Bulletin: March 4, 2007                                                                                                    

GREETING

 

HWB 1                   What is this place 

 

SCRIPTURE & INTRODUCTION  Mark 14: 32-42

 

HWB 627               There is a balm in Gilead

 

CHILDREN’S STORY 

 

READING              from Henri Nouwen     

   

TEACHING     

 

HWB 240               Go to dark Gethsemane (verses 1, 2)

 

HWB 637               When grief is raw (verses 1, 2, 3)

 

SHARING & PRAYER

 

HWB 307               Will you let me be your servant (verses 1-4)

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS,  INTRODUCTIONS & OFFERING

 

“Those who do not run away from our pains but touch them with compassion bring healing and new strength.  The paradox indeed is that the beginning of healing is in the solidarity with the pain.  In our solution-oriented society it is more important than ever to realize that wanting to alleviate pain without sharing it is like wanting to save a child from a burning house without the risk of being hurt.  It is in solitude that this compassionate solidarity takes its shape.”                     –Henri Nouwen

Leading us in worship:  Janet Ry, speaker; Vija Ml, worship leader & visuals; Titus Kg, song leader;  Michelle Wr-Hn, musician; Shelly Wk, Children’s Story. 

* 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)

Please contact Vija Ml if you’d like to be involved in any of the Lent worship services

SHALOM COMMUNITY CHURCH HAPPENINGS

 

Finance Committee                             

Facilities Committee                            

Slow Cookers                                       

Service – Outreach                             

Congregational Meeting                    

Nurture Comm. Meeting                    

Mom’s Small Group                            

Poetry Meeting                                   

Readers Club                                        March 4                 7pm         Sz

                                Jimmy Carter’s book Palestine:  Peace not Apartheid   

Worship Committee                             March 5                 7:30         Wk

Peace and Justice Interest                  March 12               7:30         Wk

Congregational Life Committee         March 17               7:30         Versluis

 

The March 11 youth group (6:30-8:30) will take place at Ws.  With the expert guidance of Curtis Wk the youth will create an Indian dinner and eat it. 

If you have been missed and want to participate, please let Betsy know.  Some new people have been assigned to hosts with the hopes that they will participate.

Please pick up a copy of The Shepherd on the table in the foyer.

 
Youth:  Miriam and Noah Wk, Paul Vs, Dylan and Caleb Mr Py-decided to raise money for the Heifer Project by participating in a Read To Feed project.  They will keep 
track of the number of pages they read for the next month.  At the end, they will combine their number of pages read.  If you would like to sponsor them for 1-5 cents per 
page or more, please respond to this email or talk to a youth.  Give a hoot, give poverty the boot.  
 

I am in need for volunteers to bring food for Chris and Emily as of Feb. 24. Please look at your calendars and let me know what day is good for you.  As before, you can bring food to church too.  Please let me know when you will bring food and don't just take things over there.  That way I can spread out people bringing food and make the meals last a longer time.  Thanks, Betsy Hy

 

If you have Congregational concerns, please contact the Congregational Life Committee.  Leland Rp, Patti Sr 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 Mennonite Mutual Aid 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 Warkentin (MMA advocate), or visit MMA-online.org. Applications are due by March 31, 2007."

 

Paul met with Dean Hy in Ann Arbor, Co-Director for U.S. Ministries, from the Mennonite Mission Network.

 

Bluffton University President James M. Harder writes of the recent bus accident, “I wish to express appreciation for the outpouring of concern for Bluffton University in light of the tragedy involving our baseball team.  Please continue to keep the members of the baseball team, their parents and family members and the university community in your prayers during this difficult time.”

 

 

SERVICE OUTREACH

 

News from the Center for Faith & Scholarship, a Christian Study Center at the University of Michigan.  Rolf Bouma writes, “We received our first gift of financial support from a church outside of the Reformed tradition of Christianity, the intellectual tradition from which the Center is born.  Shalom Community Church of Ann Arbor, a Mennonite congregation, pledged through its Service and Outreach Committee, a sign of the close connection between the Center’s vision and the interests and commitments of Shalom’s members.”

 

 

Luke 14: 32 They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ 33He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. 34And he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.’ 35And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36He said, ‘Abba,* Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.’ 37He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, ‘Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? 38Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial;* the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ 39And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. 41He came a third time and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.’