May 30, 2010, 10:30 AM

WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
Call to Remember – Deuteronomy 32:7; 5:15; 8:1-2, 18; 24:17-18
*Opening Praise – 585 “Let Children Hear the Mighty Deeds”
We Remember Those Who Have Died:
Serving Their Country – II Samuel 1:17-19, 22-27
Family and Friends – Genesis 50:24-25; Exodus 13:19; Revelation 14:13
Prayer of Remembrance
*Song – 620 “By the Sea of Crystal”
*God Greets Us
*We Greet Others
*Continuing Praise
“Shout to the Lord”
“Open the Eyes of My Heart”
“Sanctuary”
Sacrament of Baptism
Hear these words of Jesus, an invitation and a promise offered to us all:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
In obedience to this command, the church baptizes believers and their children. 

Our gracious God has always desired to hold his people in a covenant embrace.  The Lord declares over and over, “I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”  Pursuing this deep desire, God called Abraham and Sarah to trust in him and gave a covenant sign to show that they belonged to him.  In baptism God now claims us in Christ, marks us as his own people, and seals our membership in God’s covenant community, the church.  Baptism is the covenant sign that God frees us from the power of sin and death, uniting us with Jesus Christ in his death and resurrection.  By water and the Holy Spirit we are washed clean from sin.  God’s grace in baptism calls us to give ourselves to him in trust, love, and obedience.

From the beginning, God graciously has included our children in his covenant.  All God’s promises are for them as well as for us.  We are to teach them that they have been set apart by baptism as God’s own children so that as they grow older they may respond to him in personal faith and commitment.
Reaffirmation of Faith

Melissa, Wilner and Marila, please stand and in the presence of God and his people respond to the following questions.
Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God sent to redeem the world, do you love and trust him as the one who saves you from your sin, and do you with repentance and joy confess him to be Lord of your life?
Do you believe that the Bible is the Word of God, that it reveals Christ and his redemption, and that the teachings of this church faithfully reflect what the Bible teaches?
Having heard God’s gracious promises to us in Christ, do you desire that your children be baptized?

Melissa Blakeslee, what is your answer?
I do.

Wilner and Marila Nicolas, what is your answer?
We do.
With all God’s people, let us together profess our faith in the triune God.
*Apostles’ Creed
Parental Vows
Do you promise to instruct Madeline and Whitney, by your words and by your example and with the help of the Christian community, in the truth of the Bible and in the way of salvation through Jesus Christ?
Do you promise to pray for them and to teach them to pray?
Do you promise to nurture them within the Christian community as citizens of God’s kingdom?
Wilner and Marila, what is your answer?
We do.
Melissa, what is your answer?
I do.
Prayer
Our Lord said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Baptism
God’s Blessing
Welcome
Some of us will have the privilege of encouraging Maddie and Whitney often, over the course of many years.  Others of us may not be able to do so.  Yet we all speak words of promise and welcome, speaking on behalf of Christ’s whole church, in time and space, and committing ourselves to live lives of Christian encouragement, wherever God calls us.
With joy and thanksgiving, we welcome you into Christ’s church, to share with us in his ministry, for we are all one in Christ.

Song  - “Find Your Wings” (Mark Harris)

Prayer
A Haitian Song of Praise
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Children’s Time
Prayer of Preparation
Scripture Reading – Romans 14:5-12
Message – “Ordinary Time”
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
*Song of Response – 292:1,3 then refrain “Living for Jesus”
The Offering – General Fund
Offertory Prayer
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Intercessory Prayer
WE ARE SENT TO LOVE AND SERVE
Opportunities for Ministry and Fellowship
*Call to Service
Know that the Lord your God is God;
he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.
Remember your baptism and be thankful.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
*God Blesses Us
The grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
And also with you.
*Parting Song – 637 “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”
Postlude

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Our worship this morning focuses on remembering, not only remembering people who have gone before us to meet the Lord but also remembering God’s promises sealed to us in baptism.  Madeline Elizabeth Howland, daughter of Melissa Blakeslee, and Whitney Fiona Nicolas, daughter of Wilner and Marila Germain Nicolas, will be baptized and the parents will be publicly reaffirming their faith as a part of the vows they make to God and as part of the Valley Church family.  Please stay for refreshments following the service as we welcome them officially into Valley Church membership.

Wednesday, 6:00 AM Men’s breakfast and Bible study at the Spot
Wednesday, 9:30 AM Women’s Bible Study meets at           .  Read Colossians
Wednesday, 7:00 PM Elders meet
Saturday, 9:00 AM Spring cleanup of church and grounds

Your help in cleaning the church and grounds this Saturday will be greatly appreciated.  Just show up around 9:00 or when you can and someone will point you toward a job to be done.  Coffee, morning refreshments and lunch will be provided.  Thanks in advance for your help in making our facilities attractive to people around us.

The Christian Fellowship Breakfast associated with the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open golf tournament is Thursday, June 24, 7:30 AM.  Tickets, which include admission to the pro-am that day, are still just $10.00.  We will again have designated tables for Valley folk and friends.  You can get your tickets from Ron Crawford.

Reserve Wednesday evening, June 9, for the annual spring congregational meeting.  In addition to other business, we will be selecting our leaders for the coming years.  Nominees for two elder positions are Doug Aukema, Ron Crawford and Greg Huck.  Nominees for three deacon positions are Marsha Conrad, Beth Cunningham, Henry Huizinga and Terry Woodnorth.

NEXT SUNDAY, June 6, 2010
SUNDAY SCHOOL:  9:15 AM  Classes for all ages meet for the last regular class session of the season.  June 13 all are invited to a light breakfast as we conclude the class year with a review of the year and a thank you to the staff 
MORNING WORSHIP:  10:30 AM  Pastor Gelder will lead our worship, beginning a short series of messages on “Creation Care”, a biblical view of our responsibility to care for the world God made.  The first message will focus on “God the Creator” based on Genesis 1:1 and Psalm 33:6-9.
The second offering will be for the Indonesian Christian Reformed Church ministry in Dover, New Hampshire.  The Lapians and the members of the congregation are in need of and deeply appreciative of our generous support.
Softball game at 4:00 PM at the KAA field, playing the team from Don’s Automotive.