Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship

November 29, 2009

Pastors:  Anita Kehr and Dan Schrock

Phone:  (574) 534-2398           e-mail: 

Web-Site:  www.berkeyavenue.org

Advent 1:

Take heart!  God is coming to make things right

Prelude

Lighting the God candle                Annika Bontrager, Karis Neufeld

      Song:  O come, O come, Immanuel (HWB 172, verse 1)

Introduction

Call to worship:  (Psalm 25:1-10; Luke 21:25-36)

Leader:      We live in troubled times, waiting for God’s burst of light into our dark world.

Take heart! God will make things right.

      People:      As we wait, we pray that the Lord will sustain us and help us to walk in a right path.

May God cast out the fear of darkness

and light up our lives with hope.

Leader:      We greet Jesus’ coming to make things right.

All:             Let us worship God, whose mercy promises us new life through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Opening prayer

Music

      Jesus, stand among us (HWB 25)

      He comes to us as one unknown (HWB 498)

      God of the Bible (STJ 27)

Scripture reading                                                         Lauren Hooley

      Text of hope:  Jeremiah 33:14-16 

(Words of hope, confidence, and safety:  God can be trusted to fulfill God’s promises, and to make things right.)

Candle lighting        Evan, Tonya, Annika, and Gretchen Bontrager

      Song:  Maranatha, come (Hymnal pocket)

Children’s time                                                                 Beth Berry

Music

        O Savior, rend the heavens (HWB 175)

Scripture reading                                                           Alex Neufeld

      Keynote text:  Luke 21:25-36

(We take seriously the fear and foreboding in our world, and God’s desire, intention, and ability to burst in to make things right.)

Sermon:   “Waiting for the Advent of God”                  Dan Schrock

Silence

Music

      I will trust in you (solo)                                                                

Litany of response (based on Psalm 25:1-10)

Leader:      Lord, in this time of Advent, we worry about the future and long for your purposes to be fulfilled.  We pray with the Psalmist:

People:      To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

                  O my God, in you I trust.

Leader:      In the midst of uncertainty and fear, we pray:

People:      Do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.

Leader:      We confess that we have tried many paths

and that wandering has made us weary.

      Left:          Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. 

      Right:        Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O LORD!

      People:      We come looking for your grace, not because we deserve it, but because of your merciful love for all people. 

      Left:          As we wait, we rejoice in your goodness and righteousness. Teach us your ways.  

      Right:        Good and upright is the LORD; all the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness.                                

All:            God will make things right. Amen.

Offering

Sharing Time                                                                   Anita Kehr

Pastoral Prayer

Introduction of Visitors 

      (Please pass the friendship registers.)

Announcements

Hymn:   Oh, how shall I receive thee (HWB 182)

Benediction

Worship Participants:

Worship Leader:  John Rempel         

Song Leader:  Terri Plank Brenneman

Accompanist:  Paul Leichty

Prelude and Offertory:  Hooley Family

Sound/Projection:  David Nussbaum

Ushers:  Jud and Rita Gingrich

Bulletin Cover:  Tavi Mounsithiraj

Advent Planning Committee:  Beth Berry, Terri Plank Brenneman, Lori Good, Aaron Krabill, Paul Leichty (chair), John Rempel

Song, I will trust in you:  Words and music by Bryan Moyer Suderman

Childcare is available for infants and toddlers in the nursery during worship.

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:

*   The Sermon Discussion Class led by David Heusinkveld and Kirk Stiffney meets in the northeast corner of the meetingroom.

*   A women’s class studying the book, The Life You Always Wanted:  Spiritual Disciplines of Ordinary People, meets in the Jubilee Hall after the children have finished singing.

*   A long-term discussion-based group meets in the southeast corner of the meetingroom.

*   The College-Age Class, led by Joe Liechty, John Roth, and Jan and Peter Shetler, meets in the library.

*   Conversation about Mennonite World Conference and global church relationships meets in the northwest corner of the meetingroom.

Children from preschool through fifth grade gather after worship for singing in the 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 the Nursery.

*    The preschool class meets in “Joyful.”

*    The primary class meets in “Peace.”

*    The middler class meets in “Forgiveness.”

Youth:

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

Newsletters are available on the literature rack in the fellowship hall.