Bulletin: April 1, 2007                                                                                                       

 

Pre-service music

Call to worship

Introduction to the meeting

Gathering hymn                    If you believe                                                        STJ 32 

A processional:                    The donkey and the palm branches

Congregational hymn          Hosanna, loud hosanna                                      HWB 238

Scripture reading                  Luke 19:28-40

Offering, and a time of rest

Congregational hymn          I will call upon the Lord                                      STJ 19  

Children’s teaching             Hope in the midst of destruction,  Ben and Fran Redekop

Presentation #1                    Hope in the midst of destruction                       Kathy Carter

Congregational hymn          My life flows on                                                   HWB 580

Presentation #2                    The day Jesus rode a donkey                            Paul Versluis

Congregational hymn          Hark! The glad sound                                         HWB 184 

Sharing and prayer

Announcements

Hymn of sending                                 Go, my children  Verses 1,3                                H WB 433

 

Leading us in worship:  Paul Versluis, speaker;  Kathy Cr and Paul Versluis, song leader, Nelson Sz;  pianist, Anita Ts, Vija Ml, visuals; Childrens’s teaching, Fran and Ben Rp.

* The offering is a commitment of our regular attendees.  Visitors should feel no obligation to donate.  Visitors and regular attendees are invited to submit the “I wish card” found in the back of the hymnal. 

LENTEN SERIES 2007

 

Studies in contrast – inspiring stories from Passion week

LENT 1 February 25: Extravagance in a world of poverty:  the anointing at Bethany (Mark 14:3-9)

LENT 2 March 4: Loneliness among friends:  the garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-42)

LENT 3 Mar 11:  Praying the impossible desire: the garden of Gethsemane (Mk 14:32-42, Lk 22:39-46)

LENT 4 March 18:  Faith after betrayal: Peter’s denial (Luke 22:31-34, 54-62 & John 21:15-18)

LENT 5 Mar 25:  Dignity in the face of humiliation: the mocking (Mt 26:67-68, 27:11-14, 27-31, 39-44)

LENT 6 April 1-Palm Sunday: Celebrating hope in the shadow of destruction (Luke 19:28-40)

 

 

SHALOM COMMUNITY CHURCH HAPPENINGS

 

Small Group Opportunities: the following  groups meet regularly and are open to interested persons in the SCC community.  You can drop in and ‘drop out’ as you are able.  Call the contact person for information, dates, times, direction or location.

 

Mom’s Small Group

¨       Pattie Sr                                                

Poetry Meeting                                                    April 21                  7:30AM  Ty

¨       Don Thackrey  426-7072                   

Peace and Justice Interest                                  April 10                  7:30PM   Versluis

¨       Janet Reedy 483-4006                         

Readers Club:                                                       April 22 6:30 PM  Ts

¨       Priscilla’s 769-1447               The World is Flat  by Thomas Friedman         

 

Meetings:

 

Finance Committee                                             

Nurture Comm. Meeting                                     April 17                   7PM       Priscilla’s

Congregational Life Committee                           April 14                  9:30         Ry’s

Facilities Cmt. report to Congregation                 April 15                  12:30       Gretchen’s

Congregational Meeting                                     April 22                  12:30       Gretchens

Service – Outreach                                           May                        12:30       Versluis

Worship Committee                                          May 7                     7:00PM   Versluis

Congregational Business Mtg.                           May 13                   12:30       Gretchen’s

 

Love Feast:  Mandy Thursday meal at the Versluis home this Thursday night from 6 to 7:15.  We will share a light meal, communion and a foot washing ceremony.  All are welcome to attend.  Please RSVP.

 

 

There will be no Sunday School on Easter for the primary class, and the preschool class

 

There will be no POTLUCK on Easter Sunday.

 

 

Youth group in April will be on April 15 and it will be a surprise game night at the Hy house.  6:30-8:30 bring a snack to share.

 
The Shepherd--You are invited to submit pieces for the congregational newsletter, The Shepherd. Please pass them on to Carolyn H. or Joy V. or discuss any ideas you 
might have with them.  We are working towards a late spring issue, so gentlewomen and gentlemen, start your writing engines.
 

                The Facilities Committee has been working busily, if invisibly, since our last report to the congregation in December, 2006.  Most of you will know that this committee is working with two other partners to design and build a jointly-owned facility that can be used by all partners.

                On November 28, 2006 we submitted an application to Lodi Township for preliminary approval of our project.  The township’s response to our application required that we gather additional information about the nature of the site we are working with.  The departure of a fourth partner from the venture in Nov. and the higher-than-acceptable cost of our first design have also had an impact on our work.

                We have recently concluded work on redesigning the building and site plan in response to all of these constraints. We are re-submitting these plans along with an application for a ‘special use’ permit to Lodi Township with the expectation of being on the April 24 agenda.

                While that process goes forward, we are also planning a pair of meetings to present these plans to the congregation.  Those meetings will take place after church on Sunday, April 15, and Sunday, April 22.  We ask everyone to make an effort to participate in those meetings.  We will also have a packet of information available for all that will cover at least much of what will be presented at those meetings.

                A more detailed version of this announcement was e-mailed to all on March 18; printed copies are available on the lobby table or from Nelson Sz for anyone who does not use e-mail.

 

Vija & Ian's Baby Shower.  Plan to celebrate with Vija & Ian Sunday April 1st from 2 - 4 PM @ the Hr-Cn's

Call Priscilla or Gift Ideas: Registered at Babies R Us.  Would also welcome monetary gifts toward a Doula (labor support person)

 

If you have Congregational concerns, please contact the Congregational Life Committee.  Janet Ry, Patti or Dave Py

 

DENOMINATIONAL NEWS

 

COB= Church of the Brethren; CD = Mennonite Church Central District Conference

¨       Central District Conference: June 21-23, 2007 meeting in Berne Indiana

¨       COB Annual Conference: June 30- July 4, 2007 in Cleveland Ohio.  [Roxanne Cs will attend]

¨       Mennonite Assembly/Youth Convention:   July 2-7, 07 San Jose CA. [Paul and Joy will attend]

¨       COB District Conference:  August 9-12, ,2006, Hastings Michigan

 

Please view the Mennonite Church new online giving website.  You are able to make credit card donations to all Mennonite Church organizations, including congregations.  View the following web sights:  http://giving.menoniteusa.org, https://giving.mennoniteusa.org/organization/detail/1254/. 

 

College scholarships:  Students can get financial assistance through the MMA College Scholarship program.  Each year MMA awards up to 36 scholarships to students who are member of a congregation with an MMA advocate.  For details see Gertrude Wn /visit MMA-online.org. Applications are due by Mar 31.

 

 

 

SERVICE OUTREACH

 

Attention Shalom's active participants!  The Service Outreach Committee would like to encourage you to do service through an organization or take personal involvement in a service project.  We have a special budget to sponsor you in doing this work.  Past examples have been Mandy & David Kn for their recent work in Jamaica, and Susie Fk for her medical mission work in Argentina.  Please contact Paul Versluis if you are interested in applying.

 

Property Disposal Department.  Ten folding wooden chairs are available for anyone who needs a few spare chairs around the house.  These are remnants from the historic days of the ‘basement church.’  They are presently in Nelson Sz’s workshop but will not be kept after April 15.  A small donation to Shalom’s coffers is suggested. 

 

 

HIWAY PICKUP for 2007:  Spring pickup is April 21-29, Summer dates are July 14-22, and the Fall pickup dates are from September 8-16.