March 29, 2009

March 29, 2009 - Lent 5: 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 Love is come again Quartet
Call to Worship
Leader: Come God
People: Come walk with your people,
Leader: For you alone are our strength and glory
People: AND WE PUT OUR TRUST IN YOU
Leader: Come, God,
People: Come walk behind us, beside us, before us,
Leader: For you alone are our shelter and direction,
People: AND WE PUT OUR TRUST IN YOU
Leader: Come, God,
People: Come, seek and find and put us right,
Leader: For you alone are the light in the darkness
People: AND WE PUT OUR TRUST IN YOU
Leader: Come, God,
People: We know you are near,
Leader: The sound of your footsteps sets us dancing
People: HELP US TO PRAISE AND WORSHIP YOU
Hymns How firm a foundation HWB 567
What wondrous love is this HWB 530
My life flows on HWB 580
Prayer of Invocation
Reading based on Jeremiah 31:31-34; and John 12:20-33
Children's Story

Hearing

Reading He will walk
Sermon The Cross - Breaking the Pyramids of Resentment
http://www.gregboyd.org/popular/proin-vel-metus-ut-purus-interdum-semper/

Response If I believe and you believe Quartet

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

April is hospitality month at CMC. Spring is around the corner, picnics, ice cream, getting together. Take a moment in April and think about people at church you have wanted to get together with or get to know better and take the plunge and invite them for a meal, a potluck at your house, bowling together, hiking, - from Board of Elders.

You are invited to the 17th Shenandoah Valley Hymn Sing, on March 29, at 7 p.m., at Park View Mennonite Church; all are welcome to come and sing hymns old and new (including a new hymn by Myron Augsburger & John Horst) and listen to and sing along with Hahna, a quartet from EMU. Song leaders come from area Mennonite and Church of the Brethren churches.

Celebrate the Easter Story with Weavers Mennonite Church as they present, "Jesus the Way of the Cross", a musical drama telling the Easter Story from the Roman soldiers' point of view, Sat., April 4th and Sunday April 5th at 7p.m. Call (540) 434-7758 for more information.

Can you give some time, finances, and service this summer to the Christian church in China? After not being able to send an English-teaching team last year because of the earthquake, VMMissions is excited about the possibility of sending another team this year. We have team leaders; we need willing team members!

Learn how to practice creation care and make a difference in the world at a special Earth Day Stewardship University, a ministry partnership between MMA and our local faith community. The event is at First Church of the Brethren in Harrisonburg on April 18, 2009. Gain a better insight on what we can do as individuals, as a congregation, and as a community. Childcare is available for ages three and up. For more information or to register 1.) contact MMA at (800) 348-7468, Ext. 388 2.) visit the MMA Web site at www.StewardshipUniversity.org or 3.) call the MMA office at (540) 434-3666. Monetary savings are available if you register early, have a group of five or more persons and/or submit a voucher for $10 from the MMA Harrisonburg office.

Prayers and Praises

MMN: Mennonite Mission Network workers George and Tobia Veith request prayer for deep and lasting heart changes in emerging leaders in the Macau Mennonite Church as they participate in ongoing training for personal spiritual growth and to be effective small group leaders.

VMM: A Partners in Mission prayer team is in Albania, praying about the development and support of the Albania Christian School and visiting the mission workers serving in that country. May they be instruments of Christ's love in every location.

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.