Oak Grove Church of the Brethren January 12, 2020

*Calling in Hymn Seek Ye First/Jesus is the Answer –insert Welcome and Announcements

Please sign the guest book at the end of the pew, then pass it on to the person next to you.

Prelude Intrada –Vaccio

Lighting the peace candle symbolizes our hopes and our prayers for peace in our lives, our community, and the world.

*Call to Worship

The congregation responds in bold. In the silence of a lonely night, in the songs children sing in the morning: God calls to us.

We are here, God who is always with us, listening for your words of life and love.

When we would decide to go it alone, when we think no good can be found anywhere: Jesus calls to us.

We are here, Friend who knows our longings, ready to come and see where you would lead us.

When we think we have license to do whatever we want, when we are convinced we need no map: the Spirit calls to us.

We are here, Peace we are longing for, so that we might help others find the way to life.

*Hymn Lord, whose love in humble service # 369 Children’s time

Children, kindergarten through 4th grade, may go back to the nursery, participate in Children’s Church, or stay with their caregiver.

Sharing our offerings Offertory Prayer

Sometimes, Loving God, we are hesitant to offer our gifts because we wonder if any good will come of helping the poor, feeding the hungry, reaching out to the stranger. But by your grace, not only goodness, but hope and healing will pour out of what we give in these moments. Bless our gifts, we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Offertory An Offering –Glenn *Response Praise, I will praise You, Lord (vs. 1, 3) # 76

Anthem (150) Wonderful Grace of Jesus –H. Lillenas Digging Deeper

Scripture Romans 12:3-8 Message The Church’s Grace Sam St. John, preacher

Sharing Joys and Concerns Praying Together (with the Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father in heaven, holy is your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

*Hymn God of grace and God of glory # 366

*Benediction

*Please stand as you are able. Everyone is invited to the after-church fellowship in the social hall.

x A nursery is available during the worship service for children five and under.

x For a hearing device, wheelchair, or cushion, please ask the head usher.

x A CD of this morning’s service is available upon request. You can also listen to recent sermons at www.oakgrovecob.org.

x Our Meditation Garden invites us to meditate outdoors in all seasons. It is located in our side yard, surrounded by bushes. It has benches, a statue of St. Francis of Assisi, and a plaque of the Prayer of St. Francis.

x Handicapped Parking Spaces: Because we have a limited number of handicapped parking spaces in our lot, we ask those who are free of mobility challenges to park in the spaces farther away from church entry doors. This will help ensure that all drivers or passengers with limited mobility have the easiest and most welcoming possible entry into our church.

● Wraps for Warmth: Throws are available in the cabinet across the hall from the front entrance. Feel free to take one to use during the worship service.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITIES:

Mon. 9:00 a.m. Crafts

Tues. 5:30 p.m. Handbells 7:00 p.m. Peace & Justice Group

Wed. Newsletter Deadline 7:00 p.m. Choir Practice

Thurs. 12:30 p.m. Backpack Ministry 2:00 p.m. Games at the church 5:30 p.m. Workcamp registration party; dinner at Jersey Lily’s

Sun. 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship

**If you would like a ride to an activity, please call the church office at 774-3217. For calendar activities, go to www.oakgrovecob.org. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the District Office: Pray for the Nominating and Personnel Committee of District Conference as they gather for their first meeting on January 18, 2020, to pursue the calling process for district leadership. Let us pray for the guidance and aid of the Holy Spirit in discerning those called to leadership. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the Church Office for January 5, 2020:

Sunday School - 72 Worship - 129

Received through 1/5 - $4,957 Backpack - $30 Budget through 1/5 - $5,985 Received on 1/5 - $4,957 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The flower arrangements that are on the communion table and in the vestibule have been donated to the church in memory of Russ Grisso.

Pastor Tim will be out of the office again this week. He is attend-ing a class at Bethany Seminary. Oak Grove crafters will begin meeting again on Mondays at 9:00 a.m., beginning January 13. We make crafts for our Fall Bazaar in October, and also quilts for our high school graduates. There are jobs that everyone with an interest in crafts can help with, so come join us! Speak with Rena’ Brown in you have questions. The deadline for the February 2020 newsletter is Wednesday, January 15. You may place your newsletter articles in the VISITOR box in the library or send by email to churchoffice@oakgrovecob.org. Like to play games? Come join a group that enjoys playing a variety of table/board games. During the winter months, this is an opportunity to share warm fellowship. We are meeting in the fellowship hall on Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. We usually play for two hours or more. Come and invite a friend! Attention Joyful Hearts! Our first meeting of 2020 will be on Thursday, January 23. We will plan our calendar for the coming year, so have your ideas ready to share. Oak Grove will help with Project WARM on Saturday, January 25. Meet at the woodlot at 8:00 a.m. to load and deliver wood. Children (with adult supervision) and youth are encouraged to help. Call Nancy Hylton if you have questions.

PASTOR Tim Harvey

MINISTER OF NURTURE AND MUSIC

Carol Elmore

INSTRUMENTALISTS Stephen Wills, organ

Joe Blaha, piano

OTHERS PROVIDING FOR OUR SERVICE OF WORSHIP Worship Leader - Mark Harmon

Children’s Story - Dan Lubbs Communion Table Arrangements - Jane Grisso & Sherrie White

Head Usher - Bill Whitlow Ushers - John King III, Todd Marcum, Bob Milliron, Roger Simpson

CHURCH VOLUNTEERS

Baby Nursery - Robin Craighead & Beth Shearer Preschool nursery - Tanya & Maggie Pizzullo

Offering Counters - Elizabeth Atkinson, John King, III, Jamie Knox, Dan Lubbs,

Emily Nelson, Sam Phillips, Fred Widdowson

OAK GROVE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN 2138 McVitty Rd., SW Roanoke, VA 24018

(540) 774-3217 Website: www.oakgrovecob.org

January 12, 2020