“Love, Hope, and Light in the Community”

ADVENT 4

9:30 Sunday School

Today's Leaders

*Song Leader: Susan Huyard
*Worship Leader: Tate Love
*Children’s Time: Sonya Gasser
*Reader: Stuart Love

Sermon:
Pastor Kevin Gasser

Announcements

The vase of flowers were shared in memory of Don Greenleaf.

There will be a carry-in Christmas lunch after church today. All are welcome to participate in or watch a special Christmas edition of Bible Quizzing after the meal.

Please join us for a brief Christmas Eve service, Saturday, December 24, beginning at 6:30 pm. This event will include seasonal music, scripture reading, and a candle-lighting service.

There will be no Sunday School for the next two weeks. Please join us on January 8 at 9:30 am. Worship services on December 25 and January 1 will begin at 10:30, as usual.

Each family is welcome to take home a poinsettia either this week or the following Sunday.

Please pray for:

• The refugees attempting to evacuate Aleppo, Syria.
• Those affected by the fires in North Carolina and Tennessee.
• Those traveling over the holidays.

Matthew 2:23, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God with us.’”

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.

Restore us Call to Worship Leader: In the nighttime of our longing, we find ourselves far from God’s presence. People: Even though we yearn to see God’s face, our daily burdens and distractions keep us from coming near. We forget that the truest joy comes from being in God’s presence. All: Come! Walk in God’s presence. Confessing/Reconciling Leader: God of restoration, People: we yearn to walk in your way but often choose our own path of turmoil and pain. Save us, Lord, from the pride and foolishness of choosing our own course, that we may humbly and confidently follow your lead, through Jesus Christ. Amen. Leader: Throughout the tumult of life, God holds you close in love. Rejoice, because God’s wisdom is your guide, God’s compassion is your strength. God’s love is your redemption. All: Come, let us walk in the way of God’s heart! Sending Come! Walk in the way of God’s heart. The dawn is breaking! Christ is coming to set us free from chaos. He will show us the way. Today is the fourth 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 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25. Bible readings for next Sunday: Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14, (15-20); or Isaiah 62:6-12; Psalm 97; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:(1-7), 8-20; or Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12); John 1:1-14. Mennonite Worship Bulletins © 2016 MennoMedia, Harrisonburg, Va., and Kitchener, Ont. Printed in the USA. December 18, 2016. Cover design by Paul Stocksdale; © 2016 Church of the Brethren.