March 8, 2009

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March 8, 2009 - Lent 2: 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
Leader: The Lord says: When the time comes,
I will answer the prayers of my people.
Left: I will bind you to myself forever
Right: With integrity and justice, with tenderness and love.
Left: I will bind you to myself with faithfulness
Right: and you will come to know me
Left: I will say: you are my people,
Right: and we will answer: you are our God.
Left: For once you were outside mercy
Right: But now you have been given mercy.
All: This is our hope, our living hope. We shall be glad.
Leader: The Lord says: I will woo you and lead you
into the wilderness and speak to your heart.
Prayer of Invocation
Hymns Praise, I will praise HWB 76
Great is thy faithfulness HWB 327
Jesus walked the lonesome valley STS 80
Children's Story

Hearing

Scripture Gen 17:1-7, 15-16; Rom 4:13-25; Mark 8:31-38
Sermon Tunnel Vision
Response Jesus Walked this Lonesome Valley

Responding

Sharing of Praises and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
Offering /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

The VMRC (VA Mennonite Retirement Community) Auxiliary membership drive is underway. Men and women of all ages are welcome and invited to join. Annual dues are just $10 or $75 for a lifetime membership. Your fees assist us in providing quality care and enrichment for the residents. Membership envelopes are in your mailboxes. If you wish to join, please return your envelope and check to Joyce Hutchinson's mailbox by Sunday, March 22. Thank you.

Highland Retreat is planning a work day for Saturday March 21. Primary tasks involve to cutting, splitting and stacking firewood and removing the old kitchen from the Tabernacle in preparation for replacing it with a new one. Bring your lunch and tools appropriate for these tasks. Work begins at 9:00 a.m. Let us know if you're coming: 540-852-3226 - info@highlandretreat.org. Work groups welcome on other Saturdays as well.

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: Mey Idawaty and Nora Iwarat minister to Indonesian and Filipino domestic workers at the Cheung Chau Christian Center, Hong Kong, which Mennonite Mission Network supports. Pray for the Thursday Bible study in the Tagalog language.

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.