December 9, 2007, 11:00 AM
Second Sunday of Advent

WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
Welcoming Advent – a PowerPoint presentation
Lighting the Second Advent Candle
*Song of Hope – 335:1,4 “Hark the Glad Sound!  The Savior Comes”
*God Greets Us
*We Greet Each Other
Children’s Time
Musical Offering – “O Come, O Come, Immanuel”
*Continuing Praise  – “Our God Reigns”
“O Magnify the Lord”
Call to Confession
Prepare the way of the Lord! 
Let us make our confession to God.
Prayer of Confession
Lord God, our lives are filled with sin.  We forget our neighbor’s needs and do not love you above all else.  We need a Savior.  Help us to be ready for Jesus in our own hearts.  O come, O come, Savior of the world.  Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 
Your sins are pardoned.
The penalty is paid.
Thanks be to God.
*Song – 355:2,3 “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice”
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Scripture Reading – Haggai 1:2-11; 2:6-9
Message – “A Divine Shakedown”
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
*Song – 345:1,3 “Hark!  The Herald Angels Sing”
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper – Luke 1:68-79
Prayer
The Invitation
The Preparation
The Communion
*Song of Thanksgiving – “Love Has Come!”    vs. 1,3
The Offering – General Fund
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Intercessory Prayer
WE ARE SENT TO LOVE AND SERVE
Opportunities for Ministry and Fellowship
*Closing Prayer
Strengthen us, O God, in the power of your Spirit to bring good news to the poor and lift blind eyes to sight, to loose the chains that bind and claim your blessing for all people.  Keep us faithful in your service until Christ comes in final victory and we shall feast with all your saints in the joy of your eternal realm.  Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, now and forever.  Amen.
*Closing Praise – 638 “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”
Postlude

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Today is the second Sunday of the Advent season.  Join your hearts with ours as we anticipate our celebration of Jesus’ birth and remember his promise to return again some day.  We hope you enjoy hearing parts of the prophetic section of Handel’s Messiah each Sunday. We are also lighting the Advent candles at each service, offering a visible reminder of the coming of the Light of the World into our world.

Our worship this morning includes the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.  This gift of Jesus is for all who have publicly professed faith in him as Savior and who have committed to living the life he lays out for his family in the Bible.  If this describes you, please receive the elements as they are passed to you.  We will eat and drink together after all have been served.

Wednesday, 9:30 AM Women’s Bible Study at Claire Krempel’s home.  Read Hebrews   .
Wednesday, 11:30 AM Women’s Luncheon at Cracker Barrel.
Thursday, 7:00 PM Prayer meeting
Friday, 5:00 PM Nativity rehearsal
Saturday, 5:30 PM Live Nativity

Just a reminder from council - as we near the end of the fiscal year, we are running about $14,000 behind what we need to meet our annual budget.  Please remember this as you plan your year-end giving.  We usually find December to be an excellent month for giving – we are counting on this again so we can meet all our obligations.

If you are going to place items on the “giving tree” (such things as mittens, gloves, socks, underwear, hats or blankets), please do so no later than Thursday.  They will be taken after that to the Christmas distribution at the Chenango Forks Fire Station on Saturday.

At the annual winter congregational meeting last Wednesday, the 2008 budget was approved as presented.  Updates on ministry were presented, including some changes in youth ministry.  We had a good discussion on Valley’s identity in the community and how best to communicate who we really are to people who don’t know anything about the Christian Reformed Church.

The sixth annual production of the Live Nativity will be this Saturday with presentations at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 PM.  Refreshments and music will be in the building after each presentation.  Again, thank you to all who have a part in preparing the production or who are characters in the scenes.  We will need the help of the whole congregation to again make this an event that truly touches our community.  Check the sign up sheet on the table to get an idea of how you can help.  Above all, plan to be here to enjoy the production as well as to welcome our neighbors and friends who attend.

Congratulations to Elizabeth De Young and Mark Bennett who were married yesterday in a ceremony here at Valley Church.  May God bless them as they establish a new home and life together.  Congratulations too to Adam and Miranda Derzanovich on the birth of their daughter on Tuesday.  (And congratulations too to Dave on entering the grandparent stage of life.)

Next Sunday, December 16, 2007

SUNDAY SCHOOL:  9:45 AM   Sunday School classes for all ages meet.   The adult class concludes a brief series of Advent studies.

MORNING WORSHIP:     11:00 AM   Pastor Gelder will lead our worship.  He continues a series of messages that will tie in with music from The Messiah as we hear the words of the prophets calling us to prepare for the arrival of Immanuel, “God with us”.  The focus this week is on “Cheating God?” based on Malachi 1:6-9 and 3:1-5.