Due to Social Distancing, this week’s service will be held online on Zoom

 

Gathering

Call to worship/prayer

Opening Song

     “They that wait upon the Lord’  WB # 584

Announcements

Good News in Outreach

 

Hearing the word

Children’s Story – Sara Weber

Scripture - Isaiah 40:27-31

Sermon “Strength”

 

Responding to the word

Hymn of response

     “I am the Bread of Life” v1,4,5  WB # 472

Sharing and prayer

Time of Offering

Theme Verse – Isaiah 40:31

 

Verse for 2020

But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31  NRSV

Mais ceux qui se confient en l’Éternel renouvellent leur force. Ils prennent le vol comme les aigles; Ils courent, et ne se lassent point, Ils marchent, et ne se fatiguent point.         Ésaïe 40:31     LS1910

                 

Servers

Pastor - Dave Nickel

Worship Leader - Jeanette Harder

Music Leader - Jolene Boshart

Next Children’s Story - Kathy Haake

 

Calendar

Today - Theme verse service

Thursday - Happy Thanksgiving – No Shop Hours

Sunday, Nov 29 - Hanging the greens

Wednesday, Dec 2 - Gifts of Love pickup

 

Sunday School

Library  - Adult Class – Uniform Series

Room # 1 - Adult Class – The Bible Unwrapped

Room # 6 - Adult Class – Uniform Series – Take 2

Nursery - Pre-K – Grade 1

Room # 8 - Grades 2-5

High School Room - Grades 6-12

               

Record for November 15

89 - Attendance - Zoom

               

Announcements

Sunday morning will be Zoom only:

Sunday school will be at 9:30. There will be a "fellowship break" at 10:30. Worship will be at 10:45. The meeting will be "open" from 9:15a-12:30p. We will be talking about our theme verse one more time, Lisa Guill will share a Good News in Outreach on Gifts of Love at City Impact.

Next Sunday we will have a virtual hanging of the greens service. If you're willing to a) read a part of the service and/or b) place one of the FMC advent objects (poinsettia, greenery, star, etc) in your "worship space", please let me know soon:-) I ask that you arrange to have 5 candles in your space to use to participate in the lighting of the advent wreath. We will also begin our 5-part Christmas program. We will read from Luke 1.

 

This year's Children's Christmas Program will be held during Sunday morning worship over the five weeks starting November 29. Each week a scene in the Christmas story will be performed by the children of our church from their homes. Dallas, Barb, Nancy, or Stan will be contacting families with children over the next few weeks to arrange your part in this adaptation to our times.

An essential part of a 'normal' children's Christmas program has been special musical performances from children and adults. We want to maintain that tradition. If you would like to provide a musical contribution to one of the last five Sundays of this year. Please contact Stan so that we can have a special music number each week during advent. 

 

There's a Gifts of Love box in the fellowship hall for those who want to donate. They will pick up around December 2, and more information about donating money or ordering gifts directly can be found online: https://cityimpact.org/gifts-of-love/.

 

People's City Mission is our 4th quarter mission offering recipient. Please put "People's City Mission" in the memo line of your check and send it to the church if you'd like to support them.  They were super thankful for the 174 cans of yams and 221 boxes of stuffing , and responded:

"Yahoo!  That is incredible!  Your tiny church, not even meeting, puts something together like that. Wow  - you just made my day, and encouraged me to not get overwhelmed with the vast need, but to see the GIFT of each person and each church and each group that says 'we can help'. Many, many blessings to you and your church and families. Prayers that you all remain safe, and have the sweetest, REAL Thanksgiving ever. :) Grateful, Michele Orth"

 

The kids Sunday School class would like to invite you to participate with us in our giving project to collect funds for Medical Supplies for displaced people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Please write checks to First Mennonite Church, writing “MCC Christmas Project” in the memo.  Find the link to this project here: https://mcc.org/christmas#!  Please send your donation to the church by Dec. 15.  

 

Our Christmas giving tree recipient this year will be the Center for People in Need and their diaper drive. On their website (https://www.cfpin.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/Donate%7CDonations), it looks like they are especially in need of sizes 5 and 6. We'll be delivering the diapers in the week after Christmas.

 

In January we will be voting on a new Elder as Anita's term is coming to an end. Please begin to consider those in the congregation you could nominate to serve in this position for the next three years. Current elders are Anita, Rick, and Sheri. Please contact a member of gifts discernment committee with your nominations for elder. Committee members are Julie Schlegel Youngs, Becky Waegli, and Jolene Boshart

 

We have a sharing fund to assist our members as well as those more loosely connected w/ us who are struggling with financial hardship. Please speak with someone on the nurture commission: Steve, Julie, and/or Ron.

 

We're taking a break from shop hours this week.

 

As winter weather forces us to adjust our lifestyles, please continue to be extra intentional in connecting. Physical distance is not equal to social isolation. Let's love our neighbors around the area and world. 

 

CONFERENCE PRAYER REQUEST - We pray for those in our conference who are taking classes in seminary and/or exploring calls to ministry. We give thanks for the nudgings of the Spirit, and pray for fortitude and courage for those who are studying, praying, and discerning the ministries to which God has called them.