“Love, Hope, and Light in the Community”

Greeters for December:
Ruth & Howard Duncan

Nursery this week:
Gary/Sylvia

Next week:
Florence/Kathy

9:30 SUNDAY SCHOOL

Lesson Title

“The Reason for God” led by Garlan Yoder

10:30 WORSHIP Service
(Epiphany Sunday)

Inviting the mystery

Prelude
Opening Prayer/Announcements
Call to Worship
Congregational Singing

Call to Worship

Leader: Come as fellow heirs of the living God!
People: Let us awake to the marvel that in Christ we are one.
Leader: Oh, the mystery of God’s dwelling in our diversity!
People: Our hearts thrill and rejoice
All: as we open wide the house of the Lord!

Engaging the mystery

Dramatic Reading
Confession
Offering
Children’s Time
Scripture Reading: Matthew 2:1-12

Confession and Enjoying the Light of the Advent Wreath

Leader: Lift up your eyes and look.
There is no partiality in Christ.
How might we let all people in on this mystery?
(pause)
Let us confess our unwillingness to share Christ
with those of other nations, tribes, races, families,
social classes, and denominations.
(pause)
The Advent wreath reminds us
that our light has come.
People: In this light, we celebrate forgiveness:
the glory of the Lord has risen upon us!

Celebrating the mystery

Sermon: "Receiving in Grace"
Response action
Congregational Sharing/Prayer Time
Closing Theme Song - Overhead
Benediction

Benediction

Leader: The mystery has been made known!
People: The good news of Jesus Christ is for all.
All: There is light!

Today's Leaders

*Worship leader: Dwight Huyard
*Song leader: Susan Huyard
*Children’s Time: Kathy Zendt
*Message: Kevin Gasser

Announcements

All are welcome to a New Year’s Eve party at Danny and Frances Weavers’ home on Tuesday, Church Council will meet this Wednesday at 7:00 pm.

You are invited to the installation service for Aaron Kauffman as the next president of Virginia Mennonite Missions, January 12 at Zion Mennonite, beginning at 6:00 pm.

Please Prayer For:

Matthew 2:11, “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”

No one truly knows Christ unless they follow Him daily in life" - Hans Denck

Thank you for joining us in worship today.  If this is your first time at Staunton Mennonite, please fill out the “Welcome” card in the back of the pew and place it in the offering plate.