Please send your announcements to the office by Friday AM to be included in the bulletin.Speak with Pastor Joel before the Sunday service if you wish to voice your announcement at the end of worship.
         TODAY
Sunday, January 1       Happy New Year! --No Sunday School
                 THIS WEEK
Wednesday, January 4 City Gospel Mission        
Wednesday, January 4 SLT (7:30pm, tentative)
Friday, January 6         Youth & Mentor gathering (tentative)
         NEXT WEEK
Tuesday, January 10     Community Meal (5-7pm)
         COMING UP
Thursday, January 19   Council (6:30pm)
Tuesday, January 29     Congregational Meeting , after church

Pastor Joel's Whereabouts
Beyond congregational duties, here are some of Pastor Joel's present activities:
         RECENT
Wed Dec 14                 CDC Pastor/Peer meeting at First Mennonite, Bluffton
Dec 26 - Jan 2              Vacation with Kansas family

                  UPCOMING
Jan 3                           Return to office

         MONDAYS ARE A SABBATH

Throughout the season of Advent we will again be taking up a children's special offering to support the Children's Home of Cincinnati through their adopt-a-class program. Bring change, bills, and checks for the children to collect each week. Last year we raised $621 and have a goal of $750 this year. TODAY IS THE LAST DAY WE WILL HAVE THIS SPECIAL OFFERING.

This season's theme, "Awesome Deeds We Do Not Expect," invites us to find concrete ways of welcoming the unexpected. The theme for the season is visually represented by the plant growing through the crack in the concrete. Something beautiful and awesome (plant) emerges unexpectedly in a very ordinary way (growth) and yet in an uncommon place (crack in the concrete.)
In the same way, the beauty of Advent breaks through unexpectedly through the common "concrete" of our ordinary lives to represent the awesome beauty of hope in the birth of Christ.


MENNONITE ARTS WEEKEND VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Mennonite Arts Weekend is coming soon (February 3-5) and it takes a village!

Thanks to your wonderful hospitality, we already have places to house 60 choir members, but there are still plenty of opportunities for you to participate in the Weekend. In the back of the church are sign-up sheets for everything from baking cookies to helping serve meals, from ushering at the Saturday evening concert to being a room chair, from setting up on Friday to cleaning up on Sunday. So, please sign up. The more the merrier!

Be sure to check out the website ( mennoniteartsweekend.org ) to read about the inspiring artists (visual, musical and otherwise) that will be with us this February. don't forget to register so we know you're coming (the CMF registration fee of $20 covers costs for meals). Forms are available in the foyer or on the website.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to help support Mary P.'s daughter Kate and her husband Zachary during their time of recovery may go into any LCNB bank branch and submit your donation to the ``Bowles Family Relief Fund''. Donations may also be mailed to LCNB, P.O. Box 59, Lebanon, OH 45036. All donations will be used to offset expenses while neither is able to work and all will be greatly appreciated.

CHRISTIANS AND ISLAM: CONVERSATION OF HOPE IN THE MIDST OF CONFLICT.
For centuries, Christians and Muslims have lived in peace as neighbors. But religious differences are always fertile ground for fanning the fires for political and economic gain and both Christians and Muslims have waged "holy wars." In our own times, both Muslims and Christians are dealing with extremists in our midst who distort the true character of belief. Significant, intelligent dialogue and the development of authentic friendships across religious lines are key to deepening our mutual faith. There are important theological differences between Christianity and Islam, as well as a faith foundation that we share. We will be led in discussion by members of PJOS through a study of the important stories of shared history, theological similarities and differences, and aspirations for social justice that both Christians and Muslims share as communities of faith.

SESSION 1--led by Jerry S.
A History Together
SESSION 2--led by Christine S.
Understanding Islam

SESSION 3--led by Steve H.
Islam's American Face
SESSION 4--led by Steve H.
The Real Success Stories

         PRAYERS FOR FAITH AND LEARNING
Goshen College students leave this coming Thursday for Study-Service Term in Peru. Pray for the students and their faculty leaders, Jerrell and Jane Richer. Ask for a renewed sense of purpose for fall semester SST students as they return from experiences in China and Peru.
         PRAYERS FOR THE MENNONITE MISSION NETWORK
Senegal, formerly a quiet and stable country in West Africa, has experienced violent demonstrations due to political discontent and frequent power cuts. Pray for peaceful and fair elections next month. Pray also that Mennonite Mission Network personnel and partners model Jesus as the Prince of Peace.


Book Club will meet on Sunday, January 8 after church at the home of Jim & Joy M.. The book to be discussed is "The Worst Hard Time" by Timothy Egan. Please bring a dish to share.

Journey Groups

Art and Spirituality: TBD
Spiritual Journey (Open): Wednesday, Jan. 18, 7:30pm @ Joy M.'s house
Men's Group (Open): Meets every third Saturday of each month--all men are welcome.
Coordinator: Jim M.. If interested and not on Jim's email list, please
ask to be added. Watch email for location. Jim would appreciate a
headcount midweek prior to the Breakfast. Time is 7:30am -???