Bulletin: October 25, 2009                                                                                               

Visitors:  We're delighted you are here.  Please complete a Welcome card (at the Welcome Table), and we invite you to introduce yourself during the sharing time. 

 

Call to Worship                   Responsive Reading Psalm 46 

 

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea.

God is in the midst of us; we shall not be moved.

The nations are in an uproar; kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations and in the earth,
The Lord of hosts is with us; God is our refuge and strength.

 

Congregational hymn         Great is the Lord                                   HWB 87

Scripture reading               Ephesians 2:11-22

 Congregational response

 

People                    We call to God in the name of Jesus who is our peace,

Leader                    Break down walls that divide and cause hostility and separation.

People                    We call to God in the name of Jesus who is our peace,

Leader                    Lead us on paths that lead to shalom.

People                    We call to God in the name of Jesus who is our peace,

Leader                   Remove silly traditions that harm us and come between us.

People                    We call to God in the name of Jesus who is our peace,

Leader                   Reconcile us to God and nature and put to death our hostility.

People                    We call to God in the name of Jesus who is our peace,

Leader                   Preach peace to those far and near, weak and strong, right and left, speak peace to those inside and outside,

People                    We call to God in the name of Jesus who is our peace,

Leader                   Show us how to approach God together in one spirit

People                    We call to God in the name of Jesus who is our peace,

Leader                   So we are not strangers and aliens to each other but fellow citizens and respected members of God’s family

People                    We call to God in the name of Jesus who is our peace,

Leader                   Bind us together, each one a vital part of God’s dwelling place, to be God’s sanctuary of love.

 

Congregational hymn         In Christ there is no East or West                     HWB 306

Poetry reading                     Reconciliation, by Walt Whitman (1865)

 

Word over all, beautiful as the sky,

Beautiful that war and all its deeds of carnage must in time be utterly lost,

That the hands of the sisters Death and Night incessantly softly wash again,

                                   and ever again, this soil'd world;

For my enemy is dead, a man divine as myself is dead,

I look where he lies white-faced and still in the coffin--I draw near,

Bend down and touch lightly with my lips the white face in the coffin.

 

Offering                Our offerings declare, that our work and our worship are one,

that life is undivided.  We give our gifts for God’s work of reconciliation, service, and mercy.

 

Children’s teaching                           

Teaching                               Jesus is our peace

Hymn of response                We are people of God’s peace                           HWB 407

Sharing, announcements and prayer                             

Sending hymn                      As tranquil streams                                             SJ 51

Benediction                         

 

Leading us in worship today: Worship Leader; Joe Harvey, Speaker: Paul V, Pianist: Kathy Brubaker, Song leader: Marty Showalter, Poetry Reader: Joy V

 

If you have congregational concerns, contact the pastor or the Congregational Life Committee:  Roxanne Cross, Curtis Weaverdyck; Arlene Seelbach,

 

Moms’ Small Group

             Patti Sprunger

Peace and Justice Interest Group                    Nov 9,    7:30 Weaverdyck

·         Gertrude Warkentin

·         Readers’ Group, Frankenstein, by Shelly,                       Oct 25,  7PM @ Versluis

                    Priscilla Chamberlain 

Slow Cookers                                                       

·         Gertrude Warkentin 

Folk Music                                                                           Oct 22, 7pm Chamberlain

·    Jan Hallberg                                                          

 

Committee Meetings:

 

Finance Committee:                                                                                                                                                                            

Nurture Committee:                                                                                       

Worship Committee:                                             Oct 26         7 pm            Shantz

Congregational Life Committee                           Nov 12        7pm             Cross         

Service Outreach Committee                               Nov 22        12:30           Warkentin

Congregational Business Meeting                     Nov 8          1:30             Oak Valley

 

The next Congregational Business Meeting will occur on Sunday November 8th, following potluck. The agenda includes the Finance Committee annual report and 2010 budget review, the Facilities Committee annual report, and a Service Outreach Committee proposal on the formation of a committee to lead development of an official SCC position regarding LGBT participants.  All are encouraged to attend.  If you have any questions, or would like to add a topic to the agenda, please contact Jon Sprunger

 

Nurture Committee is looking for two people to volunteer to watch children during the Nov. 8 congregational meeting.  (This is a way to support the Child Safety Covenant the congregation approved and implemented in January 2009.) Let Joy V. know if you are willing to help.

 

The Nurture Committee is interested in the important happenings in your life as they are also important to our Shalom community.  Please let us know of graduations, weddings, births, deaths or major illnesses in your family.   Joy Versluis, Norene Kanagy, and Su Hansen

 

During the next month, the Finance Committee will be consulting with the congregation’s committees and our pastor to prepare our 2010 budget.  Families and individuals are requested to discern their financial contribution commitment to SCC for the 2010 budget year.  Each committee with a line item in the budget is also asked to review its 2009budget allocation and request any adjustments for consideration by the Finance Committee. Please notify Hollis Showalter (Finance Committee chair), Anita Toews (co-Treasurer) or Mike Carbary (co-Treasurer) of your commitment.  Committees should make requests to Hollis.

 

Each year we collect goodies or money for our college students to make up care packages for them to get before their final exams.  These packages have gotten nothing but rave reviews and many many thank yous.  Betsy Harvey will be collecting money or goodies until November 15. She will also need 7 boxes the size xerox paper comes in. 

 

 Now is the time to sign up for rotating potlucks which will occur on Jan.16, Feb.20 and March 20.  Sign up to be a host and or participant by calling or emailing Betsy Harvey.  For those of you who do not know what rotating potlucks are, they are small potlucks that take place at people's houses and include anywhere from 6-10 or so people.  They occur in Jan., Feb.,  and March. Each month if you participate, you get to eat with a  different group of people.  If you host, you host once.  These potlucks are  an excellent way to get to know new people-- whether you have been around a  long time or are new yourself.  You can participate in one or all of the months.  The host family decides on the menu and then assigns food to each of the guests.  These are always total family affairs too.  Most everyone in the church participates and many good times are had.  Betsy Harvey is in the  process of compiling the lists of folks who want to participate and host and would appreciate you emailing or calling her and letting her know if you want to join the fun. Add these dates to your calendar now, and please respond whether you have participated before or not.  .

 

Our shared week with Seventh Day Adventist for hosting meals and childcare at Alpha House is coming up November 9-15.  We are responsible for 3.5 of these days, I take care Monday's meal and childcare along with the Seventh Day coordinator.  That way I can get a definite count, etc. to pass along.   

Please consider volunteering for the childcare / children's activities if can, usually the most difficult to fill.  The children at Alpha House have unique challenges in their lives, which often translates into them BEING a challenge.  But it's only a bit over an hour (the schedule says 6:30 - 8:15 because they assume you will want to come and eat dinner to get acquainted with the kids.  The parents are responsible for the kids until 7 pm when play time begins, and during that hour, the parents are often involved in groups where they are discussing parenting skills, budgeting, and other things that will benefit the children in the long run.  Email Rebecca Wyse your availabilites and she will send out updated schedules as I fill the slots.  New to Shalom and have questions about Alpha House, call 769-2003, email, or check out their website at www.alphahouse-ihn.org

 

CFS Lecture Series:  Wednesday, November 4, 8 p.m.  The Center for Faith and Scholarship presents Cam Anderson, executive director of Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA) speaking on “Mystery, Mess, and Glory:  Recasting the Artist’s Vocation”.  The lecture will be in Rackham Amphitheater, 4th floor of the Rackham Building at UM.  Admission is free.  For more information, visit www.cfs-aa.org or call (734) 668-7421.

 

Advent Choir.  Advent worship plans include choir music.  Nelson invites all singers to join us.  There will be, tentatively, 1-2 Saturday rehearsals in November, a break at Thanksgiving, then 2-3 more in December.  Newcomers are especially welcomed.  Please e-mail or phone your interest and availability ASAP to Nelson: