March 1, 2009

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March 1, 2009 - Lent 1: Desert Journey with Jesus

Lenten Art: We travel through the no-time-to-pause landscape of the urban desert daily. Stripped of stillness and quiet, barren of genuine relationships and rife with uncertainty and fear we insulate ourselves from the harsh actuality of our environment… and so the truth remains hidden under fields and paths of concrete; the still small voice is unheard. In this season we enter the desert with or fears and questions, a hunger and thirst for the life shrouded under the impermeable surface. Let us enter the wilderness with Jesus, our wise and watchful companion. Let us slow our pace and allow hope to overtake us and grace restore us. Christy B

Gathering in Christ's name

Pre-service music
Call to Worship Psalm 25:1-10
Leader: To you, O LORD, we lift up our soul;
People: in you we trust, O God.
Leader: Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
No one whose hope is in you
will ever be put to shame,
but they will be put to shame
who are treacherous without excuse.
People: Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Leader: Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
People: Remember not the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you are good, O LORD.
Leader: Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
People: He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
All: All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
for those who keep the demands of his covenant.
Prayer of Invocation
Hymns There's a wideness in God's mercy HWB 145
Out of the depths HWB 133
Children's Story

Hearing

Scripture Luke 4 reading "A very reasonable man"; Mk 1:9-15
Sermon What' s in your desert?
Response When we are tempted STS 81
Prayer of confession
Leader: Before you, Jesus Christ, we admit how and where we have underestimated our influence, letting our words or silences hurt, abusing trust, betraying confidences. Lord have mercy
ALL: Christ, have mercy
Leader: We admit how and where we have made a show
of our religion, attracting more attention to us,
and less to you. Lord have mercy.
ALL: Christ, have mercy
Leader: We admit to where in our lives a vague interest has become a dangerous passion, and we are not sure what to do or whether we are still in control. Lord have mercy
ALL: Christ, have mercy
Leader: Lord Jesus Christ if we have looked or longed
for an easier gospel, a lighter cross, a less demanding savior, then turn our eyes and avert our longing from what
we want to choose to the one who has chosen us. So we pray
ALL: Forgive in us what has gone wrong,
Repair in us what is wasted, reveal in us what is good.
Leader: And nourish us with better food than we could ever
purchase: your word, your love, your inspiration, your daily bread for our life's journey, in the company of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
ALL: Amen

Responding

Sharing of Praises and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
Offering Lord, thou hast searched me HWB 556
/Hymn Praise God from Whom HWB 119
Announcements
Benediction Guide my feet HWB 546

Today

Announcements

Please email all bulletin announcements by Wednesday 8:00 pm to Becky

We hope you can be a part of the 18th Annual Love INC Dinner. Guest speaker will be Amy Sherman, author and founder of Charlottesville Abundant Life.
Date: Friday, April 3 Time: 6:30-9:00pm
Place: Trinity Presbyterian Church
3101 Fontaine Ave., Ext. Charlottesville 22905
Along with fellowship from our and other area churches and, of course, great food, it can also serve as a time to get to know this faith-based ministry that helps churches help our neighbors in need. This ministry has been a resource for CMC as one of our ways to reach out in the community. For further info on Love INC tour their website at www.loveinc.org We can also put you in touch with folks from church that have interests and involvements with the ministry as well as chatting with us. Church, along with other generous contributors will be sponsoring table(s) for CMC at the dinner. Please RSVP to jean (even if you RSVP directly to Love Inc) or chat with Clayton and Jean Marie at church by Sunday, March 15, so we may let sponsors know how many tables we need. Menu choices are beef, chicken, ham, or veggie dish (we can find out what veggie may be for those interested).

Put this IMPACT/Justice Ministry date on your calendar:
Nehemiah Action: March 30, 2009, 6:15 pm, U-Hall

Stewardship University returns to Harrisonburg at Parkview Mennonite Church on March 7, 2009. The event offers a range of practical course sessions to help people combine their faith and finances, invest in an uncertain market, handle money and marriage issues, and more. If you want to know more or to register, contact MMA at (800) 348-7468, Ext. 388, or visit our Web site (www.StewardshipUnivesity.org).

EMU and Goshen College are offering Lent devotions online. Visit www.emu.edu/devotions www.goshen.edu/devotions and sign-up to receive them by email.

Prayers and Praises

MMN: Mennonite Mission Network Board continues meeting today and tomorrow in Harrisonburg, Virginia, following participation in the Damascus Road Anti-Racism Training prior to the meeting. Pray that board members will have energy for the tasks at hand.

VMM: Thank God for the Beinlich family from Pa. who have served at the Maranatha School for the Deaf in Jamaica for the month of February. They assisted the teachers in the classroom and provided enriching activities for the students. Can your family serve in a place other than your home community? Contact VMMissions for information: (800) 707-5535.

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.