December 4, 2005

Call to Worship
Women: Prepare the way of the Lord.
Men: Make straight in the desert a highway.
Women: Lift up your voice,
Men: Do not fear,
Women: for love and faithfulness will meet.
Men: Righteousness and peace will kiss.
Women: God is faithful and can be trusted.
ALL: O Lord, our God how majestic is your name
in all the earth.
Prayer of Invocation

Hymns Comfort, Comfort O My People HWB 176
Hark! The Glad Sound! HWB 184
Scripture reading Psalms 85:1-2, 8-13

Prayer of Confession
Be patient with us, O God,
for we have sinned in thought, word, and deed.
We have been afraid to be honest with ourselves
lest we find something that is hurtful, dark, or sordid.
We have not loved you as we ought.
We have not cared for your creation as we can.
We have not respected your people as we might.
Without you our lives are like dry grass and fading flowers.
But your word is sure,
and so we come to you in confidence,
making our confession.
Words of Assurance
God forgives us our sins;
Christ befriends us to show us the way;
and the Holy Spirit empowers us to live faithfully. Amen.
Scripture reading 2 Peter 3:8-15a
Children's Story
Hymn My Soul is Filled with Joy SJ 13

Hearing

Scripture Isaiah 40:1-11, Mark 1:1-8
Sermon Being the face of comfort
Hymn Bless'd Be the God of Israel HWB 174

Responding

Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
Offering/Hymn Praise God from Whom HWB 119
Announcements
Receiving into membership:
Greg Larson Sawin by letter of transfer
Jen Larson Sawin and Anne Stoltzfus by confession of faith
Hymn Dona Nobis Pacem HWB 346
Benediction

Today

Sermon: Roy Hange
Worship Leader: Maren Tyedmers Hange
Music: Jen Larson Sawin, Alderfer family
Nursery: Mouberry Family

Announcements

Due to fire safety regulations and allergy concerns within the church family, we will not be using wax candles during Advent.

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.

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. You may also respond to the church email request by reply to Jan Parks . An updated form with names added will be posted and sent by email.

Please remember to have all bulletin information to Jeannine by noon on Thursdays. Thanks!

Is Mennonite Church USA on your Christmas gift list? If not, consider making a year-end contribution to either your congregation or the churchwide ministries of Mennonite Church USA. Churchwide gifts can be sent to Mennonite Church USA, P.O. Box 347, Newton, KS 67114.

Eastern Mennonite High School will be performing "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, Dec. 8-10. Each performance will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the EMHS Auditorium. Admission is $5.00 for adults, $4.00 for children and seniors, and EMHS students receive free admission.

Ten Thousand Villages, Dayton Farmer's Market, is hosting a book signing for Simply in Season by Mary Beth Lind on Saturday, December 10, from noon to 2 p.m. at the store. Contact Valerie Weaver, manager of Ten Thousand Villages at 540-879-5027 or daytonvillages@aol.com. Ten Thousand Villages is located at 3105 John Wayland Highway, Dayton, VA 22821.

Responses to an urgent call from Eastern Mennonite Missions for men and money to help alleviate the suffering of the earthquake victims in Pakistan had immediate results. Two groups of twenty men will depart for Pakistan on December 6 (led by Jon Unger Brandt, EMM's director of Communications) and December 11 (led by Darrel Hostetter, EMM's co-director of Human Resources). Once in Pakistan, the groups will divide into teams of two to four. A four-man team from Lithuania, led by EMM Lithuania missionary Barry Freed, will also join the second group. Pray that God will unite the hearts of Americans, Canadians, and Lithuanians as they serve the Pakistani people. Sending funds for construction of Quonset-hut-type shelters ($300 for one family) is another way you may assist those affected by the earthquake. Send checks (marked "Pakistan emergency") to EMM at P.O. Box 458, Salunga, Pa. 17538-0458.

Prayers and Praises

VMBM: The Gospel Lighthouse congregation in Sangre Grande, Trinidad, has invited the Mennonite Church of Trinidad and Tobago to give leadership to their congregation; it was formerly independent. Richard and Margaret Keeler go each weekend for prayer services and Sunday morning worship. Pray for God's abundant strength and insight for the Keelers in this role.

Mennonite Mission Network: Pray for Vacation Bible School programs held in Mennonite churches around Santa Cruz, Bolivia, during their summer vacation in December and January. Pray for Mennonite Mission Network worker Margrit Kipfer Barrón who has a major role in this outreach.

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