“Love, Hope, and Light in the Community”

9:30 Sunday School

Today's Leaders

*Song Leader: Glenn Zendt
*Worship Leader: Tate Love
*Accompanist: Sandy Carter
*Communion Server: Stuart Love

Pastor Kevin Gasser

Announcements

We are collecting toilet paper for the Valley Mission through March 12. Please bring your donation to the front of the sanctuary before the worship service or during the offering.

A fund has also been opened to help cover the cost of renovating the After School Tutoring room at the Valley Mission. Please earmark your checks with “Valley Mission.”

Virginia Mennonite Conference has been invited to help with the MCC Meat Canning on Tuesday, February 28, from 5 am until 11 pm. This event is held at the Hinton Mennonite Relief Center. Please call Leon Rhodes at (540) 820-5443 for additional information.

Eastern Mennonite School will present “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” on March 2, 3, and 4, beginning at 7:30 pm. Come see the EMS Class of 2017 perform this Shakespeare comedy classic. Tickets are sold at the door: General Admission $7 adults and $5 students and senior citizens.

All are invited to the annual Rehoboth Jail and Prison Ministry Banquet on March 3, beginning at 4:00pm, at Mt. View Mennonite Church.

Please pray for:

• Ruth Duncan, as she recovers from shoulder surgery.
• Joyce Showalter, as she recovers from a broken ankle.
• The team from our church serving with Mennonite Disaster Service this week.

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount
5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes - He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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.

Strive first for the kingdom of God Praising/Adoring Who are you, mystery of our lives? We thought we knew you, God. We thought you could be contained by our constructs and imaginations, our theologies and words— but they go up in flames before your unconfinable presence. All we can say is: Fire! Majesty! Glory! Holy, holy, holy God! Praise be your name. Amen. Proclaiming Leader: We place our feet on this sacred ground, trusting that God is revealed now, as on mountains long ago. People: Here, in this place, we revel in the wildness of God. Leader: We trust the astonishment of eyewitnesses: Moses, Peter, James, and John. We trust the stories they passed on. People: We proclaim with them and with the cloud of witnesses that Jesus is Lord over earth and heaven! Leader: This is God’s Son, who lived among us and rose from the dead. Sending Beloved of God, beloved of God—do not be afraid. Let us draw near to Jesus, who touches each heart with courage. The cloud of separation is now lifting, our long wait is ending. Look, the morning star is rising. —Katerina Friesen, Elkhart, Indiana Bible readings for today: Isaiah 49:8-16a; Psalm 131; 1 Corinthians 4:1-5; Matthew 6:24-34; or Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 2 or Psalm 99; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9. Bible readings for next Sunday: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11. Mennonite Worship Bulletins © 2016 MennoMedia, Harrisonburg, Va., and Kitchener, Ont. Printed in the USA. February 26, 2017. Photo © 2016 David Radcliff. Used by permission.