May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

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1 November 29, 2015 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 1 Thessalonians 3: East Park Street Arthur, Illinois arthurmennonite.org

2 Today s Worship Celebration 10:30 am Sunday, November 29, 2015 Worship Leader: Nadine Miller Song Leader: Erica Schrock Message: Ashley Litwiller Prelude Singing begins at 10:20 *indicates those who are able may stand Gathering as a Christ-Centered Community *Gathering Song: Hambi Nathi Welcome & Congregational Information Call To Worship: In this Advent Season from Psalm 25 Opening Prayer Praising and Worshiping God Children s Time We Worship God by Presenting our Tithes & Offerings *With Voices He Has Given Us: Blue #271 Standing on the Promises Blue #398 Fill My Cup Lord Blue #353 Lord, Listen to Your Children Intercessory Prayer - Jeff Marner Hearing God s Word Song of Worship: In the Calm Scripture Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Luke 21:25-36 Advent Sermon Series: Promise & Patience Message: The Waiting Game 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 Sending Forth in the Power of the Holy Spirit *Prayer of Response & Sending *Sending Song: Peace Before Us Come forward for prayer following the service for anything in your life that you would like prayer for. A minister will be at the front of the sanctuary to pray with you. Have a great week!

3 Growing Together in Christ Daily Bible Readings for Growth Nov Ezekiel 37-39, 2 Peter 2 Dec. 1 - Ezekiel 40-41, 2 Peter 3 Dec. 2 - Ezekiel 42-44, 1 John 1 Dec. 3 - Ezekiel 45-46, 1 John 2 Dec. 4 - Ezekiel 47-48, 1 John 3 Dec. 5 - Daniel 1-2, 1 John 4 Dec. 6 - Daniel 3-4, 1 John 5 November Benchmarks for Growing in Christ Various ways to focus our spiritual growth on worship: Worship with reverence Worship with adoration Worship with fascination Worship with admiration of the attributes of God Worship Christ with Awe Welcome to AMC! If you are a guest we look forward to meeting you and invite you back next Sunday. Information about AMC is available in the literature rack near the north doors. For more information check out our website at arthurmennonite.org. Children are welcome in the service and buddy bags are in the foyer for their use. We also have a nursery for children 5 and under in the east basement. Christian Education Begins at 9:30 a.m. Children: Ages 2-5 and Grades 1-5 West Basement Youth: Adults: FH: Christian Community Room 1: Genesis Room 5: Variety of Lessons Feel free to grab a cup of coffee before you head to class! Personal Worship Notes Use this space to write down things that encourage you, inspire you, or speak to you during the Worship Celebration.

4 Outreach Our Relationships with the World Sign Up If you would like to purchase a poinsettia in honor of a loved one that will beatify the sanctuary for Christmas you can sign up on the C.L. board. This year the poinsettias will be either pink or white and will have purple foil. They are $12 each. Please put your money in the secretary s mailbox when you sign up. To Begin In late January or early February Glen Rhodes will be leading a Sunday morning Christian Discipleship class for 6-8 weeks. This will be for all those interested in baptism, church membership, or anyone wanting to learn more about Christian/Mennonite faith. If you are interested in being a part of this class please talk to Glen soon so that materials and preparations can be made. Holiday Decorating Thank You! Thank you to all that helped get AMC decorated for the Christmas holiday. Everything looks beautiful and your work is greatly appreciated! Christmas Choir Practice Wednesday Christmas Choir practice has started but it is not too late to join! The next practice is on Wednesday, Dec. 2nd at 6 p.m. The choir will sing during the Christmas Worship Celebration on Dec. 20th and possibly that evening at the AMC Christmas program. Nov. 29th No Youth Dec. 6th Trunk: Super-Sized Love 6 p.m. Snack: Kayla Looking Ahead Dec. 13th White Elephant Christmas Party Dec. 20th Christmas Program Be here at 5 p.m.

5 Keeping Up with AMC Lela Reynolds has a new address. It is 504 W. Walnut in Arthur. Mike and CJ Yoder have a new baby boy. Ryker Eli Maddox was born Nov. 19th. The rose on the altar this morning is to celebrate his birth. Congratulations! The December issue of Missional Crossroads is on the table in the foyer near the North doors and you are welcome to take a copy! Henry Herschberger will celebrate his 91st birthday on Tuesday. Birthdays This Week Today DuWayne Miller Tues. Henry Herschberger Wed. Colton Weber Jake Chupp Thurs. Sandy Snyder Sat. Austin Kauffman Kendall Schrock Waylon Miller Anniversaries This Week Today Delmar & Linda Schrock Tues. Ray & Sherrill Shunk Tues. Elmer & Kim Miller Community Life GDCC Response Forms Due Today Dec. 13th Christmas Program Dec. 20th The Gift Discernment Coordinating Committee (GDCC) placed a letter in church member s mailboxes recently with the proposed Ministry Team and Commission roles for Response forms are due today! If you need an extra copy they can be found next to the box in the foyer. We will have our final congregational meeting of the year at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13th. At the meeting we will discuss and affirm the budget for We will also hear from the various commissions. Come to the meeting and stay up to date on all that is going on at AMC. The AMC Christmas program will be Sunday, Dec. 20th at 6 p.m. We will gather after the program for fellowship and to share finger foods. Bring something to share and come and enjoy a fun celebration of Christmas through music.

6 Discipling Growing in our Relationship with Jesus Sermon Notes On AMC Web Site Notes that appear on the screen during sermons can be referenced later on the AMC website. To access them go to the Resources tab and select Sermons. Then click on the icon under the heading Notes for the Sunday you would like to refer back to. Administration Developing & Coordinating our Relationships Proposed Budget In Mailboxes Last Week Offering Today The Administration Commission placed proposed 2016 budget in mailboxes last week. The budget will be discussed and affirmed at the congregational meeting on Dec. 13th. If you have questions please talk to a member of the Administration Commission. The Administration Commission has designated today s fifth Sunday offering to go the elevator/ lift fund. After it is installed, the elevator/lift will allow better access to the fellowship hall and east basement. Last Sunday Attendance Worship Celebration 137 Christian Education 57 Offering General Offering $3,218 Designations: Elevator/Lift Fund $300 Office Supplies $50 Budget Goal $4,370 Year-to-Date Progress -1% October Primary Dept. Mission Offering $26.09 Nursery Reminders Today: Lamar & Karen Miller Dec. 6: Linda & Michelle Schrock Reminders Arthur Home Service. - Dec. 27th Led by Room 1 C.E. Class Visitor of the Week: Lela R. Fellowship Meal - January 3rd Gary & Ashley Miller Virgil & Sondra Gingerich Kenny & Lelia Miller Delilah England Peter Kauffman Community Meal Helpers Dec. 9-2:00-4:30 p.m. Phyllis K. & Lela R. Dec. 9-4:30-7:00 p.m. Karen Litteral Homebuilders - December Cliff & Deb Kauffman

7 Our Vision at Arthur Mennonite By 2017, Arthur Mennonite Church will be actively transforming believers into more spiritually empowered disciples of Christ. Through a maturing faith well grounded in God s word and spiritual practices, we will prepare ourselves for all opportunities and leave nothing to chance as we grow in our relationship with our Creator and the church body, and toward the expansion of Christ s kingdom into the world. Wo r s h i p Our Relationship with Jesus Advent Series Starts Today! Promise & Patience! That is our AMC Advent Theme for 2015 which begins today on this first Sunday of Advent. God promises us many things in scripture, including the birth of Jesus our savior and his eventual return. Those promises are often connected with the fruit of patience. During this season of Advent we will explore scriptures that hold the promises of God and how we as his people await those to be fulfilled. Prayers for our Church & Community Ed Yoder (Katie Ann s son, in the hospital recently) Dick Storm (Healing, now at Arthur Home) Larry Beachy (Healing, came home from St. Louis this week) Edward Kauffman (Gary s father, heart surgery on Dec. 7) Ray Shunk (Healing, now living at Eberhardt Village in Arthur) Mike and CJ Yoder (Welcomed a new baby recently) Nancy Kuhns (Healing from knee replacement surgery) Kara Kuhns (Willis & Dee s daughter-in-law, cancer treatments) Prayers for our World Those effected by recent terrorist attacks around world. Those who need to know Jesus as their Savior. Refugee crisis in Middle East and Europe. Illinois state budget crisis. U.S. Presidential election process. Wars and ongoing unrest in the Middle East. All Missionaries in this country and around the world

8 Church Calendar Today 9:30 a.m. Christian Education 10:30 a.m. Worship Celebration No Youth Wed., Dec. 2 6:00 p.m. Christmas Choir Practice Thurs., Dec. 3 All Day WMSC Quilting 7:00 p.m. Life Group: Explore the Bible Sun., Dec. 6 9:30 a.m. Christian Education 10:30 a.m. Worship Celebration 6:00 p.m. Youth Future Events Congregational Meeting ~ December 13th Just for fun AMC was represented in the Arthur Lighted Christmas Parade last weekend. Larry Kauffman spearheaded the float preparations this year. Thanks Larry! Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. Latest survey shows that three out of four people make up 75 percent of the world s population. (Get it?) It was recently discovered that research causes cancer in rats. 710 E. Park, Arthur, IL Arthur Mennonite Church arthurmennonite@gmail.com Website: arthurmennonite.org IL Conference Website: illinois.mennonite.net Administrative Assistant: Melissa Schrock Ministers: All of Jesus followers here at Arthur Mennonite Ministry Team Members Cell Phone Address Worship/Youth: Ashley Litwiller ashlit234@gmail.com Outreach: Jeff Marner wookiee_77@hotmail.com Discipling/Community Life: Glen Rhodes glenr68@gmail.com Administration: Lamar Miller lmillerpm1@yahoo.com