February 3, 2008, 11:00 AM

WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
*Opening Prayer –
This is the day that you have made, Lord.
Help us to rejoice in it and be glad!
Remind us of the privileges we enjoy as your people:
to come to you in these moments,
to confess our sins,
to receive forgiveness and give it,
to pray and sing and listen,
to renew our fainting spirit,
to rest in your promises.
Open our eyes to see you, Lord.
Open our ears to hear your Word.
Visit us through your Holy Spirit,
and help us to celebrate our faith.  Amen.
*Opening Song – 253:1,3,4 “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
*God Greets Us
*We Greet Each Other
*Continuing Praise  – “
Open Our Eyes, Lord
Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord
249:1,2,4 Holy, Holy, Holy!  Lord God Almighty

Call to Confession – Isaiah 30:15, 18
Prayer of Confession –
Help, God – the bottom has fallen out of my life!
Listen hard!  Open your ears!
Listen to my cries for mercy!
If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance?
As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that’s why you are worshiped.
I pray to God – my life a prayer – and wait for what he’ll say and do.
My life’s on the line before God, my Lord, waiting and watching till morning, waiting and watching till morning.
O Israel, wait and watch for God – with God’s arrival comes love, with God’s arrival comes generous redemption.
No doubt about it – he’ll redeem Israel, buy back Israel from captivity to sin.   (Psalm 130 – The Message)
*Song of Assurance – 489:2,3 “It Is Well with My Soul”
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Children’s Time
Prayer of Preparation
Scripture Reading – Mark 8:31-33; 9:30-32; 10:32-34
Message – “The Road to Jerusalem”
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
*Song – 482:1,2,4 “Man of Sorrows – What a Name”
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
*Closing Praise – 489:4 “It Is Well with My Soul”
Postlude

ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Komaromis ask your prayers for Jacob as he undergoes his twice-postponed heart surgery this Tuesday in Syracuse.  Pray that there will be no other delays and that the surgery goes uneventfully and is successful in improving the function of his heart.

Tuesday, 7:00 PM Fellowship Team meets
Wednesday, 7:00 PM Ash Wednesday worship
Friday, 6:30 PM Valentines’ Dinner
Saturday, 5:30 PM Parents’ Night Out

Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the day in the church calendar which marks the beginning of Lent, a time of penitence and self-examination.  We will have a short service at 7:00 PM.  If you choose, you can receive the sign of ashes on your forehead, reminding us of the brevity of life and the greatness of Christ’s love for us.

The Valentines’ Dinner has been rescheduled for this Friday evening, starting with punch at 6:30 PM.  The planning committee (Edele Thompson, Tammy Gryskevicz, Jan Patak) will be available this morning to find out how many people will be attending and what you will bring for the meal.

Saturday is Parents’ Night Out, with activities for children in nursery through grade 5 running from 5:30 – 8:30 PM.  Again it is helpful for planning if you will sign up your children in advance – there is a sign-up sheet on the door as you leave today.  If you can help with an activity or with “crowd control”, please talk with Erin Peterson today.

Pastor Gelder will be offering a class for all young adults and adults who are interested in exploring what it means to be a member of Valley Church.  The class will start on Sunday, February 24 at 4:00 PM and will likely go for three Sundays.  There will be a class for children interested in professing their faith later in the spring.  Talk with him to get more information or to get your questions answered. 

The end-of-year financial statement for 2007 was in your mail slots last weekend.  Please review it for your information and with our thanks for your generous financial support of Valley Church and CRCNA ministries.  A special thank you to the Roossiens for the work they do in keeping the financial records and paying the bills as they come in.  Thanks too for the speedy preparation of the year-end report.

NEXT SUNDAY, February 10, 2008

SUNDAY SCHOOL:  9:45 AM  Classes for all ages.  The adults continue the series of studies of several world religions called “Which Way to God?”  We will begin a study of Judaism.

MORNING WORSHIP:     11:00 AM   Pastor Gelder will be with us to begin a Lenten series “Crown of Thorns, Crown of Glory”.  The first message is “Thorns in Following Jesus” based on Luke 9:57-62 and 14:25-35.

The second offering next Sunday is for our support of Howard and Ruth Van Dam and their missionary service for Christian Reformed World Missions in Haiti.  Let’s add some extra prayer support along with the generous offerings we will bring.

Next Sunday we will also celebrate the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.  At Valley Church we invite all who have made a public profession of faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord to join in receiving the bread and cup.  This profession of faith does not have to be one made at Valley Church but at any Christian church.  If you have questions about your participation, talk with the pastor or an elder this week.