Worship Service Bulletin for Sunday December 31, 2006.

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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 31, 2006

GATHERING
Prelude: Advent Congregational Singing
Announcements
Opening words

1: We have found new life in Jesus.
2: We have found love.
ALL: We have found God.
1: When did we find new life in Jesus?
2: When did we find love?
ALL: When did we find God?
1: As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, we clothed ourselves with love.
2: As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, we let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.
ALL: As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, we did everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.
1: Now look to new life in Jesus.
2: Now look to love.
ALL: Now look to God.

Invocation

PRAISING GOD
December Scripture Recitation, Philippians 1:9-11
God is here among us HWB 16
O come, all ye faithful HWB 212
He came down STJ 31

HEARING GOD’S WORD
Old Testament Reading, I Samuel 2:18-20, 26
Teach me thy truth HWB 548
Children’s Lesson
Gospel Reading, Luke 2:41-52
Sermon “Love Produces Growth”

RESPONDING TO THE WORD
Longing for light STJ 54
Celebrations & Concerns
Offering
Jubilee Offering
Lighting of the Advent Candle

1: We waited in darkness.
2: We waited in shame.
1: We waited in fear.
2: We waited as outcasts,
1: despondent,
2: alone.
ALL: We waited for love.
1: Praise the Lord!
2: Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise God in the heights!
1: Praise God, all angels; praise God, the heavenly host!
ALL: For Christ is born and love lives among us.
1: We walk in the light,
2: redeemed,
1: joyful,
2: welcomed into God’s kingdom.
1: Praise God, sun and moon;
2: praise God, all you shining stars!
1, 2: Praise God, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
1: Let them praise the name of the Lord, for God commanded and they were created. God established them for ever and ever; God fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.
2: Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling God’s command!
1: Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!
2: Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!
1: Young men and women alike,
2: old and young together!
ALL: Let them praise the name of the Lord,
1: for God’s name alone is exalted;
2: God’s glory is above earth and heaven.
1: God has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful.
ALL: Praise the Lord!

Gloria HWB 204
Hark! the herald angels sing HWB 201

SENDING
Benediction
The Lord lift you up STJ 73

Sermon: Steve Dintaman
Worship Leader: Anna Dintaman
Children’s Lesson: Anne Juarez
Music Leaders: Dave & Deb King
OT Scripture Reader: Ben Bixler
Readers: Barbara Risser, Aaron Yutzy
Greeters: Dave & Cheryl Lantz
Thanks, musicians: Eric Brubaker, Matthew Hunsberger, Ed Gant.

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 24, 2006
Worship: 167
Offering: $ 8,796
Offering YTD: $ 264,767
Amount to go: $ 24,961

Ministry Assignments for Sunday, January 7, 2007
Sermon: "Love Reveals the Way" by Clyde G. Kratz
Worship Leader: Valerie Helbert
Music Leader: David Brenneman
Greeters: Diane Emswiler & Heather Vaccaro
CHILDREN'S LESSON

Ministry Assignments for Sunday, January 14, 2007
Sermon: Clyde G. Kratz
Worship Planners: Susan Stoltzfus, Dave & Jewel Yutzy
Greeters: Diane Emswiler & Heather Vaccaro

In our prayers this week, as a church,


• we thank God for his faithfulness in the past year;


• we ask for God to deepen our personal relationships with him in the coming year;


• we ask for his guidance as we build the visible and invisible church;


• we ask for his compassion to work through us in order to touch the world.


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

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.

“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.