November 18, 2012

Theme: Since we have already begun themes of thankfulness in our two previous worships, by lifting up a specific group of folks to God with gratitude (saints & veterans) we thought to continue in that vein throughout November. This week, we will be celebrating elders -- with  a little "e"--those of a "certain age" and experience in life who mentor, encourage and pray for us as we journey in faith--grandparents, great aunts & uncles, retired teachers or colleagues, older adults who join us on Mission Trips or teach us new skills.

Scripture: 
Job 12: 12 (NIV)
    Is not wisdom found among the aged?
    Does not long life bring understanding?

I Timothy 4:12 (NIV)

      Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young,

     but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

Matthew 6:25-34 (The Message)

“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

“Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."

Preparing for Worship

Chimes

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Words of Preparation

Hymn of Praise: Red Book #92  Love Divine, All Loves Excelling   1,3

Call to Worship:                         (based on Joel 2:27-28)
Leader: Come, people of God, gather together for the purpose of praise!
People: Here we see fulfillment of God's promises!
Leader: The Holy Spirit is present in us all!
People: Sons and daughters, infants and children, women and men of advancing years,
Leader: All shall prophesy, dream dreams and see visions!
People: God's word comes to us all!
Leader: May we take delight in each other as God takes delight in us!
People: Here, in this place, God is in our midst.

Invocation

The Lord's Prayer

Gloria Patri

A Time for Offering

Call to Offering

Offering Meditation

The Doxology

Prayer of Dedication

We Join in Prayer

Prayer Concerns & Celebrations

Morning Prayer

We Contemplate & Live God's Word

Children's Sermon    

Holding a compass, the pastor speaks of the importance of grandparents and other elders within the congregation as guides, pointing us to God through traditions, memory, and history.       

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Choir Anthem:  "Rejoice, Give Thanks, and Sing (Kellner)

Sermon: 

Pass out compass cards and invite folks to share them with older adults who make a difference in their lives.            

Invitation to Discipleship

Hymn of Invitation: Red Book, #286  "Blest be the Tie that Binds"   ALL

Gathering at the Lord's Table

Call to Communion

Hymn of Communion: Blue Book, #37   "My Life Is in You, Lord"

Prayers of Thanksgiving

Words of Institution

Breaking Bread & Pouring the Cup

Musical Meditation

Partaking of the Lord's Supper

We Depart to Serve

Benediction

Parting Hymn: Red Book, #116 "Take the Name of Jesus with You"  1,2

Postlude