November 20, 2005

Call to Worship
Prayer of Invocation
Hymns For the Beauty of the Earth HWB 89
When Morning Guilds the Skies HWB 644
Children's Story
Hymn Asithi HWB 64
(Children ages 3-6 are dismissed for Children's Church)

Hearing

Scripture Ephesians 1:15-23
Sermon Grace Descending and Praise Ascending
Hymn Sing To the Lord of Harvest HWB 98

Responding

Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
Offering/Hymn Praise God from Whom HWB 119
Announcements
Hymn Unity SJ 52
Benediction (Colossians 3:15) Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Today

Sermon: Maren Tydemers Hange
Worship Leader: Roy Hange
Music: Jen Larson Sawin, Megan Mouberry
Nursery: Franz Family

Announcements

The Hanges will be in Pennsylvania Wednesday through Sunday. Please contact a member of the Pastoral Care Team (Dottie Scott, Jim Parks, David Franz) with concerns.

Jeannine and Maren will be out of town this week. Please submit all bulletin information for the Dec. 4 bulletin to Jeannine by noon on Dec. 1.

Mark your calendars now for the Youth Fund Raiser and Silent Auction on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7:00 p.m. A fun time to look for Christmas gifts while raising money for our youth. Appetizers will be served. If you have items you would like to donate, please contact Lois Alderfer. As part of this evening, we will be singing Christmas Hymns and enjoying holiday music. Come join the fun!

Looking for a way to help at church? Volunteers to assist with cleaning the church are needed. If you are willing to help with this effort, please contact Andy Orban or Becky Scott.

Thanks so much for your generous contributions to the MCC Relief Kit Drive. Venture Club assembled 10 large Relief Kits and 1 Health Kit with donations given. We also had 2 completed Relief Kits, 8 Health Kits, and 11 School Kits donated. Great Job!

Please consider serving as a greeter before the church service. Greeters are asked to be in the foyer from around 10:10 AM until people are no longer arriving. We want to welcome all who come, hand out bulletins and point out activity bags for visitors with small children. A sign up sheet has been posted on the foyer bulletin board. An updated form with names added will be posted and sent by email.

As churches prepare to celebrate Christ's birth, Goshen College again offers an online spiritual resource to help believers make time and space in their hearts and minds to welcome Advent. Beginning Nov. 21 and culminating on Dec. 23, Goshen College students, faculty and staff will provide weekday reflections based on lectionary Scripture passages and the theme "God's Unstoppable Purpose," available online or by daily e-mail. To access the devotions or sign-up to receive them in your inbox, go to: www.goshen.edu/devotions.

Attention middle school and high school youth - Bible quizzing is starting in January, and we need to have teams registered by November 30. The season runs through March, and we'll cover Luke 1 - 15. This is a great way to study the bible and build friendships. If you want to participate, or would like more information, please contact Matt and Crystal Trost. Phone: (540) 433-5304, Go to http://www.vmconf.org/quizzing for more information.

Prayers and Praises

VMBM: Phil, Marcia, Crystal and Christopher Lehman, Bari, Italy, visit with neighbors daily and enjoy fellowship with the congregation at Centro Koininia. These relationships open doors for sharing the Gospel of Christ. Phil's work in the Christian bookstore gives him good contacts.

Mennonite Mission Network: Pray that God will give insight to missional church development staff members of Mennonite Mission Network as they assess needs of the urban context and connect these to the wider Mennonite Church USA.

Pray for the local services for people in need: Love Inc., Shelter for Help in Emergency, Food Bank, Salvation Army, CAISC--a justice ministry and PACEM-- the initiative for the homeless.

Gathering in Christ's name

Hearing

Responding

Today

Announcements

Prayers and Praises