Verse of the Week:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 HCSB
Worship leader: Eric Peters
Song Leader & Pianist: Ang Fehr
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship
Prayer
Worship in Song
Lighting of the Third Advent Candle – (Someone from the Ginter household)
Offertory
Prayer Time
Special Number – Lisa Dyck
Scripture reading – Psalm 146
Message: ”Lasting Joy” – Gerry Giesbrecht
Closing Song
Benediction
Prayer & Praise
~ Congratulations and God’s blessings to Aaron Fehr and Tiffany Sabourin on the birth of their son Gunner Rodney on Tuesday, November 29, 2016. This is the first grandson for Rod & Ang Fehr. We want to wish the family well as they welcome Gunner into their midst and accept the responsibility of parenting.
~ Congratulations also to Carey and Jenn Dyck on the birth of their son Braxton Cole on Tuesday December 6, 2016. Braxton is another grandson for Menno & Ingrid Dyck. We wish you God’s blessing as you begin the journey of parenting.
~ Tenley Falk had some good news last week in that her blood count was at a sufficient level for her to come out of isolation. However, that also means that she needs to resume her chemo and steroid treatments. In the meantime Cody was slated for knee surgery this past Monday. We want to wish the family much patience as they take one day at a time in the midst of a variety of appointments and weather complications. Updates can be found at: http://www.tenleysjourney.wordpress.com
~ Those in various care homes that we remember in our prayers include: Susan Janzen, Trudy Harms, Helen Fehr, Helen Janzen, and Jake Rempel.
~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, Jon & Natalie Neudorf in Chiang Mai, Thailand working with YWAM, Andrea Fehr with YWAM in Hawai’i, Kendra Fehr studying with YWAM in San Diego, CA
Prayer for the Week:
We are waiting, O God. We know you work wonders; you announce mysteries, you choose the surprising, you startle the unexpecting, you keep hope, joy and peace alive, you fulfill your promises. May we not only know, may we also practice believing while we are waiting. Amen.
Announcements:
Youth
~ Go to http://blumenortchurch.com for updates regarding youth events. For the most recent updates, check out the groups on Facebook named “BMC Youth”, and “BMC Jr Youth” or contact Youth Pastor Gerry Giesbrecht @ 204-362-7262
Junior Youth (Mondays 7pm-9pm):
December 12 – Christmas Carolling
December 19 – Christmas Party, Supper @ 6pm.
Senior Youth (Wednesdays 7pm-9:30pm):
December 14 – Christmas Party, Supper @ 6pm.
December 21 – Bible study
Church
~ Audio services and bulletins are now available at our Church website. We are working at streamlining this, and keeping it current. Please be patient with us as we continue to update our web presence. Go to http://blumenortchurch.com to see what’s new online.
~ Thank you to those who took time to clear the snow from the Church yard this week. Your service is appreciated.
~ Contributions to the mitten tree are welcomed and very much appreciated. Mittens, scarves, toques, gloves, socks and slippers are welcomed to fill a need in our local schools. Each week, the tree will be emptied and its contents distributed to a different school in our community. Thank you for your generosity and kindness.
~ There will be no Sunday school on December 25 or January 1.
~ Sharing Sunday – Each year we have a sharing Sunday on the last Sunday of the year. However this year the last Sunday of the year is on Christmas Day. Thus Church Council has suggested that our sharing Sunday take place on January 1, 2017. As we have in the past, we would invite the congregation to gather downstairs for breakfast at 9 am followed by our worship service to be held downstairs as well. We invite your participation by bringing items to share such as a story, poem, scripture verses, song, instrumental piece, whatever it is that would be important to share with the rest of the congregation.
~ SAVE THE DATE! February 3 – 5, 2017! When planning your winter getaways, mark your calendar for the most fun, fellowship filled, learning, and economical holiday by joining the BMC retreat at Camp Assiniboia. Speaker: John Rempel.
Community
~ Mennonite Collegiate Institute (Gretna) invites you to attend our Christmas Concerts being held December 15 & 16 @ 7:30 in Buhler Hall.
~ Starting November 28 Mennonite Collegiate Institute (Gretna) Social and Sports Committee are hosting a Toy Drive. Please consider dropping off a new unused toy, or bring one to the MCI Christmas Concerts December 15 & 16. All gifts will be donated to the Children’s Hospital. If you would like more information about what kinds of toys are most required, you can view the Children’s hospital wish list here: http://goodbear.mb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Child-Life-Wish-List-2016.pdf
~ Faith and Life Male Choir and Women’s Chorus Christmas Concerts: Saturday, December 17, 2016, 7:00pm at Bethel Mennonite Church (Winnipeg); Sunday, December 18, 2016, 3:00pm at Emmanuel Mennonite Church (Winkler). A freewill offering will be taken.
~ Members of MCM congregations are invited to a special meeting on Thursday, January 12, 2017 (7:00-9:15 PM) at the Fort Garry Mennonite Fellowship, 150 Bayridge Ave, Winnipeg. Updates on various MCM matters will be provided followed by conversation about how the decisions of the Being a Faithful Church could be implemented by and within MCM. This will not be a decision-making business meeting and attendees do not need to be delegated by their congregation to participate. More specific information for attendees to prepare for the BFC conversation will follow soon.
~ Southern Manitoba Choral Society presents: A Christmas Choral Celebration featuring the choir along with Guest Conductor: Karis Wiebe, Pianist: Loren Hiebert, Percussionist: Derek Klassen, and Flautist: Tamara Franz. There are 2 concerts: Saturday, December 10 @ 7:30 pm in the Winkler Emmanuel Mennonite Church and on Sunday, December 11 @ 2:30 pm in the Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church. No advance tickets needed. A freewill offering will be taken.
The Rhineland Empty Stocking Fund
– December 17, at 9:00 a.m., volunteers will once again be needed to deliver Christmas hampers to their recipients. These deliveries will be co-ordinated out of the former Sawatzky Furniture building across from the Altona Mall;
– Many people have reached out with a helping hand over the years with the RESF, and we sincerely “Thank You”.
Mennonite Central Committee:
~ Christmas Giving: This Christmas bring joy to the people you love and transform lives around the world through an MCC Christmas Giving Project! Each gift comes with a card to give to your loved ones explaining the gift you’ve chosen, such as the gift of health or livelihoods. Visit http://mccmb.ca/christmas to choose a gift today.
~ Please join us in prayer for the people of Aleppo, Syria as the number of missiles and bombs has continued to increase. A long-term MCC partner urges our prayers for peace and that this Christmas will bring joy and hope to the people of Syria. To hear more from Aleppo, please visit http://mccmb.ca/stories/pray-christmas-will-bring-joy.
Church Calendar
December 18 – Sunday School Christmas Program
December 24– Christmas Eve Candlelight service @ 7:30pm
December 25 – Christmas Day worship service @ 10:30am
January 1 – New Year’s Day & Sharing Sunday. Breakfast @ 9:00am. Service @ 10:00am.