Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship

December 14, 2008
Pastors:  Anita Kehr and Dan Schrock
Phone:  (574) 534-2398    e-mail: 
Web-Site:  www.berkeyavenue.org

Advent 3

THE RESTORING FACE OF GOD

Prelude

Gathering

Lighting the God Candle

Call to Worship                                               

      Leader:      The Spirit of the Lord is upon us.

      People:      You, me, us - the Spirit of the Lord is upon us
                        to bring good news.

      Leader:      We bring good news
                        to the oppressed and heartbroken.

      People:      We bring good news
                        to ruined cities and scarred countrysides.

      Leader:      We bring good news
                        to the weak and poor.

      People:      We bring good news
                        to those who have plenty and yet are empty.

      Leader:      Let the Spirit of the Lord be upon us
                        so seeds of tears can grow into harvests of joy.

     All:             Let the Spirit of our God be upon us
                        to restore the face of the earth.

Songs of Praise:

      Hail to the Lord's anointed (WB 185)     
    Hark! The glad sound! (WB 184)

Confessing

Responsive Reading

Song of Response: Let your face shine (Hymnal pocket)

Offering and Offertory

Hearing

Scripture: John 1:6-8, 19-28

Children's Time                                               

Psalm 126

Sermon:   "In Between Time"                                                                 

Responding

Song of Response: Come, thou long-expected Jesus (WB 178)

Sharing and Prayers of the Congregation

Reflections from Phil Hostetler, member of Berkey Avenue, with photos and his sharing offered by Ginny Martin 

      Song of Prayer:  La ténèbre (Our darkness)  (STJ 101)

      Congregational Prayer:

            Restoring God, we bring to you our concerns:

(Petitions voiced by the congregation)

            Our broken relationships need mending
            with neighbors across the street and around the world.
            Our bodies need healing, and our minds need restoring.
            Our community needs fresh vision and new hope.
            We long for all people to rebuild the ancient ruins,
            to create communities of justice and peace.
            Restoring God, we look to you as our architect,
            our master rebuilder.

      Restoring God, we bring to you our joys:

(Praises voiced by the congregation)

      Our homes can be filled with laughter and love.
      Our community can be repaired and thrive.
      Wars can cease and peace can reign.

      Although we have cried many tears -
            for ourselves,  for our friends,
            and for those we hear about in the news -
      you promise to bring us all home with shouts of joy.  AMEN

Song of Prayer:  La ténèbre (Our darkness)  (STJ 101)

Sending

Welcome and Announcements

    Please pass the friendship registers.

Song:   By the waters of Babylon (STJ 22)

Parting Blessing


Worship Participants:

Worship Leader:  Justin Heinzekehr
Song Leader:  Greg Smucker
Accompanist: Patsy Sherer
Children's Time:  Hannah Heinzekehr
Prelude and Offertory: Ben and Lois Stoltzfus Mast
Readers:  Jeff Bauman, Nathan Horner, Lindsay Rheinheimer
Sermon:  Anita Kehr
Pastoral Prayer:  Dan Schrock
Sound and Projection:  Michael Sherer
Ushers:  Dale and Anita Snyder Family
Bulletin Cover:  Anne Berry
Advent Planning Committee:  Terri J. Plank Brenneman, Hannah Heinzekehr, Eric Hostetler, Ginny Martin, Lane Miller, Sherry Wenger


Childcare is available for infants and toddlers (generally ages three and under) in the nursery on the right side of the hallway.

Nurture Hour begins ten minutes after the end of worship.  Re-gather in the meetingroom for these opportunities:

Please attend the intergenerational adult class of your choice :

¨      Sermon Discussion Class meets in the northeast corner of the meetingroom.

¨      A long-term, discussion-based group that explores a variety of issues meets in the northwest corner of the meetingroom.

¨      College-Age Class meets in the library.

¨      A class focusing on Creation Care meets in the southeast corner of the meetingroom.

¨      A women's class is studying the book, Bad Women of the Bible, and meets in the Jubilee Hall after the children have finished their singing.

Children from preschool through fifth grade gather after worship for singing in Jubilee Hall (the large room north of the fellowship hall).  Younger children may go directly to their classroom (see the room assignments below).

¨      Infants and 2-year-olds meet in "Cherub Corner."

¨      Preschool (3- and 4-year-olds) meet in "Gentleness."

¨      Primary I (kindergarten) meet in "Joyful."

¨      Primary II (first and second grades) meet in "Peace."

¨      Middler (third, fourth, and fifth grades) meet in "Forgiveness."

Youth:  

The JYF (grades 6-8) and the MYF (grades 9-12) meet in their classrooms off of Jubilee Hall.

If you are visiting, please pick up a newsletter on the literature rack in the fellowship hall.