to the World!  The Lord Is Come”
The Offering – General Fund
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Intercessory Prayer
WE ARE SENT TO LOVE AND SERVE
Opportunities for Ministry and Fellowship
*God Blesses Us
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Amen!
*Closing Praise – “Go, My Children, with My Blessing”
Go, my children, with my blessing, never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own.
In my love’s baptismal river, I have made you mine forever.
Go, my children, with my blessing, you are my own.

Go, my children, fed and nourished, closer to me.
Grow in love and love by serving, joyful and free.
Here my Spirit’s power filled you, here his tender comfort stilled you.
Go, my children, fed and nourished, joyful and free.
Postlude

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Our worship on this last Sunday of 2007 is led by Elder Bill Kutz.  May God bless him and us as we together reflect on God’s care and blessings through another year.  Our God is certainly a faithful God.

Monday, 7:30 PM New Year’s Eve worship
Wednesday, 6:00 PM Puppet show at Good Shepherd-Fairview
Saturday, 10:00 AM Removal of Chrismon tree and decorations

The Gelders are in Tennessee with family.  They plan to return home on Wednesday or Thursday.  Please contact an elder if you need spiritual counsel during their absence.

Plan to join us on New Year’s Eve at 7:30 for a time of reflection and anticipation at the changing of the year.  The elders will lead the service in the absence of the Pastor Gelder.

The children are doing a repeat of the puppet show this Wednesday evening for the residents of the Good Shepherd-Fairview Home.  If you will need a ride for your child or if you can help with the presentation at 6:00 PM, please talk with Gina Martinichio , Debbie Harmon or Erin Peterson.

The worship ministry team asks your help Saturday morning at 10:00 as we remove the Christmas tree and put away the special lights and objects that have decorated our worship space during Advent and beyond.  Many hands will make this project move along quickly.

Next Sunday, January 6, 2008

SUNDAY SCHOOL:  9:45 AM  Classes for all ages resume today after a short end-of-year break.  The adults will be starting a new series of studies of several world religions called “Which Way to God?”  Plan to join us for this fascinating and informative study.

MORNING WORSHIP:     11:00 AM   Pastor Gelder will be with us to bring the first in a series of messages “On a Journey with Jesus”.  Since this is Epiphany Sunday, we will be celebrating the journey of the Magi as recorded in Matthew 2:1-12 and foretold in Isaiah 60:1-6.