Worship - First Mennonite Church

First Mennonite Church
405 Myrtle Avenue
Iowa City, IA 52246
Phones: 319-338-0302; 338-5397
Fax: 319-887- 6903
e-mail:

Ministers: All members of the congregation
Co-Pastors: Bob and Mag Richer Smith

Minster of Community Life: Karla Stolzfus

Pastoral concerns may be shared with the pastors or one of the elders: Earl Gingerich, Lynn Gingerich, Julia Lehman, Tim Krabill, Kathy Ropp, Donna Wiebe

This Week's Sermon

Mothering God

Sunday, May 11, 2008
Proclaimer: Karla Stoltzfus

Surprise, Surprise!

Sunday, May 04, 2008
Proclaimer: Lynn Miller

Finding Our Voice

Sunday, April 27, 2008
Proclaimer: Mag Richer Smith

Creation Proclaims ...

Sunday, April 20, 2008
Proclaimer: Karla Stoltzfus

WORSHIP SERVICE - May 11, 2008 - 9:30 a.m.

GATHERING AND PRAISING

Gathering Music
Opening and Welcome
Music for Meditation

Call to Worship: (from Psalm 131 and Isaiah 49)

   El Shaddai, we come humbly before you this day,
   Seeking not to walk in ways too difficult for us,
   Nor trying to understand things beyond our grasp.

Let us calm ourselves now
And sit quietly in God’s embrace.

Like a satisfied infant at its mother’s breast,
Let our souls be tranquil in the embrace of El Shaddai.

Pause

   We sing to You, O God,
   for you have comforted your children.

Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth:
   Break forth, O mountains, into singing!

   For El Shaddai has compassion
   on the children of her womb!

Hymns: #1 (SJ) We sing to you, O God
              # 36 (WB) God of our strength

WORSHIPING IN COMMUNITY
Special Music by the children
Hymn #481(WB) O God, your constant care
Pastoral prayer
Offering our gifts

PROCLAIMING THE WORD
Scripture: Hosea 11:1-4; Isaiah 49:13-15; John 6:48-59
Message: Mothering God
Hymn: #492 God of Eve and God of Mary

CELEBRATING COMMUNION
Receiving the bread and cup
Prayer of Thanksgiving

SENDING AND BLESSING
Hymn: # 472 I am the bread of life
Blessing

PARTICIPANTS
Worship Leader -  Dwight Gingerich
Preservice Music/Music for Meditation - Elspeth and Elliot Stalter
Song Leader -  Mary Forney
Pianist  -  Tony Brenneman
Scripture Reader - Christine Rumsey
Proclaimer -  Karla Stoltzfus
Bulletin Cover  - David Nikodim
Child Care -  Margalea Warner, Erma Edwards