January 1, 2006

Call to Worship
Leader: God of the past, present, and future,
Your word breaks forth from your mouth.
People: We will be called by a new name,
We will be held in the hand of God.
Leader: Everything that lives, everyone who breathes,
stand up, shout it out, praise the Lord.
People: God calls us forth from nothing and continually moves in us. prepared to complete what he promised.
All: Praise and thanks to God!
Prayer of Invocation

Hymns Joyful, Joyful we adore thee HWB 71
As with gladness of old men HWB 218
Scripture Galatians 4:4-7; Isaiah 61:10-62:3

Prayer of Confession
O God, we have seen and heard your salvation but have kept
silent from telling others. We are to prepare the way for you,
but we get distracted. We do not glorify and praise you, for we
are afraid of what others will think of us. Forgive us, God.
Amen.
Words of Assurance
God is a work in us. We will not keep silent; we will not stop;
we will bring good news to those around us. Let us glorify and
praise God for all we have seen and heard. Amen.

Children's Story
Hymn Brightest and Best MH 143

Hearing

Scripture Luke 2:22-40
Sermon What are we waiting for?
Hymn Christ, whose glory fills the skies HWB 216

Responding

Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
Offering/Hymn Praise God from Whom HWB 119
Announcements
Hymn You shall go out with joy HWB 427
Benediction

Today

Sermon: Roy Hange
Worship Leader(s): Maren Tyedmers Hange
Music: Dottie Scott, Alderfer
Nursery: Youth & Alderfers

Announcements

Jeannine will be out of town for the following two Sundays, so please send bulletin information to Maren for January 8.

You are invited to Sing the Journey - an evening of singing and introducing the new Hymnal Supplement, led by Ken Nafziger, Professor of Music at Eastern Mennonite University, and composer Jim Clemens, will take place Sunday, January 15, 2006, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at Eastern Mennonite School Auditorium. Childcare provided for ages 0-7.

Prayers and Praises

VMBM: Philip Rhodes is returning to the Maranatha School and Ridge MC for several weeks to help rebuild hurricane damage and encourage the young believers there. Ask God to give him strength and guidance.

Mennonite Mission Network: Pray for the RAD (Reaching and Discipling) teams who are adjusting to their host cultures in Argentina, Sweden and Thailand. Ask God to place in them a servant's heart, willing to take on new ventures and building relationships with open minds and enthusiasm.

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.

The four hostages in Iraq who are from Christian Peacemaker Team, their families, their support teams (Tom Fox has informal connections to Northern Virginia Mennonite Church), CPT leadership Carol Rose and Doug Pritchard, the hostage takers, the negotiators and everyone who is involved and affected by this.

Gathering in Christ's name

Hearing

Responding

Today

Announcements

Prayers and Praises