September 7, 2008, 11:00 AM
WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
*Call to Worship –
God invites us into his healing presence with these words: “I am the Lord, who heals you.”
Diseased, depressed, dysfunctional, defeated, we come hungering for health that only God can provide.
God calls us to bring open eyes, hearing ears, and tender hearts turned toward him, the Great Physician.
We bow before him in faith and expectancy!
*Opening Song – 363 “Your Hands, O Lord, in Days of Old”
*Invocation
*We Greet Each Other
*Continuing Praise –
“Majesty”
“Shine, Jesus, Shine”
“Bind Us Together”
Call to Confession –
In humility and in faith, let us open mind and heart to the piercing words of God’s perfect law.
What is the great and first commandment?
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
What is the second commandment which is like the first?
Love your neighbor as yourself.
What does this mean?
Love is the fulfilling of the law.
To what does this call us?
To a life of faith working through love.
Prayer of Confession –
Time of silence
Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
Let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Assurance of Pardon
There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Thanks be to God!
Song of Assurance – 501:1,4,7 “Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing”
Guide for Christian Living – Exodus 20:1-17
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Children’s Time
Prayer of Preparation
Scripture Reading – I Corinthians 1:10-25
Message – “One in Christ”
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
*Song – “The Solid Rock”
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 – 638 “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”
Postlude
ANNOUNCEMENTSOur worship this morning is led by elder Bill Kutz. He is asking Classis Atlantic Northeast at its October meeting to give him a license to exhort in the churches of Classis. Part of his examination is the evaluation of a message and worship service, so that is happening this morning. The rest of his examination will take place at the classis meeting on October 2. Pray for God’s blessing on Bill today. Pastor Gelder is in Baldwinsville this morning for the installation of Pastor Brent Pennings as the new pastor at Community CRC. We wish them well as they begin working together for the Lord in the greater Syracuse area.
Wednesday, 11:30 AM Women’s Luncheon at Apple Hills
Wednesday, 7:00 PM Elders meet
Thursday, 7:30 PM Worship Team meets
The Wednesday morning women’s Bible study group is beginning a new season this Wednesday at 9:30 AM. All women in the church and their friends are invited to participate. The first meeting will be at ‘s home.
Valley Church’s fourth annual Fall Festival will be held next Sunday from 1-4 PM here at church. This is meant to be a time when we invite our friends and neighbors to come for fun, food and fellowship. We will also have an opportunity to invite people to youth and adult activities we have scheduled for the coming season, including Sunday School, children’s church, youth groups, Parents’ Night Out, as well as weekly worship. We will need YOUR help again this year – please indicate on the sign-up sheets in the entry what you can do. The main thing we can all do is invite someone to come with us. There are brochures that can help you with this on the table as well. If you have questions, talk with Ron Crawford or any member of the Growth and Renewal Team.
Our sympathy goes out to Irene and Henry De Jager and family in the death of Irene’s mother Rose Garrison on Monday. Pray that God will comfort and strengthen during this time of grief and change.
We extend our congratulations to David Pettit on his ordination as a minister of the Word in the Reformed Church in America today. Dave served as our youth director and Young Life area leader here for several years and will be installed as the pastor of the Kiskatom Reformed Church near Catskill, NY on October 5. We thank God for blessing Dave and Holly as they have come to this milestone in their ministry service.
The Sea to Sea Bike Tour is finished, having raised more than $2.1 million to help end the cycle of poverty. If you haven’t been part of this effort, there is still time to support this on-going work, and not only with your money. You can use the pledge card that’s inserted in the bulletin, keeping part as your own reminder and placing the other part in the offering plate as your offering.
Youth Announcements:
NEXT SUNDAY, September 14, 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 be starting an eight-week study “Developing a Heart for God” based on the wisdom literature in the Old Testament. Let’s all take advantage of the opportunities we have to grow together in God’s Word.
MORNING WORSHIP: 11:00 AM Pastor Gelder will bring the message “Inspired Volume” based on Acts 20:28. We will also be ordaining new elders and deacons for service in Valley Church.
Next Sunday, September 14, is our fourth annual Fall Festival. There will be activities for all ages, including some new things to draw your interest. As in the past, we will need everyone’s help to make this a great day for our neighbors and for the Valley fellowship. There are sign-up sheets today to help you decide where you can help. Invite your neighbors and friends to join you in a time of fun and fellowship. There are flyers to put up in stores as well as to hand out to your acquaintances.
The second offering next Sunday will be for the Nurses’ Discretionary Fund at the Chenango Forks schools. Each year we take an offering to help the nurses and social work staff meet the unexpected needs that show up in some of the school children. We are also encouraging people who attend the Fall Festival to bring items which can be used by the school staff - eg., all sizes of children’s underwear, socks and sneakers, backpacks, children’s coats, mittens, hats and boots.
