WALK In LOVE ACTIONS TRUTH. Dear children, let us not LOVE with words or tongue but with. and in. March 23, I John 3:18

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1 March 23, 2014 We welcome all who have come to worship today. Let s encourage each other in our walk with the Lord and give Him thanks for all things. Prelude Call to Worship Church Life Worship in Giving Eternal Life Forever The Love of God - Hymn #83 Pastor Brent Kristen McGuire Choir WALK In LOVE Scripture Reading Romans 12:9-21 Erwin Bartel Worship in Song They ll Know We Are Christians - Hymn #440 Though I May Speak with Bravest Fire - Hymn #533 Love, Take Me Over Message Truth Walk: Walking in Love Pastor Pat I John 3:11-24 Closing Song I Love You, Lord Each week following our worship service, there will be a prayer couple in the prayer area near the organ to pray for any needs or concerns that you may have. FOR THE CHILDREN - Nursery is available for children under 4 years old. Children s Church is available each Sunday morning for children 4 years old through 3rd grade. Watch the screen for dismissal time. NURSERY workers for today are Ashley Toews and Molly Enns. Workers for next Sunday, March 30, are Sue Frantz and Elizabeth Wilson. ACTIVITIES TODAY 5:00 PM FUEL COMMUNITY YOUTH EVENT High School Youth meet at the Congregational Church for a community youth event with deep pit dinner and activities. Dear children, let us not LOVE with words or tongue but with ACTIONS and in TRUTH I John 3:18 SHAFTER MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH 400 Kern St., Shafter, CA 93263

2 THIS WEEK /Friday Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday Thursday Thursday Aerobics - 8:30 AM Prayer for Our Church - 8:30 AM MDS Alaska Service Meeting - 7:00 PM Volleyball - 7:00 PM Newsletter Deadline Men s Prayer - 6:00 AM Community Bible Valley Bible - 10:00 AM Deacons to Carrington - 6:20 PM Meal (Chicken Enchilada Casserole) - 5:30 PM AWANA Double Points & Shares Night - 6:25 PM HiLife (Jr. Hi) - 6:30 PM Adult Choir Rehearsal - 7:00 PM Men s Morning Bible Study at Firehouse - 7:00 AM Truth Ministries - 7:00 PM NEWSLETTER DEADLINE All announcements and articles for the April SMBC Newsletter are due in the church office by tomorrow. THINGS TO COME MARCH Concert of Prayer 30 Mennonite Men s Chorus Concert at Laurelglen Bible Church 30 NiteTimer s I Bible Study 31 Peppernut Baking & Pizza Supper APRIL 1 Church Council Meeting 1 Cookie Baking for MCC Sale 3 West Coast MCC Relief Sale & Auction at FPU 4-5 Mennonite Men s Chorus Concert at Reedley MB 5 Robbie Cronin, Guest Speaker 6 Mennonite Men s Chorus Concert at Riverpark Bible Church, Fresno 6 Palm Sunday 13 Easter Break - No School No Meal, Awana or HiLife 16 Easter Sunday 20 High School Missions Trip to Los Angeles Sunday Schedule Telephone Numbers Koffee Klatch 9:00-9:20 AM Church Office Sunday School 9:30-10:40 AM Information Line Worship Service 10:50-12:00 PM Fax Youth Group 7:00-8:30 PM Kiddie Kollege smbc@shaftermb.org Website - Patrick Coyle - Senior Pastor Brent Cummings - Youth Pastor VISION STATEMENT To build the body of Christ at Shafter MB Church by equipping people for Christ-like maturity and for reaching unbelievers in our community, nation and world. VBS Weird Animals VBS is just a few months away - June 16th-20th! If you are interested in helping out, there will be a sign-up sheet in the foyer today. We are looking for adults and teens (Jr. & Sr. High) who would like to have a fun-filled week working with kids. Debbe and Cheryl will also be available to answer any questions you might have. MDS ALASKA SERVICE OPPORTUNITY An informational meeting will be held tomorrow at 7pm in the Fellowship Center dining room. Come if you are interested in this Mennonite Disaster Service project. CONCERT OF PRAYER Join us next Sunday, March 30, for a Concert of Prayer during the Sunday School hour from 9:30-10:30 am in the Fellowship Center. Come experience a great time of worship and prayer. HARTLAND CHRISTIAN SUMMER CAMP The deadline to sign up for Summer Camp is next Sunday, March 30. Camp sign-up forms are available in the foyer and church office. Cost of camp is $365. A $35 deposit is due at time of sign-up. Camp Dates: Junior Camp - July 6-11; Jr. High Camp - July 13-18; High School Camp - July 27- August 1. Questions? See Pastor Brent. SUMMER MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY Are you a college student looking for a ministry opportunity here at home? Applications are now being accepted for SMBC's Summer Intern program. If you'd like more information, please contact either Pastor Pat or Pastor Brent. Applications are due by March 26 for this summer's openings. DISCOVERING SMBC Would you like to learn more about SMBC? Are you considering baptism and church membership? Then this class is for you! Discovering SMBC is a 5 week class that will begin on Sunday, April 13 during the Sunday School hour. If you are interested in attending the class please write DSMBC on your blue Welcome card or call the church office. CHILD DEDICATION We will be having Child Dedication on Sunday, April 27, during the morning Worship Service. If you would like to have your child/children dedicated on that Sunday please contact the church office by April 22. FLOWERS were placed in the sanctuary today by Doris Unruh in loving memory of husband Elmer Unruh, daughter Shirley Carlton, and grandson Jerry. A special thanks to the church family for the prayers, love, visits, calls, cards and food at the loss of Jerry, beloved grandson. Friends were praying for the service that God would be glorified and people would turn their lives over to Him, thank you Brent. Doris Unruh and family

3 MORE NEWS Piano Recital You are invited to come hear Cris Starrh make beautiful music on the ivory keys of a 7 Steinway grand piano at her 40 minute piano recital this Thursday, March 27, at 7:30 p.m. at the Kern Piano Mall s Piano Expo (6200 Lake Ming Rd in Bakersfield). Admission is free and refreshments will be served afterwards. THANK YOU To My Church Family Members, "How Can I give Thanks" and express my gratitude to my Church family 'for all the things You have done for me' in the past few weeks. Things so undeserved, your love shown by the cards, calls and especially the prayers. By giving the Glory to God and a Praying Church Family. "TO GOD BE THE GLORY. Gwendolynne Reimer Nursery Help Needed! Minerva Salinas, our hired Nursery worker, is expecting a baby in March and will be out for the next two months. We are very thankful for the wonderful adult and youth volunteers who help Minerva care for our little ones each week! In her absence, we will need an additional adult helper each Sunday in March and April during the Sunday School hour and Worship Service. If you are not already on the schedule for those two months and would like to spend a morning playing with babies and toddlers, please consider serving our church in this way! Contact Toni Frantz at to sign up for a morning. Thank you! Mission Opportunity Craig and Debbe Haley will be returning to Kalibo, Philippines in July. You can help them bless people there by collecting the following items to take: *Hotel soaps, shampoos, *Old calendars and greeting cards (for the pictures), *Odds & ends of scrapbooking paper, stickers, jewels, etc. You can put these items in the box in the foyer any time between now and July 15th. Want to use your hands to help? Each night in March, you can stop by the Haley home at 264 Oak Ct. between 4 and 8 pm to help make simple posters using the translated Scripture verses. Come and go as you can, work for 30 minutes or a few hours...your choice. It's also a good time to bring supplies to donate. If you can use glue, you have all the skill you need to help! The West Coast Mennonite Men s Chorus is comprised of nearly 200 men from the Mennonite Brethren Churches of the West coast including several men from SMBC. The concerts are free, with opportunity to give to the Mennonite Central Committee world relief efforts. Concert Schedule: March 30, 6 PM, Laurelglen Bible Church; April 5, 7 PM, Reedley MB Church, Reedley; April 6, 6 PM, Riverpark Bible Church, Fresno; May 4, 6 PM, Calvary Chapel, Visalia; May 18, 5 PM, Solid Ground Church, Rancho Cucamonga. Please see other side for even more news... The 47th MCC Relief Sale & Auction is April 5 & 6 at. Come enjoy two fun days packed with all kinds of fun events, delicious Mennonite food and opportunities to buy homemade items, with all proceeds to benefit Mennonite Central Committee, which provides relief, development and peace in the name of Christ. Plan on bringing the whole family! See today s insert for all the details. There are many areas to volunteer your time and talents to help make the Sale a success. Contact ,or westcoast@mcc.org. Mennonites in the Soviet Union is the topic of a lecture series by Dr. Andrej Savin on Thursday, March 27 & Saturday, March 29 at Fresno Pacific University. Dr. Savin is a Senior Researcher for the Institute of History, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The lectures are free. For more information pick up a flyer in the church foyer. An Evening with Rev. and Mrs. Menno Simons A unique, dramatic Evening with Rev. and Mrs. Menno Simons, with Gerald Brunk of Eastern Mennonite University as Menno Simons and Julia Reimer of as Geertruydt (Mrs.) Simons, is coming on Sunday, March 30, from 7-9 p.m. at the Butler Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church in Fresno (4884 East Butler Avenue). Menno Simons is the 16 th century Dutch reformer after whom Mennonites are named. The evening is sponsored by the Council of Senior Professionals of and Biblical Seminary, together with several co-sponsors. Admission is free. Teen Challenge invites all ladies to the Ladies Guild Luncheon on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at Olive Knolls Church, 6201 Fruitvale Ave., Bakersfield. The Virtuous Woman is the theme for this year s event, with guest speaker Jean Chapman. There will also be Boutique Shopping opportunities and drawings. Doors open at 9:00 am with lunch served at 11:30 am. $20 per person or $140 for a table of 8 (reserved assigned seating, adults only). For tickets or information call All proceeds benefit Kern County Teen Challenge. - June 6-8, 2014 Hartland Christian Camp invites dads and their sons and/or daughters to get away for the weekend of fun in the great outdoors. It s a great way to get some quality time with your kids, talk on a deeper level, and create lifelong memories. Register online at or call

4 Our Praise & Petitions March 23, 2014 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Our Praise & Petitions March 23, 2014 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Because You Prayed: Gwen Reimer is doing much better (bronchial asthma) and our many summer ministry plans are coming along well (Proverbs 16:3, 9)! Health Needs: Continue to pray for Robert Wohl (aorta surgery, rehab) and Neal Wood (severe anxiety issues) as they are cared for (Psalm 145:10-13). Church Life and Ministries: Remember the Deacon Board as they meet this week as well as our many shut-in members in Shafter and Bakersfield (Acts 6:1-7). Community, National and International Concerns: Lift up the ongoing search for Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 and the grieving family members of those aboard (John 3:16). MB MISSION *Church Prayer Bulletin* S & B are serving with MB Mission in a restricted part of Central Asia. Please pray for them and their team as they establish a business in their city and reach out to students with the Gospel (Proverbs 11:10). Because You Prayed: Gwen Reimer is doing much better (bronchial asthma) and our many summer ministry plans are coming along well (Proverbs 16:3, 9)! Health Needs: Continue to pray for Robert Wohl (aorta surgery, rehab) and Neal Wood (severe anxiety issues) as they are cared for (Psalm 145:10-13). Church Life and Ministries: Remember the Deacon Board as they meet this week as well as our many shut-in members in Shafter and Bakersfield (Acts 6:1-7). Community, National and International Concerns: Lift up the ongoing search for Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 and the grieving family members of those aboard (John 3:16). MB MISSION *Church Prayer Bulletin* S & B are serving with MB Mission in a restricted part of Central Asia. Please pray for them and their team as they establish a business in their city and reach out to students with the Gospel (Proverbs 11:10).

5 WORSHIP SONGS March 23, 2014 FOREVER Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King, For He is good, He is above all things, Sing praise, sing praise. With a mighty hand and out-stretched arm, For the life that s been reborn, Sing praise, sing praise, Sing praise, sing praise. Chorus Forever God is faithful, Forever God is strong, Forever God is with us, forever, forever (chorus) From the rising to the setting sun. And by the grace of God we will carry on, Sing praise, sing praise, Sing praise, sing praise. (chorus x 2) W/M Chris Tomlin, C. 2001, worshiptogether.com Songs/Six Steps Music, EMI Christian Music Publishing, UBP, CCLI # THE LOVE OF GOD - Hymn #83 THEY LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS - Hymn #440 LOVE, TAKE ME OVER Love, take these words that I m speaking Love, take these thoughts that I m thinking Love, take me over Love, fill up all of my space and Love, stand right here in my place Love, hear this prayer that I m praying Love, take these words that I m speaking Love, take these thoughts that I m thinking Love, take me over Love, fill up all of my space and Love, stand right here in my place Love, hear this prayer that I m praying Love, take everything that I m doing Love, like a river flow through me Love, take me over Love, fill up all of my space and Love, stand right here in my place Love, hear this prayer that I m praying Love, take me love take me over W/M by Steven Curtis Chapman, C One Blue Petal Music and Primary Wave Brian, UBP, CCLI # I LOVE YOU, LORD I love You Lord, and I lift my voice To worship You, O my soul rejoice. Take joy, my King, in what You hear May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear. W/M L. Klein, C. 1978, 1980 this arr. C. 1986, House of Mercy/Admin., Maranatha! Music, UBP, CCLI # THOUGH I MAY SPEAK WITH BRAVEST FIRE - Hymn #533 Worship Songs continued on other side

6 Announcing a special, dramatic performance. Announcing a special, dramatic performance. AN EVENING WITH REV. AND MRS. MENNO SIMONS (the 16 th century Dutch reformer after whom Mennonites are named) AN EVENING WITH REV. AND MRS. MENNO SIMONS (the 16 th century Dutch reformer after whom Mennonites are named) Gerald Brunk as Menno Simons Road to Decision Julia Reimer as Mrs. (Geertruydt) Simons Geertruydt: A Dramatic Monologue Sunday, March p.m. Butler Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church 4884 East Butler Avenue Fresno, CA Free Admission Gerald Brunk is Professor Emeritus of History at Eastern Mennonite University Julia Reimer is Faculty of Theater and Performance at Sponsored by the Council of Senior Professionals of Fresno Pacific University and Biblical Seminary, together with the University s Theater Department, California Mennonite Historical Society, Center for MB Studies, and Butler Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church. Gerald Brunk as Menno Simons Road to Decision Julia Reimer as Mrs. (Geertruydt) Simons Geertruydt: A Dramatic Monologue Sunday, March p.m. Butler Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church 4884 East Butler Avenue Fresno, CA Free Admission Gerald Brunk is Professor Emeritus of History at Eastern Mennonite University Julia Reimer is Faculty of Theater and Performance at Sponsored by the Council of Senior Professionals of Fresno Pacific University and Biblical Seminary, together with the University s Theater Department, California Mennonite Historical Society, Center for MB Studies, and Butler Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church.

7 California Mennonite Historical Society, Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies, and Council for Senior Professionals present Mennonites in the Soviet Union A lecture series by Dr. Andrej Savin, Russian Academy of Science March 27 & 29, S. Chestnut Avenue, Fresno, CA Thursday, March 27 3:00 5:00 p.m., Ashley Auditorium The Religious Policy of the Soviet State and Mennonites, In 1917 the Bolsheviks came to power in a multi-national and multiconfessional country, having announced a total war against religion. They were not aware of the complexity of the task and diversity of confessions and denominations which they wished to liquidate or marginalize in public life during their struggle for cultural hegemony. This lecture will examine the church policy of the Soviet state in respect to Mennonites and other protestant denominations from the 1920s to the 1980s. Respondent: Dr. Vyacheslav Tsvirinko,. 5:00-6:30 p.m.: Buffet Dinner, Aims Hall Atrium $7.00 a person. Reservations are required. Please contact Dalton Reimer at dreimer@fresno.edu or by Friday, March 21. 6:30 8:00 p.m., Ashley Auditorium The Ethnicization of Stalinism: German Operation of NKVD, In this lecture Savin will examine the question of whether the Stalinist repressive policies of the late 1930s changed from being directed to certain classes (kulaks) to certain enemy nations (ethnics). Saturday, March 29 7:00 p.m., Seminary Chapel Pacifists in a Military State: Mennonites and Conscription, Refusal from military service on religious grounds was fateful for Mennonites during their entire history, but it acquired very special significance for the Mennonites of Russia and Ukraine in the 1920 s and 1930 s. This lecture will analyze the state policy aimed at limiting the number of people eligible for exemption from military service on religious convictions, genesis of the legal basis for the alternative civil service in the Soviet state and the forms of civil service available to the pacifist believers in the late 1920 s and early 1930 s. Guest lecturer Dr. Andrej Savin is a Senior Researcher with the Institute of History, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. in history from Novosibirsk State University. He has published extensively on the history of evangelicals, Mennonites and Germans in the Soviet Union. California Mennonite Historical Society, Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies, and Council for Senior Professionals present Mennonites in the Soviet Union A lecture series by Dr. Andrej Savin, Russian Academy of Science March 27 & 29, S. Chestnut Avenue, Fresno, CA Thursday, March 27 3:00 5:00 p.m., Ashley Auditorium The Religious Policy of the Soviet State and Mennonites, In 1917 the Bolsheviks came to power in a multi-national and multiconfessional country, having announced a total war against religion. They were not aware of the complexity of the task and diversity of confessions and denominations which they wished to liquidate or marginalize in public life during their struggle for cultural hegemony. This lecture will examine the church policy of the Soviet state in respect to Mennonites and other protestant denominations from the 1920s to the 1980s. Respondent: Dr. Vyacheslav Tsvirinko,. 5:00-6:30 p.m.: Buffet Dinner, Aims Hall Atrium $7.00 a person. Reservations are required. Please contact Dalton Reimer at dreimer@fresno.edu or by Friday, March 21. 6:30 8:00 p.m., Ashley Auditorium The Ethnicization of Stalinism: German Operation of NKVD, In this lecture Savin will examine the question of whether the Stalinist repressive policies of the late 1930s changed from being directed to certain classes (kulaks) to certain enemy nations (ethnics). Saturday, March 29 7:00 p.m., Seminary Chapel Pacifists in a Military State: Mennonites and Conscription, Refusal from military service on religious grounds was fateful for Mennonites during their entire history, but it acquired very special significance for the Mennonites of Russia and Ukraine in the 1920 s and 1930 s. This lecture will analyze the state policy aimed at limiting the number of people eligible for exemption from military service on religious convictions, genesis of the legal basis for the alternative civil service in the Soviet state and the forms of civil service available to the pacifist believers in the late 1920 s and early 1930 s. Guest lecturer Dr. Andrej Savin is a Senior Researcher with the Institute of History, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. in history from Novosibirsk State University. He has published extensively on the history of evangelicals, Mennonites and Germans in the Soviet Union.