Bulletin - West Union Mennonite Church

Gathering in God's Presence
         Call to Worship
         Congregational Singing
         Offering: Home Fund
         Special Music

Hearing God's Word
         Scripture Reading: II Peter 3:8-18
         Message:          Core Commitment # 7 : Eschatology: Living with the
                  End in Mind
                                    by David Boshart

Responding to God's Word
         Hymn of Response
         Congregational Sharing
         Pastoral Prayer
         Benediction

We welcome all guests and visitors to our worship service today. We trust you will be enriched by God as you worship and fellowship with us. Feel free to visit us again.

After a short time of fellowship, there are Sunday school classes for all ages. Come and join a class!

West Union Mennonite Church Mission Statement

         The sisters and brothers at West Union
                  united by the gospel of peace
                           gather in worship to meet the living God
                           plant and nurture the seed of God's word
                           spread the love of Jesus to others
so that all people are welcomed to new life in Jesus Christ.

Core Commitments

1.       Jesus is Lord
2.       Scripture: The Story that Interprets Our Story
3.       Salvation: God's Gift of Grace and Our Response
4.       God's Mission is to Reconcile the World to Himself
5.       The Spirit: Source of Life and Peace
6.       The Church As Witness: Proclaiming and Being Good News
7.       Eschatology: Living with the End in Mind

T hose assisting in the service today:

Worship Leader: Caleb Yoder
Song Leader: Holly Blosser Yoder
Special Music: Heidi Gingerich, Dennis and Rosie Miller, Gloria Yoder
Preservice/Offertory: Anna Geyer, Heidi Gingerich, Beth Swantz, Marvin Yoder
Nursery: Brandon and Lori Witthoft

Ushers: Ron Brenneman, Paden Finnegan, Rachel Finnegan, Jean Gingerich

ACTIVITIES THIS WEEK

WEDNESDAY , November 25
8:30 AM Pray-ers meet at Dorothy Yoder's

THURSDAY , November 26

9:00 AM         Thanksgiving Service at West Union . Caleb Yoder will be
         speaking. The offering will be for the MAMA Project in Hondur as.
         The MAMA Project owns a farm where youth retreats are held and
         experimental farming methods are demonstrated. A dining room is
         needed for hosting groups who come to the farm. The cost of this
         project is $2,500. The profits from the farm are used to support the
         MAMA Project's healthcare and education initiatives.

NEXT SUNDAY , November 29 , 2009

Worship Service 9:30 AM
First Sunday of Advent

Message: Martha Yoder
Offering: Shared

Preservice/Offertory: Diane Miller
Nursery: Jon and Anita Beachy

CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS

We rejoice with Tony and Tanna Boshart on the birth of their daughter, Marryn Alexis! Marryn was born Wednesday, November 18. Volunteers are needed to furnish meals for Tony and Tanna. Please call Anita Beachy at 646-5090 if you would like to help.

Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday, Theresa Blossom will be in the office all day on Tuesday and in the morning on Wednesday. Please have all bulletin announcements submitted no later than Tuesday noon!

The Kanagys want to share our joy in learning that after Joe's PET Scan; neither his d octor nor the radiologist could find evidence of active lymphoma. Thank you for your expressed concern by prayers, cards, visits, phone calls, transportation, gifts of food and garden produce. The Spirit of God directed so many of these kindnesses at exactly the right times to help us through our five month journey. We thank you! Joe, Elizabeth and family

If you would like to help support our West Union students attending Mennonite Colleges, our Education Assistance Fund is in need of donations. West Union currently needs $800 more in the Education Assistance Fund by December 1st to be able to send $500 per student for the spring semester. There are 10 total students, attending Goshen College, Eastern Mennonite University, Bluffton University, and Hesston College this spring semester. Each college will match $1 for every dollar the church donates, up to $500 per semester. Donations can be put in the offering basket marked for Education Assistance.

I will be updating the phone chain for the new church directory. Please let me know by December 6 if you would like to be added or taken off the regular phone chain. If you do not receive messages on the e-mail phone chain and would like to, please email wunionnetins.net. Theresa Blossom

Save the Date! The Annual Silent Auction will be held at West Union on Saturday evening, December 19. More details to follow.

Advent Devotions: There are two different sources for devotions this season. Both are coordinated with our Advent worship theme, Bursting In and Breaking Out and there are links to both on the West Union website (www.westunion.ia.us.mennonite.net).
·

Daily devotions from Goshen College students, faculty and staff, b ased on lectionary Scripture passages. The West Union website has a link to the devotions or visit www.goshen.edu/devotions to have the devotions emailed to you daily.
·

A family devotional has been created that follows the Bursting In and Breaking Out theme . The guide includes step-by-step outlines for family worship and activity suggestions suitable for all ages , to be used for daily or weekly worship . Follow the link on the West Union website or go directly to the Central Plains web site: www.centralplainsmc.org/ to download it for free.

LAST SUNDAY , November 15
         Atte ndance: 190
         Offering:         Iowa Mennonite School    $3,977   Shared   $1,200
                  Education Assistance     $425     Sunday School    $108
                  Home Fund        $100

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jubilance Children's Choir , a c ommunity choir directed by Rhonda Miller, will be giving a Christmas concert on Sunday, Dec ember 6 at 4 p.m. at Kalona Mennonite Church.

Bring your child to a fun-filled day at IMS ! SUPER SATURDAY will be held on December 5, 9 a.m. 2 p.m. The cost is $20 for the first child and $10 for siblings. IMS students will provide activities for children in preschool 5 ^th grade and daycare for infants. Please b ring a sack lunch for each child. The children will have fun and you get the day off! Call IMS to register at 656-2073.

If you like cookies then you are invited to Come to the Table at Crooked Creek Christian Camp on December 5 from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Join us in the kitchen and enjoy several baking and decorating demonstrations. All who attend are asked to bring 2 dozen cookies so we can have a cookie swap. The cost is $16 per person, or $13 per person for a group of 5 or more. Register by calling (319) 653-3611 or online at www.crookedcreekcamp.org .

All are invited to the annual Christmas Concert at IMS on Sunday, December 6, at 2:00 p.m. In addition to a variety of Christmas sounds in Celebration Hall , there will be music in the lobby prior to and following the program. The entire music department will be involved, under the direction of Karenza Yoder. There is no admission charge, but a freewill offering will be received with much appreciation. Refreshments will also be served following the concert, compliments of the IMS Music Boosters .

ALUMNI EXTRAVAGANZA! FCCLA invites all former IMS basketball players to return to IMS Tuesday, December 22 for a night of basketball! Email Chris Nachtigall at to sign up t o play. Spectators are welcome! Walking tacos, strawberry smoothies and concessions will be available. Cost is $3 for the general public, $2 for senior citizens, 10 and under is free. More details to follow.

UPCOMING EVENTS

November 26

Thanksgiving Service at West Union ; 9:00 a.m.

November 28

Free Lunch at Wesley House; let Helen Yoder know if you can help

December 2

Bible Memory at church, 7:00 p.m.
Resident But Alien: How The Early Church Grew DVD Series at church, 7 9 p.m.

December 3

Christmas Choir Practice at church, 7:00 p.m.

December 13

Cocoa and Carols at church, 6:00 p.m.

D ecember 19

Annual Silent Auction at church

December 24

Christmas Eve Service, 8:00 p.m.

December 27

Annual Christmas Breakfast at 8:30 a.m., Worship at 10:00 a.m. there will be no Sunday School.

December 31

Annual New Year's Eve Party at IMS , 8 p.m. - midnight