December 6, 2009

Get ready! God calls us choose the path of peace
Advent 2 - December 6, 2009

Gathering in Christ's name

Pre-service music
Call to Worship
Leader: We live in troubled times,
waiting for God's light to burst into our dark world.
Get Ready! God calls us to choose the path of peace.
People: As we prepare, we acknowledge that we still live in the darkness of discontent. We repent and rise to walk with
God in the paths of peace. We choose to live as people of
healing and hope.
Leader: May every valley be filled and every mountain and hill be
made low. May the crooked paths be made straight and the
rough ways smooth.
ALL: Let us worship the God whose fire ignites our lives and
make us holy through and through. The one who calls us is
faithful and will do it.
Prayer of Invocation
Hymns Comfort, comfort o my people HWB 176
Sing we a song of high revolt STS 13
Children's Story
Hymn He comes to us as one unknown HWB 498

Hearing

Scripture Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 1:68-79; Luke 3:1-6
Sermon Creative Way Makers
Litany of response: (based on Malachi 3:1-4; Philippians 1:6-8)
Leader: Lord, in this time of Advent, we long for your coming. We rejoice that you send messengers to prepare the way and announce the light of peace. Yet we are afraid of your judgment. Who can endure the day of your coming, and who can stand when God's messenger appears?
People: Purify us, Lord. Clean out our souls and get rid of all that blocks our relationship with you. Help us to follow your ways, to love justice and pursue peace.
Women: We confess that we have tried many paths and that our wandering has made us weary. We have turned away from your ways.
People: Guide us with your grace.
Men: Lord, in your loving kindness, draw near and finish the good work that you have started in us.
People: We are prepared to choose the path of peace. Thank you for your tender mercy toward us as you guide us. Amen.
Hymn Oh how shall I receive Thee HWB 182

Responding

Sharing of Praises and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
Offering/Hymn Praise God from Whom HWB 119
Announcements
Hymn Hark! The glad sound HWB 184
Benediction

Today

Announcements

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

Our Christmas program will take place on Saturday 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. Also, bring some fingerfoods to share that evening.

Update on CMC Tablecloth Project and Community Food Drive Thanks to those who have donated funds toward perishables. What part can you have in the Tablecloth project? We now need some meal bags with non-perishables as well as your help to deliver the meal bags and spread Christmas Joy and Peace to visit Love Inc. and Clark School neighbors. Share in the spirit of giving a favorite meal, the recipe in the bag, an inspirational note, a tablecloth...some way to share your own personal touch. Small brown bags with goodies for children also welcome. A basket for the Tablecloth Project is in the church foyer your Meal Starter bags, if you do not plan to make a visit. Contact Jean for more info. You are also welcome to place your single items in the basket designated to help the Emergency Food Bank. Thank you so much

The final two performances of DOVETALE, the Christmas story performed by Ted & Company TheaterWorks, will take place at the Eastern Mennonite School Auditorium, Harrisonburg on Dec. 22 and 23, at 7:30 p.m. Actors are Ted Swartz, Ingrid De Sanctis and Trent Wagler. DOVETALE is appropriate for all ages. Advance tickets (a reserved section seat) are available by calling 540-833-6710. General admission tickets will also be available at the door. All tickets are $10.

Prayers and Praises

MMN: Pray for the peace witness of Mennonite churches in Bolivia today during the presidential elections and that the elected president will implement policies that benefit all regions of the country.

VMM: Skip & Carol Tobin are in Southeast Asia visiting with church leaders and members in places where the Gospel has been planted. Thank God that they bring encouragement to both the local believers and to the mission workers in this region.

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.