October 5, 2003

Let us seek God
at the beginning of the day,
That we may face its hours
with eagerness.

October 5, 2003

Gathering in Christ's name

Leader: Let us seek God at the beginning of the day,
That we may face its hours with eagerness.
People: In times of distress we bring our prayers;
In times of gladness we pour out our joy.
Leader: In the simple and commonplace God meets us.
Come, therefore, in humble obedience.
People: We turn from the distractions of our daily
striving to feel the quiet movement of God's Spirit.
Leader: God surrounds us with steadfast love
and touches our lives with new possibilities.
All: We look to God for renewed health and wholeness
and for the courage to go where we are sent.

Hymns What is this Place HWB 1
I Owe the Lord HWB 651

Children's Story Nissley Family
Mission Report Nissley Family
Hymn Fairest Lord Jesus HWB 117

Proclaiming God's Word

Scripture II Kings 5:1-19a; 8:7-12
Sermon "Beyond Imagination"
Hymn Healer of Our Every Ill HWB 377

Responding to God's call

Joys and concerns
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord's Prayer
Offering Alderfer family
Announcements
Hymn Lead Me Lord HWB 538
Benediction

Today

Worship Leader - Maren Tyedmers Hange
Music - Jen Larson Sawin
Sermon - Roy Hange
Nursery - Keely Massie

Announcements

John Paul Lederach will be featured on "Peacemakers," an interfaith religion special about the people who work to stop wars, on CBS on Sunday, Oct. 12, 8:00-8:30 a.m. Lederach, professor of peacebuilding at the University of Notre Dame, is a Mennonite, and has worked in West Africa, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Northern Ireland and elsewhere. He works to bring people together and he finds courageous people working in difficult circumstances for peace.

All young adults (18 to 30-ish, single or married) are invited to attend the third annual Taste of Shenandoah on Friday, October 10. Celebrate the diversity of the Shenandoah Valley with dinner at 6:30 -- Middle Eastern rice and soup, El Salvadoreñan pupusas, and North American pies. A barn dance will follow at 8:00. Cost is $6 for the whole event or $3 for the dance only. All events are at the Showalter Barn -- take Rt. 42 north of Harrisonburg to Kline's Mill Rd., and turn at the third driveway. For more information contact the VA Mennonite Conference Young Adult Committee at youngadult@vmconf.org or 540-434-9727.

Norma Teles, VMBM missionary from Brazil to Albania, will talk about the children's ministry in Lezhe, Albania, at the Park View Mennonite Church Fellowship Hall, Thursday, October 16, 6:30 p.m. You are invited to come for a typical Albanian meal, a video of Norma's ministry, worship songs, and folk dances. An offering for Norma's support will be received. For more information call Gloria Lehman at VMBM at 434-9727.

A "Hospitality and Worship" workshop led by Fred Bernhard, pastor and co-author of "Widening the Welcome of Your Church," will be held Saturday, November 8, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Springdale Mennonite Church, Waynesboro, Va. Cost for registrations postmarked by Oct. 25 is $35 each for 1-3 from the same church, or $29 each for 4 or more. Lunch and materials are included. For more information, contact Kathy Weaver Wenger at 540-949-8945.

Three weeks ago we began a worship series on reconciliation in the Old Testament. Coming up are the following scriptures:

Prayers and Praises

VMBM: The youth in Trinidad held their annual camp in Tobago (a sister island) in August. Although attendance was down this year, it was a very good camp. For the first time, two Mennonite youth from Jamaica were sent as delegates, and the interaction was excellent. Philip Rhodes and Jesse Bergey, who serve as missionaries in Jamaica, were also able to attend.

Mennonite Mission Network: Pray for strength and spiritual vitality for mission worker Linda Oyer in France, as she gives input at a weekend retreat Oct.17-19 in Strasbourg. Linda has many opportunities this fall to teach in churches and train people for ministry.

Pray for the local services for people in need: Love Inc., Shelter for Help in Emergency, Foodbank and the Salvation Army.