Bulletin: September 23, 2007                                                        
Call to Worship                                                                         HWB 662 
Hymn:        God is here among us                                            	HWB 16  
Hymn:        Praise, I will praise you, Lord                               	 HWB 76  
Scripture Reading: John 15:1-17                        			       HWB 846
Children's Story
Reflections on John 15:1-17                               THEME: Friendship and Fruit
                    Response of Confession 
                    Leader:  Loving God, you invite us to abide in your love.  But we confess
                    that we wander with the world and love ourselves.
 
                    People:  Forgive us, Lord, for forgetting Christ's example of love.
 
                    Leader:  Gracious God, you ask us to make friends with one another.
                     But we admit that we would rather save ourselves the trouble.
 
                    People:  Forgive us, Lord, for forgetting Christ's example of love.
 
                    Leader:  Holy God, you chose us to bear the fruit of your love.  But we
                     confess that we lack confidence in your gospel.
                    
                    People:  Forgive us, Lord, for forgetting Christ's example of love.
 
                    ALL:  Merciful God, teach us how to love each other, and help us to be
                     your  friends.
Hymn:        O Lord, hear my prayer                                         HWB 348
Offering
Sharing and Prayer
Announcements
Hymn:  Great is thy faithfulness                                              HMB 327
Sending                                                                                       HWB #TBD 
                     
Worship Leader :  Kevin Tg;  Speakers:  Priscilla Cn, Leland Ropp;
Music Leader: Nelson Sz;   Pianist: Stephanie Ne; String Bass:  Miriam Wk; Flute:  Marty Sr;  Children's Story: Roxanne Cs

 Visitors are invited to stand and introduce yourselves during the sharing time so we can  welcome you.

** 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. 

 

Adult Sunday School this morning:  We will view a DVD, “People of Peace,” stories about African Christians working toward a vision of reconciliation, forgiveness, j
ustice and peace in the midst of violence and despair.   This is an introduction to the work that Scott Holland will speak about next Sunday.

 

Through the end of 2007 the Sunday morning schedule is as follows:

10:00-10:15:  opening, scripture, singing, children's time

10:15-10:20: dismiss children and speaker begins

11:00-11:15:  sharing, announcements, prayer, offering, closing

11:15-11:30: break for visiting  (Nurture Committee to coordinate drinks

and snack)

11:30-12:15:  discussion with the guest speaker. (Adults  meet in the sanctuary with speaker. Youth attend Sunday School or at times meet with adults. Children K-5 attend activity time. Preschoolers and infants attend nursery). 

Sunday School for elementary age and younger children occurs during church.  Children will be in the service until after the "children's time."  They will then go to their 
Sunday School classes.  Parents should pick up their children IMMEDIATELY after the end of the worship service (at 11:15) so they can enjoy the break between worship 
and adult Sunday School together.  When the adult Sunday School  is about to begin, (at 11:30) preschool children will go to the nursery until 12:15.   K-5 kids will return 
to their Sunday School room for planned activities which will last until 12:15.  Thanks for your cooperation on this arrangement.
Preschool children will have their SS class in their old room.  Nursery will still be in the regular nursery room.  
 
Elementary age children will meet in the adult classroom with  the big table in it for this fall. 

 

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

·         Patti Sr                                                          

Poetry Meeting : 

·         Don Ty  

Peace and Justice Interest Group, Monday, October 10, 7:30 p.m., Gertrude’s

·         Gertrude Wn 

Readers Club:  Sunday,  September 30, 7:00 p.m., Priscilla’s 
                    Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths  by Bruce Feiler

·         Priscilla                         

Slow Cookers:  Tues. October 4, 6:30 p.m., Gertrude’s

·         Gertrude Wn  663-9187

 

 Meetings:

Finance Committee                                             

Nurture Comm. Meeting    

Worship Committee,                            Sunday, September 23, 7:30, Ws’

Congregational Life Committee,             Tuesday, October 16, 7:30 p.m., Rs’

Congregational Business Meeting

Service – Outreach Committee

                               

 


SERVICE OUTREACH

 

SAVE THE DATE!  The annual CROP Walk will be October 7, beginning at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist,  120 S. State Street, Ann Arbor.

 

<>A list of local service agencies that our congregation supports every year has been posted on our website.  Please take a look at the list and explore what is going on
around us.   http://www.shalomcommunitychurch.mi.us.mennonite.net/Service%20agencies.html 
 
FINANCE COMMITTEE

To prepare the 2008 congregational budget, the Finance Committee has distributed a memo requesting your household’s expected financial contribution to SCC for the coming year.   We ask that you provide this information to either Emily Br or Anita Ts via one of the suggested methods (form in mailboxes, email or verbally) by October 14.  Thank you for your commitment to this aspect of our congregation’s life.

Dwelling in the Word: A corporate spiritual discipline of being attentive to God through the practice of meditation on Scripture.
·         Suggested passages for the reading are Isaiah 42:1-4, or 1-7, and John 15:1-11, or 1-17.

ANABAPTIST VOICES:  GUEST SPEAKERS AND RESOURCE MATERIALS:

September 30--Scott Holland – Professor at Bethany Theological Seminary. Will speak on “Seeking Cultures of Peace,” stories about African Christians working toward   a vision of reconciliation, forgiveness, justice and peace in the midst of violence and despair.  Learnings from a 10-year project of the three Historic Peace Churches and the World Council of Churches.   See Janet if you would like a copy of  two chapters from Seeking Peace in Africa:  Stories from African Peacemakers, edited by Donald E. Miller, Scott Holland, Lon Fendall, and Dean Johnson.

October 7 – John Roth – teaches history at Goshen College, Director of the Mennonite Historical Library.  He will speak on "Why Peace is Good News: Pacifism,                
Spirituality and the Future of the Mennonite Peace Witness."
October 21 – Ann Hostetler, -- published poet (Empty Room with Light), editor of a capella:  Mennonite Voices in Poetry,  teaches English at Goshen College.  On              Saturday evening, October 20, Ann will lead a writing workshop for all who are interested.  More details to come.
October 28 – Reuben Sairs – teaches New Testament, ethics, world religions and evangelism at Rosedale Bible College, plays classical guitar.
________________________________________________________________
From Gertrude Wn, MMA advocate for Shalom:  For the past two adoptions in our church we raised money to match an MMA grant to assist with the expenses for 
overseas adoption, which are considerable.  The first time MMA matched $1000.  Last year they  lowered it to $500.  It has now been halved again to $250.  We have 
always exceeded the grant amount for our part.  If you would like to contribute to our matching part, please write a check to Shalom with 'adoption' in the memo section.  
Please do this by the first of October.