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