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