Worship Service Bulletin for Sunday December 17, 2006.

Return to the Bulletin Archive page.

In January 2003, we started doing a scripture recitation during the Sunday worship service. We use the same scripture for each Sunday in the month. Click here for this month's scripture recitation text which is Philippians 1:9-11 Links to the text for previous months are found on the scripture recitation page.

December 17, 2006

GATHERING
Prelude: Advent Congregational Singing
Announcements
Opening words
1: From the darkness we seek freedom.
2: From the darkness we seek love.
ALL: From the darkness we seek God.
1: When will we come out of the dark?
2: When will we find freedom and love?
ALL: When will we find God?
1: The Lord, your God, is in your midst;
you shall fear disaster no more.
2: The Lord, your God, is in your midst;
do not let your hands grow weak.
ALL: The Lord, your God, is in your midst;
God will renew you in his love.
1: Now look for the freedom.
2: Now look for the love.
ALL: Now look for God.
Invocation

PRAISING GOD
December Scripture Recitation, Philippians 1:9-11
O come, all ye faithful HWB 212
My soul is filled with joy STJ 13
Parent-Child Dedication: Bethany Grace Mast
Special Music: Welcome to our world

HEARING GOD’S WORD
Old Testament Reading, Zephaniah 3:14-20
Hark! the glad sound HWB 184
Children’s Lesson
Gospel Reading Luke 3:7-18
Sermon “Love Frees From Fear”

RESPONDING TO THE WORD
Don't be afraid STJ 105
Lighting of the Advent Candle
1: We wait in fear, anguished and alone, yearning for comfort and joy.
2: We long for the gift of love that will deliver us from fear.
1: Sing praises to the Lord, for the Lord has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth.
1,2: Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
ALL: for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
The Lord is my light STJ 97
Celebrations and Concerns
Offering with Offertory

SENDING
Benediction
Joy to the world HWB 318

Sermon: Clyde G. Kratz
Worship Leader: Deb King
Children’s Lesson: Doug Nyce
Music Leader: Dave Yutzy
OT Scripture Reader: Becky Brenneman
Gospel Readers: Barbara Risser, Aaron Yutzy
Greeters: Arnie & Penny Driediger
Offertory: Jonathan Bryant

My soul is filled with joy: flute accompaniment - Maria Driediger; soloist - Jessica Myers
Welcome to our world (written by Chris Rice): soloist - Maria Yoder

Thanks to all musicians that contributed to this morning's worship service!

Welcome to all who join us for worship today. May you experience God’s peace and joy as we worship and fellowship together. If you are a visitor with us, we invite you to fill out a visitor card found on the back of the pew so that we may know you better. Please place the visitor card in the offering basket or hand it to one of the ushers.

Zion Mennonite Church Ministries

Zion Mennonite Church Ministry Assignments

Attendance & Offering for Sunday, December 10, 2006
Worship: 228
Offering: $ 5,179
Offering YTD: $ 239,951
Amount to go: $ 49,777

Ministry Assignments for Sunday, December 24, 2006
Sermon: "Love Promises the Kingdom" by Aaron Kauffman
Worship Planners: Kathy Alderfer, Anna Dintaman, Valerie Helbert, Matt Hunsberger, Deb King
Greeters: Dave & Cheryl Lantz
CHILDREN'S LESSON

Ministry Assignments for Sunday, December 31, 2006
Sermon: "Love Produces Growth" by Steve Dintaman
Worship Planners: Kathy Alderfer, Anna Dintaman, Valerie Helbert, Matt Hunsberger, Deb King
Greeters: Dave & Cheryl Lantz
CHILDREN'S LESSON

This week in your prayers for our church, try echoing Jesus’ great prayer for his beloved ones in John 17:


• that we all would be protected by “the power of Your name” (v. 11),


• that each one would have “the full measure of My joy” (v. 13),


• that members would be “sanctified by the truth” (v. 17),


• that we would be in “complete unity” (v. 2).



• Pray for God’s comforting presence for Carl Dintaman, who is approaching death, and for the Dintaman family during this time.



Prayer concerns may be sent to: zionprayerroom@aol.com.

SHEKINAH, a 9-member female a cappella group from the Harrisonburg area, will present a Christmas Concert at 7 this evening at Park View Mennonite Church. There is no charge for admission; a free will offering will be taken during intermission.

SHENANDOAH VALLEY CHORAL SOCIETY presents its annual Christmas concert at 7:30 this evening at Bridgewater Church of the Brethren. The program will feature settings of “Gloria” by Vivaldi & by Rutter, as well as many Christmas carols. Tickets ($10 for adults, $9 for seniors & students) are available from Choral Society members (Dwayne Hartman & Audrey Shenk).

TREAT YOURSELF TO DOVETAIL. A presentation of the Christmas play, DoveTale, by Ted & Lee & Ingrid will show on December 19 & 20 at 7:30 p.m. at EMHS Auditorium. General seating tickets are available at the door or reserve your seats by calling 564-0210. Ticket prices are $10/adult & $8/students & seniors. A $5 JrMYF & MYF group rate is available by calling 833-6710.

HOST FAMILY NEEDED. The Intensive English Program at EMU needs a host family for a young man from Palestine (Gaza) for the Spring Semester, from January 4 to April 27. Host families provide lodging, breakfast & dinner, transportation to & from EMU, and social interaction for students. For more information, call 432-4059 or e-mail iep@emu.edu.

EMU FITNESS CENTER HOLIDAY SPECIAL: EMU Fitness Center offers the following holiday special:

MCC’S SERVING AND LEARNING TOGETHER (SALT) is an 11-month program for Christians, ages 18 to 27, interested in a cross-cultural service experience. The primary goal is a personal transformation & learning in hope of sowing seeds for future transformation of our own society & of global relationships. For more information check out www.mcc.org/salt.

TIS THE SEASON...FOR GIFT-WRAPPING! Gift-wrappers are needed at Rockingham Co-op during the holiday season. Income from this project benefits Patchwork Pantry. Volunteers are needed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m, beginning November 24 & 25, each Friday & Saturday through December 23, and for each day of the final week before Christmas, December 18-22. Two adults are needed for each time slot. Training will be provided. Contact Carmen Wyse (434-0915 or family@waynegehman.com) to reserve your gift-wrapping hours!

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN for "Places, People, & Prayers: 2007," a Middle East study tour offered by Eastern Mennonite Seminary from May 4—26, 2007. Visit: www.emu.edu/seminary/crosscultural/.

“LIVE THE CALL! ¡VIVE EL ILLAMADO!” is the Mennonite Church USA convention theme for San José 2007. Plan now to attend, July 2—7, 2007. Look for registration materials in December! And watch for updates on the Web at www.SanJose2007.org.

MUSICAL GIFT IDEA: Give a gift that keeps giving with music that sets the heart singing. Singing in the Spirit is a new 28-song 2-CD reissue of camp-meeting songs, spirituals, & folk tunes celebrating a diverse spiritual heritage, a 12-voice men’s ensemble from the long-running Mennonite Hour radio broadcast. For more information or to order, call 800-999-3534, or go online to www.mennomedia.org/resources after December 1.