“Love, Hope, and Light in the Community”

9:30 Sunday School

Today's Leaders

*Song Leader: Joe Shenk
*Worship Leader: Sonya Gasser
*Children’s Time: Joe Shenk
*Moment in Mission: Mike and Kristin Sharp

Pastor Kevin Gasser

Announcements

The Adult Sunday School class is studying David Shenk’s award-winning book Christian, Muslim, Friend this quarter. All are free to join the discussion. Please see Marlene if you have questions.

Today is the final day of our toilet paper drive for the Valley Mission. Please bring your donation to the front of the sanctuary before the worship service or during the offering. Today is also the final day to make a donation toward the cost of renovating the After School Tutoring room at the Valley Mission. We have collected $705 so far! Please earmark your checks with “Valley Mission.”

The Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center (VBMHC) invites all people of faith to join their voices in a unity hymn-sing featuring songs of hope and peace on Sunday, March 19 at 7:00 pm. In a time that is full of fear, division, and despair for many, VBMHC invites you to join with people from different faith traditions in celebrating that which we hold in common: commitments to seeking Jesus and working to bring God’s love and justice for all God’s children. Join us at Harrisonburg First Church of the Brethren, 315 S. Dogwood Dr. A free-will offering will be received to support the Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center.

Staunton Mennonite Church will be hosting the Eastern Mennonite High School Touring Choir on March 26 during our worship service. Please invite friends to this exciting event! Also, we will be providing a carry-in meal for the students after the service, so please consider bringing multiple dishes to share.

Please pray for:

• Ruth Duncan, as she recovers from shoulder surgery.
• Joyce Showalter, as she recovers from a broken ankle.

Genesis 12:1, “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show 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.

Restore us, O God! We wonder Call to worship Leader: Mindful that God, the great Mystery, has called us, All: we gather to worship. Leader: Curious about God’s ways in the world. All: we gather to worship. Leader: Wondering in the face of uncertainty, All: we gather to worship. Leader: Receive our worship and our wonderings, O God, as we seek after you. Offering prayer With all that we have and all that we are, we honor you. Restore us, O God, to live in freedom and trust. Confession and words of assurance Leader: God of mystery, you call us into the unknown. But we do not always follow willingly. Reader 1: We confess that we do not want to leave behind what is familiar. We prefer looking like those around us. Reader 2: We do not want to change our well-refined beliefs. We prefer to think and believe in the same ways we always have. Reader 3: We do not want to give up the comfort of our own self-sufficiency. We prefer to stay in control. Leader: Forgive us, O Lord, when in our best effort to work for you, we fail to move with your Spirit. All: Stir us deep within. Recover a sense of your holy wonder and make room within us for the mystery of your Spirit. (Pause for silent confession) Leader: God of mystery, All: restore us. Leader: Our help comes from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth. The Lord will keep you from all harm. The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Amen.