“Love, Hope, and Light in the Community”

9:30 SUNDAY SCHOOL

"The Wake-Up Call" - led by Garlan Yoder

Today's Leaders

*Music Leader: Susan Huyard
*Worship Leader: Glenn Zendt
*Children’s Time: Susan Huyard
*Message: Tate Love

Announcements

Today we welcome our own Tate Love as he brings our morning message. Tate is a lawyer with Timberlake, Smith, Thomas, and Moses, and according to the stories, a decorated Bible Quizzer.

Join Good Company-A Cappella tonight at 7 p.m. at Park View Mennonite Church for an evening of great music as they celebrate both the beginning of the holiday season and the official release of their debut album, "Awake". This concert will feature some of their favorite selections from "Awake" in addition to brand new Christmas music that they're excited to share! Admission is by donation ($5 suggested per person), and a festive reception will follow the concert. CDs will be available for purchase, so plan to stock up on Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers for all of the music-lovers on your list!

Wednesday, Church Council, 7:00 p.m., at the church.

Next Sunday, December 14, 4:00 p.m. SMC Christmas activities will include preparing and serving a meal at Valley Mission and singing carols for the residents in their dining hall. Those who plan to participate will need to complete a volunteer application; forms are available in the fellowship room. After our time at Valley Mission, a meal will be provided at the church for participants. Food assignments will be given by the Special Programs Committee.

The SMC women gave $450 on Tuesday evening at their annual Christmas Dinner and silent auction. The money will be used to support Staunton Mennonite Women, Joyce Strickland’s prison mailing ministry, and mission projects.

Isaiah 40:1-2 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.

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.

Prepare Call to Worship Leader: Come, let us worship in faith the God who is here and desires our worship. Redeeming God, work in our hearts so that we, your people, would share in your peace. All: Oh, that you would reveal your peace to us, O Lord. Leader: The paths of our world are not straight; the ditches are littered with our friends. People: Still, we listen for the voice in the wilderness, “Prepare a way for the Lord.” Leader: Behold, our God is coming. People: God speaks peace into our noisy world. All: “Comfort, comfort, my people,” says our God. Confessions Leader: Today, in this safe but dark and holy place we become aware of your presence, God. We look inward at wrongs we have done against others in our families, our neighborhoods, our workplaces, and our churches. Sometimes we were paying back, sometimes just being mean, and sometimes we didn’t realize the wrong we were doing. People: We desire John’s baptism of repentance, confessing our sins. Leader: We ask you, Lord, to take our sin, including our inward secrets, and make us new. People: Forgive us our trespasses. All: Restore our peace, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved. Leader: God speaks peace to us, his people. In peace, we proclaim God’s comfort to each other; reassuring one another of God’s forgiveness. All: God is patient with us; God walks with us, helps us deal with the sin that bogs us down, and gives us the gift of peace. Advent–Epiphany worship resources are produced cooperatively by Mennonite Church Canada Formation, the Denominational Ministry of Mennonite Church USA, and Leader magazine. This year’s resources were written by a team from Mennonite Church Alberta of Mennonite Church Canada. Bible readings for today: Isaiah 40:1-11 (3); Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8. Bible readings for next Sunday: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126 or Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28 (7).