Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship

January 4, 2009
Pastors:  Anita Kehr and Dan Schrock
Phone:  (574) 534-2398         e-mail: 
Web-Site:  www.berkeyavenue.org

Epiphany Sunday:
The Welcoming Face of God

Prelude

Lighting the God Candle

Call to Worship

      Leader:      Arise, shine, for your light has come.

      People:      It's been dark for so long,
                        the kind of darkness you can feel in your bones.

      Leader:      But now the light has come.

      People:      God's glorious light is rising over our heads.

      Leader:      Open your eyes and let them adjust to this new reality.  God is illuminating the landscape, and now we begin to see God's goodness.

    People:      The light is moving out across boundaries and barriers, filling the whole earth.
      All:            The light of Christ is a light to all peoples. 
                        We rejoice in God's justice and mercy made visible among us.

Opening Prayer

Gathering Songs:   O worship the Lord  (HWB 124)
                                My soul is filled with joy   (STJ 13)
                                Oh, beautiful star of Bethlehem  (insert)


Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6

Confessing  

      Confessional Reading

Confession Song Response

Gospel Reading: Matthew 2:1-12  

Children's Time

Scripture (responsive reading): Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14

      Give the king your justice, O God,
      and your righteousness to a king's son.

      May he judge your people with righteousness,
      and your poor with justice.
      May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,
      and the hills, in righteousness.

      May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
      give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.

      May he live while the sun endures, and as long as the moon,             throughout all generations.

      May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
      like the showers that water the earth. 
      In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound,
      until the moon is no more.

      May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles
      render him tribute;
      may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts. 
      May all kings fall down before him;
      all nations give him service.

      For he delivers the needy when they call,
      the poor and those who have no helper.
      He has pity on the weak and the needy,
      and saves the lives of the needy.

      From oppression and violence he redeems their life;
      and precious is their blood in his sight.

Sermon:  "What Makes a Great President" 

Song of Response:  I want to walk as a child of the light (STJ 95)

Offering/Offertory

Prayers of the Congregation

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

Welcoming God, we bring to you our concerns:

(Petitions voiced by the congregation)

      We live in darkness when we exclude people of other races,
            religions, economic levels, or educational backgrounds.
      Too often we judge people's actions instead of loving them
            for being created in your divine image.
      We hide in darkness when we choose ignorance
            and do not seek the truth about things that are uncomfortable for us.

      Lord, have mercy on us.
      Welcoming God, we bring to you our joys:

(Praises voiced by congregation)

      Strangers in our midst are no longer strangers,
            for God's light helps us to embrace all.
      We live in hope for right living to flourish
            and for peace to abound.
      We glory in your abundance in all of life.

      Thanks be to God.  AMEN

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

Welcome/Announcements

      Please pass the friendship registers.

Song:  Arise, your light is come! (insert)

Sending

Worship Participants:

Worship Leader:  Hannah Heinzekehr
Song Leader:  Trish Shenk
Accompanist:  Patsy Sherer
Prelude and Offertory:  Paul Leichty
Children's Time:  Bryan Kehr
Sermon:  Dan Schrock
Pastoral Prayer:  Anita Kehr
Sound and Projection:  Phil Bauman
Ushers:  Jud and Rita Gingrich
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 Girls 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.