Gathering. Welcome (Visitors are invited to fill out a welcome card and place it in the offering basket.)

Transcription

1 February 21, 2016

2 Prelude Gathering Welcome (Visitors are invited to fill out a welcome card and place it in the offering basket.) Gathering Hymns When in our music God is glorified HWB 44, v. 1,2,4,5 Gentle God, when we are driven STS 71 Sharing in the Life of the Church* Invitation to Worship Scattered in front of the books that have formed us, are crumpled papers from our worship last week, with notes of what distracts us from worship. As we enter into worship, may the distractions fall from us like the crumpled papers. Passing the Peace Call to Worship Leader: This morning we gather to declare that The Lord is our light and our salvation. People: Each day we reach out to God for our strength. Whether in times of ease or in times of trouble, we seek the safety of God s shelter. Leader: Like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. People: Do not hide your face from us O God, draw your presence close around us. Leader: We will remain confident that People: we will see the goodness of God in our lives. Leader: Wait for the Lord. All: Be strong, take heart, and wait for the Lord. - Eleanor Bowman, meditation on Psalm 27 Praising Hymn The Lord is my light STJ 97 Old Testament Scripture Genesis 15:1-9,17-18 Offering Prayer Offering Bring books formative to your faith forward

3 Hearing Children s Time (Children ages 3 through 7 are excused to Children s Circle) Hymn I will come to you in the silence STS 49 Psalm Reading Psalm 27:4-14 Sermon Turning to Pages of Hope Pastor Renee Kanagy Responding Ritual of Response There will be a few minutes to reflect on where you find hope. Papers and pencils can be found in the pews to write or draw this hope. As we sing, Hope is a Candle, an invitation will be given to come forward and tuck your folded note(s) of hope into the books that have formed us. Song of Response Hope is a candle STS 15 v with accompaniment by Lucca Kauffman Sharing: introduction of guests, sharing joys and sorrows Prayers of the People Sending Sending Song Peace before us STS 16 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..this WEEK Tuesday, February 23 Community Meal (5-7pm) All are welcome!..next WEEK Sunday, February 28 Wednesday, March 2..COMING UP Sunday, March 13 Sunday, March 13 Youth Fundraiser Spud Bar after church until 2pm; sign up is in the lobby City Gospel Mission; desserts ready by 5pm Daylight Saving Time Begins CMF welcomes the Bluffton University Camerata Singers 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 In preparation for next week s service, you may wish to read Isaiah 55:1-9 and Luke 13:1-9. CONSTRUCTION REMINDER The women s restroom is now closed for remodeling. The formerly men s restroom is now a unisex restroom. Facilities has fixed the door, so that it will shut, and changed the door handle to be a locking door. The restroom may now be secured from the inside to prevent surprises. We will keep you updated as work progresses. Thank you for your patience. Lenten Retreat 9am 12pm Saturday, February 27, 2016 Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship Led by Pastor Renee Kanagy At this morning Lenten retreat, we will gather around a Lenten Gospel text in a conversation circle & in solitude. Hour One. Engage a specific scripture text together in a circle by reading, noticing, and asking questions. Copies of the text will be prepared for participants. Hour Two. The text reads us. Opening ourselves to experience the text through a time of quiet solitude moving beyond words to the heart. This will be a space for creative response. Art supplies will be provided. No artistic skill needed. Sitting or walking meditation also possible. Hour Three. We return to a circle to share how we experienced the text. Creative responses may be shared as well as revelations related to how we experience the text reading us. All offers to this circle will be voluntary. Questions? Contact Pastor Renee at reneekanagy@cincinnatimennonite.org Let the CMF office know you will attend office@cincinnatimennonite.org Continuing our racism/white privilege conversation, we will be welcoming speakers from Black Lives Matter on Sunday, February 28, to adult forum and for a one-hour session after lunch. Everyone is invited to attend forum at 9:30 am, stay for lunch after worship (options include the youth group Spud Bar fundraiser or packing your own lunch), and join in for another hour of presentation/discussion with Black Lives Matter beginning around 12:30.

6 Spud Bar Youth Fundraiser: Join us for a baked potato lunch following the service on February 28! The youth group will be preparing the meal and taking donations in order to fund our next MCUSA Convention trip in Please let us know how many in your family are attending by signing up in the lobby, and note any necessary accommodations (for children's meals, allergies, diet preferences, etc.). Thank you! A message from PJOS and IJPC The first gathering of RETHINKING RACISM, held on January 14th brought over 200 of us together and we hope to see that many or more at this event on March 3rd, Nationwide, communities are galvanizing and demanding institutions to address racism locally. In this spirit, the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission and Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center are partnering again to challenge organizations and individuals to make a commitment to addressing and ending racism, with an ongoing initiative entitled, Rethinking Racism. This second gathering will be held at New Thought Unity Center. Attendees will have the opportunity again to address their perceptions of modern day racism and participate in action based strategizing. Seating is limited. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP online at Eventbrite. Order tickets: aff=efbevent or RSVP by phone at CDC Regional Gathering at Emmaus Road Mennonite on March 5. You are warmly invited to a CDC Regional Gathering on Saturday, March 5 at Emmaus Road Mennonite Fellowship (Berne, Indiana) from 9:45-3:00. The day includes scripture and song, congregational sharing, a choice of sessions on the recent MCC sponsored Come and See Tour to Palestine/Israel or a discussion using the Human Sexuality study guide developed by Gerald and Carrie Mast. Our afternoon will end with a time of prayer. These gatherings give an opportunity for us to gather in another CDC church and to learn of the joys and challenges of other individuals and congregations, plus get up to date with what is going on in the conference and MC USA. Contact Carol Lehman if you are interested in going and would like to carpool. The Bluffton University's 31 voice Camerata Singers will join us in worship on Sunday, March 13, as part of their tour titled, "Songs of Praise and Love." See the sign-up sheet in the gathering area to host students Saturday night, March 12th. Bradley K-contact person. See the sign-up sheet in the gathering area for a church wide potluck hosting the choir for lunch following worship. Heidi S contact person. - Pastor Renee Kanagy

7 MCC Peace Gathering in Kidron Ohio: You are invited to join Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Great Lakes for an informative day of workshops, worship and dialogue on Saturday, April 16, The day will begin at 9:00 am with worship and end at 5:00pm. MCC U.S. staff will join other invited presenters in leading public workshops on immigration, gun violence/incarceration, Iran, School Bullying and Anti-oppression. Following the seminars, there will be a Q&A time with all the presenters. Lunch will be provided. The Peace Gathering will take place at Kidron Mennonite Church (3987 Co Hwy 52, Kidron, OH 44636). Please RSVP to Jorge Vielman, Peace & Justice Coordinator, at JorgeVielman@mcc.org or Registration for the Connecting Families East Retreat is now open. Visit bmclgbt.org/ connectingfamiliesconnecting Families -Connecting Families - East welcomes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people and their families and supporters. The weekend is intended to be a safe and relaxing time to share common thoughts regarding sexual minority issues as they affect families, friends and churches. Gratitude Journal for Lois Johns Kaufmann You are invited to offer a favorite scripture passage, prayer, blessing or word of thanks to Lois Johns Kaufmann for her eight (8) years of service to Central District Conference. You may write directly in the journal at one of our regional gatherings, or at the annual meeting in Columbus. You may also an entry to Lisa Weaver at weaverld70@gmail.com by June 1. Please write CDC Journal for Lois in the subject line. Entries received by will be printed out and included in the journal. The journal will be given to Lois at the conclusion of our annual meeting on June 25. In case you missed it. We are currently exploring the idea of organizing a once a month Wednesday evening gathering at CMF and are looking for ideas on how this might take shape. There could be a potluck during the time consisting of anything from snacks to dinner. The time would probably be around 6-9pm and people could come for a little bit or the entire time. We are interested in receiving feedback on what type of activities people might be interested in participating in or organizing, they could be games, crafts, cooking, or whatever. If you have input on any of the things mentioned above please contact either Neil W or Renee Kanagy as we are eager to proceed.

8 PRAYERS FOR FAITH AND LEARNING Pray for MEA as they try to fill job vacancies that affect their interactions and prayer links between the Mennonite Schools and Churches. PRAYERS FOR THE MENNONITE MISSION NETWORK Praise God for Margot and Stephen Longley s 30 years of ministry with Mennonite Mission Network, first in Nepal and now in Korpo, Finland. Margot s degenerative neurological condition is progressing more slowly than anticipated. Pray for continued health as the Longleys retire in Korpo. Book Club will meet on Sunday, March 6, after church at the home of Jim and Joy M. The book to be discussed is "And the Mountains Echoed" by Khaled Hosseini". Please bring a dish to share. Journey Groups Contact information available through the office for all facilitators. Art and Spirituality : Contact Violet Sears 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 Patty's house on the 1st and 3rd Monday 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