Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship

Ministers:  Dan Schrock and Lois Stoltzfus Mast

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

November 20, 2011

Lectionary Texts: Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18; Psalm 90:1-8, 12

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11; Matthew 25:14–30

Eternity Sunday

Gathering

        Prelude

Praising

        Call to Worship:  John 14:1-3

        Opening Prayer

        Songs

                Holy God, we praise thy name (blue book, 121)

                Now thank we all our God (blue book, 86)

  Hearing

        Scripture Reading:  Hebrews 11:29-12:2

        Children’s Time (in the library)                               Jennifer Schrock

        Song:  O Lord of life, wherever they be (blue book, 635)

        Sermon:  “A Spiritual Hall of Fame”                              Dan Schrock

                Silence

Responding

Song:   Give thanks for life (green book, 108)

Offering

        Prayer and Offertory

Memorial

        Scripture Reading:  Revelation 7:9-17

        Richard Miller’s gift in memory of his wife, Marilyn.

Those who wish are invited to rise, name those you wish to remember and then enter the names into the book on the Communion Table.

        Song:  Go, silent friend (green book, 110)

        Prayer of Remembrance

                Silence

Praying

        Spiritual Care for One Another and the World      Richard Miller

Sending

        Song:  Lift your glad voices (blue book, 275)

        Benediction

Community

        Welcome and Introduction of Visitors

                        Please pass the friendship registers.

        Announcements

        Please join us all for coffee and tea in the fellowship hall.

More about Today’s Service for Eternity Sunday

        Many Mennonites in Europe and Canada observe Eternity Sunday on the last Sunday of the church year. Its themes are the passage and meaning of time, our frailty and mortality, Jesus’ resurrection as the promise of the kingdom and eternal life, the church as the communion of the living and the dead who are in Christ. It does not make a distinction between ‘saints’ and other Christians; its prayers for the dead are ones of thanks not intercession.

 Placing the Sunday of the dead at the close of the church year provides an analogy for the end of each person’s life and the end of the world. Since Eternity Sunday takes place immediately before Advent a powerful contrast comes into play between darkness and light, grief and joy.

 People who have died live on in our memories. Those who lived well inspire us; those who suffered evoke our respect; those who lived badly warn us.

Worship Participants:

        Worship Leader:  John Rempel

        Song Leader:  Paul Leichty

        Accompanist:  Deb Brubaker

        Prelude:  Cory and Carissa Hostetler, Austin Hooley

        Offertory:  Cory and Carissa Hostetler

        Nursery:  Brenda and Daniel Grimes 

        Sound/Projection:  Evan Grimes

        Ushers:  Dale and Anita Snyder

        Visuals:  Anne Berry

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

Nurture Hour begins ten minutes after the end of worship.

Please attend the intergenerational adult class of your choice:

¨       Sermon Response Class led by Steve Garboden, John Rempel, and Dale Shenk meets in the Jubilee Hall.

¨       A Woman’s Group led by Lavonn Hostetter studying the book Wonderfully Made by Terri Plank Brenneman meets in Lois’ office.

¨       Discussion Class led by Dan Nafziger and Jonathan Neufeld meets in Gentleness classroom.

¨       Sing Through the Journey led by Deb Brubaker, Patsy Sherer, and Greg Smucker meets in the sanctuary.

¨       College/Young Adult Class led by Joe Liechty, John Roth, Jan and Peter Shetler meets in the library.

Children from preschool through fifth grade go directly to their classrooms after worship for a snack.

¨       Infants and Toddlers meet in “Cherub Corner.”

¨       Preschool (2, 3, and 4 year-olds) meet in “Joyful.”

¨       Primary (kindergarten - grade 2) meet in “Peace.”

¨       Middler (grades 3-5) meets in “Forgiveness.”

Youth:

The JYF (grades 6-8) and 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.