March 15, 2009

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March 15, 2009 - Lent 3: 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
Prayer of Invocation
Hymns We sing to you, O God STJ 1
Guide me o thou great HWB 582
Reading based on Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthian 1:18-25
Children's Story

Hearing

Scripture John 2:13-22
Sermon Approaching God
Response Be thou my vision

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

Leadership Nomination Ballot: You should have received this by email. There are copies on the table under the mailboxes if you do not have email. Please review and prayerfully complete and return to me on or before March 22nd. Print and place in my mailbox or send by email. Thank you, Jim

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.

The Table Mennonite Church is hosting a weekend workshop on the "Ancient-Future Practice of the Lord's Supper" with Alan and Eleanor Krieder, Saturday March 28 at the EMHS dining hall, from 9 am-2:30 pm, including lunch. This event is free. For more information email tableworkshops@gmail.com. In addition, Eastern Mennonite seminary is hosting an event on the Anabaptist Prayerbook with the Kreiders, Friday evening 7 pm, at the EMU Discipleship Center.

Positive Parenting, a five-session class led by marriage and family counselor Harvey Yoder, will be held at FLRC on Mondays from 7-8:30 pm starting March 16. Cost is $40 ($70 for two from same household) plus a $10 text, Common Sense Parenting. Call 434-8450 to register.

The Senior Class of EMHS invites you to their presentation of Cotton Patch Gospel on March 19-21 in the auditorium at 7:30pm. Come enjoy this delightful modern day southern style retelling of Jesus? life on earth through narration and song. General admission tickets are $10/adults and $8/Seniors and Students and are available online under events at www.emhs.net or at the door. For more information, call 432-4500.

Prayers and Praises

MMN: Pray for strength and wisdom for Mennonite Voluntary Service participants serving in the Hutchinson, Kansas community: Erica Stoltzfus, attendant at Mennonite Manor and Alex Richert, home technician with Interfaith Housing Services.

VMM: A Partners in Mission team from the Park View and Shalom Mennonite Churches returned this week from London, England where they did construction work including stone masonry. Thank God for their skills and their commitment to serving others.

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.