Visitors:  We're delighted you are here.  Please complete a Welcome card (at the Welcome Table) and we invite you to introduce yourself during the sharing time. 

 

Opening Words

1               Out of the depths, I cry to you, O Lord

2               Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy

1              If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, who could stand?

2              But with you there is forgiveness; and for that we revere you.

1              I wait for the Lord, my souls waits, and in God’s word I put my hope

2              My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning

1 & 2   More than those who watch for the morning

 

Introduction to Lenten Series

 

Children’s Time:  “Happy are those who are forgiven"

 

Song:   Let down your hearts to the Lord; we let them down to God (3 times)

 

Moment of Silence and Reflection

 

Confessing Our Sins:

 

Leader: Look to God, your teacher, who watches out for you

People:                   When I hid my sin, my strength shriveled up

Leader: Do not wander stubbornly, but follow God’s leading

People:                   Then I spoke up and confessed my wrong.

Leader: Those who are faithful turn to God in times of danger

People:                   You, my refuge, save me from ruin

Leader: Happy are the forgiven, whose sin is covered.

People:                   I will be glad in the Lord and shout for joy, for steadfast love

                                surrounds those who trust God.

 

 Song:  HB#504 Have thine own way

 

Scripture:  Matthew 4: 1-11

 

Unison Reading:

 

But you, O God, are not to be found in exalted places, instead you draw us in word and down word, to the depths, to the core, to the earth’s core, where the fire will consume our falseness.  And where the flame of hope lights away to Christ our Savior who suffered and died, becoming nothing for love of us, so that we might truly live beloved daughters and sons, wise and simple, holy and true, let us go down to the depths to the still center, to the empty spacious silence.

 

Ritual of Ashes

 

Words of Assurance:    Psalm 130: 7-8

 

1              People of God, hope in the Lord

2              For with the Lord these is unfailing love

1&2         and with our God is great power to redeem

 

Song:   Lift up your hearts

Sharing/Offering/Announcements

Song  STS 59 From ashes to the living fount

Benediction

 

Worship Leader: Roxanne Cross and April Hicks, Song leader, Titus King, Pianist: Anita Toews

 

If you have congregational concerns,  please contact the pastor or the Congregational Life Committee:  Janet Reedy, Patti Sprunger, or Dave Polley

 

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  wish.  Call the contact person for information, dates, times, directions or location.

 

Moms’ Small Group

·         Patti Sprunger                                                              

Poetry Meeting :   Feb 8  7:30 a.m., Gertrude’s

·         Don Thackrey 

Peace and Justice Interest Group, Monday, Feb. 11, 7:30 p.m., Weaverdycks’

·         Gertrude Warkentin

Readers’ Club:  The Eight Promise, Feb 10, 7pm Polley-Miller

·    Priscilla Chamberlain         

Slow Cookers: 

·         Gertrude Warkentin  Committee Meetings:

 

Finance Committee:                                            

Nurture Committee:             

Worship Committee: Monday, March 3, 7:30 pm, Weaverdycks’

Congregational Life Committee:  Tuesday, Feburary 26, 7:30 pm, Versluis

Service Outreach Committee: Thursday, Feb 28, 6:30 Tom and Kathy B

Here are the lineups for February rotating potlucks.  The date is Feb. 16.  If I have missed anyone, please let Betsy Harvey know.
 
1. Host:Chamberlain/Hollander, Guests: Blosser/Burkhalter, Brubaker, Nafziger
2. Host: Harvey, Guests: Cross, Versluis, Hansen
3. Host: Ponstein, Guests: LaFlamme, Warkentin, Showalter
4. Host: Sprunger, Guests: Weaverdyck, Hicks, Nance O'Reilly
5. Host: Brubacher/Clingenpeel, Guests: Holland, Smith, Tang
6. Host: Webster-Hein, Guests: Seelbach, Shantz
7. Host: Ropp, Guests: Jenna & 1, King, Kanagy

The first Congregational Business Meeting for 2008 will take place next Sunday, February 10, following potluck.  Everyone who attends Shalom, regularly or otherwise, is encouraged to attend and give input on the items for discussion.

 

You can contribute money to Mennonite Church USA organizations in a single, secure credit/debit card transaction at giving.MennoniteUSA.org.

Check out www.brethrenworkcamps.org for information on youth service opportunities for 2008.  Registration opens January 3.

 

“Genocide” is the topic for the National Youth Christian Citizenship Seminar, March 29-April 3, 2009, New York City and Washington D.C.  for high school youth and adult advisors, sponsored by the Church of the Brethren.  Register by February 28.  www.brethren.org/genbd/yya

 

 Fresh from the Word is a book of 366 daily devotions celebrating the 300^th anniversary of the Church of the Brethren.  Composed by writers from six Brethren groups, it is a way for Brethren to join in one spirit and purpose to celebrate the 300^th anniversary.  You can order it  for $15 from the Brethren Press at www.brethrenpress.com

 

Living as a peacemaker can be a lonely and exhausting task in a troubled world. Central District Conference is in the process of developing a retreat to nurture, encourage, and strengthen the peacemakers among us. We hope to create a time of reflection and renewal at Camp Friedenswald May 16-18, 2008 for all who desire new energy in their work for peace. This is not a training or a workshop, but a time of inner reflection and sharing with a circle of likeminded partners in faith. We hope to make this retreat accessible to everyone at all financial resource levels. Is this something you would support financially or personally by joining us or commissioning others' participation?

 

 On Monday evening, February 4, at 8 p.m., the Center for Faith & Scholarship presents a lecture by author Lauren Winner.  Entitled "The Hiddenness of God", Lauren will explore the complexity of relationship with God.  The lecture will be in Michigan League Ballroom of UM's Central Campus.  For more information, visit www.cfs-aa.org or call (734) 668-7421.

 

The set-up teams of 4 people commit to set up and take down on one of  the first, second, third or fourth Sunday monthly and on one fifth Sunday in the year. The following people have done it this past year:  Marty and Hollis, Michelle and Scott, Leland, Amanda and David, Curtis and Shelly, Joy V., Ruth and Nelson, Paul S., Keith, Stan, Mark, Tim Smith and Gertrude.  Several of these folks have done it for 2 or more years.  Please consider making the commitment for the year.  Contact me by e-mail, phone, or in person.  Thanks.  Gertrude.

 

MMA Sharing Funds provided $500 in matching funds to support special needs in our church this last year.  Eligible grant amount for 2008 is $2000. We have 14 Shalom participants who own or participate in MMA projects and services which help fund the Sharing Fund.  Contact Gertrude Warkentin the congregation's MMA

advocate for more information

 

Are you looking for a career opportunity using your relationship building and sales skills in an insurance environment within a Christian faith community?  MAX

(MutualAid eXchange) and Sharing Services Agency is a faith-based organization that provides property and casualty insurance products and Mutual Aid Ministries programs to

the Anabaptist community. To learn more about us and those we serve, please visit www.mutualaidexchange.com <http://www.mutualaidexchange.com/ Resumes may be emailed to skwine@maxkc.com or faxed to (877) 785-0085.