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“What Does It Mean To Be Favored By God?” December 12, 2010 Luke 1:26-38 Pastor Don Hollinger Introduction: History of the song, “ Mary Did You Know” Transition: What does it mean to be favored by God? I. Be careful whom you call blessed a. It doesn’t mean that life will be a bed of roses b. Mary’s dilemma—she is not married c. Article by Thomas Holmes on degrees of stress d. There is a yes and no to the Gospel II. Nothing is impossible with God a. When we are favored by God, be careful what you call impossible b. The virgin birth - God always gives us a second way of looking at things III. We need to be thankful a. Mary was free to say yes or no to God. b. Obedience is not a fashionable word in our society today c. Mary’s life was blessed immeasurably by her obedience to God
GATHERING CAROL “Mary, Did You Know” (on the screen) WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS LIGHTING THE THIRD ADVENT CANDLE Tracy & Nicole Drescher PRELUDE SPOKEN CALL One: We come to echo the song of the angels. We come to share the awe of the shepherds. We come to share in the impossible made possible. Come, let us prepare to gather around the manger of the Christ Child. CAROL “Thou Dist Leave Thy Throne” No. 123 INVOCATION PRAYER One: For the joy this day brings, All: We praise you. One: For the peace made possible by Jesus Christ, All: We thank you. One: For the good news which is the message of this day, All: We thank you. Amen. MINISTRY IN MUSIC PREPARING OUR HEARTS FOR PRAYER “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly” No. 148
PASTORAL PRAYER AND ORGAN RESPONSE STATEMENT OF GIVING One: As we give, let us do so in faith that the impossible will be made possible. Let us give in faith, hope, and love - hope for a better world, love for God and for others, and faith in the power of God to use our gifts to make a genuine difference.. CAROL SING (2 verses of each suggested) MESSAGE Luke 1:26-38 “What Does It Mean To Be Favored By God?” *CAROLS “What Child Is This?” No. 140 “Ring the Bells” No. 146 *BENEDICTION One: As the farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, be patient and strengthen your hearts until the coming of the Lord. *ORGAN POSTLUDE *Those able are invited to stand.
West Green Tree Church of the Brethren “We intentionally develop friends of Jesus
Christ by sharing God’s love through words and deeds.”
December 12, 2010: Third Sunday of Advent
CHILD CARE IS OFFERED DURING BOTH WORSHIP SERVICES A well‐staffed nursery is available across from the Church Library for infants up to age two. Toddler care for children
ages 3 ‐ 4 is available in the adjoining room.
POINSETTIAS Poinsettias will be available for purchase again this holiday season to honor or remember a loved one. Cost for each poinsettia is $5. Order forms have been placed in church mailboxes & on the table in the lobby. Orders are due TODAY. A list of those honored & remembered will be in-cluded in the December 19th bulletin. CONGREGATIONAL BUSINESS MEETING The Atlantic Northeast District Ministry Commission has approved the call of Janet Myers to the licensed ministry. We, her congregation, now need to hold a vote to affirm Janet as a licensed minister of the Church of the Brethren. The Executive Committee has scheduled this vote for TODAY during each of the Sunday morning worship times. Please prayerfully con-sider this vote and plan to attend.
MJ Smith, Moderator CAROLING The Witness Commission is sponsoring a night of caroling TONIGHT. Meet at the church at 4 pm and we will carpool to different homes to sing car-ols. We will arrive back at the church around 7 pm. This is a great time to bring the children along to sing! SECRET SISTER REVEAL (LADIES NIGHT OUT) On December 14th, at 7 pm, all women are invited for a night out! We will meet in the Fellowship Hall for a night of pampering & fellowship. If you participated in 2010 Secret Sisters, come join your “sister” in the re-veal. If you didn’t participate, come anyway & enjoy a night out! This is for all women of the church, not just Secret Sisters! EVERGREEN NEWS SUBMISSIONS Submissions for the January edition of the EVERGREEN NEWS are due to the church office by Monday, December 20th. TINY TIMBERS REGISTRATION It is time for you, our Congregation, to register your preschool child for the 2011 - 2012 school year. We need to hear from you by December 31st. After that, we will open registration to our returning students & new stu-dents. If your child is of age to attend Tiny Timbers or you have questions, please contact Ruthie Hollinger at 3674-5580. We look forward to working with you and your child. FELLOWSHIP MEAL On January 9th, all are invited to a fellowship meal after the 2nd service. If you attend the 1st service, please consider returning to share in food & fellowship! The meal is for all to attend & is to specifically welcome the new members from the past 2 years. Please bring a hot & cold dish to share. Hope to see everyone there!
CRITICAL NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS BDM has a critical need for volunteers in Winamac, Indiana the entire month of January! We’re working on the final rebuild, and the homeown-ers, Eugene and Margret, have quite a heartrending story. Since the flood, they’ve been living in an inadequate 50-year-old trailer, caring for a se-verely handicapped teenage son, and Margret discovered in May that she has breast cancer. In spite of all this hardship, they selflessly told the local recovery organization to help others first who were worse off than them! Please help us get them into their new home. Weeks of January 2, 9, 16, and 23 are available. Call or email 800-451-4407, ext. 7, [email protected] to sign up. For more information go to www.brethrendisasterministries.org . SOFTBALL TEAM FUNDRAISER The softball team is selling Target Your Discount Cards for $20 each. With each card sold we get half of the proceeds coming to the team to be used for league fees. There are 6 different types of cards you can purchase. A sign-up sheet & a list of what each card offers is on the bulletin board. See Jamie Gruber, Curtis Gruber or Matt Haverkamp with questions. CANDLE ORDER PICK UP Thank you to all the individuals who purchased candles to help support our Senior High Youth mission trip this summer. If you have not paid, please do so ASAP. Place your payment in Dori Schwanger’s mailbox. Thanks, again, for all your support. Candle orders may be picked up TO-DAY. Thanks! MISSION TRIP A mission trip to Juarez, Mexico is being planned for March 12th - March 19th. Anyone interested should see Dennis Saylor. TEACHER & HELPERS NEEDED A teacher is needed for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Sunday School class. You would be in a rotation with another teacher. Parent helpers are needed for the 1st & 2nd Grade class. The sign-up sheet to be a parent helper is located outside of their classroom. If interested in being the teacher or if you have any questions, please contact Sarah Kolp. THANK YOU! Deborah Myers extends her thanks to the congregation for their prayers, meals, & support during and after the birth of her baby.
Emails: [email protected] [email protected]
Service Times: Contemporary Worship 8 am
Sunday School 9:15 am Traditional Worship 10:30 am
CONTACT INFORMATION & SERVICE TIMES 740 Greentree Road, Elizabethtown, PA 17022
Phone: 653-5367; Fax 653-5056 www.westgreentree.org
Kenneth A. Stewart & Donald E. Hollinger, Pastors
John Weber, Ministry Intern Paula Jones, Administrative Assistant
STATISTICS FROM 11/28: Attendance: Sunday School - 118 Total Worship - 200 Offerings: General Fund: $ 5,408.00 Building Fund: $ 20.00 Weekly need: $ 5,547.48 Deacon Fund: $ 20.00 Year to Date Need: $ 271,826.52 Seminary Fund: $ 100.00 Year to Date Giving: $ 263,756.84 Furnace Fund: $ 20.00
TODAY’S SERVANTS
Greeters Jackie Sawyer & Deb Klugh Organist Mary Jane Smith Chorister Marilyn Keener 8:00 a.m. Nursery 10:30 a.m. Nursery Abbi Schwanger 10:30 a.m. Toddler Tanya, Lily, Elijah, & Chloe Stewart Ushers New Horizons SS Class Prayer Coordinator Jan Hawthorne Minister The Congregation Worship Leader Pastor Kenneth Stewart Messenger Pastor Don Hollinger
December 19th SERVANTS Greeters Nicole & Alec Drawbaugh Pianist Sylvia Weaver Chorister June Kolp Special Music Choir & Children Sing! Offertory Extra Hymn 8:00 a.m. Nursery/Toddler Daryl & Angie Harnish 10:30 a.m. Nursery Luetta Hess & Charlie Mitchell 10:30 a.m. Toddlers Jackie Sawyer & Adrienne Fellenbaum Ushers Faith Seekers SS Class Worship Leader Pastor Don Hollinger Messenger Pastor Kenneth Stewart
WEST GREEN TREE DEACONS Paul & Jean Hollinger John & Wendy Weber June Kolp Ron Miller David & Janet Myers Randy & Audrey Estep Shawn & Lisa Cannon Jeff & Dori Schwanger Derek & Jessica Groff
CALENDAR OF THE WEEK TODAY Both Services Congregational Business Mtg. 4:00 p. m. Christmas Caroling Tuesday, December 14 7:00 p. m. Secret Sister Reveal (Ladies Night Out) Wednesday, December 15 9:30 a. m. Moms in Touch 7:00 p. m. Jr. High Clubs, Sr. High Clubs, Young Adult Bible Study, & Choir Rehearsal
FUTURE EVENTS December 24 7:00 p. m. Christmas Eve Service December 31 Tiny Timbers Registration
deadline January 9 Noon Fellowship Meal January 10 7:00 p. m. Tiny Timbers Board Mtg. January 11 7:00 p. m. Commission & Board Mtg.
PRAYER CONCERNS Joyce Dickason Wanda Winters Merle Kreider Elliana Miller Richard Rolls Donald Hoover Charlotte Riggleman Sandy Kopp
STORM WATCH Tune in to the following channels to check for any service cancellations: www.wgal.com - “Stormwatch”, WHP - Channel 21, WPMT - Channel 43,
CW - Channel 15, FM 90.3 WJTL (radio)
