November 22, 2009

Pre-service music
Call to Worship
Leader: Holy and Gracious God, this day is your gracious gift.
People: May we worship
and walk in the clear light of your grace.
Leader: God has breathed the breath of life within us.
People: Blessed be God, and God's blessing be upon us.
Leader: God has saved us from sin and death through grace.
People: Open our eyes to see anew, our hearts to be touched anew, our minds to learn anew.
Prayer of Invocation
Hymns God of grace and God of glory HWB 366
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord HWB 151
Children's Story
Hymn Savior, like a shepherd lead us HWB 355

Hearing

Scripture Exodus 34:4-7; Ephesians 2:1-10; 1 Peter 1:10-16
Sermon Grace: Carrying a contract or fire?
Hymn Come, thou fount HWB 521

Responding

Sharing of Praises and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
Offering/Hymn Praise God from Whom HWB 119
Announcements
Hymn The Lord bless you and keep you STJ 76
Benediction

Today

Announcements

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

Our Christmas program will take place on December 12 at 5 pm. It will be in the form of "Lessons and Carols": music and the Christmas story presented in a variety of forms. You are invited to bring your gift alone or as a group, family, Sunday School Class to this time in form of a play, drama, skit, song, poem or whatever you can think of. Please email me by Wednesday December 9 with the gift you would like to share, so I can put the program together.

Our current seating arrangement of the sanctuary will remain through the Advent season. An evaluation will take place after January 3 with input from the congregation at that point.

Sunday evening November 22 at 7 pm at Charlottesville Mennonite Church. John Filson served as MCC's Iraq Program Coordinator from 2007-2009. Based in Northern Iraq, he worked closely with MCC's Iraq partner organizations on the ground to understand their approaches and offer financial and technical support for their work. John earned a Masters degree in Peace & International Studies from the Joan B. Kroc Institute of International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame in 2007. John is currently working in MCC's advocacy office in Washington DC where he seeks to bring the perspective of ordinary Iraqis affected by U.S. actions to policymakers on Capitol Hill.

Join area Christians in song as a Shenandoah Valley Hymn Sing at Park View Mennonite Church on November 29 at 7 pm. Sam and Janice Showalter will be the music leaders.
Ways to start spreading some warmth to begin this Sunday and throughout December:

Salvation Army Winter Clothing Drive. winter coats, winter vests, hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, warm socks. Please hang and place your donations in the designated clothing rack, located in the back of the Sanctuary

CMC Meal Starters and Community Food Drive
Please place your Meal Starter bags, with non-perishable foods in the Church foyer. Donate in the spirit of giving a favorite meal. Share the recipe in the bag, a inspirational note, some way to share your own personal touch. Small brown bags with goodies for children also welcome. Please consider a donation for the perishables needed. Checks for perishables can be placed in the Sunday offerings and should go to Charlottesville Mennonite Church - and the memo line should say "food drive".Volunteers need to deliver and spread Christmas Joy and Peace to Love Inc. neighbors. Please also place your single items in the basket designated to help the Emergency Food Bank.

Our Community Place is hosting a Benefit Christmas Concert at Park View Mennonite Church on Tuesday, Dec 8th! Come at 6:30pm for fine desserts and hot drinks followed by great music at 7:30 including Trent Wagler, Jonathan Reuel, and many others performing their Christmas favorites. Contact Philip at ourcommunityplace@gmail.com for more info.

Prayers and Praises

MMN:People of the Argentine Chaco are used to getting along with little water, but this year the drought is severe. Pray for rain and for the health of people who are obliged to use unclean water for their daily needs.

VMM: Shirley Roth, executive director of Nazareth Village, Israel, asks us to pray that lives will be changed as people experience the Living Word in the context and setting in which it was given by Jesus.

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.

Gathering in Christ's name

Hearing

Responding

Today

Announcements

Prayers and Praises