“Love, Hope, and Light in the Community”

ADVENT 1

9:30 Sunday School

Today's Leaders

*Song Leader: Glenn Zendt
*Worship Leader: Lois Sell
*Children’s Time: Kathy Zendt
*Readers: Marc and Luc Geffrard

Sermon:
Pastor Kevin Gasser

Announcements

Congratulations to Denay, Ben, AJ and KC True on the birth of Rachel Marie! You may sign up on the bulletin board to bring them a meal.

2017 Staunton Mennonite Church calendars are available in the fellowship hall. Feel free to take a few for your family.

Our monthly Prayer Meeting has been moved to this Wednesday, beginning at 7:00 pm.

The Mennonite Women of Staunton annual Christmas party will be held on December 6 in the conference room at Panera Bread in Waynesboro, beginning at 6:00 pm. Please bring your favorite chocolate candy to exchange, and consider contributing to a Virginia Mennonite Missions Project. See Sonya or Kathy to RSVP, or for more information.

There will be a Christmas Benefit Concert for SACRA on Monday, December 12, beginning at 7:00 pm at Memorial Baptist Church. This concert will feature local artists, such as the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir, The Faithful Men, Christopher Bono, and Mr. Jefferson’s Bones. See the bulletin board for more information.

Please pray for:

• Those who are traveling this holiday weekend.
• Those who are alone this holiday weekend.

Isaiah 2:4, “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”

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.

Keep awake Call to Worship Leader: In the nighttime of despair, we are filled with doubt. People: We are overwhelmed with busyness and the compulsion to do. We have lost our way. Leader: The night is almost over. We are emerging from our doubt. People: O God, show us the way of your heart. Leader: Come quickly, to show us. All: The dawn is nigh. Show us the way. Confessing/Reconciling Leader: Loving, merciful God, People: we yearn to live in your mercy but often choose no mercy instead. Save us, O loving One, from our arrogance and smugness, thinking we know what is best for ourselves and for others. Save us, O merciful One, that we may humbly turn our hearts to your heart, through Jesus Christ. Amen. Leader: Through the shadows of the night, God embraces you and loves you. Rejoice, dear one, for God’s wisdom is your strength, God’s compassion is your redemption, God’s love is your sanctuary. Sending Come! Walk in the way of God’s heart. The dawn is breaking! Christ is coming to free us from despair. He will show us the way. Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent–Epiphany worship resources are produced cooperatively by Mennonite Church Canada, Mennonite Church USA, and Leader magazine. Bible readings for today: Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44. Bible readings for next Sunday: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12. Mennonite Worship Bulletins © 2016 MennoMedia, Harrisonburg, Va., and Kitchener, Ont. Printed in the USA. November 27, 2016. Photo © 2016 David Radcliff. Used by permission.