Sunday, December 4, 2022
An Unexpected Time: Called to live with hope
Advent 2
GATHERING
Prelude Darryl Drudge, Elaine Finney, Ben Winter
Several children will play piano pieces
Lighting of Advent candle Scott Wagle
Larry & Pat Wagler
Bell calls us to silence Rick Brenneman
Call to worship
Prayer
Hymn Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus VT 218
Scripture presentation Isaiah 11:1-10 Suzanne Bender
Hymn We Dream of a Turning VT 209
HEARING
Children’s Time Ardys Brenneman
Gift of music Darryl Drudge, Elaine Finney, Ben Winter
Scripture Matthew 3:1-12 Rick Brenneman
Bell calls us to silence
Sermon Hope in the wilderness Pastor Louise Wideman
RESPONDING
Hymn Prepare the Way! The Prophet Called VT 220
Bell calls us to silence Rick Brenneman
Confession: (unison)
Song of assurance For You, O God, My Soul VT 41
Congregational Sharing & Prayer Pastor Sara Erb
Offering & offertory Rick Brenneman
Hymn Bless’d be the God of Israel VT 223
Announcements
Benediction Pastor Louise Wideman
Postlude Delphine Schwartzentruber
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Song Leader – Nancy Steinmann Yantzi
Accompanist – Delphine Schwartzentruber
AV – Cliff Kennel, Paul Hammer
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An unsupervised nursery is available across from the washrooms for children ages 5 and under.
In person Coffee Time following the service.
Christian Education (Sunday School) for all ages,
Kid’s Sunday School 11:00-12 p.m., Adult Sunday School 11:15-12 p.m.
- Children’s Sunday School (Age 2 – Gr. 4) – basement
- Jr. Youth (Gr. 5-8) – *new* Jr Youth room (basement)
- MYF (Gr. 9-12+) – youth room (basement)
- Adult Ed. – Fellowship Hall
- Coffee Time – small side of the Fellowship Hall.
Kid’s Offering and December Special Offering: Christmas Day Dinner for those alone or lonely, sponsored by Wilmot Family Resource Centre and local churches. http://bit.ly/3ONkf1M
Experimenting with offering practice: Since COVID, many people in the congregation are sending their tithes and offerings electronically through the week. This practice has lessened the need for passing offering plates each Sunday. We are trying a new way to receive offering Sunday mornings. You are invited to deposit envelops/money into an offering plate on the podium in the foyer as you arrive for worship – the offering plate will be closely monitored by the ushers during the service. During the offertory, children will bring their offerings forward to place in the basket. Following the offertory, ushers will bring the offering forward for a prayer of blessing.
Next Sunday December 11 ADVENT 3
9:45 a.m. – Livestream and in-person worship in the sanctuary.
Theme: An Unexpected Time: Called to wait wisely
Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10; Matthew 11:2-11
Speaker: Pastor Sara Erb
Coffee Time in person
Congregational Life
Dec. 6 (Tues) 4-5 p.m. & 7 p.m. Pickleball. Note the additional time for the people wanting to play earlier.
Dec. 7 (Wed.) Morning & afternoon – All women are invited to the church to knot comforters and/or quilt. Christmas Potluck lunch. Drinks provided
MYF (Grades 9-12+)
Dec. 9 (Fri) 7-10 p.m. Christmas Party.
Jr. Youth (Grades 5-8)
Dec. 14 (Wed.) Christmas Party.
KidsLIFE (Grades 1-5)
Dec. 7 (Wed.) 6:00—7:30 p.m. All things Christmas—rescheduled
Small Groups
Dec. 13 (Tues.) 10 a.m. The Adult Bible Study led by Wes Leis will meet in the fireplace room at church. Everyone is welcome. Contact person: Wes Leis.
Dec. 8 (Thurs.) 10-11:30 a.m. – Women’s Bible study will be meeting in person and on Zoom this week. Studying “Expecting Emmanuel – Eight Women Who Prepared the Way”. Read pages 55-90. Questions – talk to Lynelle Drudge, Joy Wagler or Darlene Gingerich.
Steinmann Hockey Team
Dec. 9 (Fri.) 10 p.m. Steinmann @ No Dekes (Wilmot Rec Complex)
Dec. 16 (Fri.) 11 p.m. Steinmann vs Stratford (Wilmot Rec Complex)
Notices
Parents – treat bags for your College and University students are located above the coat rack at the main entrance. Care Team thanks all those persons who donated treats. You have blessed our students by letting them know the church is thinking of them. Thank you!
In this busy holiday season, the current Sunday morning Zoom Coffee time participants have agreed to take a break during the months of Nov. and Dec. They will revisit this practice in Jan. 2023.
Wider Community
Dec. 4 (Sun.) 3 p.m. Heart Cry Choir presents an a cappella Christmas concert at St. Agatha Catholic Church.
Dec. 4 (Sun.) 2:30 p.m. Tavistock Mennonite Church presents An A Capella Christmas with The Twin City Harmonizer. Guest performer Chuckee Zehr. Tickets: $20/adults, $15/Youth/Students 13 and over, 12 and under, free. For tickets or more information contact Alyssa at 519-655-2581, office@tavistockmennonitechurch.ca. or http://bit.ly/3EodbFf
Dec. 4 (Sun) 3 p.m. Spiritus Ensemble perform Bach’s Christmas masterpiece, Christmas Oratorio at St Peter’s Lutheran Church, 49 Queen Street North, Kitchener. Tickets available at www.spiritusensemble.com.
Dec. 6 (Tues.) 12 – 1 p.m. Virtual information session for Conrad Grebel’s Master of Peace and Conflict Studies (MPACS). Registration required: uwaterloo.ca/master-peace-conflict-studies/events
Dec. 6 (Tues.) 7:30 p.m. Rockway Mennonite Collegiate’s annual Christmas Concert at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. Freewill offering.
Dec. 11 (Sun.) 3 p.m. Inter-Mennonite Children’s Choir present: Glory, Glory!, at St. Jacobs Mennonite Church. For more information and tickets https://bit.ly/22ChristmasTickets.
Dec. 11 (Sun.) 7:30 p.m. Menno Singers present a Service of Lessons and Carols at Trillium Lutheran Church in Waterloo. Admission by donation.
Dec. 15 (Thurs.) 7 p.m. Rockway Mennonite Church (47 Onward Avenue, Kitchener) presents Advent Jazz Vespers. For more information contact Pastor Ed Janzen, pastor@rockwaymc.ca
Dec. 26 (Mon.) 12-4 p.m. Blood Donor Clinic at Steinmann Mennonite Church. Appointments are required. To book an appointment call 1-888-236-6283 or https://www.blood.ca/en
If you or someone you know will be alone or lonely this Christmas, contact Wilmot Family Resource Centre at 519 662-2731 about a Christmas Day dinner.
Rockway Mennonite Collegiate is looking for local households (e.g. ideally within a 30 minute bus ride) to host an international student. To learn more, please contact Jill Sauer: homestay@rockway.ca.
2023 Winter and Spring Retreats now open for registration: Come to Silver Lake in 2023 for some fun camp experiences! Dads & Kids, Snowshoe Hike, Women’s Retreat, Couples Retreat, Winter Camp for Grown-Ups, March Break Family Getaway, Youth Camp and Family Camp – there are options for all ages! Go to https://bit.ly/3ugT85T for more info and to register. These make fantastic Christmas gifts!
Over $9,000 was raised during Amish Bicentennial celebrations early this fall for MCC work with refugees, Indigenous programs and Ukraine.
Personal Notes
Congratulations to Delores Swartzentruber who is celebrating her 84th birthday on Tuesday, December 6 and Ethel Zehr who is celebrating her 90th birthday on Wednesday, December 7.
Remember in Prayer
Join Mennonite World Conference in prayer for:
- Needed and equitably distributed supplies for the many vulnerable displaced people in the Congo and the sustaining of a ceasefire
- The capacity for peacemaking among Korean Christ followers wounded by war and separation from family
- Leaders in Indian churches challenged by persecution and new believers choosing baptism
- Strength and hope for people helping despairing and traumatized people in Ukraine.
This week join Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (MCEC) in prayer for Tavistock Mennonite Church , Tavistock, ON.