November 9, 2008, 11:00 AM
WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
*Call to Worship
As followers of Jesus Christ, living in this world – which some seek to control, and others view with despair – we declare with joy and trust:
Our world belongs to God!
From the beginning, through all the crises of our times, until the kingdom fully comes, God keeps covenant forever:
Our world belongs to God!
God is King: Let the earth be glad!
Christ is victor: his rule has begun!
The Spirit is at work: creation is renewed!
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
(from Our World Belongs to God: A Contemporary Testimony)
*Opening Song – 237 “We Praise You, O God”
*God Greets Us
*We Greet Each Other
Call to Self-Examination – Psalm 139:23-24
Silent Prayer of Confession
Assurance of Pardon – Mark 2:17
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right for us to give thanks and praise.
We praise you, gracious God. You kept covenant with us, your creation, even when we fell into sin. We thank you for Jesus, who by his life, death and resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. We proclaim the glory of your name.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
We thank God that Jesus, before he suffered, gave us this memorial of his sacrifice, ours until he comes again.
At his last supper, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way he took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this in remembrance of me.”
Whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Therefore we proclaim our faith.
Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.
God of all power, send your Holy Spirit upon us, that in sharing the bread we may share in the body of Christ, that in sharing the cup we may share in his blood. Grant that, being joined together in Christ Jesus, we may become united in faith and in all things become mature in the one who is our head.
Amen.
Come, then, for all is ready.
We come, not because we ought, but because we may,
not because we are righteous, but because we are penitent,
not because we are strong, but because we are weak,
not because we are whole, but because we are broken.
The gifts of God for the people of God.
The body of Christ, given for you.
Thanks be to God.
The blood of Christ, shed for you.
Thanks be to God.
*Song of Thanksgiving – 473:1,2 “To God Be the Glory”
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Children’s Time
Prayer of Preparation
Scripture Reading – Matthew 16:13-20
Message – “Bless You!”
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
*Songs of Praise –
“Lord, I Lift Your Name on High”
632 “To God Be the Glory”
627 “Bless His Holy Name”
The Offerings – First: General Fund
Second: Reverse Offering for Thanksgiving Baskets
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Intercessory Prayer
WE ARE DISMISSED TO LOVE AND SERVEOpportunities for Ministry and Fellowship
*God’s Parting Word
*Closing Song – 631:2,3 “Praise and Thanksgiving”
Postlude
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Our worship this morning includes our monthly celebration of Holy Communion. If you have publicly professed Jesus to be your Savior and your life shows you are living as a child of God, please receive the bread and juice as they are passed to you. We will wait to eat and drink until all have been served so we can do this together.
This morning our second offering will be a reverse offering. Again this year the deacons are working with the Chenango Forks Schools’ social workers to prepare Thanksgiving food baskets for some of the needy families in our area. To have a balance of foods for the baskets, the second offering plate passed today will contain slips of paper telling what food items are needed. Please take a paper (or two or three) and bring the items listed with you to church next Sunday (or no later than November 23.)
Wednesday, 11:30 AM Women’s luncheon at Cracker Barrel
Saturday, 5:30 PM Parents’ Night Out
Parents’ Night Out is this Saturday from 5:30 – 8:30 PM. Children from nursery through grade 5 are welcome. If you can be a helper, even for part of the evening, talk with Judy Crawford today. Also, if you plan on having your children attend, please register them today (or no later than Friday noon) by signing the sheet on the exit door or by leaving a message on the church answering machine.
MORNING MINISTRIES
GreeterCharlie HuizingaInger Thomas
Charlie HuizingaInger ThomasUsherGreg HuckJim Conrad
Greg HuckJim ConradDave DerzanovichJerry KrempelReaderTerry WoodnorthHarry Myers
Terry WoodnorthHarry MyersPrayerRon CrawfordPastor Gelder
Ron CrawfordPastor GelderNurseryShannon LambM & F Doller
Shannon LambM & F DollerChildren’s ChurchGina M, Erin PGina M, Erin P
Gina M, Erin PGina M, Erin POperation Christmas Child is heading toward the delivery of the boxes to the local pick-up point on November 23. In the meantime, your financial gift toward the cost of shipping ($7.00 per box) and your help in wrapping the boxes in Christmas wrap (see the table in the room behind the worship center) is greatly appreciated. Thank you to Florence Doller and her Sunday School class for heading up this project again this year.
Repeat Harvest Dinner announcement
Youth Announcements:
Grapevine wreath sale (repeat announcement)NEXT SUNDAY, November 16, 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 continues a five-week series on the Belhar Confession. What is it? Why does it matter to us? Should it be part of our Reformed creeds and confessions? Come to class and find out.
MORNING WORSHIP: 11:00 AM Pastor Gelder will bring the message “I Love You” based on John 14:15 and 15:12-15. This continues the series on “Words that Become Habits”, helping us see the ordinary words we say so glibly as words that direct our relationship with God.
