EIGHTH STREET MENNONITE CHURCH
602 South Eighth Street
Goshen, IN 46526-4019
Tel.: 219/533-6720

Fax: 219/533-8324

Email: eighthst@bnin.net

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

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

9:30 A.M. March 19, 2000

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.

Second Sunday in Lent

GATHERING

Prelude: Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now Böhm

Welcome and Announcements

Interlude

*Call to Worship:

Leader: Come, people of faith,
come into the presence of God.

All: Though we are broken, fragmented, or scattered,
God seeks to make all things new.

Though we are empty or disillusioned,
or struggle with the futility of our own efforts,
God still welcomes us this morning.

Leader: So come as you are.

Come to the one who yearns to bless and redeem our lives
and all the nations of the world.

All: Come, let us worship the living God.

*Invocation

*Hymn: #22 Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now

PRAISING GOD

Psalm 22:23-31 [OT pg 501]

Hymn: #87 Great is the Lord

Offering and Offertory: O for a Heart to Praise My God Coleman

[Please sign the registration pad at the end of your pew.]

CONFESSING AND RECONCILING

Prayer of Confession:

Leader: In this Lenten season, we pray with the psalmist:

"I have become like a broken vessel…

I trust in you, O Lord…

Deliver me."

All: We come as we are, O God;

we acknowledge our brokenness;

we look to you for restoration.

Leader: As broken vessels, we bear the scars of disappointment,

failure, and barrenness;

We need your ways of naming and seeing possibilities
in our lives.

All: Restore us, O God.

Leader: In the past week, we have again encountered what is broken

and needy within us.

(Pause for silent review)

Leader: We turn to you, almighty God,

Keeper of your everlasting covenant.

All: Bless us, O God.

Heal us and make us whole

that we may reflect your image more truly in the world.

We come as we are, O God;

we acknowledge our brokenness;

we look to you for restoration.

Words of Assurance:

Leader: "God remembers his covenant with us

and seeks to bring to wholeness whatever is broken."

Hymn Celebrating Grace: #511 God, who touches earth

HEARING GOD'S WORD

Children's Time: [based on Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16]

Special Music: Aus Authalia Mendelssohn

Scripture Readings: Mark 8:31-38 [NT pg 44]

Romans 4: 13-25 [NT pg 155]

Sermon: "Faithful Names"

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

*Hymn: #546 Guide my feet

Joys and Concerns

The Church at Prayer

SENDING

*Hymn of Blessing: #422 Bwana awabariki

*Organ Meditation

*Postlude: Postlude Cooke

*All who are able are invited to stand

LARGE PRINT BULLETIN IS AVAILABLE FROM THE USHER

Worship Leader - Karl Koop
Message - Terry Berg
Children's Time - Helen Gruenewald
Song Leader - Karen Hershberger
Organist/Pianist - Christine Thögersen
Vocal Duet - Melissa Fisher, Kari Brenneman
Accompanist - Christine Thögersen, 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.

MENNOFOLK BLUFFTON 2000 is gathering CDs produced by Mennonite musicians of all genres to sell at the festival's CD Shop. "How can I keep from singing" is the theme of this year's festival held at Bluffton College, Bluffton, OH, from July 7-9. It is sponsored by Central District Conference's Peace, Service and Justice Committee and the Lion and the Lamb Peace Arts Center. If you have a CD to sell, contact Megan Stauffer-Miller at 419/358-3273 or BCMILBJA@BLUFFTON.EDU.

SPRING MEETING of the Michiana Anabaptist Historians will be held Satur-day, April 1 at Clinton Frame Mennonite Church, 63846 CR 35 (east of Goshen). Everyone is welcome to come at 8:30am for registration and fellowship. The program will begin at 9am. Duane Stutzman will speak on "Clinton Frame in Perspective" and Dr. Paton Yoder of Goshen will speak on "Bishop Joseph Yoder, 1822-1908."

THE GOSHEN PUBLIC LIBRARY and Goshen Adult Literacy Program extend an invitation to everyone in the community to attend the upcoming Spanish/English Story Hour on Saturday, April 1 at 1:30, featuring the children's book The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System by Joanna Cole. See bulletin board for more details.

HAVE YOU REGISTERED for the Marriage Retreat at Amigo Centre March 31-April 2? The theme is "Home Improvement: Tightening the Knot without Choking your Spouse" with Scott and Karen Weidner of Transport for Christ, Hershey, PA. Registration deadline is March 24. Brochures are available on the literature table. Help yourself.

REGISTER SOON for the Single Single-Again Retreat to be held at Amigo Centre April 28-30. Come explore the pits and peaks of the single lifestyle with Anita Janzen, single pastor from Ontario. The theme is "Single by Default, Design, Divorce or Death." Brochures are available on the literature table. Why not take a car full?

* Birthdays & Anniversaries! *

20	Brett Bachman	25	Betty Jo Boshart
21	Marge Graber	25	Kipp Garber
21	Nina Newburn	25	Carl Kreider

ANNOUNCEMENTS, March 19, 2000

GREETING US this morning are Marion and Dorothy Troyer. After 35 years of operating Troyer Studios, Marion is semi-retiring. His work is now limited to the copy and restoration of old photographs for his customers. His retirement years will be spent organizing his huge collection of old photographs of Goshen and the surrounding community. Marion has served on the kitchen committee, was head usher for many years, has been trustee, board member, bus driver, janitor, etc. Dorothy is on her 34th year at Goshen General Hospital. She has also served on kitchen committee, was coordinator of Sunday A.M. refreshments, was a janitor, church secretary, etc. They are the proud grandparents of 11 grandchildren. They are very busy going to girls basketball games at North-wood Elementary & H. S. freshman games; also sophomore volleyball games. They lived 39 years next door to the church; they are now enjoying their new home in College Green.

WE THANK Goshen College students Melissa Fisher and Kari Brenneman for sharing their talents with us in this morning's worship service.

THE FLOWERS are shared by Erick and Bev Sawatzky.

STAFFING OUR NURSERIES:

Today: During worship - Infants – Joy Liechty, Deanna Risser

Toddlers – Todd & Alison Kirkton

During Sunday School - Marcy Gerig, Laura Funk

Next Sunday: During worship - Infants – Jan, Erica & Emily Johnson

Toddlers – Ed & Pat Minnick

During Sunday School - Barry Johnson, Alice Risser

~ Second Hour ~

B1 - Builders - "Transformation: An update" – led by Ron Byler

B2 - Koinonia - "Relating to Aging Parents" – led by Clare Schumm

B3 - Seekers - Book Study, What's So Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey – led by Don Nofziger

B4 - Challengers - "Church History" [Part II] – led by Steve Nolt

B5 - Sr. High - "The Stock Market – What is it and how should we think about it?" – led by John Liechty

B6 - Crossroads

B7 - Jr. High –James & Barb Nelson Gingerich

Concerning Our Church Family and Friends:

We extend our sympathy to Rickey and Myron Schrag and their family on the death of Rickey's father, Peter Koop (93), last Monday afternoon, March 13. Funeral services were held in the Vineland United Mennonite Church, Vineland, Ontario.

Myron will be in Harrisonburg, VA this week from Thursday to Monday for Commission on Home Ministries and Mission Transformation meetings. He will be needing a ride to the South Bend airport on Thursday morning, the 23rd, and will also need to be picked up Monday afternoon, the 27th. (CHM will reimburse you for your mileage.) See Myron if you can help out.

THE CHURCH MEMBERSHIP CLASS will meet this Wednesday at 6:15pm rather than 6:30. Members of the class and parents, please note. The class will also dismiss early. This is just for this week only.

JR. HIGH YOUTH: Dungeons! Tornadoes! Story Telling! Learn about Anabaptist experiences at Menno-Hof next Sunday, the 26th. After church we will go out to eat, and then visit Menno-Hof.

THE 8TH STREET PRESCHOOL still needs a trailer or free standing tent to use on Friday, March 31 when they have their annual Nelson's Golden Glo Chicken BBQ fundraiser. If you have something like that (even a camper or box truck would do) for them to use to sell out of and keep warm in, please let Char Sprunger know.

TODAY in Fellowship Hall following the worship service, Char Sprunger will have chicken BBQ tickets available for purchase. You can pick up your chicken on Friday, March 31 from 10am-5pm at Wal-Mart SuperCenter (east of Goshen). You may purchase tickets from the church office during the week or from preschool board members: Sandy Wingard, Kathy Koop, Susan Setiawan, Helen Gruenewald, Sarah Roth, or Char Sprunger. You can also just stop by Wal-Mart that day and buy chicken without tickets.

EACH YEAR the congregation helps support an international student at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Kim Chen, a student from Huilien, Taiwan, will be receiving assistance from our congregation this year. Kim has served as the pastor of Meilun Mennonite Church in Taiwan. During his time of study at AMBS, Kim's family is also receiving partial support from the Commission on Overseas Mission. For more background on Kim and his family, be sure to read the article in the upcoming MESSENGER.

MESSENGER NEWS items for the April issue are due today. Please give your announcements and articles to editor Tim Nussbaum. Events on the calendar should also be submitted to the church office. Thank you.

THINK N.P.B., not I.R.S. on April 15! Invite your neighbors and friends to Eighth Street's free Neighborhood Pancake Breakfast on Saturday morn-ing, April 15 from 8-10:30am. The Mission and Service Commission sponsors this annual breakfast as a way for our congregation to get to know its neighbors. Please consider volunteering your help when you are asked. And come for pancakes and sausage on the 15th.

BETHANY CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS' FUN FEST is this Friday night and Saturday, March 24 & 25. Come for the fun, food and entertainment that the whole family can enjoy! You won't want to miss any of the action on Friday night or Saturday morning. It promises to be a grand event! A sale bill for the Friday night auction was placed in your mailboxes last Sunday. See Sara Braun for additional information.

THE GIVING BOX FOR MARCH is the Center for Community Justice, Goshen and Elkhart. This morning during the time for sharing joys and concerns, Jolene Von Gunten of the CCJ staff will briefly describe their programs of communication and mediation between victims and offenders. We welcome Jolene to our worship service. Please remember to give generously to this valuable program.

A GUIDE TO PRAYER: Please join the Commission on Home Ministries in prayer for the joint mission board and commission meetings, held in conjunction with the COM, MBM, and Ministries Commission of Mennonite Church Canada in Harrisonburg, VA which our pastor Myron will be attend-ing March 23-27.

èOn the lit. table you will find a half-sheet with suggested prayer guides.

Please pray also for the Consultation on Missional Identity March 24-26 in Harrisonburg. Attendees will be part of the discernment process of mission vision and identity for the new church. (Sponsored by the CHM and COM of the General Conference Mennonite Church, MBM of the Menno-nite Church, and the Ministries Commission of Mennonite Church Canada.)

THANK YOU for your contributions to the care packages for our students away from home. The Congregational Care Commission will be sending them out tomorrow. If you have questions, contact Emma Zehr.

MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS, March 19, 2000

CHURCH CALENDAR this week, March 19-26:

Today - Seniors Meal, Noon

- MESSENGER news due today

Tuesday - Church Board, 7pm

Wednesday - Church Membership Class, 6:15pm

- Facilities Committee, 7-8:30pm

Thursday - Men's Luncheon at Goshen Inn, 11:45am

Thurs.-Mon. - Myron Schrag in Harrisonburg, VA

Next Sunday - THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT

Choir Rehearsal, 8:30am

- Worship Service, 9:30am

Sermon – Dorothy Yoder Nyce

Worship Leader –Barb Nelson Gingerich

Music – Adult Choir

- Sunday School, 11am

- Fellowship Meal for visitors, Noon

- Jr. High Youth (lunch and visiting Menno-Hof), after
Sunday School

LAST SUNDAY, March 12, 2000:

Attendance: 174

Visitors: Emil Kreider, Beloit, WI; Gene Caskey, Bluffton, OH; Christine Maust, Marie Johnston, Goshen College students; Rachel & Steve Nolt, Fran Gundy, Pat Martin, Andrew Kaminskis, Goshen.

Offering: $3,454.05
Budget $3,404.05
Center for Comm. Justice 50.00

Actual Year to Date Giving for the Budget $44,819.55
Needed for the Budget (year to date) 46,812.70
Negative Balance ($ 1,993.15)

"VENEZUELA MUDSLIDE RELIEF"--Twelve relief kits were taken to The Depot this past week. Thank you for your participation.

TWO SPECIAL EVENTS on Goshen College campus regarding "poetry:"

Ü Jean Janzen, Mennonite poet from Fresno, CA, will give a public read-ing from her work on Tuesday, March 28 at 7pm in Newcomer Center, Room 19. Her poetry appears in THREE MENNONITE POETS, published by Good Books. Her new book of poems, TASTING THE DUST, will be pub-lished this month by Good Books.

Ü David Waltner-Toews, Mennonite poet from Ontario, will give a public reading later in the week. For the exact time and place, call 535-7463. Waltner-Toews' work also appears in THREE MENNONITE POETS.

GUESTS FROM the Goshen Interfaith Hospitality Network will be staying at Eighth Street Mennonite Church April 2-9. You are invited to participate in this ministry of care for the stranger by bringing food, spending the evening, or sleeping overnight at the church. Please sign up on the chart in the narthex. The Coordinating Committee (John and Tina Bohn, Lynette Bachman, and Eileen Saner) is ready to answer your questions.

AT AMBS:

Arthur Boers, pastor of Bloomingdale Mennonite Church, Bloomingdale, Ontario, will be the featured presenter in the Preaching Lectureship on March 20 and 22. He will speak in the AMBS chapel service at 11:40am both Monday and Wednesday. He also will lecture in the Foundations of Worship and Preaching class on Wednesday, 8:30-11:30am. Arthur Boers is a well-known writer and preacher who recently received a study grant from Lilly Foundation to explore how to reclaim daily morning and evening prayer for North American Protestants. For more information, call AMBS at 295-3726.

SUGGESTED PRAYER GUIDES FOR MARCH 22-27, 2000

Joint Mission Board/Commission meetings and Consultation on Missional Identity at Harrisonburg, VA. (Approximately 200 people have been invited to participate in this event: mission agency staff and board/commission members; representatives of area conferences, mission workers and international partners.)

Wednesday, March 22 - Pray for safe travel for participants who will come from various locations across the United States, Canada and other parts of the world.

Thursday, March 23 - Pray for the Mission Transformation Project Team and agency executive committees which meet separately to deal with their individual agendas. Pray that they will accomplish their goals in a limited amount of meeting time.

Friday, March 24 - Pray for the commissions and board as they meet separately and together. Pray for those giving leadership. Pray for the first Mission Consultation gathering in the evening. May a spirit of joy and unity abound.

Saturday, March 25 - As Mission Consultation participants gather from around the world, pray for discernment, open hearts and expectation that God will work in their midst.

Sunday, March 26 - As the Mission Consultation continues, pray that it may be a time to gain vision and a renewed passion for global mission.

Monday, March 27 - Pray for a spirit of wisdom and revelation as consultants meet with staff at the close of the consultation. Pray that bonds of unity may undergird the ongoing Mission Transformation process and that each one of us, as members of the new Mennonite Church, will experience personal and corporate transformation through a new indwelling of God's Spirit in our lives.