March 22, 2009

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March 22, 2009 - Lent 4: 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: From Egypt to the Promised Land,
From Bethlehem to Nazareth,
From Bethany to Jerusalem,
ALL: Come, Lord Jesus.
Leader: to heal the sick,
To mend the broken-hearted,
To comfort the disturbed,
To disturb the comfortable,
To cleanse the temple,
To liberate faith from convention,
ALL: Come, Lord Jesus.
Leader: to carry the cross,
To lead the way,
To shoulder the sin of the world
And take it away,
ALL: Come, Lord Jesus.
Leader: Today,
To this place,
To us,
ALL: Come, Lord Jesus.
Prayer of Invocation
Songs
Reading based on Num 21:4-9; Eph 2:1-10; John 3:14-21
Children's Story

Hearing

Reading No, Jesus, No
By your cross
Sermon Lent and the lie of the normal
Response Amazing Grace

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 Mennonite Mission Network worker Neal Blough, France, as he makes a presentation on "Calvin and the Anabaptists" at the annual theological colloquium at the seminary where he teaches. Other events are planned in France to commemorate the 500th anniversary of John Calvin's birth.

VMM: Thank God for the Hall family from Pa, serving with the Mennonite Church of Trinidad & Tobago for 3 months. They are giving piano and guitar lessons and assisting with worship. May God use these interactions to build the Church.

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.