Sunday, December 17, 2017 Third Sunday of Advent Worship Service 10 am Worship Leader: Joanne Brown Speaker: Alicia Good Worship music: pianist Trina Konrad Hoekstra, cellists Chris Lajoie and Stephen McDowell Growing relationships, in Christ. NLUMC Vision Statement, 2011 Bring it on, God! Welcome and announcements Children s feature HWB #190, Twas in the moon of wintertime Call to worship Responsive reading and lighting of the Advent Candles (on screen) Opening prayer HWB #194, Away in a manger (3 different renditions with music intro before each) Offering with worship music Gesu Bambino Offertory prayer Worship music O Holy Night Scripture readings Isaiah 61:1-11, Psalm 126 Worship music Mary did you know STS #26, Helpless and hungry and HWB #215, What child is this Sermon Joy to the World HWB #318 Joy to the world Sharing time HWB #172, O come, O come, Immanuel, verses 1, 2 and 6 Benediction Sending blessing Worship music Go tell it on the Mountain Please join us for coffee and fellowship after the worship service. Today... 9 am, Choir practice for the Christmas morning worship service. Helga Enns will direct and Sandra Warkentin will accompany us. We d love to have you join us! 1
Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 24... 10 am, join us for worship as we continue in our Advent series: Bring it on, God! Pastor Jim will bring the message Bring it on!? 11 am, grades 1-8 Sunday school dress rehearsal in the sanctuary. 7 pm, the Sunday School brings the Christmas Eve service. Church Life... From Pastor Jim Loepp Thiessen I ll be in the area Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday this coming week. You are welcome to email me at: jim@nlumc.com. Christmas Bows The burgundy bows that have served us well for many years, need to find a new home. Help yourself to the bows. They are in the foyer. Whatever is left over will be donated to Thrift on Mill. Christmas Choir practice, Thursday, December 21, 7-8:15 pm. Children s Sunday School News Please bring your Sunday school children each Sunday to prepare for the Christmas Eve service. Rehearsal in basement from 10-11:10 am each Sunday. On Sunday, December 24 there will be a final dress rehearsal for grades 1-8 in the sanctuary from 11-11:30 am until adult coffee time is completed. There will be juice and a snack for the children between practice times. Children should arrive into their classroom on Sunday, December 24 by 6:20 pm and meet in the basement to prepare for the evening service. We are looking for teachers for our Grade 4/5/6 class. If you are available for the position, please contact June DeVries. Monday, December 25 Christmas Day Service 9 am, Christmas Choir practice. 10 am, Join us for worship as we celebrate the birth of Christ. Pastor Alicia will bring the message and the choir will join in worship. Faith Exploration Classes will begin Sunday, February 11, 2018, 8:45 am in the youth room. Contact Pastor Alicia if you would like more information. Notice from the Hospitality Committee Please pick up your dishes/plates/plastic containers from the church kitchen as soon as possible or they may be donated to Thrift on Mill. 2
Donations to NLUMC Setting up an automatic transfer is a convenient way to make regular donations to the church. If you would like to participate in this program, please contact Susan at the church office to complete the necessary paperwork and provide a void cheque. These donations will be processed on the 15 th of each month. NLUMC depends on your help to thrive. We are looking for the following volunteer positions: Longer term commitment positions: - Church Treasurer - 2 Sunday School teachers for the grade 4-6 class - 1 sound and AV operator (we will train you!) Please contact Pastors Alicia or Jim if you would like more information about any of these positions. Christmas Office Hours The church office will be open December 28 & 29, 9 am 12 noon. The church office will reopen January 3 at 9 am with regular office hours. The church office will be closed December 26 & 27 and January 2. Upcoming Event Sunday, December 31 10 am worship Community/Conference Events... The Innkeeper s Son, a community children s musical presented by Faith Mennonite Church in participation with The Bank Theatre tonight, 6:30 pm at Faith Mennonite Church, 269 Sherk Street. Written by Barry Bergen. Free will offering. Heritage Choir practice, Monday, December 18, 2:30 pm at the Leamington Mennonite Home. Essex Kent Mennonite Historical Association News Travelogues 7 pm at the Heritage Centre. Everyone welcome! Admission by donation. 1. Friday, January 12, 2018: Hawaii by Larry Burgess 2. Friday, January 26, 2018: Danube by Ken Enns The Long Road to Reformation & Beyond - Martin Luther to Menno Simons, Friday, February 9, 2018, 7 pm at the Heritage Center. Guest speaker: Glenn Sellick. 3
Silver Lake Mennonite Camp News Fathers and Kids Retreat: January 12-14, 2018 at Silver Lake Mennonite Camp. Don t miss out on this great winter experience! Skating on the lake, building snowmen and igloos, snowshoeing through the woods, roasting smore s over the campfire, playing board games and mini-sticks in the dining hall and watching Hockey Night in Canada on the big screen! Dad s enjoy some free-time on Saturday morning on the couches by the fire (newspapers and coffee will be in abundance) while our staff provide some outdoor programming with the kids. Sounds too good to be true we know, but that s the Fathers & Kids Retreat. NOTE: Father can be defined as any male adult role model or mentor. For more information and to register visit www.slmc.ca/retreats or call 519-422-3200. Women s Retreat: February 9-11, 2018 at Silver Lake Mennonite Camp. Relaxing in the new sauna, enjoying a massage, reading a book by the fire, snowshoeing or skiing through the woods, stargazing on a horse drawn sleigh ride and savouring exceptional food...those are just a few of things to look forward to at the Women s Retreat. Resource person is Tanya Dyck Steinmann. For more information and to register visit www.slmc.ca/retreats or call 519-422-3200. Mennonite Burial Society The Annual General Meeting of the Mennonite Burial Society will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at 2 pm in the auditorium at United Mennonite Home (Orchard View Apartments entrance) at 4020 Twenty Third Street in Vineland. Discussions to include levy rates and sustainability of society, revisions to constitution (for January 2019 AGM vote) regarding dissolution processes (if it happens in the future) and expanded eligibility of new members, etc. Board and committee positions are available. For further information, please contact Barry Boese, info@mennoniteburialsociety.com or 905-228- 1850. UMEI Christian High School News Raise the Roof. Through the generous donations of countless businesses and individuals at our Surf n Turf and Lightning Bolt Run, we were able to successfully Raise the Roof! Thank you to everyone who contributed to this - we are so thankful for your support. UMEI Autumn Campaign. Thank you to those who have already generously donated. To date we have received $44,305 which brings us up to 58% of our total goal of $76,000. Donations can be made online, by mail or dropped off at the school office. Leamington Mennonite Home News Our Home is grateful for the many gifts given this past year to support our ministry of eldercare. The volunteer and prayerful support, together with your 4
financial assistance have allowed us to provide exceptional care to our seniors and frail elderly. We thank our supporting Mennonite congregations with wishes for a Blessed Christmas! Employment Opportunity Summer Camps Coordinator. UMEI Christian High School is looking for a university student to coordinate the school s summer day camps; specifically Camp Explore U for grades 3-6 students as well as Rockets and Robotics for grades 4-8 students. The successful candidate will be proactive in planning and developing the three week-long camp programs. The position runs from May 28 August 3 and offers 30 hours/week. For more details contact Sonya Bedal at principal@umei.ca. See bulletin board for the following... Mennonite Disaster Service, November 30 update St. John s Anglican Church Christmas Dinner, December 25 Family Services, The Wellness Program, January 9, 16, 23, 30 MCC Christmas greetings See brochure rack for the following... Grebel Now, Fall 2017 Behind the Hammer, MDS, fall 2017 Youth... Youth remain in the worship service during December. Thinking about a unique option for after high school? Outtatown is a unique, one or two-semester certificate program of Canadian Mennonite University. It s an incredible year for recent high school grads looking to travel, serve others, learn more about God and the world, make lifelong friends, and experience once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Limited space is available so apply today! For more info: Outtatown.com. Photography and Media Policy North Leamington United Mennonite Church (NLUMC) takes photographs/videos of participants at various church services and events. NLUMC may use any photos/videos taken from any service and events for promoting, publicizing or 5
explaining NLUMC and its activities in the form of print, broadcast, website and social media, or in any manner deemed appropriate without prior notification to the participants. Photos could be used in these public forums without consideration and/or compensation. If church members/or participants consent to the use of their photo/or their child s photo to be included in any church broadcasts, they are asked to contact the church office and sign the appropriate Photography and Media Consent Form. The NLUMC Photography and Media Policy has been implemented to inform church participants that NLUMC is committed to a safe environment for all. Prayer List... Neighbouring Congregation Today area churches are praying for First Baptist Church and their pastors; Michael Sealy and Jason Peasley. Thank you to all who participated in Margaret Braun s celebration of life. Special thanks to pastors Alicia, Jim and Paul for leading us through this special time. Also thanks to Ruth Warkentin, Al Lehn, the kitchen staff, bakers, Martha Janzen and the Heritage Choir. The flowers, cards and food are also greatly appreciated. Thank you to Linda Tiessen and all the staff at the Leamington Mennonite Home for their loving care of our mother.... The family of Margaret Braun We invite you to let the church office know of any requests for visitation you might have by calling or emailing the church office, 519-326-7928 or office@nlumc.com, Tuesday, 9 am through Friday, 3 pm. In case of emergency, contact Pastor Alicia at 519-819-3772. Pastors (cell 519-819-3772)... Alicia Good... alicia@nlumc.com... Jim Loepp Thiessen... jim@nlumc.com Church Phone: 519-326-7928... Email: office@nlumc.com... Website: www.nlumc.com Facebook: North Leamington United Mennonite Church Office hours: Tuesday Friday, 9 am 3 pm 6