“Love, Hope, and Light in the Community”

9:30 SUNDAY SCHOOL

"A New Future" - led by Marvin Showalter

Today's Leaders

*Song Leader: Susan Huyard
*Worship Leader: Susan Huyard
*Children’s Time: The Huyards
*Message: Clyde Kratz

Announcements

Today we welcome Clyde Kratz to our worship service. Clyde is the Executive Conference Minister of Virginia Mennonite Conference. He previously served as the pastor of congregations in Virginia and Pennsylvania.

There will be a Fellowship Meal after the worship service today. Everyone is invited to stay!

Wednesday: Prayer Meeting at the church, 7:00 pm.

The Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale will be held October 3-4 at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds, Harrisonburg. The relief sales offers a little bit of everything—quilts, artwork, homemade food, antiques, crafts, music and activities for the whole family. We hope you’ll join us! Proceeds go to the work of Mennonite Central Committee.
A four-session Marriage Maintenance class will be offered at Family Life Resource Center (Harrisonburg) from 7-8:30 each Tuesday evening, starting October 7. The class is offered on a freewill offering basis and will be led by Harvey Yoder (who just celebrated his 50th anniversary). A text, Lasting Marriage-The Owners' Manual, will be available for $10. Register at services@flrc.org or 434-8450.
 

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

 

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.

Share abundantly Prayer of Confession Leader: Merciful Lord, we mourn injustice that takes root in many forms and in many places, both far and near. People: Clearly, earth’s abundance is not adequately shared. Leader: We recognize the roots of conflict in ourselves and our complicity in many systems of power and control. People: Forgive us for grasping for much more than is ours. Leader: We confess that stereotypes and suspicion too often shape our perceptions and precipitate our actions. People: We confess that we often fear our neighbor. Leader: Share with us your abundant grace that we might all “live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Reaffirm our calling as your peacemakers. All: Amen. Affirming Faith Left: God created the world in peace and made each person in the divine image. Right: We rejoice in the assurance of God’s creative love. Left: God reconciled all neighbors in the world through the Prince of Peace. Right: We rejoice in the assurance of God’s reconciling love. Left: God sent the Spirit of Peace into the world as our Advocate and Companion. Right: We rejoice in the assurance of God’s sustaining love. All: We commit ourselves to peacemaking through the creative, reconciling, sustaining work of God. Sending God is at work! Go and join the peacemaking initiatives of our Lord! —Arlyn Friesen Epp, Winnipeg, Manitoba Today is Peace Sunday. Arlyn Friesen Epp is the director of the Mennonite Church Canada Resource Centre, which seeks to equip the church to engage the world with the reconciling gospel of Jesus Christ. An extensive peace resource collection can be found at www.mennonitechurch.ca/tiny/184. Bible readings for today: Jonah 3:10–4:11; Psalm 145:1-8; Philippians 1:21-30 (26); Matthew 20:1-16. Bible readings for next Sunday: Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 (32); Psalm 25:1-9; Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32.