Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship

December 6, 2009

Pastors:  Anita Kehr and Dan Schrock

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

Web-Site:  www.berkeyavenue.org

Advent 2:

Get ready!  God calls us to choose the path of peace

Gathering

Prelude

      Lighting the God Candle           Austin Hooley, Corey Hostetler

      Song:   O come, O come, Immanuel

O come, thou Wisdom from on high,

and order all things far and nigh. 

To us the path of knowledge show,

and cause us in thy ways to go. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! 

Immanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Call to worship:  (Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 1:68-79)

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

               Get ready!  God calls us to choose the path of peace.

            People:   As we prepare, we acknowledge that we still live   in the darkness of discontent.

                           We repent and rise to walk with God

                           in the paths  of peace.

                           We choose to live as people of healing and hope.  

            Leader:   May every valley be filled and

                           every mountain and hill be made low.

                           May the crooked paths be made straight

                           and the rough ways smooth.           

      All:               Let us worship the God

                           whose fire ignites our lives

                           and makes us holy through and through.

                           The one who calls us is faithful and will do it.       

Prayer

Music

            Comfort, comfort, O my people (HWB 176)

            Bless’d be the God of Israel (HWB 174, alternate tune)

Hearing

      Scripture Reading – Keynote Text

            Luke 1:68-79                                 Corine Alvarez, Ben Mast

      Song:  Maranatha, come (Hymnal pocket)

      Candle Lighting                                                   Neufeld Family

      Song:  Maranatha, come (Hymnal pocket)

      Children’s Time                                                           Beth Berry

      Song:  My Lord, he is a-comin’ soon (back of bulletin)

      Scripture Reading – Keynote Text

            Luke 3:1-6                                                          Evan Grimes

      Sermon:  “The Arrival of God’s Word”                    Dan Schrock

      Scripture Reading – Text of Hope

            Philippians 1:3-11                                              Andrea Born

      Silence

Responding

      Song:  Wait for the Lord

      Litany of response (based on Malachi 3:1-4; Philippians 1:6-8)

            Leader:   Lord, in this time of Advent, we long for your coming.  We rejoice that you send messengers to prepare the way and announce the light of peace.  Yet we are afraid of your judgment.  Who can                                                   endure the day of your coming, and who can stand                                                  when God’s messenger appears?

            All:         Purify us, Lord.  Clean out our souls and get rid of all that blocks our relationship with you.  Help us to follow your ways, to love justice and pursue peace.

            Left:       We confess our desire to avoid the wilderness. Our wandering has made us weary.

            Right:     We have turned away from your ways.                  

            All:          Guide us with your grace.   

            Left:       Lord, in your loving kindness, draw near and tune our ears to hear your voice.

            Right:     We are prepared to choose the path of hope, joy and peace.

            All:         Thank you for your tender mercy toward us as you guide us.  Amen.       

Offering

      Sharing                                                                         Anita Kehr

Pastoral Prayer

Introduction of Visitors 

            (Please pass the friendship registers.)

Announcements

Sending

      Song:  Come, thou long-expected Jesus (HWB 178) 

Spoken Benediction

Worship Participants:

Worship Leader:  Lois Mast             

Song Leader:  Terri Plank Brenneman

Accompanist:  Lane Miller

Prelude:  Mason Short

Offertory:  Morgan Short

Sound/Projection:  Ben Buckwalter

Ushers:  Dan and Matthew Williams

Bulletin Cover:  Tavi Mounsithiraj

Quilt (as banner):  Created by Roxanna Sommers; on loan from Malinda Berry

Visuals:  Anne, Beth, and Malinda Berry

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

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 today to listen to Jonathan Gingerich and Christine Guth share their compelling personal stories, as well as their vision for the Elkhart County Clubhouse Project.

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.