April 2, 2006

Call to Worship
Leader: Come, beloved children of God, come worship the Lord.
People: The Lord forgives our sins
and writes a new covenant on our hearts.
All: We worship the Lord who restores the joy of our salvation.
Leader: Create in us clean hearts, O God,
and put new and right spirits within us. Amen.
Prayer of Invocation
Hymns The Lord is in his holy temple HWB 38
Immortal, invisible HWB 70
Scripture Psalm 51:1-17
Letter from God
Children's Story
Hymn The sacrifice you accept, o God HWB 141

Hearing

Scripture Jeremiah 31:31-34
Sermon Anguish of spirit, and life renewed
Hymn Let hope and sorrow now unite HWB 634
Prayer of Confession
Leader: God of the scattered exiles, we are lost without you.
Women: We chase after the good life,
seeking to fulfill our desires.
Men: We often think our time belongs to us to do as we wish.
Women: The more we love our lives,
the more lost and scattered we become.
Men: Have mercy on us, O Lord, according to your steadfast love
All: Teach us wisdom in our secret hearts.
Write on our hearts your new covenant,
that you may be our God and we your people. Amen.
Words of Assurance
Leader: God relentlessly pursues us,
even when we are lost in exile.
God promises to renew the covenant we have broken,
to forgive our iniquities, and to remember our sin no more.

Responding

Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
Offering/Hymn Praise God from Whom HWB 119
Announcements
Hymn My life flows on HWB 580
Benediction
Leader: Hear the promise of God:
"I have glorified my name and I will glorify it again."
People: We go out to serve and glorify Christ, God's
perfect son, and our source of eternal salvation.
All: Thanks be to God!

Today

Sermon: Gerald Shenk
Worship Leader: Steve & Lois Alderfer
Music: Lee Bidgood, Alderfer
Nursery: Eubanks Family

Announcements

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

The Hange family is on vacation March 31- April 7. In case of an emergency please contact a member of the Pastoral Care Team (Dottie Scott, Jim Parks, David Franz).

The VMRC Auxiliary wishes to thank everyone that contributed to the success of the Annual Auction held on March 17. We were able to take in around $16,500 enabling the purchase of 30 recliner chairs for the Oak Lea nursing unit and Afton lounge. Thank you for the pie bakers as you helped keep the dinner price affordable, and to those who attended we hope you had an enjoyable evening.

Prayers and Praises

VMBM Norma Teles, Lezhe, Albania, returned to her place of service after visiting the US and Brazil. Her interaction with children and youth is vital to their spiritual growth and maturity. Hold her up in prayer.

Mennonite Mission Network: Since its release, many churches, organizations and individuals have purchased copies of Mennonite Media's documentary Shadow Voices: Finding Hope in Mental Illness. Pray that congregations and individuals will find ways to minister to the needs of people with mental illness and their families.

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

Gathering in Christ's name

Hearing

Responding

Today

Announcements

Prayers and Praises