“Love, Hope, and Light in the Community”

9:30 SUNDAY SCHOOL

“Practical Ways to Prepare…,” led by Marvin Showalter

Today's Leaders

*Accompanist: Sandy Carter
*Song Leader: Susan Huyard
*Worship Leader: Kadrin Anderson
*Message: Kevin Gasser

Announcements

Church Council has been rescheduled for January 21 at 7:00 pm. Devotions: Dwight.

The Women’s Care Group will meet at Kathy’s home this Wednesday beginning at 7:00 pm.

There will be a Potato Bar fundraiser after church next Sunday, January 25, to support Leah Huyard’s trip to the Mennonite Church USA biennial conference in Kansas City, MO. Your generosity is appreciated!

An End-of-life train the trainer event will be hosted at VMRC and led by Beryl Jantzi, Everence director of stewardship education, March 17 from 9:00 – 3:00 with registration starting at 8:30. The fee is $15 payable at the event and covers the 40 page manual, snacks and lunch. For more information and to register contact Patty Skelton at patty.skelton@everence.com or call 540-437-7422. You must register in advance and space is limited.

Prayer Request

• For the victims of the attacks in Paris and Nigeria.

John 20:19-23

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

No one truly knows Christ unless they follow Him daily in life" - Hans Denck

Thank you for joining us in worship today.  If this is your first time at Staunton Mennonite, please fill out the “Welcome” card in the back of the pew and place it in the offering plate.

Speak, Lord Call to Worship Leader: God still calls us by name. Left: If we open our ears, like Samuel did, we will hear God’s call. Right: If we open our eyes and hearts, like the first disciples, we will delight in Jesus’ invitation for us to “come and see.” Left: If we open our skeptical minds like Nathanael did, we will be amazed at our encounter with the Son of God. Leader: So come with open ears, eyes, and hearts, ready to listen and encounter. Come and worship. Confessing/ Reconciling All: Lord, you search us and you know us. We’re not always sure we want you to know so much, like how we manage our finances. And yet, we know that through everything, we are still with you. So search us, O God; know our hearts and our pocketbooks. See if there are any wicked ways in us. Forgive and restore us, O God. Amen. Leader: God, who knows our hearts, is gracious and eager to pardon us and lead us in the way everlasting. Offering Leader: Let us open ourselves to God searching our hearts. To whom do we listen as we make decisions about giving? How can our worshiping community create in us habits of generosity? What do we bring today to give to God? All: In joyful witness to God’s call, we now offer our gifts. —Dori Zerbe Cornelsen and Elsie Rempel, Winnipeg, Manitoba Today is Stewardship Sunday. Dori Zerbe Cornelsen is a stewardship consultant with Mennonite Foundation Canada, and Elsie Rempel is the formation consultant for Mennonite Church Canada. Mennonite Foundation of Canada encourages generous living by offering resources and services to assist with charitable giving and estate planning. With the reconciling gospel of Jesus Christ, Mennonite Church Canada forms a people of God, becomes a global church, and grows leaders for the church. Bible readings for today: 1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20) (9); Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; John 1:43-51. Bible readings for next Sunday: 1Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 62:5-12 (7); 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20.