“Love, Hope, and Light in the Community”

9:30 SUNDAY SCHOOL

"Good Deaths and Bad Deaths" - led by Glenn Zendt

Today's Leaders

*Music Leader: Joe Shenk
*Worship Leader: Marlene Wenger
*Children’s Time: Susan Huyard
*Message: Kevin Gasser

Announcements

Today we welcome back our pastor who has been on sabbatical for the fall months. Kevin, we have missed you!

SMC will serve a meal at Valley Mission this afternoon and sing carols for the residents in their dining hall. Persons who plan to participate will need to meet at the church at 3:30 p.m. At approximately 6:00 p.m., after our time at Valley Mission, we will meet at the church for a meal and singing.

The adult SS class is studying the book Living Thoughtfully, Dying Well by Glen E. Miller, MD. This study of end-of-life issues will last December thru February. Books are available in the fellowship room. All are welcome. See Marlene with questions.

Stonewall Brigade Band will have a Christmas concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday evening at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Offerings will benefit The Salvation Army and The Valley Mission

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.

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, that our worship would be filled with the joy that comes from remembering your splendor. All: Oh, that you would reveal your joy to us, O Lord. Leader: We celebrate the year of the Lord’s favor, People: a time of comfort for those who mourn. Leader: There will be crowns instead of ashes, People: joyful anointing instead of mourning, Leader: cloaks of praise instead of spirits of despair, People: cities of renewal instead of devastation. All: The Lord will wrap us in robes of righteousness. Come, O God, and clothe us in garments of salvation. Confession/Assurance Leader: Today in this safe but dark and holy place we become aware of your presence, God. We focus now on our congregation and the wider Anabaptist Mennonite church family. People: We are a faithful church, but sometimes we’ve kept our riches to ourselves. Leader: Sometimes we have excluded the inquirer who has come to our door seeking faith. Sometimes we’ve refused to admit our weaknesses. Sometimes we’ve been too quiet in the land. Sometimes we’ve helped those far away but ignored our neighbors. Sometimes we’ve tried so hard to serve that we’ve forgotten the joy of worshiping you. Hear our honest confessions, O God, and remember us in mercy. People: Restore to us the joy of being your faithful people. All: Restore our joy, O 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 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126 or Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28 (7). Bible readings for next Sunday: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Luke 1:46b-55 (46) or Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38