Verse of the Week:
Again Jesus spoke to them saying,” I am the Light of the world; those who follow Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life.” John 8: 12
Worship leader: Rudy Franz
Song Leader: Jake Friesen
Pianist: Viola Fehr
Welcome & announcements
Call to worship
Prayer
Worship in Song
Lighting of the 3rd Advent Candle – The Miller Family
Offertory – Josh Dyck
Prayer Time
Installation and Affirmation of our Deacons
Children’s Story – Pastor Rudy
Special Number – Heidi Miller & Lauren Fehr
Worship in Song
Scripture Reading – John 12: 44 – 50
Message – “The Light brings Joy” – Gerry Giesbrecht
Closing Song
Benediction
Prayer & Praise
~ Following the nominations to fill vacancies among our deacons, we are grateful that Henry & Sara Froese, Ray & Charlotte Klassen, and Jake & Agatha Falk have agreed to fill these positions. We appreciate your willingness to serve and would like to finalize the process this morning with our affirmation for their installation. We will do more reorganizing regarding terms of service at our next meeting which is scheduled for Sunday, January 7, 2018.
~ Donations to our mitten tree are gratefully welcomed, and will be distributed to various local schools. Thank you, in advance, for your generosity.
~Tyler Loewen, has been enrolled at Menno Simons College in Winnipeg studying International Development. For his practicum, he completed a one year MCC Serving and Learning Together or SALT term in Cambodia, in 2015-2016. On January 9, 2018 Tyler will head back to Cambodia for a 3 year term with MCC, where he will serve as Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Co-ordinator. He is looking forward to re-establishing some relationships and building new ones. In the meantime he is in the process of completing his Honours Theses before he leaves. We want to wish you God’s blessings as you begin this chapter of ministry. May you find joy and fulfillment in your commitment to community based development.
~ Congratulations to Rod & Ang Fehr on welcoming a new granddaughter on December 12, 2017. Jax Vienna was born to Stephanie & Phil Letkeman. Concern for Steph and the baby’s health, prompted her early delivery. Despite some concerns and a few nights in Winnipeg, doctors have given both Steph & Jax clearance to come home. Jax is a new great granddaughter for Zelma Fehr. Thank you to all who prayed for good news and health. May God continue to guide you and may you continue to know His presence with you always.
~ We also remember in our prayers Tenley Falk, Nettie Ginter and Tim Wiebe and their families as each deal with the reality of health recovery. We pray for God’s continued care and protection. We also uphold Austin Penner, who continues his stay at the Agassiz Youth Centre in Portage la Prairie. Updates for Tenley can be found at: www.tenleysjourney.com
~ Those in various care homes that we remember in our prayers include: Trudy Harms, Helen Janzen, and Jake Rempel, Mary Klassen in the Rock Lake Personal Care Home in Pilot Mound, and Peter E Hildebrandt, who moved into room 103 in the Apartments at the Gardens on Tenth (Formerly known as the Ebenezer apartments).
~ 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, and Andrea Fehr, working with YWAM in Hawai’I, and Tyler Loewen in Cambodia with MCC.
Prayer for the Week:
O God, we watch and wait for the warmth and light of Your presence. As candlelight overcomes the darkness, so Your light radiates within us and warms the wintry seasons of our lives. We live with hope that the good news of Your coming will warm and brighten every heart and that all people will worship with joy. Amen.
Youth Announcements
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
Youth Calendar:
Youth resumes on January 10, 2018
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:.//www.blumenortchurch.com to see what’s new online.
~ Candlelight Service practice December 20, 7:30pm (this is a change from December 21). Take note: The Candlelight Service time has been changed to 7:30pm on December 24 instead of 7 pm.
~There is children’s church for 1 – 6 year olds, in the youth Centre starting at 10:15
~ The Sunday school would like to have a practise on Saturday, December 23 at 9 am to prepare for their program on Sunday, December 24.
~ Sunday, December 31 is the date of the last Sunday of the year as well as the time for our sharing Sunday. We invite anyone who has something to share, scripture, song, a story, instrumental, to feel free to do so.
~ Monday, January 1, 2018 we invite the congregation to gather for breakfast in the church basement at 9 am. This will be followed by an informal worship service. The food committee invites anyone who wants to help out in the kitchen to make yourself available.
~ Clubs will resume on January 10, 2018. Call Ang Driedger 204-327-6674, if you need more information.
Financial update:
Income to December 15, 2017 $ 295,607.61
Expenses to December 15, 2017 $ 338,370.54
Expected expenses to December 31: $ 19,700.00
Needed before year end: $ 62,500.00
Thank you for all your generous gifts throughout the year.
Community
~ TEN THOUSAND VILLAGES, ALTONA, is currently seeking a volunteer manager. Send applications to Altona@Villages.ca
~ Mennonite Collegiate Institute invites you to attend the Christmas Concert, Thursday December 21 @ 7:30 in Buhler Hall, Gretna.
~ “Dec 21, 7pm – “The Longest Night Service” at the Altona Mennonite Church. If you are grieving the death of a family member or friend, separation, or any difficult loss, you are invited to attend. Coffee & refreshments to follow”.
~ From the MCC newsdesk: Get started on your Christmas shopping with our Christmas Giving catalogue! We’ve got 33 gifts in different price ranges, something for all your family and friends. You can pick these up at the TTV store in the Altona Mall from 9-5 Monday – Saturday.
~ SALT – If you’re interested in a yearlong cross-cultural internship or work experience in a faith-based context, consider applying for SALT 2017-18! We’re looking for communicators, educators, French or Spanish speakers, development grads, peacebuilders, nurses, IT experts, social workers, and more. Young adults ages 18-30, apply today at mccmb.ca/salt.
~ The Mennonite Disaster Service All-Unit Meeting is being hosted by Region 5 (Canada) from February 9-10, 2018 in Winkler, MB. This event is open to all who are interested in the work of MDS. For more information or to register for the event see our website mds.mennonite.net/all-unit-meeting or call our Winnipeg office at 1-866-261-1274.
~ Faith & Life Men’s and Women’s Christmas Concert in our area takes place on Sunday, December 17 at 3 pm in the Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church. There will be a freewill offering.
Church Calendar
December 24 – Sunday school Christmas program
December 24 – Candlelight Service at 7: 30 pm
December 25 – Christmas Day worship service at 10:30 am
December 31 – Sharing Sunday, no Sunday school
January 1, 2018 – breakfast at 9 am with a short meditation to follow
January 7 – Speaker – Rudy Franz, we will also be having a service of Communion
January 14 – Speaker – Walter & Marilyn Dyck, reflections on their recent trip to Israel, Ethiopia and Uganda.