WELCOME TO GERMANTOWN MENNONITE CHURCH

Transcription

1 December 18, 2016

2 WELCOME TO GERMANTOWN MENNONITE CHURCH December 18, 2016 GATHERING Welcome Concerto Grosso: "Fatto per la notte di Natale" Amy Yoder McGloughlin Arcangelo Corelli String Quartet Oriana Moreno, 1st violin Noel Munoz, viola Alexandra Blejeru, 2nd violin Rachel Ellis, cello *Call to Worship One: We come from a world of darkness, All: Into Christ s world of light. One: We come from a world of weariness, All: Into God s strength and hope. One: We come from a slumbering world, All: Strengthened by the Spirit, we come to awaken our souls and watch for the coming of Christ. One: God, you are molding us into your people. We gather as your people. Restore us, God of light. Let your face shine on us so that we may know you. AMEN. PRAISING *Congregational Singing Teri Gemberling Johnson HWB#212 O come, all ye faithful *Passing the Peace Please offer a sign of peace to your neighbors and welcome them to our time together. Introduction of Guests Lighting the Advent Wreath Katelyn King OFFERING Offering Please come forward as you are able to offer your gifts to God. Our special offering this month is for Reconstruction, Inc. Food offering for Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry may be placed in the baskets on the floor. Offertory Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring J.S. Bach String Quartet Prayer PROCLAIMING Congregational Singing HWB#200 Where is this stupendous Stranger?

3 Sunday School Presentation of Las Posadas Weary Travelers Alison Smithey Arlo Kemmerer Scovner Sophia Aikins-Hill Amelia Reaume Ruben Witmer Middle and High School Mary and Joseph Julia Aikins-Hill & Henry Gerber Narrators Anastasia Stamoulis & Dahlia Thut Guitarists Willem McGloughlin, Dan Thut, John Bergen, Andi Wingert & Eric Mitchell Station 1: From our long, long journey, We are very weary, We are seeking shelter, Four our rest and safety. Station 2: Who will give us lodging? We are travellers weary, So very very tired, Trudging roads so dreary. You are a Jew, and we are Romans. As for me and my house, we will follow Mars, Jupiter and Saturn! You only worship one God! Ha! Sacrilege! Unless... will you be converted? No? Well tough luck, and may your single solitary God protect you! Leave the doorstep of this house of Rome! You can't stay here! (written by Willem McGloughlin and Greg Kinnison) We don't like your culture. This is the Roman Empire! Speak Latin! If you speak a different language than us, we don t want you with us. We won t accept people who come from other places, especially if your skin color is different than ours! Read it and weep --Oh that's right. You don t speak the native tongue. Non Hic Te. It means: YOU CAN T STAY HERE!" (written by Juan Witmer and Sam Gingerich)

4 Station 3: We can only ask you, In your heart to trust us. Just give us a corner, We won t make a great fuss. Station 4: Don t you know who we are? Do you know our faces? We are wanderers, homeless, In all times and places. Station 5: Don t you know who we are? Do you know our faces? We are wanderers, homeless, In all times and places. Um... you want to stay here? Ooooo... I don t know about that. We don't know *what* you'll do if we let you in this inn! Probably steal something...or even worse, what if you are a terrorist or some other kind of bad hombre! You really don t belong here. Yeah...you should go. You can't stay here. (Written by Elizabeth Reaume and Irene Murzyn) What! This is five star establishment with a good reputation. Um, yeah, I m sure you understand we can't allow just... anyone... to stay here. Especially not your kind. Listen, perhaps you should stay at the Econo Manger or Excelsis Day's Inn down the road. This place is kind of out of your price range. You look a little... um... dusty. Move along now. Non hic te and all that. (Written by Luke and Thea Risher) We re glad you re our neighbors. You are welcome here. Congregational Singing STS#15 Hope is a Candle (all verses) STS #32 Oh, beautiful star of Bethlehem Congregational Reflection on Love Germantown Mennonite Choir O Little Town of Bethlehem English trad. tune, arr. R. Vaughn Williams

5 Wexford Carol Doran Stuckey, baritone Irish traditional carol, arr. John Rutter Gaudete Traditional tune, arr. Brian Kay SHARING Sharing All are welcome to reflect on the service and to bring joys, struggles, and other prayer concerns before God and our church community. Please wait until an usher brings you a microphone, state your name, joy or petition, and conclude with God of Grace and all may respond Hear our prayer. Prayer SENDING Announcements Sending Song HWB #201 Hark! the herald angels sing Benediction Following the worship service, all are invited to stay for fellowship and light refreshments. *Please stand as you are able. Today s Trustee is Joe Murzyn Today s Hospitality Host is Bethany Flood Today s Greeters are Susan Bartholomew & Will McGloughlin Nursery is provide by Dave Krueger & Vanessa Sigmans

6 Our special offering for December is Reconstruction, Incorporated. The mission of Reconstruction Inc. is to effect social change by forging individuals that were formerly incarcerated into an organized community of leaders working together to transform the criminal justice system, their communities and themselves. Reconstruction Inc., exists to provide spiritual, social, economic and political development skills that re-establish a sense of shared community life. In order to achieve these objectives, Reconstruction Inc., will engage members in collective, reciprocal work projects, training activities and creative cultural activities to forge unity from shared work and responsibilities. As we enter the season of advent, please remember our neighbors served by the Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry. Each week they supply households with packages that include both fresh and non-perishable foods, but they often run out of food before all their clients are served. The Germantown Mennonite congregation helps by providing non-perishable food donations throughout the year, and in this season of giving, we hope you ll consider contributing a few more items if you re able. Most Needed Items: Food: cereal, soup, canned meats, canned meals (e.g. beef stew), pasta and sauce, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, canned fruit or vegetables, baby formula Non-Food: feminine hygiene products, baby items (e.g. diapers, wipes) shampoo and conditioner, soap, toilet paper, household cleaning products The Young(ish) are gathering today after church at Earth Bread + Brewery. Please let John Bergen or Gina Burkholder know if you d like to join so they can make sure to get a large enough table! Treasurer's report for November 2016 November regular offering: $13,957 Special offering in November for Sisters Returning Home: $553 Year-to-date income: $173,505 / Year-to-date budgeted income: $181,372 Year-to-date expenses $169,966 November average attendance: 98

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8 Germantown Mennonite Church 21 West Washington Lane Philadelphia, PA (215) Congregational Leadership Amy Yoder McGloughlin, Pastor John Bergen, Associate Pastor Rebecca Thut-Witmer, Vision Team Chair Duane Hershberger, Vision Team Member Russ Mast, Vision Team Member Douglas Brunk, Congregational Chair Michelle Bruhn, Office Manager December 25, 2016 Worship Leader: John Bergen Speaker: Christmas Day Service Song Leader: John Linscheid Prelude/Offertory: John Linscheid Children s Time: John Bergen Trustee: Steve Gerber Hospitality: Caitlin VanderWindt Nursery: none Greeters: January 1, 2017 Worship Leader: Amy Yoder McGloughlin Speaker: Bob Coome Song Leader: John Bergen Prelude/Offertory: Kevin O Malia Children s Time: Amy Yoder McGloughlin Trustee: Charlie McGloughlin Hospitality: Nursery: Greeters: LOOKING AHEAD Dec 18: Dec 21: Dec 24: Dec 25: Dec Jan 1: Jan 15-Feb 19: Jan 22: Young(ish) Adults meeting at Earth Bread + Brewery after church Longest Night of the Year Service at FUMCOG, 7:30pm Lessons and Carols Christmas Eve service Christmas Day Service, 11am Church Office Closed New Years Day Joint Service with FUMCOG, 11am New Attenders Class during Sunday School Congregational Meeting & Potluck following Worship Our congregation adopted a child protection policy in 2014, designed to create a culture of sanctuary and openness for all of us. Our policy states the following: All interactions between young people and adults must be visible to others and young people between 5-12 must use a buddy system." The responsibility of child protection is on all of us. If you have any concerns about safety, you can reach out to Karla Hernandez-Thut (karlathut@gmail.com, ); or John Bergen (john@germantownmennonite.org, ). A copy of the policy is available outside the church office.