Call to worship

Gathering hymn Joyful, joyful we adore thee HWB 71

Introduction to theme

Earth Day (US)

Scripture reading Psalm 104: 5-6, 10-25, 27-31

Singing group As we rise, O God, to meet you A Field of Voices

Poem Prayers of a Mad Farmer by Wendell Berry

Children’s teaching Plants, animals, people caring for each other

Congregational hymn God of the earth, the sky, the sea HWB 53

Message Jamaica visit

Sharing & visitor introductions

Congregational meeting blessing

More sharing & silent prayer

Prayer spoken

Congregational hymn Take, oh take me as I am STJ 81

Offering

Announcements

Hymn of sending New earth, heavens new HWB 299

Benediction

Leading us in worship: Shelly Wk; Speakers: Mandy and Dave Kn; Song leader, Tim Sh; Pianist: Anita Ts, Poetry reader: Paul Versluis

* 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.

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 20 7:30AM @Ty

¨ Don Ty

Peace and Justice Interest May 14 7:30PM @ Wk

¨ Janet Ry

Readers Club: April 22 6:30 PM @Ts

¨ Priscilla The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman

Meetings:

Finance Committee

Nurture Comm. Meeting April 24 7PM Priscilla’s

Congregational Life Committee

Congregational Meeting April 22 12:30 Gretchens

*please bring a bag lunch

Service – Outreach May 6 Lunch 12:45 Versluis

Worship Committee May 7 7:00PM Versluis

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

The ping pong tournament has been cancelled for May due to travels of the

participants. New date TBA.

"Do you like to smile? Do you enjoy seeing new faces? Have people said you made them feel welcome? If you answered yes to any of these, please consider serving our community as a greeter. We are looking for one or two people to join Joy Vs as a team to alternate Sunday mornings. Contact Joy if you are interested."

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 Shalom Facilities Committee has been working busily 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. That work has reached a critical juncture in its development, and we are calling the congregation together for review and for consideration of next steps.

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 our site. The departure of a fourth partner from the venture in November 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 Township meeting agenda.

While that process goes forward, we are also planning a pair of meetings to present these plans to the Shalom congregation. Those meetings will take place after church on Sunday, April 15, and Sunday, April 22. We ask everyone to make a concerted effort to participate in those meetings. Although we will make available a packet of information for those unable to attend, we strongly encourage your active participation; the packet will have obvious limitations by comparison to the presentation being prepared for the meeting.

We plan to provide child care. We plan to begin shortly after the end of worship, at about 12:30 pm. Everyone is asked to bring a bag lunch.

                    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

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 meeting in Berne Indiana

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

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

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

Interested in serving on the board of Adriel School for Central District? See Paul

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/.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Sacred Storytelling is a play based on the stories told by over a hundred high school student from Washtenaw County. Asked to discuss their beliefs and experiences, students from ten faith backgrounds (Bahai, Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Protestant, Quaker, Scientologist and Unitarian Universalist) engaged in many hours of conversation saying what is important to them and what struggles emerge from being part of a religion or faith community. Here is a powerful new initiative to help build bridges of understanding and

overcome stereotypes and prejudice for both youth and adults.

This project has been drawn together by the Interfaith Round Table of Washtenaw County and playwright/director, Jeffrey Steiger. The play itself is a composite of voices and experiences of the students engaged in dialogues with Jeffrey over the last year. Sacred Storytelling* is an effort to retell these stories in a way that

honors and respects the persons that shared them, and in a way that gives all of us the chance to hear them with new ears and open minds. Following the play itself, there will be a talkback with the director and cast. $10 for adults, $5 for high school students and younger. For more information and tickets, call 734-424-1535,

Sunday, May 20, 7:00 p.m., The Neutral Zone, 310 E. Washington, Ann Arbor

Monday, May 21, 7:00 p.m., Temple Beth Emeth / St. Clare*s Episcopal Church, 2309 Packard, Ann Arbor

SERVICE OUTREACH

The youth made $1000 in their Read to Feed project for Heifer Project. That

will of course translate into $2000 thru the matching grant that Heifer Project now has. Huzzah to the youth!!!!!!!!

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.

HIWAY PICKUP for 2007: Pickup dates are April 21-29, July 14-22, Sept 8-16.

Paul and Joy will be at the Baker Exit Park and Ride at 9 AM on Saturday, April 28^th for our first pick up of the year. If you plan to come, please arrive by 9AM.