Bulletin for November 16, 2014

Washington Mennonite Church

November 16, 2014

9:30 AM

Banquet: Foretaste of the Eschatological Banquet

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.

INVITATION

Welcome                     Isaiah 25:6-8

Songs of Welcome

Scripture Stories         Luke 5:27-32; Luke 7:36-50; Luke 19:1-8

Food for Thought                   

·   What is the best meal you’ve ever had (the fanciest or most meaningful)?  Was it the food?  Or the guests?  Or the hosts that made it the best?

·   When or where have you been hosted the best?  Who was the best host?  What did they do to make you and others feel welcome?

Invitation to the Table of The Lord    

                                               

PREPARATION

Scripture Story            Luke 14:1-24

Song                            Wedding Banquet, by Medical Mission Sisters

Poem                           Parable of the Dinner Party, by Michael Coffey
Food for Thought                   

·   Have you ever turned down an invitation to a banquet or meal you were invited to?  Why?  What does that say to the host?

·   Have you ever been to a meal or banquet and encountered unexpected (or unwanted) guests?

·   Have you ever been caught up in the cycle of repayment instead of hospitality?

Liturgy of preparation

People:  We have not loved God fully nor our neighbor as ourselves. (silence)

We have grieved the Holy Spirit by settling for less than she offers or asks (silence)

We have taken refuge in worldly goods and comforts. (silence)

We have let other people take the risks. (silence)

We have been ashamed to name the name of Christ. (silence)

Leader:  I therefore invite us to confess our sins to God.

People:  Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love, for I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a right spirit within me. (silence)

Leader:  In the name of Jesus, I assure you that you are forgiven, loved, and free.  Amen.   

People:  In the name of Jesus, we assure you that you are forgiven, loved, and free.  Amen.

EATING AND DRINKING

Scripture                     John 6:35-40; 48-58; I Corinthians 11:23-26

Eating Together

Food for Thought                   

·   What do you think Jesus meant when he said he was the bread of life?  How do we eat and share that bread daily?  Is the bread of life something that we only think about and share at communion, or is it more than that?

·   What do you think Jesus meant when he talked about the coming kingdom?

THANKSGIVING

Scripture                     Matthew 14:13-21; John 4:1-42

Food for Thought                   

·   What do these stories about Jesus and eating have to do with the ways that we eat and drink together as families?  In this congregation?  At communion?  At fellowship meals?

·   What do these stories about Jesus say about being a guest or a host?  How do we extend the gifts and hospitality that we’ve been given?

·   What do these stories about Jesus and food tell us about the kingdom of God that is here but not yet?

Singing

Prayer

           

Sharing and Announcements

Congregational Prayer

Offering

Sending Song

Benediction     

Centro Cristiano Hispanic Worship Service                                    2:30 PM

                Martha Hernandez, pastor

               

Worship Leaders:   

Worship Leader:  Amanda Beachy                         Song Leaders:   Worship Team

Congregational Prayer:  Grant Nebel 

Upcoming Events: Nov 16 –  DT Choir (5pm), Drama (6pm) Practice Nov 19 – DT Choir WOMEN ONLY (6:30pm) Drama Practice (select skits) Nov 19 – Monthly Sewing                 (1 Thess 2:7-8; Isaiah 49:15; Hosea11:3-4) Dec 11-13 – Dinner Theatre

 

Preaching Schedule:

Nov 23 – Guest, Thanksgiving

Nov 30 – Amanda, Advent week one

Dec 7    –                 Amanda, Advent week two

Dec 14 –  Service at Crooked Creek

 

Sunday School Classes: (11:00 – 11:30am)

Sermon Discussion (Sanctuary): Edie Nebel, Jon Widmer

Matthew Study (back corner of the Fellowship Hall): Roger Farmer, Barb Ramsey

Young Adults (upstairs)

Youth Grade 7-10 (upstairs): Amanda Beachy

Primary Grade K-3 (middle room in Fellowship Hall): Becky Widmer

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 hearts, minds, souls, and strength, and to love others as ourselves.

Ministers:  All of God’s People

Pastors:                        Grant Nebel                                       Amanda Beachy

                                319.931.2579 (cell)                                 319.325.4522 (cell)

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

Elders: Barb Ramsey 653.3785, Myron Graber 653.1674, Jon Widmer 653.4714

Church Secretary: Andrea Nussbaum 815.404.3363   Church Office Phone: 653.6041   

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

Church Website: www.washingtonmennonitechurch.blogspot.com