Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship November 29, 2015

Transcription

1 Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship November 29, 2015

2 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: The Lord is our righteousness. --Jeremiah 33:14-16 (NRSV) Prelude Gathering Gathering Hymns Come, thou Almighty King HWB 41 Come, thou long-expected Jesus HWB 178 Welcome (Visitors are invited to fill out a welcome card and place it in the offering basket.) Sharing in the Life of the Church* Opening Meditation Call to Worship (based on Psalm 25:1-10; Luke 21:25-36) Leader: We live in troubled times, waiting for God s burst of light in our dark world. People: Lift up your eyes! God s justice is on the way. Leader: Liberating God, sustain us and help us walk in your ways. People: Free us from the chains of prejudice and the shackles of sin. Leader: This is the moment to wake from sleep. Be ready, Jesus is coming to set us free. All: Let us worship God, whose mercy promises us new life through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Prayer Praising Hymn Hail to the Lord s anointed HWB 185, v. 1,2,3 Scripture Jeremiah 33:14-16 Offering Prayer Offering

3 Hearing Scripture Luke 21:25-36 Children s Story (Children ages 3 through 7 are excused to Children s Circle) Hymn To us a Child of hope is born HWB 189 Sermon Traversing the gap Pastor Renee Kanagy Responding Quiet Reflection O come, O come, Immanuel HWB 172, v1 Invitation to Light a Candle Sharing and Prayers of the Community Sending Hymn Oh, beautiful star of Bethlehem STS 32 Benediction *Near the beginning of our worship, we will have a time for sharing events of the life of the church. Bulletin announcements will be highlighted by the Worship Leader, followed by an opportunity to offer additional sharing. Please be mindful of the limited time we have to worship together on Sunday mornings. --Worship Committee

4 Music Key: HWB = Hymnal: A Worship Book (blue hard cover book) STJ = Sing The Journey (green soft cover book) STS= Sing The Story (purple soft cover book) ANNOUNCEMENTS Please send your announcements to the office before 11:00am-Friday to be printed in the bulletin...today Sunday, November 29 Sunday, November 29 Advent begins No morning education hour classes..this WEEK Wednesday, December 2 Saturday, December 5 Saturday, December 5-6..NEXT WEEK Sunday, December 6 Tuesday, December 8 Thursday, December 10 Saturday, December 12..COMING UP Sunday, December 13 Sunday, December 13 Saturday, December 19 City Gospel Mission, all desserts ready by 5:30pm Annual CMF Christmas Party (see NOTES for details) Youth Christmas Lock-In Choir practice, 12-2pm Community Meal (5-7pm) All are welcome! Council (6:30pm) Choir practice, 10am-12pm Choir practice, 8-9:20am CMF Choir performs during service Youth ice skating at Fountain Square, 10am-lunch Check out the EVENTS page on our website for more calendar information. CMF Welcome Statement Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship is a Christ-centered, welcoming and inclusive church community committed to peace and justice. We acknowledge and affirm the image of God in persons of every race, ability, class, gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation. We celebrate an open communion in which all who seek a closer journey with God are welcome to participate. We invite all who covenant with us to join in the full life of the congregation.

5 CMF Vision Statement As a Mennonite community, seeking to follow Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we will be embracing, engaging, growing. NOTES During the season of Advent you may wish to study the scriptures for the upcoming worship service. Next Sunday's scriptures are as follows: Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 3:1-6. For those whose minds are more fully present when their hands are engaged: Advent through Epiphany, coloring sheets related to the church year, and colored pencils, are available for people of all ages. Activity sheet that follow the scripture texts are also available. Both of these can be found on a tray on the round table in the gathering area adjacent to the sanctuary. Our annual CMF Christmas Party will be Saturday, December 5th at 6:00pm in the church basement. We'll have snacks, games, crafts, Christmas caroling, and a white elephant gift exchange. If you do plan to attend, please bring a snack to share. Drinks will be provided by Social Committee. Also If you want to be included in the white elephant gift exchange, please bring a used/gag gift for each member of your family that wants to participate (please bring child appropriate gifts so that your child can exchange these with other children). Please bring board games you might want to play, including age appropriate board games that kids can enjoy. Caroling will start promptly at 6:00pm we re going to Find A Way, just down the street. Hope to see you there! Parking continues to be problematic, and Council is seeking to find solutions and discover other choices for those worshipping with CMF, especially during the holiday times when we may have increased numbers of visitors. With limited parking spaces available, Council urges the congregation to explore on street parking opportunities on Brownway, north of Robertson, as well as on Verne Street, north of Robertson.

6 Apply for 2016 Everence college scholarships. If your family uses Everence faith-based services, you are eligible to apply for college scholarships for the school year. Submit your application by Feb. 29, Learn more at everence.com/scholarships for a copy of the application. Shopping with a Purpose! Mark your calendars for the week after Thanksgiving to do your holiday shopping at either Ten Thousand Villages store here in Cincinnati, and your shopping supports the TTV artisans and the CMF Youth Group! Beginning on Sunday, November 29, and running through Saturday, December 5, please mention the "CMF Youth Group" at the beginning of your sale, so that we get credit for your purchases. A percentage of the sales designated to the Youth Group will go to supporting a future service trip. Please share this with your neighbors, friends and co-workers, to help us spread the word! Thank you in advance for your continued support! ~ The CMF Youth How are Mennonites and Jews connected? Come learn more in a 2-week adult class series led by Rev. Dr. John Kampen. John is an eminent scholar of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament as well as Jewish history and literature of the Greco-Roman era. He is published widely on subjects as diverse as the Gospel of Matthew, Jewish history, anti-semitism, and African-American use of the Bible. Join John on Dec. 6 for conversation on The Bible, anti-judaism, and Mennonites and on Dec. 13 for Our lived experience, in America and the Middle East. Both sessions will meet at 9:30 am in the gathering area outside the sanctuary; come to either or both. Everyone is welcome! Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) volunteer opportunities: We are planning two MDS trips, Dec 6 12 to Bastrop, Texas and February 15 February 19 to South Carolina. If you are interested in participating in either trip or have questions about either trip, please contact Marvin R-M for details. MDS has work for everyone and travel costs and meals are covered by MDS/CMF. Winter Clothes Collection for Community Meal Attendees (note date change) I am collecting clothes for the attendees of Community Meal on December 22. I am hoping to have enough so that each person will be able to receive one or two items to stay warm in the cold winter. New or gently used items to donate: hats, gloves, mittens, coats, sweaters and socks. Last day to donate is December 13. If you don't have clothes to donate you could also write a check to my mom, Judy VH, and she will shop for the clothes. Thank you! --Matthew B

7 As an outgrowth of our February Peace Sunday service the Peace, Justice, Outreach, Service committee has been looking for ways to do more towards addressing racial justice issues. One of the speakers on that Sunday, Al Gerhardstein, suggested a few actions the congregation could take. One of the suggestions was to work with a Cincinnati Union Bethel program called Off the Streets. Off the Streets assists women involved in prostitution move towards safety, recovery, empowerment and community reintegration. PJOS committee did decide to make a financial contribution to this organization. A fundraiser in which you might be interested in attending and be able to contribute directly to benefit the Off the Streets program is a s follows: -Friday, December 4 there is a concert at Christ Church Cathedral (318 E. 4th St) at 7pm featuring soloist Susan Emerson. A love offering will be taken to benefit Cincinnati Union Bethel and the Off the Streets program. Mennonite Arts Weekend, 2016, a note on CMF registration. As a member of CMF you are entitled to a special rate. Your special registration rate is only to pay for the meals that are involved. Therefore, your registration form is only available at church and not online. There will be registration forms for you in the foyer.

8 PRAYERS FOR FAITH AND LEARNING Give thanks for the Thanksgiving weekend and time spent with loved ones. Pray for safe travel for students and their families returning to school or home today. PRAYERS FOR THE MENNONITE MISSION NETWORK Jason Boone of Mennonite Mission Network s Peace and Justice Support Network requests prayer for soldiers experiencing pain of moral injury as a result of what they have done or seen in combat. Pray for Jesus peace in their lives as Mennonites share from our deep history of peacemaking. Book Club will meet on Sunday, January 3 after church at the home of Steve & Judy H. The book to be discussed is "The Boys in the Boat" by Daniel James Brown. Please bring a dish to share. Journey Groups Contact information available through the office for all facilitators. Art and Spirituality : Contact Violet S with interest Women s Spiritual Journey : Contact Facilitator Judy H with interest Women s Corner : Group Facilitator Kristen L; please contact her to be added to list or with questions. Playdates Coordinator: Becca S we have a regular play group for babies & preschool-aged kids that meets at Jane P's house on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month from 9am - 11:30am. Questions? Contact Becca or Jane. Men s Group: Meets every third Saturday of each month--all men are welcome. Coordinator: Jim M. If interested and not on Jim s list, please ask to be added. Watch for location. Jim would appreciate a headcount midweek prior to the Breakfast. Time is 7:30am -??? Vita Pontis: Initial contact Scott and Allison T meeting coordination shared among members Bible Study: Contact Facilitator Linn S with interest Youth Group: coordinators: Scott and Allison T, Heidi S 4229 Brownway Avenue Cincinnati, OH office@cincinnatimennonite.org Renee Kanagy, Pastor (cell) reneekanagy@cincinnatimennonite.org Office hours: Tuesday - Friday 9 to 4 unless something prevents Violet Sears, Office Administrator, is in the office, 9am-3pm on Tuesdays and Fridays unless something prevents or the work is done Church office located in Peace House at 3046 Minot Avenue, First Floor Services are recorded and available to be checked out; Sermons are posted online