Bulletin for November 27, 2011

WASHINGTON MENNONITE CHURCH

Re: Jesus’ Birth Repent

 

REUNITING WITH GOD’S PEOPLE

Prelude

Call to Worship

                Let us hear what God the Lord will speak,

                For God will speak peace to his people.

                God will speak peace to the faithful,

                For those who turn to him in their hearts.

                Surely, God’s salvation is at hand

                For those who fear him,

                That his glory may dwell in our land.

                Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;

                Righteousness and peace will kiss each other.

                The Lord will give what is good,

                And our land will yield its increase.

                Righteousness will go before the Lord,

                And prepare the path for him.

                Let us prepare the way for the Lord.

Lighting of Advent Candle

Songs of Gathering              Praise to God Immortal Praise                         WB 91

                                                Come Thou Long Expected Jesus                     WB 178

                                                On Jordan’s Banks                                             WB 183

                                                RECEIVING GOD’S WORD

Scripture Reading                Isaiah 40:1-11

Children’s Time

Message                                                “Prepare the way of the Lord”

RESPONDING TO GOD

Song of Response               Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord (from Godspell)

Sharing

Pastoral Prayer

Offertory

RELEASED WITH GOD’S BLESSING

Benediction

Sending Song                       Jesus, Jesus, O What A Wonderful Child

                                                                (dessert theatre choir)

                               

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Centro Cristiano Hispanic Worship Service                    2:30 PM

                Martha Hernandez, pastor

Worship Leaders:

Prelude/Offertory:  Edie Nebel

Worship Leader:  Barb Ramsey

Song Leader:  Edie Nebel

Children’s Story:  Sandy Buhrow

Meditation:  Amanda Beachy

Pastoral Prayer:  Grant Nebel

Advent Visuals:  Ty Blas

Upcoming Advent Themes

December 4 – Relax

December 11 – Rejoice

December 18 – Reorder

December 25 – Re-create

January 1 – Restart

ABIDING …and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Hebrews 12:1b I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.                                                                                                                   2 Timothy 4:7 Before my friend Karen went to be with Jesus, her last words for me were to “keep running the race” and she would meet me at the finish line!  With these words, I am reminded that life is bigger than me; living for Jesus and doing his will are my goal.  I try to keep these thoughts in front of me as I live and work here on earth.                                                                                                 Mary Lou Farmer

 

We welcome all to this place for the worship of God and for Christian fellowship.  Let us worship God in spirit and in truth, reaching out to one another in Christ’s love.  We welcome our guests and visitors and hope you will join us again soon.

Mennonite Central Committee Christmas Giving:  Share the joy of Christmas with others around the world.  Begin a new tradition by selecting a gift from MCC.  Simple gifts make a big difference.  The gift of water helps to bring a valuable, life-giving resource closer to the people who need it most.  The gift of livestock does more than provide an animal.  It gives families and communities the power to improve their own lives.  Explore all the MCC gift options and discover more ways to share the joy at mcc.org/Christmas or make checks payable to MCC and send them to MCC Central States PO Box 235 North Newton, KS 67117.

EDUCATION LEADERS

Adult Sermon Extension (Sanctuary):  Sandy Buhrow

Adult Bible Study:  (end classroom of Fellowship Hall):  Barb Ramsey

Preschool – 2-5 years (middle classroom in Fellowship Hall):  Becky Widmer 

Grades 3-6 (classroom off kitchen):  Karen Bates

Youth grades 6-12 (upstairs):  Grant Nebel

VISION STATEMENT:  As followers of Jesus Christ, we are a community of faith

empowered by the Holy Spirit, seeking to love God with all our heart, mind, soul,

and strength, and to love others as our self.

Ministers:  All of God’s People

Pastors:  Grant Nebel: 256.7252 (home)                             Amanda Beachy:319.325.4522

       319.931.2579 (cell)                                         (cell)

                                       grant.edie at gmail.com                             abeach25 at gmail.com

Elders: Francis Litwiller 656.3426 Becky Widmer 653.4714 Myron Graber 653.1674

Church Secretary:  Martha Graber 653.6393    Church Office Phone: 653.6041 

Church Office e-mail:  wash.mennonite at juno.com

Happy Birthday to:  Justin Bruegge (11/28), Joanne Roth (11/30)

Offering for 11/20/11:  $2136.07 (regular), $50 (HACAP), $250 (community needs)

The women from the “Thinkers” group are meeting together once a week to pray especially for Tina Watson Wiklund and would like to invite anyone else to join us at 1:00 PM on Friday, December 2^nd at the church.

On the bulletin board in the foyer is a list of food items needed for a HACAP food box.  If the box is complete it will be given to Washington families in need.  Incomplete boxes need to be marked so HACAP can complete what is needed.  Would you or your family be willing to work on one or more food boxes for needy families in Washington?

TODAY: Dessert Theatre practice at the church, 5:00 PM

THIS WEEK:

Mon:  Dessert Theatre practice, 6:00 PM

Wed.:  Dessert Theatre dress rehearsal, 6:30 PM

Thurs. – Sat.: Dessert Theatre performances, 7:00 PM at WMC

                                (cast be here at 6:00 PM)

Prayers of Washington Mennonite—

·         Mary Lou Farmer

·         Holiday travels

·         Thanks for God’s blessings

·         Tina Wiklund

·         Dessert Theatre

·         David Boshart/ Tim Detweiler as they attend the annual meeting of conference ministers

·         Hmong Mennonite Church of St. Paul, MN

Needs around Washington—

·         Food boxes for HACAP

The Washington Ministerial Association is beginning a soup kitchen for people and families who may need help with a hot meal during the weekend.  This soup kitchen will be every Saturday from 11-12:30 beginning in January.  The pastors are encouraging us to volunteer one Saturday a month to prepare and serve a meal.  Some planning needs to be done by the Outreach & Service ministry.  More information will be coming later.

Meals on Wheels:  Washington Mennonite Church is scheduled to deliver Meals on Wheels from January 2^nd to February 3^rd.  You may sign up in the foyer next week.

Parents as Teachers needs ten dozen cookies by Dec 10^th for the children to decorate.  Please sign up in the foyer or talk to Carol Detweiler or Becky Widmer. Thank you.

On December 10 from 10:00 to 12:00 in the morning, we have been asked to ring the bell for the Salvation Army outside the Wal-Mart store.  Four volunteers are needed, two per hour.  If you would like to ring a bell, please sign up in the foyer.

LAST DAY TO REGISTER!  Tomorrow (November 28) is the last day to register for Come to the Table: ‘Tis the Season to Drink Tea hosted by Crooked Creek Christian Camp on Saturday, December 3, 2011.  The event is from 9:30-2:30 PM at the Retreat Lodge and will feature Wendy Leichty from Bethel Mennonite Church.  Don’t miss this day for Tea and Retreat!  Call the camp to register at 653.3611.  Hope to see you there!

The Iowa Mennonite School music department will present a Christmas program in the school’s Celebration Hall on Sunday, December 4, at 2 PM.  The choirs, symphonic band, and various ensembles will share the gift of music, all directed by music instructor Karenza Yoder.  A free-will offering will be taken and refreshments will follow.  All are invited to attend.

Following the IMS Christmas Concert there will be a Christmas Party for interested 6^th -8^th grade students and their parents.  Students will join enrollment director Candi Schmieder and a special guest for games and refreshments, while parents will enjoy refreshments and activities with Principal Tony Miller and other IMS personnel.  Please RSVP to IMS by December 2.

The IMS Board invites you to join them in prayer for IMS every Wednesday morning at 7:30 AM.  Come to the conference room at IMS or ask to have the prayer guide emailed to you.  Join us either way as we invite God’s guidance and blessing for IMS each week.

IMS is inviting young students to participate in scrimmages during halftimes of several upcoming girls’ and boys’ varsity basketball games.  On Friday, December 2: girls in grades 3-5 will play; Tuesday, December 6: boys in grades 6-8; and Friday, December 9: boys in grades 3-5 are invited.  Sign-up sheets are available in the lobby when you arrive.

VOLLEYBALL CLUB!  Crooked Creek Christian Camp invites you to join us for the kickoff of our newest program!  Volleyball Club starts Sunday, December 11, 2011 from 4-6 PM in the Activities Center.  If you are ages 16 and up we invite you to lace up your shoes and bring your spiking skills as we hit the court.  Just show up and bring a friend.  If you have interest in playing but cannot attend this kickoff session, please call Angela Widmer at 653.3611 so she can inform you of upcoming times and dates.

International Nativity Festival:  We invite you to a display of over 400 Nativity scenes from more than 100 countries.  The artists who created them have interpreted what Christ’s birth meant to them.  The event will take place at First Mennonite Church, 405 Myrtle Ave. in Iowa City.  The dates and times are:  Friday, December 9 from 5-9 PM, Saturday, December 10 from 10 AM-5 PM, Sunday, December 11 from 1:30-5:30 PM.  Your friends and families are welcome at this time of celebration, giving and remembering.  A free will donation will be given to LCC International University in Klaipeda, Lithuania.  It is a small private Christian University with 650 students from 21 mostly Eastern European countries.  It provides education within the Christian context and the framework of servant leadership.

Children’s Choir, a community choir led by Rhonda Miller, will be giving their Christmas concert at Kalona Mennonite Church on Sunday, December 11 at 4:00 PM

IMS’s Alumni Association will host the annual Alumni Night festivities on Friday December 16^th, as the boys’ and girls’ basketball squads will host Columbus.  All attendees above high school age will be eligible for prizes to be given away at halftime of both varsity contests.  Prizes are compliments of area businesses.

Mennonite Mission prayer request:  Thank God for Union Biblical Seminary, a Mennonite Mission Network partner in India.  Pray for rural Mennonite students, who face academic and cultural challenges in the city, as they study the Bible and theology.