Aug 27-06 Sunday Bulletin

BERGTHALER MENNONITE CHURCH OF ALTONA

August 27, 2006

Office: 324-6717 Cell: 324-3204 Fax: 324-1603 E-mail: abchurch@mts.net

Services available online at: abchurch.libsyn.com

Pastor: Rick Neufeld, 324-9027, abcrick@mts.net

Assistant Pastor: Dan Kehler, 324-5178, dan_at_church@mts.net

Youth Pastor: Jayson Giesbrecht, 324-9861, youthguy@mts.net

WORSHIP SERVICE – 10:30 A.M.

Prelude/Pianist: Anne Friesen Music: George Wiebe, Elaine Janz & Art Froese

Scripture: Ruth Stoesz Children’s Story: Hilda Franz

Worship Leader: Sharon Friesen Speaker: Walter Franz

Living In Right Relationship

"He has showed you, O man, what is good.

And what does the LORD require of you?

Gathering

Prelude

Call to Worship

Opening Prayer

Praising God

Hymns

# 81 (HWB) “O, for a thousand tongues to sing”

# 541 (MH) “Marvelous Grace”

Psalm 34:15-22

Offering Our Selves

Church Announcements

Sister Church Update

Outtatown – Jenny Hiebert

Offering our Prayers

Giving our Tithes and Gifts

Proclaiming God’s Word

Hymn # 145 (HWB) “There is a wideness in God’s mercy”

Children’s Time

Scriptures: Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 22:34-40

Sermon “Seeing the Big Picture”

Sending

Hymn # 502 (MH) “Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing” vs.1,2

Benediction

Hymn # 502 (MH) “Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing” vs.3

… To act justly and to love mercy

and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

Prayer & Praise Corner

~ Our deepest sympathy to Roseann & Bill Hoffman, Janelle and

Jaylene, and the extended family, on the passing of Roseann’s father

George J. Froese. The funeral service was held Thursday in Winkler.

~ Our love & sympathy to Wilbert & Sally Funk, & extended family at

the passing of Sally’s sister Mrs. Helen (Ben) Enns of Winnipeg. The

memorial service was held Friday in Winnipeg.

~ Congratulations to Jason Voth & Robyn Fehr who were married

Saturday, August 19!!

~ PrayerNet – Please remember to pray for Cliff & Natasha Dueck,

Witness Workers in Ukraine, who are in the middle of another season

of a camping ministry outreach to youth in their area. They ask for

prayer for that, “those that are attending will grow in their faith in

Jesus & get to know more about what it means to follow Him daily.”

~ MC Canada Prayer Request: As churches across the country begin

their Fall Christian education programs, pray in particular for those in

your congregation who will be teaching. Pray that the Holy Spirit

might use the new Gather ‘Round curriculum to enlighten the minds &

open the hearts of young & old as they begin another season of

learning together.

~ MC Canada Witness Notes – MC Canada support Connexus, a

language institute operating as part of the Korea Anabaptist Center’s

educational ministry. Thanks to your support Connexus is able to

provide an English teaching ministry with a community atmosphere.

~ Mennonite Church Manitoba is praying together… and praising

God for the VBS initiatives this summer in Pauingassi, Little Grand

Rapids, Manigotagan, Riverton and Matheson Island.

Sr. Youth

· Sept 13 – Sr. Youth Kickoff – stay tuned for details

· Sept 15-17 – Youth Retreat at Moose Lake!! Registrations will be taken in the first week of September and we’re looking forward to a great retreat! The guest speaker has been confirmed, however we need some more youth sponsors to get the year started. Talk to Jayson if you’re interested!

Jr. Youth

· Stay tuned for information about the Jr. Youth kickoff…

Church Announcements

~ Sept.10 – Homecoming Sunday

~ Sept. 24 (Sun.) – ABC Golf Tournament – a yard is needed to host the wiener roast as well as help with organizing the tournament. Contact Dan to volunteer.

~ Pastors Holiday Schedule:

Rick will be back Aug 30; Jayson: Aug. 22 – Sept. 5

STUCCO PROJECT UPDATE

Our stucco replacement project is progressing as planned, with all windows & doors now having been replaced. The stucco wire is currently being applied, with the first layer of stucco following within the next week or two. Hopefully the final coat will follow shortly thereafter.

A picture of the finished project is on display in the foyer, with a sample chip of each of the proposed colours to be used.

There was a lot of thought & effort put into the colour selection. Our goal has been to choose warm light tones that will blend with what is already structurally in place. In doing this, we hope to make the stucco colours flow so that it blends the existing brick & mortar on the Education Wing to the existing brown steel front doors. The picture shows the main colour as being the lightest shade, with the vertical concrete pillars & the horizontal expansion joints being slightly darker, and then the headers on the front & north entrance doors being a brown to match the new doors as well as the Education Wing brick. In this way we hope to make it look like one building, instead of two separate structures.

Your special gifts to support this project are invited & appreciated. All such donations should be submitted by November 1, 2006. Please issue separate cheques when donating to the Building Fund, making cheques payable to: A.B.C. Construction.

~ Finance & Trusteeship Commission

ABC MENNO PROJECT TO COLOMBIA!

At the Annual meeting in February a resolution was passed in support of a group from our church making a trip to our sister church in Colombia. Together with Mennonite Church Canada and Altona Bergthaler Church, Menno project to Colombia is being planned for February 2007.

The Purpose of the trip:

o Foster a deeper relationship with our sister church in Colombia.

o Give our congregation first-hand witness to what life is like for Christians beyond Altona.

o Walk with our Colombian sisters and brothers (work, learn, encourage, worship and fellowship).

o To enter into a work project with the Colombian Mennonite Church.

o Witness the work of the church in bringing peace to a war torn country.

o To be ambassadors for MC Canada in Colombia.

Dates will be February 2-12 or 10-20, 2007 – depending on the flight possibilities and/or suitability with group members and/or the Colombia church.

Several people are already committed; others are invited to consider joining this trip. For more information or to indicate your interest, please contact the church office. A firm commitment with a $500 down payment will be asked for in mid September.

Bursary Fund: Several years ago the Bergthaler Mennonite Church of Altona, via a resolution, established a Bursary Fund for members or immediate family of ABC. If you are planning to attend a post-secondary institution for religious studies during the 2006-2007 school year, please pick up an application form at the church office. Return the form, along with references, to the church no later than Sept. 15^th, 2006.

Community Announcements **See bulletin board posters.

o You are invited to join the Southern Manitoba Choral Society Choir for its 50^th Anniversary Season. Rehearsals begin Tuesday, September 5/06 @ 7:30-9:30pm, W. C. Miller Choral Room, Altona.

o Interaction marks Macau Learning Tour for Chinese Canadians--see 4-page write-up on foyer bulletin board.

o Sept. 9 – Morris MCC Relief Sale – Sale items: to donate any good quality items for the relief sale please call Ed Stoesz, 324-8200. Bake Sale: a reminder for all MCC friends who would like to help us again with the bake sale. The best items to make are noodles, cakes, cookies, buns, breads, pies etc. Do not wrap any baking in saran wrap - arrange baking in ½ or full dozen plates -look for a new location for the bake sale. For info call Margaret Schmidt, 488-2709.

o MCC is looking for volunteers to help count proceeds (excluding Penny Power) at the Morris Relief Sale. If you’re planning on attending the sale & are able to volunteer 2 hours (or more!) to help count, please contact Richard Dyck at the MCC, 261-6381 or rwd@mennonitecc.ca. Calculators & pencils provided!

o Sept. 9 – “Head for the Hills” bicycling fundraiser. Ride the scenic Pembina Hills south of Morden. $20 registration. All proceeds in support of Eden Mental Health Care Services. Call 204-325-5355 or 866-895-2919 [toll-free] for info. See poster.

o Sept. 15-16 & 22-23 – Women’s Retreats at Winkler Bible Camp with speaker Gwen Hagarman – see foyer for brochures.

Mennonite Collegiate Institute [MCI] Announcements…

o Alumni and Friends of MCI – we are creating a Cookbook/Memory book featuring YOU! We are presently collecting your favorite recipe or two and/or your favorite dining room story and/or dining room pictures! We would like to have this cookbook produced in time for Christmas giving! Fall is the deadline! Please contact Tammy Rempel at MCI 327-5891 or email tammyrempel@mciblues.net.

o Sept. 24, 5pm - MCI presents a Hog Roast & Comedy Concert at MCI in Gretna. All alumni & friends/supporters of MCI are invited to celebrate this Homecoming Event! Tickets are $25. Performers are: Kerry & the Sunshine Band & comedian Dean Jenkinson. Call 327-5891 to reserve your tickets! See posters

o MCI invites applications for a [male] full-time position as Residence Life Coordinator - contact Darryl Loewen, 327-5891 or principal@mciblues.net. Interests in youth, sports, coaching, music or the arts are valuable assets. Love for Jesus Christ is essential!

From the Pastor – Dan Kehler

Author Ken R. Canfield, president of the National Center for Fathering, writes in New Man:

Some 20 years ago, I was a “Big Brother” to a boy named Brian whose parents were divorced.  Brian was caught in that time of his life when he was figuring out his identity as a young man and a son.  My wife, Dee, and I were newlyweds with no children – yet.  We came to know Brian’s family, and his mother asked if I could spend some time with him.

Brian and I spent many Saturdays together, and I’ll never forget the way he watched me and listened closely to everything I said.  We never did anything extravagant—usually just hung out together.  Then one experience helped me realize that it’s on God’s heart to provide a male role model for the fatherless.

One day I sat down and wrote Brian a short one-paragraph letter.  It wasn’t anything profound or heartwarming but said something like: “Dear Brian, I’m looking forward to getting together again with you this Saturday.  I’ve enjoyed our time together, and I just want you to know that you’re a great guy to be around.  Your Big Brother Ken.”

Nothing life-changing from my perspective.  But the next time I visited Brian, I noticed my letter was proudly displayed on his wall and surrounded by posters of sports heroes.  When I saw that, I realized the impact I could have in Brian’s life.

o Sept. 30 – The Voices for Non-Violence program addresses the needs of people who have been abused in any way. One way to offer assistance is to offer support groups for victims of abuse throughout the province of Manitoba. For all those interested in volunteering to co-facilitating support groups for survivors of abuse (both men & women), a one-day training session will be held at 134 Plaza Drive, Winnipeg. Call 261-6381 ext.256 or email vnv@mennonitecc.ca .

o Camps With Meaning – call 895-2267 – see foyer posters

- Sep.19-20 - A "Service Retreat" at Camp Moose Lake. This

event is designed for retired persons and others to spend two

days working at the camp, while experiencing refreshment and

fellowship. Resource person is Gary Martens; musical

entertainment by the Vic Froese band. Brochures in foyer.

3. Voluntary Service positions are available at Camp Assiniboia.

4. See CWM Update in the foyer for further information.

February 22, 2006

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