EIGHTH  STREET  MENNONITE  CHURCH
602 South Eighth Street
Goshen, IN 46526-4019
Tel.:  574/533-6720

Fax:  574/533-8324

Email:  eighthst@bnin.net

Web site:  www.bnin.net/~eighthst/

 

Myron D. Schrag, Pastor [mschrag@bnin.net]

Brenda Sawatzky Paetkau, Associate Pastor [bpaetkau@bnin.net]

Laura Sue Dueck, Intern Pastor [dueckls@msn.com]

 

 

9:30 A.M.                                                                    March 17, 2002

 

 

     Eighth Street Mennonite Church is a Christian community – rooted in Anabaptism and coming from diverse religious traditions – devoted to worshipping God and to extending God's love to the congregation, to Goshen, and to the world.

 

 

 

 

LENT 5

 

Here is the astonishing thing –
that we might look into stories
and see the portrait of our own lives
transformed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

Ezekiel and the Dry Bones
and Lazarus

 

 

GATHERING

   Prelude:  Come, O Creator Spirit, Come  [#27]    Walther

   Welcome and Announcements

   Interlude

 

   Coming Before God:  [based on Psalm 130]

Leader:    We wait for you, O Lord.
In the quiet of this morning, in the hidden places of
  our hearts, we wait for your renewing word.

People:    Out of the depths we cry to you, O Lord,
  let your ears be attentive to our supplications.

Leader:    If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord,
  who could stand?

People:    We wait for you, O Lord,
  more than those who watch for morning.
We wait for your renewing word.

Leader:    O people, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love.
With our God is great power to redeem.

 

  *Hymn:  #356   Breathe on Me, Breath of God

   Invocation

   Special Music:   Dry Bones

   Dramatic Reading:  Ezekiel 37:1-14

 

*PRAYER  OF  CONFESSION

     Prayer Hymn:  #348   O Lord, Hear My Prayer

     Leader:   Come and listen to your people, O God,
  for we often wallow in despair, preferring death to life.
We struggle to believe that dry bones can live.

     Prayer Hymn:  #348   O Lord, Hear My Prayer

     Leader:   Come and listen to your people, O God;
  for we do not trust you to forgive and restore our battered lives.  We fail to receive your renewing grace.

     Prayer Hymn:  #348   O Lord, Hear My Prayer

     Leader:   Spirit of God, breathe your life into us.
As we wait for our redemption, fill us with hope and joy,
  we pray.

     Prayer Hymn:  #348   O Lord, Hear My Prayer

 

     Silence

 

   Words of Assurance:

     Leader:   Here is an astonishing thing!
The Lord hears our pleas and sets us free from sin
  and death.
We are assured of new life, for God has put the Spirit
  of Christ within us.

 

HEARING  THE  MESSAGE

   Children's Time

   Special Music:   Christ Be with Me [#442]

   The Story:  John 11:1-45                                                 [NT pg 105]

   Sermon:  "Grief and Glory"

   Hearing Our Faith Stories

  *Hymn:  #418   Move in Our Midst

 

RESPONDING

   Offering and Offertory:  Open Are the Gifts of God [#255]    Willan

  (Please sign the registration pad at the end of your pew.)

   Joys and Concerns

   The Church at Prayer

 

SENDING

  *Hymn:  #361   O Spirit of the Living God

  *Benediction

  *Organ Meditation

  *Postlude:  Fire of God, Undying Flame [#129]    Pachelbel

 

*All who are able are invited to stand

 

                         Worship Leader - Laura Sue Dueck
                                      Sermon - Myron Schrag
                         Children's Time - Kathy Koop
            Scripture Dramatization - Leonard Beechy
                                 Faith Story - Christine Guth
                               Song Leader - Karen Hershberger
                        Organist/Pianist - Christine Th๖gersen
                             Special Music - Jubilate Choir (Grades 1-5)
              Jubilate Choir Director - Janeen Bertsche Johnson
                              Accompanist - Deanna Minnick, piano

 

=        =        =

 

WELCOME to Eighth Street Mennonite Church!  May you experience God's presence in this time of worship and fellowship.  Visitors are invited to sign the guest book in the narthex and to worship with us again.

 

LAST DAY to let the office know your wishes regarding the Prayer Chain (telephone & email).  Although you may add to or delete your name from the email list at any time, it is more difficult to make those changes on the telephone prayer chain thus the deadline of today.  Thank you for your information.

 

GOSHEN COLLEGE Afternoon Sabbatical Series is having Doyle & Mary Jo Preheim Tuesday noon, April 9 in the Fellowship Hall of College Mennonite Church.  There will be an international luncheon entitled "Scandinavia:  Sights, Sounds and Smorgasbords."  The cost is $12 per person, by reservation only.  Deadline is April 1; reservations received after April 1 cannot be guaranteed.  See bulletin board.

 

*   Birthdays  &  Anniversaries!   *

 

17

Tammy Sawatzky

20

Brett Bachman

17

Jack & Nadine Bechtel '79

21

Marge Graber

17

Orvin & Emilce Eash '01

21

Nina Newburn

18

Peggy Everett

 

 

 

CHURCH CALENDAR this week, March 17 - March 24:

 

   Today           - Fellowship Meal for visitors, Noon

                        - Sr Youth Mystery Event, meet at the church, 5pm

   Tuesday       - Stewardship Commission, 7pm

                        - Catechism Class in the parlor, 7pm

   Wednesday  - Church Board, 7:30pm

   Thursday      - Preschool Parent/Teacher Conferences in church
                               parlor, morning, late afternoon & evening

                        - Support Group for Depression, 7pm

   Saturday       - Teachers' Appreciation Dinner at Bread &
                                Chocolate, 6pm

   Next Sunday- Palm  Sunday

                        - Choir Rehearsal, 8:30am

                        - Worship Service, 9:30am

                                    Message - Pastor Myron Schrag

                                    Worship Leader - Brenda S Paetkau

                                    Special Music - Adult Choir

                        - Sunday School, 11am

                        - MESSENGER news due

                        - Koinonia Carry-In Meal in Fellowship Hall, Noon

                        - Challengers Social in Fellowship Hall, 5pm

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS, March 17, 2002

 

GREETING US today are the Troyers.  Marion & Dorothy are both retired, Marion after 36 years of operating Troyer Studio and Dorothy after 34 years at Goshen Hospital.  Marion is spending his retirement working with his historic negative file of Goshen and with the Goshen Historical Society of which he is a board member.  Dorothy plays games once a week with 3 other ladies and soon will be working in her yard.  She likes to read and loves traveling anywhere when it's possible.  The Troyers have four children and 11 grandchildren.  They spend a lot of time attending ball games in which their granddaughter Carrie plays on the Jr Varsity (for Northwood).  Both Dorothy & Marion served on the Kitchen Committee and as janitors; Dorothy was also Sunday A.M. refreshment coordinator, nursery coordinator and office secretary; Marion was an usher for 20 years, bus driver and trustee besides being the "church photographer."

 

THE FLOWERS are shared by Erick & Bev Sawatzky.

 

STAFFING OUR NURSERIES:

   Today:

         during worship - Infants – Kristin Neufeld, Denise Risser

                                      Toddlers – Phil Rush, Jon & Jessica Tary

         during Sunday School - Tony Short, Delores Bartel

   Next Sunday:

         during worship - Infants – Alison Kirkton, Leena Miller

                                      Toddlers –  Rachel Saner, Tex Eisenhour

         during Sunday School - Kim & Scott Bechtel

 

=    Second  Hour    =

11 - 11:45 A.M.

 

B1 - Builders - "Sharing Our Experiences with Depression" by members of the Support Group for Depression

B2 - Koinonia - "Praying through the Lectionary" led by Brenda Sawatzky Paetkau

B3 - Seekers - "Visit to Japan" shared by Janeen Bertsche Johnson

B4 - Challengers - Discussion on the "Giving Project" led by Chad Horning

B5 - Sr. High - Rachel Nolt

B6 - Crossroads

B7 - Jr. High - Galen Hershberger

 

Concerning Our Church Family and Friends:

   Polly Jennings was hospitalized last weekend at Goshen General Hospital but is back home now and recuperating.

   Lucille Risser was admitted to Goshen General Hospital Thursday, March 14 and is in room 423.

 

ALL VISITORS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS are invited to stay for the Fellowship Meal following Sunday School today.  Hosting the meal are Christine Guth, Eileen Saner, and Sharon Risser and their families.

 

COMING UP at 8th Street:

ุ      Maundy Thursday, March 28:  A light supper and communion service in Fellowship Hall at 6:30pm.

ุ      Easter Sunday, March 31:  Easter Sunrise Service beginning at 8am in the sanctuary followed by an Easter Breakfast in Fellowship Hall at 8:15.  Please bring the designated finger foods and take it to Fellowship Hall before the 8am Sunrise Service:

Last names beginning with A - M – Please bring "ready to serve" fruit

Last names beginning with N - Z – Please bring "ready to serve" breads

ุ      Sunday, April 14:  Movie "The Good War and Those who Refused to Fight it" at 6:30pm

ุ      Sat., April 20:  Neighborhood Pancake Breakfast, 8-10:30am

ุ      Wednesday, May 8:  Spring Celebration (details will follow)

 

MUSIC on the Paraguayan Folk Harp and testimony by Eduard Klassen will be featured this evening at 6:30 at Pleasant Oaks Mennonite Church, 13307 CR 16, Middlebury.  He will also be at First Mennonite Church, 900 W. Market, Nappanee, this Wednesday evening at 7 o'clock.  See bulletin board for information about Klassen and lists of tapes and CDs available.

 

THE MMA SHARING FUNDS recently provided a youth group service grant of $300 to help support the planned trip of our senior youth to Denver this summer to participate in the DOOR (Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection) program.  This check has been deposited in the youth's savings account to supplement funds they are raising for this purpose.

 

SENIOR YOUTH, remember to meet at the church today at 5pm for your Mystery Event.

 

MESSENGER NEWS will be due next Sunday, March 24.  Be sure to give your items to co-editors Jane and Dave Troup via their church mailbox or email them at messenger@miketroup.com.  Please remember to clear calendar events with Jeannette in the church office.

 

From the Sidelines:

    Our Eighth St. basketball heroes closed out the season in rather convincing fashion defeating Berkey Avenue last Sunday 51-31.  Before we get too impressed, it should be noted that Berkey only had four players while Eighth St. played five the whole game, which probably disqualifies Eighth St. from any consideration for the Good Sportsmanship Trophy.  However, Barry Johnson said that when he was in the game, he just stood around so Eighth St. might as well have had only four.  One could comment that Barry standing around in a game is not all that unusual but that is probably better left unsaid.  Eighth St. ended the season with a 6-6 record.  In all fairness, all of the losses were to teams who played five players.  – MS, reporter

 

TICKETS are nearly sold out for the four performances of Goshen College's production of the classic opera, "Carmen," Mar. 21-23 at 7:30pm and Mar. 24 at 2:30pm.  To enable more community members to attend the opera, a decision has been made to offer the final dress rehearsal on Wednesday, Mar. 20 at 7:30pm as a paid performance for the reduced general rate of $5 for all seats.  Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door.  No reserved seating.  A few tickets remain on sale for the other 4 performances ($10 general, $5 students).  Call GC Welcome Center at 535-7566.

 

MARCH GIVING BOX:  Meals on Wheels is a program run by The Window and was designed to deliver one hot nutritious meal a day, Monday through Friday.  Most clients are elderly, but all ages are eligible with a doctor's order.  Volunteers drive in pairs to deliver meals in the Goshen community.  In 2000, Meals on Wheels served between 70 and 80 individuals each day; 155 volunteers logged a total of 3,348.1 hours.

 

MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS, March 17, 2002

 

 

LAST SUNDAY, March 10, 2002:  Attendance  -  199

 

Visitors:  Marie Houston, Penticton, BC; Gertrude Warkentin, Ann Arbor, MI; Chris & Mike Neumann, Metamora, IL; Lynn & Doris Liechty, Berne; Merv Miller, Middlebury; Margaret Fisher, Michael Beck, Goshen.

 

  March 10 Offering:   $3,721.10
      Budget                   $3,566.10
      Bus Fund                      40.00
      The Window                60.00
      Mennonite Women      55.00

  Actual Year to Date Giving for the Budget       $45,215.70
  Needed for the Budget (year to date)                 46,357.70
                                         Negative Balance L   ($  1,142.00)

 

A GUIDE TO PRAYER:  Pray for the Mennonite Church of Colombia as it deals with wars and rumors of wars.  Ask God to protect the pastors and church members and help them to be instruments of peace.  Pray for Gamaliel, Amanda and Cindy Falla as they return to Colombia in March.

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!  Freeman Academy Choir will sing at 8th Street on Wednesday, April 10.  More details will follow.

 

THE STUDENT FINANCIAL AID COMMITTEE requests your reply in regards to information about all students planning to attend Mennonite colleges or seminary.

(Please complete, tear off and return to the church office ASAP.)

 

-     -     -     -     -     -     -     -     -     -     -     -     -     -     -     -     -     -     -     -

 

____________________ will be enrolled at _____________________

    (Name of student)                                     (Name of institution)

 

in the fall of 2002 as a    Freshman     Sophomore     Junior     Senior.

 

He/She will be   Full-time _____         Part-time _____ (# of hrs._____).