Epiphany Sunday, January 6, 2019

Verse for the week:

Arise, shine, for Your Light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.  For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon You and His glory will be seen upon You.  And nations shall come to Your Light, and kings to the brightness of Your rising.  Isaiah 60: 1-3

Worship leader: Rudy Franz

Song leader & Accompanist: Gerry Giesbrecht

 

Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship

Prayer

Worship in Song

Offertory

Prayer Time

Worship in Song

Scripture Reading – Matthew 2 – Caroline Ens

Message – “Pledge of Allegiance” – Jake Friesen

Service of Communion

Closing Song

Benediction

Prayer & Praise

~ Congratulations to Dustin & Leah Fehr on the birth of their son, Walker Duke, on Sunday, December 30, 2018.  He is a brother for Sawyer & Deacon.  Proud grandparents are Dave & Cathy Fehr.  We want to wish you God’s blessings as you make room in your home and hearts for the children who have been entrusted to you.

~Welcome to this first Sunday of the New Year.  We are invited to continue trusting our God who is not bound by time and space.  Let us rest assured that we are kept in God’s love throughout our time on this earth.

~ Thank you to the food committee for your planning and preparing such a wonderful breakfast for us on January 1, 2019.  We appreciate the opportunity to begin the New Year with food, fellowship and prayer.

~ Thank you to Gerry Giesbrecht and many others for helping to plan the 24 hour Worship and Prayer day, held Saturday at the Youth Centre.   This was a wonderful opportunity to begin the year with a variety of forms of worship, through music, guided prayer, meditation and scripture.

– Clubs for Boys and Girls from Grades 3 – 6 is on Wednesdays from 7 – 8:30pm.  All are welcome.  We will resume January 9, 2019.  Thanks to everyone who has signed up for baking cookies for clubs, there are still a few open slots.  Thank you to all who have provided leadership for this program.  It is greatly appreciated! If there are any questions, feel free to contact Rachelle Loewen 362-8323.

~ For all those students and teachers entering back into the classroom after the Christmas break we want to wish you God’s continued guidance, a love of learning, the ability to focus and much perseverance on the journey.

Let us continue to pray for Tim & Marlene Wiebe & Family as they face difficult decisions regarding further cancer treatments for Tim.  His cancer has returned in a very aggressive manner and is already affecting his ability to read, write and process information.

Austin Penner, as he continues in the PASS program in Winnipeg.

~ Continue in prayer for Tenley Falk and family, and Nettie Ginter and family, as they continue to deal with the challenges of after effects of treatments.

~ Dave Rempel as he continues to recover from knee surgery.

~ Those in various care homes that we remember in our prayers include: Helen Janzen at Bethania Mennonite Personal Care Home and Jake Rempel at Donwood Personal Care Home. 

~We continue to offer our prayer support for Laure and her family, as well as for the Paroisse Missionaire Congregation in Kinshasa, DR Congo; Ryan Thiessen in San Carlos, Mexico, Murray and Carol Honsberger in Papua New Guinea, Eagles Wings Children’s Village in Uganda, and Tyler Loewen in Cambodia with MCC

Prayer for the Week:

Lord God, we know You are here among us to enter the shadows in our hearts.  For those who have travelled through the storms of life, for those who are still on the road, for those bearing gifts in your name, for those who feel they have no gift to bring, for those who are carrying their loved ones, for those who need to be loved and carried, for those who are our leaders, for those who are afraid to lead, for those who are strangers in a new place, for those who are strangers in a place called home.  Lord of Light, enter our darkness, so that just as the Magi saw the star at its rising and knew that Your Light had come and responded by offering their time, energies, gifts and praise, so may we respond to Your Light just as fully and freely.  Amen.

Church Announcements

 

~ Audio services and bulletins are now available at our church website.  The address is:  http://blumenortchurch.comFrom the Finance Committee

Budget for 2018 (passed at the March, 2018 annual Meeting): $ 375,000.00

Income to December 31, 2018: $ 348,481.22

Expenses to December 31, 2018: $ 344,685.01

Thanks for your gifts and continued giving.

Please get your announcements in early.  Call and leave a message, or email: blumenortmc@gmail.com.  For rentals of the church basement or youth centre, please call Dorothy Hildebrandt @ 204-324-4426.  Remember to clean up after your event.  Thank You!

 

~ Jake & Ingrid Friesen will be teaching a class beginning on January 20, 2019  – “To already married and soon-to-be married people.

If love, laughter and a great marriage relationship are part of your hopes and expectations, then listen up.

How do you handle conflict?

What’s your money spending personalities?

How do you manage expectations, both stated and unstated?

Do you have someone mentoring you and are you mentoring someone?

Have you left home and are cleaving to your spouse?

How is your relationship with your in-laws?

Can you get past the differences between you?

These are just a few of the questions we’ll explore in this class, as we set a goal to improve relationships within the marriage relationship and in the church.”

 

~ Church Retreat is happening on February 8 – 10, 2019, at Camp Assiniboia.  More details to follow.  Save the dates.  Sign-up sheet coming soon!!

Church Calendar

 January 13 – Speaker – Gerry Giesbrecht

January 20 – Speaker – Rudy Franz

January 27 – Speaker – Esther Zacharias

 

Youth

~ BMC Youth is for youth in grades 7-12, and happens Wednesdays from 7:00pm-9:15pm~ For updates follow us on Social Media:
instagram: @bmcyouthmin
facebook: facebook.com/groups/BMCYouth (Group)
                  facebook.com/bmcyouthmin (Page)
twitter: @bmcyouthmin
or contact Gerry Giesbrecht @ 204-362-7262

January 9 – Youth resumes

Community Announcements

~ Are you getting tired of the cold and dark of winter?  Join us for the Gardens on Tenth theme night, “Cabin Fever”, on Thursday, January 17th, 2019 at 5 pm with Johnny Cash (Corny Rempel).  Join us for comfort food and warm entertainment for only $20.00 per person.  Bring a friend who also needs to get out.   Call 204-324-8945 by January 11 for your tickets.

~ Mennonite Collegiate Institute, Gretna MB, invites applications for the position of Principal commencing August, 2019.  For more information or to submit a resume, please email searchteam@mciblues.net.  More information can be found at www.mciblues.net.

~ SALT positions are open! What are your plans for 2019? How about spending a year immersed in another culture, serving the local community, and getting real-world work experience? SALT is an 11-month program open to young adults aged 18-30. For more information and to apply visit mccmb.ca/salt

~ Southern Manitoba Choral Society invites all singers to join the choir on Tuesdays for its winter/spring season. First rehearsal is January 15, 2019 from 7:00-8:45 pm in the W C Miller Collegiate music room. Registration is $35.

 

December 30, 2018

Verse of the Week:

Lord you have been our dwelling place in all generations.  Before the mountains were brought forth, or before you formed the earth or the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Psalm 90: 1 – 2


Worship leader:  Gerry Giesbrecht
Song Leader: Jake Friesen
Pianist: Kirsten Friesen

 

Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship

Prayer

Worship in Song

Offertory

Prayer Time

Children’s Story – Ang Driedger

Worship in Song

We invite your participation on this last Sunday of the year, to share whatever is meaningful for you and which would be an encouragement to the rest of us, to hear.  This could be in the form of Scripture, song, poetry, instrumental, story or reflection.  We invite your participation.

Congregational Singing

BenedictionPrayer & Praise

 


Announcements:

~ Congratulations and God’s blessings to Mark Derksen and Kim Ginter who were married at the Blumenort Church on December 29, 2018.  We want to wish you well as you begin the adventure of marriage through the ongoing guidance of the Spirit of God.

~ As the year 2018 draws to a close, we are grateful for the opportunity to worship our God, who transcends all time.  We are invited to trust this same God for the upcoming year, knowing that Emmanuel-God-with-us, will continue to lead and guide.

~thank you once again to the many who were involved in providing for our congregation a rich experience of worship during this Christmas season.  Thank you to the Sunday school and the decorating committee, the music committee and many others for your dedication, time and energy to making this a meaningful season for us all.

~ Thank you to all those who helped decorate our mitten tree during this Christmas season.  Local schools in our area are grateful for these donations which they distribute to those in need.

~ Rudy & Kathy would like to thank all those who sent cards and pictures to us during this season.  Thank you for all your expressions of thoughtfulness and care.

~ Bill & Ann Peckham as well as Murray & Carol Honsberger have sent Christmas letters to our congregation.  These letters can be found on the bulletin board.  Just a note to say that the Honsberger’s will need to return to Canada much sooner than planned in order to maintain their Canadian resident Status.  They will be arriving in Manitoba on January 27, 2019 and will be at home for one year.

~ Saturday, January 5, 2019 marks the date for our monthly 24 hour prayer vigil for Eagles Wings Children’s Village in Uganda.  This also coincides with the 24 hour Worship and prayer day being planned beginning at 8:15am.

– Clubs for Boys and Girls from Grades 3 – 6 is on Wednesdays from 7 – 8:30pm.  All are welcome.  We will resume January 9, 2019.  Thanks to everyone who has signed up for baking cookies for clubs, there are still a few open slots.  Thank you to all who have provided leadership for this progam.  It is greatly appreciated! If there are any questions, feel free to contact Rachelle Loewen 362-8323.

– Tim Wiebe did not get very good news following his last MRI. The cancer has returned in a very aggressive manner.  He needs to decide whether to take further treatments or not.  At this point he is not able to read, write or to process information.  This is a difficult time for Marlene and the children as well.  They appreciate our continued prayer support.

~ Continue in prayer for Tenley Falk and family, and Nettie Ginter and family, as they continue to deal with the challenges of after effects of treatments.

~ Dave Rempel as he continues to recover from knee surgery.

Austin Penner, as he rejoins the PASS program in Winnipeg in December

~ Those in various care homes that we remember in our prayers include: Helen Janzen at Bethania Mennonite Personal care home and Jake Rempel at Donwood Personal Care Home. 

~We continue to offer our prayer support for Laure and her family, as well as for the Paroisse Missionaire Congregation in Kinshasa, DR Congo; Ryan Thiessen in San Carlos, Mexico, Murray and Carol Honsberger in Papua New Guinea, Eagles Wings Children’s Village in Uganda, and Tyler Loewen in Cambodia with MCC

Prayer for the Week:

God of all generations, you are from everlasting to everlasting; with you there is no beginning and no end.  You oversee the endlessness of space, yet each of us is always in your view.  You are always creating, all things become new, yet you abide the same forever.  We begin this New Year, confident in your keeping power, assured of your infinity.  May we mirror your virtue, model your suffering love, and live your righteousness.  By your grace enable us to serve you, to worship and glorify you, through Jesus the Christ, our Lord.  Amen

Church

~ Audio services and bulletins are now available at our Church website.  The address is http://blumenortchurch.com

~ Please get your announcements in early. Call and leave a message, or email blumenortmc@gmail.com. For any rentals of the church basement or the youth centre, please call Dorothy Hildebrandt at 204-324-4426.  Remember to clean up after your event!!  Thank you.

From the Finance Committee

Budget for 2018 (passed at the March, 2018 annual Meeting): $ 375,000.00

Income to December 28, 2018: $ 355, 522.70

Expenses to December 28, 2018: $ 336,132.40

Thanks for your gifts and continued giving.

-Rudy is involved in leading worship at Eastview and the Gardens on Tenth in Altona this morning.

~ It is good to give to our God the praise that is his. Are you interested in sharing your musical gifts? We are looking for people willing to play offertory & prelude, special music, etc.
There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board in the foyer.  You can also contact the music committee members – Angela Fehr, Ravae Wiebe, Harley Dyck, and Corinne Peters with any questions.

~ Church Council and the Ministerial have suggested that we gather together for Breakfast on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2019 at 9 am, in the basement of the church.  This would be followed be an informal time of worship.  We invite all those who are interested and able to join us for breakfast on that morning and begin the New Year, with a time of Fellowship, prayer and worship.

~ We will be having a 24 Hour Worship and Prayer day, January 5, 2019 beginning at 8:15 am, with group prayer and ending January 6 at 8:30am with group prayer.

See Gerry Giesbrecht to sign up for prayer or leading worship through music.  You are welcome to come anytime to pray throughout the day, evening or night.

~ Church Retreat is happening on February 8 – 10, 2019, at Camp Assiniboia.  More details to follow.  Save the dates.  Sign-up sheet coming soon!!


Youth

~ BMC Youth is for youth in grades 7-12, and happens Wednesdays from 7:00pm-9:15pm

~ For updates follow us on Social Media:
instagram: @bmcyouthmin
facebook: facebook.com/groups/BMCYouth (Group)
                  facebook.com/bmcyouthmin (Page)
twitter: @bmcyouthmin
or contact Gerry Giesbrecht @ 204-362-7262

Youth Calendar:

January 9 – Youth will resume


 


Community

~ Are you getting tired of the cold and dark of winter?  Join us for the Gardens on Tenth theme night, “Cabin Fever”, on Thursday, January 17th, 2019 at 5 pm with Johnny Cash (Corny Rempel).  Join us for comfort food and warm entertainment for only $20.00 per person.  Bring a friend who also needs to get out.   Call 204-324-8945 by January 11 for your tickets.

 

~ Mennonite Collegiate Institute, Gretna MB, invites applications for the position of Principal commencing August, 2019.  For more information or to submit a resume, please email searchteam@mciblues.net.  More information can be found at www.mciblues.net.

 

~ SALT positions are open! What are your plans for 2019? How about spending a year immersed in another culture, serving the local community, and getting real-world work experience? SALT is an 11-month program open to young adults aged 18-30. For more information and to apply visit mccmb.ca/salt


Church Calendar

January 1, 2019 – Breakfast at 9 am, followed by an informal worship service

January 6 – Speaker – Jake Friesen.  We will also be sharing a communion service on this Sunday of Epiphany.

January 13 – Speaker – Gerry Giesbrecht

January 20 – Speaker – Rudy Franz

January 27 – Speaker – Esther Zacharias

Christmas Day – December 25, 2018

Verse for the week:

The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it…and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of Grace and Truth; we have beheld His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.  John1: 5, 14

 

Worship Leader: Esther Zacharias

Song Leader: Walter Dyck

Pianist: Riley Dyck

Welcome

Call to worship

Prayer

Worship in Song

Lighting of the Advent Candles and the Christ Candle

Prayer Time

Reading – When the World was Dark

Worship in Song

Scripture reading- Luke 1: 26-38, 2: 1-20

Message – “God’s “Tiny” Entrance” –Pastor Rudy

Closing song

Benediction

Der Friedensfuerst

 

Prayer & Praise

~ Welcome to our Christmas Day Worship Service.  The One whose birth was foretold from long ago has come to dwell among us.  We rejoice with the angels, the shepherds and the wise men, that the One whose first cradle was a manger, would become our Savior and Redeemer.  Thanks be to God for this expression of Love for a world so often bent on going its own way.  May the Babe in the manger find a home in each of our hearts and lives this Christmas season and always.

~ Christmas Prayer: eternal God, ruler of all worlds, Your glory is revealed in vastness and in power, yet Your greatest name is Love.   This is the time we remember Your gentleness, Hidden in a mothers hope.  This is the time we believe again that love is stronger than fear, that peace is stronger than hate, that darkness will never conquer the Light.  In this season of God- with- us, we offer our gift of gratitude and we make bold to believe that we are graced with Your presence, for we are gathered in the name of Emmanuel, God-with-us. Amen

Christmas Litany

Leader: O Christ, Light of the world, come to our lives and reveal meaning and truth.

People: O Christ, hope of the despairing, come to our lives and teach us simple joy.

Leader: Jesus the Christ, Bread of the Soul, come to us and nourish us to true and eternal life.

People: Jesus the Christ, shepherd of the flock, come and lead us to the Springs of Living Water.

Leader: Living Christ, just and gentle Judge, come and reveal us to ourselves.

People: Living Christ, healer of the wounded, come and make us whole.  Show us the way to new life.

All: Jesus the Christ, our Life, we celebrate Your birth today.  May our celebration be more than mere remembrance; may our worship be an opening of ourselves to You, in Spirit and in Truth.  Be born in us today, renew our Spirits and strengthen us to be Your people in the world, through the indwelling power of Your Holy Spirit.  Amen

December 23, 2018

Verse of the Week:

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.   John 10:11

When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ Luke 15:5-6


Program Director: Luke Klassen

Worship leader: Marilyn Dyck

 Song leader: Kathy Franz

Accompanist: Joshua Dyck

 Announcements

Call to Worship

Congregational singing

Lighting of the Fourth Advent Candle

Offertory

Prayer Time

The Sunday school children present “The Good Shepherd”, written and directed by Luke Klassen

Congregational Singing

Closing Prayer by Pastor Rudy


Prayer & Praise

~ There will be no children’s church for the next two weeks

~ Thank you to the Sunday school children for your Christmas Concert presentation.  Thank you to the teachers for all your help in the preparations and rehearsals.  Thank you to Luke Klassen for writing and directing this morning’s presentation.  We appreciate you using your gifts of ministry in this way.  It is indeed an honor to be able to commemorate the birth of our Lord and Savior.

~ Clubs for Boys and Girls from Grades 3 – 6 is on Wednesdays from 7 – 8:30pm.  All are welcome.  We will resume January 9, 2019.  Thanks to everyone who has signed up for baking cookies for clubs, there are still a few open slots.  Thank you to all who have provided leadership for this program.  It is greatly appreciated! If there are any questions, feel free to contact Rachelle Loewen 362-8323.

~ Thank you also to the Music Committee for your planning of this year’s Candlelight service which will take place tomorrow (December 24) at 7:30 pm.  Thank you to all those who helped out with readings, sound and visuals.  It is a wonderful opportunity to be reminded of God’s coming to us, as Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

~ We want to wish Mark Derksen & Kim Ginter God’s continued blessing as they make plans to celebrate their wedding on Saturday, December 29, 2018.  May youlook forward to this day and with joy anticipate the opportunity to live out the commitment you make to one another.

~ We trust that all students and staff involved in the field of education will enjoy a break from their studies, be able to find time to reconnect with family & friends, as well as being renewed in Spirit by the continued reality of Emmanuel –God-With-Us.

~ For all those who are not able to be home for Christmas, we trust that this season will in some way be an inspiration and encouragement to you, wherever you are and whatever your ministry is.  God bless you.

From the Finance Committee

Budget for 2018 (passed at the March, 2018 annual Meeting): $ 375,000.00

Income to December 21, 2018: 332,121.05

Expenses to December 21, 2018: $ 322,919.83

Needed to meet the projected Budget: $ 42,878.95

Expected expenses in this last week $ 20,000.00

Thanks for your gifts and continued giving.

~ Continue in prayer for Tenley Falk and family, and Nettie Ginter and family, Tim Wiebe and family as they continue to deal with the challenges of after effects of treatments.

~ Dave Rempel as he continues to recover from knee surgery.

~ Bernie Kehler as he continues to recover from heart surgery.

~ Kelly Fehr as she continues to build up strength and energy.

Austin Penner, as he rejoins the PASS program in Winnipeg in December

~ The keeping of traditions is important, and all the more so when such traditions bring blessings to those less fortunate.  The dressing of the mitten tree provides warm mittens/toques/scarves/socks/slippers for local children in need.  Thank you, in advance, for your generosity.

~ Those in various care homes that we remember in our prayers include: Helen Janzen at Bethania Mennonite Personal care home and Jake Rempel at Donwood Personal Care Home. 

~We continue to offer our prayer support for Laure and her family, as well as for the Paroisse Missionaire Congregation in Kinshasa, DR Congo; Ryan Thiessen in San Carlos, Mexico, Murray and Carol Honsberger in Papua New Guinea, Eagles Wings Children’s Village in Uganda, Andrea Fehr home for the holidays, and Tyler Loewen in Cambodia with MCC

Prayer for the week:

Father in heaven, our hearts desire the warmth of Your Love and our minds are searching the Light of your Word.   Increase our longing for Christ our Savior and give us the strength to grow in love, that the dawn of His coming may find us rejoicing in His presence and welcoming the Light of His truth.  Amen.


Announcements:

~ Audio services and bulletins are now available at our Church website.  The address is http://blumenortchurch.com

~ Please get your announcements in early. Call and leave a message, or email blumenortmc@gmail.com. For any rentals of the church basement or the youth centre, please call Dorothy Hildebrandt at 204-324-4426.  Remember to clean up after your event!!  Thank you.

 

~ It is good to give to our God the praise that is his. Are you interested in sharing your musical gifts? We are looking for people willing to play offertory & prelude, special music, etc.
There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board in the foyer.  You can also contact the music committee members – Angela Fehr, Ravae Wiebe, Harley Dyck, and Corinne Peters with any questions.

 

~ Next Sunday, December 30, 2018 is the date of the last Sunday of the year as well as a time for our Sharing Sunday.  We invite anyone who has something to share, scripture, song, and story, instrumental, to feel free to do so.

 

~ Church Council and the Ministerial have suggested that we gather together for Breakfast on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2019 at 9 am, in the basement of the church.  This would be followed be an informal time of worship.  We invite all those who are interested and able to join us for breakfast on that morning and begin the New Year, with a time of Fellowship, prayer and worship.

 

~ We will be having a 24 Hour Worship and Prayer day, January 5, 2019 beginning at 8:15 am, with group prayer and ending January 6 at 8:30am with group prayer.

See Gerry Giesbrecht to sign up for prayer or leading worship through music.  You are welcome to come anytime to pray throughout the day, evening or night.

 

~ Church Retreat is happening on February 8 – 10, 2019, at Camp Assiniboia.  More details to follow.  Save the dates.  Sign-up sheet coming soon!!


Youth

~ BMC Youth is for youth in grades 7-12, and happens Wednesdays from 7:00pm-9:15pm

~ For updates follow us on Social Media:
instagram: @bmcyouthmin
facebook: facebook.com/groups/BMCYouth (Group)
                  facebook.com/bmcyouthmin (Page)
twitter: @bmcyouthmin
or contact Gerry Giesbrecht @ 204-362-7262

Youth Calendar:

January 9, 2019 – youth resumes


 

Community

~ Are you getting tired of the cold and dark of winter?  Join us for the Gardens on Tenth theme night, “Cabin Fever”, on Thursday, January 17th, 2019 at 5 pm with Johnny Cash (Corny Rempel).  Join us for comfort food and warm entertainment for only $20.00 per person.  Bring a friend who also needs to get out.   Call 204-324-8945 by January 11 for your tickets.

 

~ Mennonite Collegiate Institute, Gretna MB, invites applications for the position of Principal commencing August, 2019.  For more information or to submit a resume, please email searchteam@mciblues.net.  More information can be found at www.mciblues.net.

 

~ SALT positions are open! What are your plans for 2019? How about spending a year immersed in another culture, serving the local community, and getting real-world work experience? SALT is an 11-month program open to young adults aged 18-30. For more information and to apply visit mccmb.ca/salt.


Church Calendar

 

December 24 – Candlelight Service at 7:30 pm

December 25 – Christmas Day Worship Service at 10:30 am

December 30 – Sharing Sunday, No Sunday School this morning

January 1, 2019 – Breakfast at 9 am, followed by an informal worship service

January 6 – Speaker – Jake Friesen.  We will also be sharing a communion service on this Sunday of Epiphany.

December 16, 2018

Verse of the Week:

Rejoice in Your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Romans 12: 12


Worship leader: Gerry Giesbrecht
Song Leader & Pianist: Riley Dyck & Band

Welcome and announcements

Call to worship

Prayer

Worship in song

Lighting of the Third Advent Candle

Offertory –

Prayer Time

Children’s Story – Caroline Ens

Worship in song

Scripture reading – Philippians 4: 4 – 9

Message –“Take Courage in the Blessing” –Cheryl Pauls

Closing song

Benediction


Prayer & Praise

~ The results of last Sunday’s vote of affirmation, was that there was overwhelming support for Jake & Agatha Falk to serve as deacons for a three year term. Thank you for your participation in the vote of affirmation and thank you to Jake & Agatha for your willingness to serve.

~ A special welcome to Cheryl Pauls, President of Canadian Mennonite University for your willingness to come and participate with us in our worship service.  We want to wish you God’s blessings in your continued ministry of post-secondary education in all its various forms.

~ Clubs for Boys and Girls from Grades 3 – 6 is on Wednesdays from 7 – 8:30pm.  All are welcome.  We will resume January 9, 2019.  Thanks to everyone who has signed up for baking cookies for clubs, there are still a few open slots.  Thank you to all who have provided leadership for this program.  It is greatly appreciated! If there are any questions, feel free to contact Rachelle Loewen 362-8323.

~ Continue in prayer for Tenley Falk and family, and Nettie Ginter and family, Tim Wiebe and family as they continue to deal with the challenges of after effects of treatments.

~ Dave Rempel as he continues to recover from knee surgery.

~ Bernie Kehler as he continues to recover from heart surgery.

~ Kelly Fehr as she continues to build up strength and energy.

Austin Penner, as he rejoins the PASS program in Winnipeg in December

~ The keeping of traditions is important, and all the more so when such traditions bring blessings to those less fortunate.  The dressing of the mitten tree provides warm mittens/toques/scarves/socks/slippers for local children in need.  Thank you, in advance, for your generosity.

~ Those in various care homes that we remember in our prayers include: Helen Janzen at Bethania Mennonite Personal care home and Jake Rempel at Donwood Personal Care Home. 

~We continue to offer our prayer support for Laure and her family, as well as for the Paroisse Missionaire Congregation in Kinshasa, DR Congo; Ryan Thiessen in San Carlos, Mexico, Murray and Carol Honsberger in Papua New Guinea, Eagles Wings Children’s Village in Uganda, Andrea Fehr in Hawai’i and Tyler Loewen in Cambodia with MCC

Prayer for the Week:

God of all hope and joy, open our hearts in welcome, that Your Son Jesus Christ at His coming may find in us a dwelling prepared for Himself; Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever.     Amen.


Announcements:

~ Audio services and bulletins are now available at our Church website.  The address is http://blumenortchurch.com

~ Please get your announcements in early. Call and leave a message, or email blumenortmc@gmail.com. For any rentals of the church basement or the youth centre, please call Dorothy Hildebrandt at 204-324-4426.  Remember to clean up after your event!!  Thank you.

~ It is good to ive to our God the praise that is his. Are you interested in sharing your musical gifts? We are looking for people willing to play offertory & prelude, special music, etc.
There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board in the foyer.  You can also contact the music committee members – Angela Fehr, Ravae Wiebe, Harley Dyck, and Corinne Peters with any questions.

~ We will be having a 24 Hour Worship and Prayer day, January 5, 2019 beginning at 8:15 am, with group prayer and ending January 6 at 8:30am with group prayer.

See Gerry Giesbrecht to sign up for prayer or leading worship through music.  You are welcome to come anytime to pray throughout the day, evening or night.

~ Church Retreat is happening on February 8 – 10, 2019, at Camp Assiniboia.  More details to follow.  Save the dates.  Sign-up sheet coming soon!!

~ Church Council and the Ministerial have suggested that we gather together for Breakfast on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2019 at 9 am, in the basement of the church.  This would be followed be an informal time of worship.  We invite all those who are interested and able to join us for breakfast on that morning and begin the New Year, with a time of Fellowship, prayer and worship.

~ In preparation for the Sunday School Christmas Program, taking place next Sunday morning, December 23, there will be a rehearsal on Saturday, December 22 beginning at 9:30 am.   We invite all those who are involved to attend this rehearsal so we can be prepared for the Sunday morning presentation.

 

From the Finance Committee

Budget for 2018 (passed at the March, 2018 annual Meeting): $ 375,000.00

Income to December 14, 2018: $ 301,057.05

Expenses to December 7, 2018: $ 318,261.32

Needed to meet the projected Budget: $ 73,943.00

Thanks for your gifts and continued giving.

 

Youth

~ BMC Youth is for youth in grades 7-12, and happens Wednesdays from 7:00pm-9:15pm

~ For updates follow us on Social Media:
instagram: @bmcyouthmin
facebook: facebook.com/groups/BMCYouth (Group)
                  facebook.com/bmcyouthmin (Page)
twitter: @bmcyouthmin
or contact Gerry Giesbrecht @ 204-362-7262

Youth Calendar:

Youth Calendar:

December 19 – Christmas Party – dress up

 


 

Community

~ Ten Thousand Villages Altona is currently looking for volunteers to work in the store, operating the cash register and assisting customers, and one or two volunteers to open and close the store on a rotating basis. If you are interested in volunteering in our store and would like more information or to apply, please contact Sara Wall at the store on Monday or Thursday afternoons, or by email at altona@villages.ca.

 

~ Canadian Blood Services – will hold a Community Blood Donor Clinic at Altona Rhineland Pioneer Centre

Wednesday, December 19th, 2018  2:00 – 7:00 pm

 

~ “Altona Palliative Care annual Longest Night Service, December 21 @ 7:00 @ Altona United Church.

All who are grieving the loss of a loved one or any other losses are welcome.”

 

~ MCI invites all to attend the Christmas Program on Thursday, December 20 at 7:30 m. at Buhler Hall.  There are also many other school Christmas concerts and events to attend and we trust that these will all contribute to our preparation for the birth of the Christ Child.

 

~ Faith & Life Male Choir and Women’s Chorus Christmas Concert, December 16, 2018 at 3 pm at the Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church.  A freewill offering to support the choir ministry will be taken.  All are invited.

~ The Winkler Community Male Choir will be presenting their Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 22 at 7pm at the Winkler EMMC.  All are invited to attend.

~ Mennonite Collegiate Institute, Gretna MB, invites applications for the position of Principal commencing August, 2019.  For more information or to submit a resume, please email searchteam@mciblues.net.  More information can be found at www.mciblues.net.

SALT positions are open! What are your plans for 2019? How about spending a year immersed in another culture, serving the local community, and getting real-world work experience? SALT is an 11-month program open to young adults aged 18-30. For more information and to apply visit mccmb.ca/salt.


Church Calendar

December 22 – Rehearsal for Sunday school Program at 9:30 am

December 23 – Sunday school Christmas Program at 10:30am

December 24 – Candlelight Service at 7:30 pm

December 25 – Christmas Day Worship Service at 10:30 am

December 30 – Sharing Sunday, No Sunday School this morning

January 1, 2019 – Breakfast at 9 am, followed by an informal worship service

January 6 – Speaker – Jake Friesen.  We will also be sharing a communion service on this Sunday of Epiphany.

December 9, 2018

Verse of the Week:

A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

Isaiah 40: 3


Worship leader: Rudy Franz
Song Leader & Pianist: Ang Fehr

Welcome and announcements

Call to worship

Prayer

Worship in song

Lighting of the Second Advent Candle

Offertory – Jaelynn Nickel

Prayer Time

Vote of Affirmation for Jake & Agatha Falk as Deacons

Children’s Story – Carmen Friesen

Worship in song

Scripture reading – Malachi 3: 1-4, Luke 1: 67 – 79, Luke 3: 2-18

Message –“Be Prepared” –Gerry Giesbrecht

Closing song

Benediction


Prayer & Praise

~ This morning we would like to have a vote of affirmation for Jake & Agatha Falk.  They have agreed to serve for an additional three year term as deacons.  For this year we needed to only fill one position and thus further nominations are not needed.  We are thankful for their willingness to serve.

~The funeral for George Born, brother-in-law of Paul J & Elizabeth Peters is being held Sunday morning at 11 am in Steinbach.  We want to pray for the family as they mourn the loss of a family member and for God’s comfort in this time of loss.

~ Clubs for Boys and Girls from Grades 3 – 6 is on Wednesdays from 7 – 8:30pm.  All are welcome.  If you have any questions, please call Rachelle Loewen at 362-8323.  There is a sign-up sheet in the foyer for those who are willing to bake cookies.

~ Continue in prayer for Tenley Falk and family, and Nettie Ginter and family, Tim Wiebe and family as they continue to deal with the challenges of after effects of treatments.

~ Dave Rempel as he continues to recover from knee surgery.

~ Bernie Kehler as he continues to recover from heart surgery.

~ Kelly Fehr as she continues to build up strength and energy.

Austin Penner, as he rejoins the PASS program in Winnipeg in December

~ The keeping of traditions is important, and all the more so when such traditions bring blessings to those less fortunate.  The dressing of the mitten tree provides warm mittens/toques/scarves/socks/slippers for local children in need.  Thank you, in advance, for your generosity.

~ Those in various care homes that we remember in our prayers include: Helen Janzen at Bethania Mennonite Personal care home and Jake Rempel at Donwood Personal Care Home. 

~We continue to offer our prayer support for Laure and her family, as well as for the Paroisse Missionaire Congregation in Kinshasa, DR Congo; Ryan Thiessen in San Carlos, Mexico, Murray and Carol Honsberger in Papua New Guinea, Eagles Wings Children’s Village in Uganda, Andrea Fehr in Hawai’i and Tyler Loewen in Cambodia with MCC

Prayer for the week: (Prayer of Confession)

Dear God, we confess before You those places in our hearts where we have refused You entrance; people we have refused to love; habits we never get around to changing; good things we have left undone; and ways in which we hurt You, ourselves and others.  Come to us in the light of Your Christ.  Shine on those places we have hidden from You.  Show us new ways to live.  Sweep clean the rooms of our hearts, that Christ may find a home among us.  Be known among us now and forever.    Amen.


Announcements:

~ Audio services and bulletins are now available at our Church website.  The address is http://blumenortchurch.com

~ Please get your announcements in early. Call and leave a message, or email blumenortmc@gmail.com. For any rentals of the church basement or the youth centre, please call Dorothy Hildebrandt at 204-324-4426.  Remember to clean up after your event!!  Thank you.

~ It is good to give to our God the praise that is his. Are you interested in sharing your musical gifts? We are looking for people willing to play offertory & prelude, special music, etc.
There will be a sign up sheet on the bulletin board in the foyer. You can also contact the music committee members-Angela Fehr, Ravae Wiebe, Harley Dyck, Corinne Peters with any questions.

From the Finance Committee

Budget for 2018: $ 375,000.00

Income to December 7, 2018: $ 285, 920.55

Expenses to December 7, 2018: $ 318,089.06

Deficit: $ 32, 168.51

Thanks for your gifts and continued giving.


Youth

~ BMC Youth is for youth in grades 7-12, and happens Wednesdays from 7:00pm-9:15pm

~ For updates follow us on Social Media:
instagram: @bmcyouthmin
facebook: facebook.com/groups/BMCYouth (Group)
                  facebook.com/bmcyouthmin (Page)
twitter: @bmcyouthmin
or contact Gerry Giesbrecht @ 204-362-7262

Youth Calendar:

December 12 – Bible study

December 19 – Christmas Party – dress up


Community

~ Ten Thousand Villages Altona is currently looking for volunteers to work in the store, operating the cash register and assisting customers, and one or two volunteers to open and close the store on a rotating basis. If you are interested in volunteering in our store and would like more information or to apply, please contact Sara Wall at the store on Monday or Thursday afternoons, or by email at altona@villages.ca.

~ Canadian Blood Services – will hold a Community Blood Donor Clinic at Altona Rhineland Pioneer Centre

Wednesday, December 19th, 2018  2:00 – 7:00 pm

~ “Altona Palliative Care annual Longest Night Service, December 21 @ 7:00 @ Altona United Church.

All who are grieving the loss of a loved one or any other losses are welcome.”

~ MCI invites all to attend the Christmas Program on Thursday, December 20 at 7:30 m. at Buhler Hall.  There are also many other school Christmas concerts and events to attend and we trust that these will all contribute to our preparation for the birth of the Christ Child.

~ Faith & Life Male Choir and Women’s Chorus Christmas Concerts, December 16, 2018 at 3 pm at the Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church.  A freewill offering to support the choir ministry will be taken.  All are invited.

~ Mennonite Collegiate Institute, Gretna MB, invites applications for the position of Principal commencing August, 2019.  For more information or to submit a resume, please email searchteam@mciblues.net.  More information can be found at www.mciblues.net.


Church Calendar

 December 16 – Speaker – Cheryl Pauls – President of Canadian Mennonite University.

December 23 – Sunday school Christmas Program at 10: 30am

December 24 – Candlelight Service at 7: 30pm

December 25 – Christmas Day Worship Service at 10:30 am

December 30 – Sharing Sunday