Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church

Transcription

1 Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church Volume LXIII December 31, 2017 No. 53 Welcome to worship! Christ is born! We are living in the season of Christmas. The promise of God to people of all generations is fulfilled in the coming of His Son into the world. When Simeon and Anna saw the baby they praised the Lord. May the hope and joy they saw in the baby Jesus be in us as well! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Gathering Music Welcome GATHERING TO WORSHIP Opportunities for Celebration and Service (Please sign, pass, and return the friendship registers.) Jared Janzen Karl Brubaker Call to Worship (from Psalm 148) Leader: Yes! We will give thanks and rejoice! People: We will praise the Lord from the heavens, from the heights, and with the angels! Leader: We praise the Lord with the sun and moon! We praise the Creator of the shining stars! People: Fire and hail! Snow and frost! Mountains and hills! Fruit trees and cedars! Leader: Young men and women alike! Children and the aged ones too! Let us praise the name of the Lord. People: Praise the Lord! Leader: Yes! Let all things be new. Invocation Instrumental Call to Worship Go Tell It on the Mountain ~Behnke Karl Brubaker Jason Peters *Hymns of Praise and Proclamation The First Noel, the Angel Did Say HWB 199 What Child is This HWB 215 Words of Confession Pastor Linda Ewert Words of Assurance with Congregation in Unison O God, Emmanuel, in Jesus, the Christ, you have come among us. You have given us life, and we are restored.

2 Morning Prayer Worship Music Pastor Linda Nelson Voth, harmonica; Dan Bergen, guitar Worship With Our Tithes and Offerings First Fruits Giving (On-line giving options are available at alexanderwohl.org) Offertory Let Our Gladness Have No End ~Leavitt Jason Peters *Prayer of Dedication Thank you, God of love, for the promise of this season. We give our offerings with great thanksgiving for the gift of your Son to us. Use them, and use us to bring your love into our homes, our community and our world. For it is in Christ s name that we pray, Amen. HEARING GOD S WORD Children s Feature (for children through grade 3) Pastor Linda Scripture Reading Luke 2:22-40 (THE MESSAGE) Judy Goertzen Message Rejoicing with the Good News Pastor Linda SENT AS GOD S PEOPLE *Sending Song Go Tell It on the Mountain Bulletin Insert *Benediction Pastor Linda *Postlude Joy to the World! ~Wolaver Jason Peters *All who are able are invited to stand. HWB - Hymnal A Worship Book (Blue) SWJ - Sing With Joy (Red) TODAY A Supervised Nursery is available for children ages 3 and under during worship. Attendants are LaNae Unruh and Kim Voth. Song Leader: Marcia Brubaker Visual Arts: LaNae Unruh Christmas Decorations: Friends and Followers Sunday School Class PRAYING FOR OUR CONGREGATION AND BEYOND For Milton Goertzen who was admitted and dismissed from Newton Medical Center. He has returned to Bethesda and is now receiving hospice care. For Margie Young who is at Schowalter Villa for a time of recovery following some health concerns. For others among us who have health concerns for themselves or their loved ones. For college students who will be returning soon to college campuses. For our ministry boards as transitions are made at the beginning of a new year For time to reflect on the past year and ears to hear the Holy Spirit as we look forward, seeking guidance for the new year, both individually and as a church. For the review process for Pastor Linda and the church. May the Holy Spirit guide the work, giving wisdom, clarity, and direction.

3 May God guide the work of leaders in our country toward decisions that lead toward justice and peace-making both here and around the world. WEEK AT A GLANCE Monday, January 1, 2018 Church Offices Closed Tuesday, January 2 9:00 am Staff Meeting 9:00 am Alexanderwohl serves at MCC Center, N Newton Wednesday, January 3 No Midweek Activities 6:45 pm Board of Worship 8:00 pm Board of Christian Education Thursday, January 4 Bulletin items and announcements due at noon in church office Sunday, January 7 9:30 am Sunday School 10:30 am Worship Message: Pastor Caleb Yoder Nursery: Tina, Noah and Levi Schrag 4:00 pm Bethesda Chapel - Pastor Linda Ewert Jan 8 Jan 10 Jan 14 Jan 14 Jan 19 Jan Jan 28 Feb 10 COMING EVENTS 2017 Year-End Reports due at church office Midweek Classes and Activities Resume Communion Congregation meets for lunch and pastor review Senior Coffee and Conversation Year of Evangelism at Alexanderwohl High School Chili Fundraiser and Annual Meeting Church Leadership Retreat ANNOUNCEMENTS Pastor Caleb, Beth and Austin are in Iowa from December 25 through January 1. For care concerns, please contact Pastor Linda or one of the deacons. In the coming weeks we will begin our process of evaluating Pastor Linda s ministry here at Alexanderwohl Church. The purpose of this review is to encourage the personal and professional growth of Pastor Linda and to allow the congregation to discern her gifts that most effectively move us in our ministry here at Alexanderwohl. We will once again use the process of Appreciative Inquiry. It invites our membership to reflect on several questions and relate personal experiences with Pastor Linda. Keith Harder of the Western District Conference has agreed to guide us through this evaluation process. Our timeline is as follows: December 31, 2017 Distribute questions to Congregation through mailboxes and electronically January 7, 2018 Training for focus group leaders and recorders.

4 January 14, 2018 Congregation meets in focus groups following a light lunch in the fellowship hall. January 28, 2018 Congregation is given a report by Keith Harder at the Annual Congregational Meeting. All members and attenders of Alexanderwohl Church, including high school youth, are invited to participate in this process. We look forward to our time together. ~Pastor Review Committee: Brendon Nafziger, Karen Unruh, Kent Peters, Gayle Voth, Linda Peters There will be a training session for Focus Group Facilitators and Recorders next Sunday, January 7, from 3:00-4:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. WDC consultant, Keith Harder, will be here to provide information and direction for the Appreciative Inquiry process that will be used for Pastor Linda s evaluation. All group facilitators and recorders should make plans to attend this important meeting. Our Purpose Statement for 2017 This year we will Be rooted in Jesus' way Renew relationships with each other Listen with respect to one another Relate to our community in loving ways Reclaim our Gospel hope over fear Last Sunday, December 24 Attendance: Sunday School 155 Worship 208 Offerings: Sunday School $53.34 First Fruits Giving $11, Christmas Eve, December 24 Attendance: 502 Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 10:30 a.m K-15 Hwy, Box 8 Goessel Kansas Office: (620) alexmenno@mtelco.net website: Pastors: Caleb Yoder (319) alexcaleb@mtelco.net Linda Ewert H (620) C (316) alexlinda@mtelco.net Deacons: Judy Goertzen Delbert Peters Linda Peters Brian Stucky James Voth Tim Voth If you would like a visit or a phone call from one of the pastors or deacons, please feel free to contact us.

5 It is time to renew our group subscription to The Mennonite magazine. The Mennonite is a monthly magazine featuring voices from across the Anabaptist-Mennonite world and if you sign up with our congregation s plan, you can receive this publication at a discounted rate. Through Bible studies, feature articles, columns and more, The Mennonite is hosting a robust conversation about what it means to be an Anabaptist follower of Christ today. If you are interested in joining our group plan, please contact Dwight M. Flaming TODAY. Group subscription renewals are $37 and are payable to Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church. New subscribers can receive a oneyear subscription for the discounted rate of $30. All older adults are invited to join us for Senior Coffee and Conversation on Friday, January 19 at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Arlin Buller and Judy Unruh will be sharing with us about how selective service conscription has changed in the last 100 years and tell some stories. What were some of the challenges that Mennonites faced? What do you remember? How might we be inspired by their stories of faith in times of persecution? Come join us as we learn and fellowship together. Sign up in one of the lobbies by Monday, January 15. As our congregation explores ways to welcome the immigrant in our community and country, one possible action is to write our elected officials, asking for immigration reform toward more compassionate enforcement. If you have interest in writing a letter on your own time, Pastor Caleb has some templates that you may make use of. On January Alexanderwohl will be hosting the Year of Evangelism Kick-off, sponsored by the Western District Conference Resource Commission. Learn what it takes to share your own story of God's goodness and see your neighborhood with missional eyes. The event is from 7-9 on Friday and 9-3 on Saturday. Please speak with one of the pastors if you have interest in this event.