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.