Week of November 29 – December 5, 2020, Vol. 11, Issue 48

Sunday, November 29 Advent

Advent I But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be 9:30 a.m. – Worship weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40: 31 Service. Amanda Youk and Michael These words of encouragement came to a displaced people in an Bishop, “Readiness” alien environment of exile. The Children of God were living in Mark 13:24-37 uncertainty, navigating how to be God’s people, desperate for a reminder of God’s unfailing presence regardless of circumstance.

Advent invites this reminder. God is indeed working, ever leading, shaping and

offering a love that interrupts our limited view and understanding. The Spirit of God longs to To watch the worship service be recognized, claimed and witnessed in our lives. Through scripture, story, song and online please visit prayer our scattered faith community gathers for the needed renewal of the season. www.bgmc.net. Waiting on the Lord is our necessary work of faith and obedience toward our willing

Readiness, Repentance, Restoration and Revelation.

In hope, peace, joy and love, Michael Bishop

Serving Along the Way

Today, Sunday, November 29 is the last day to bring your donations for the Pennridge FISH Thanksgiving Eve collection. Please place all donations outside the sanctuary or in the Fellowship Hall Needed Items: boxed mashed potatoes, canned yams/sweet potatoes, gravy and broth, fried onions, cranberry sauce, cream of mushroom soup, canned green beans, stuffing mix, fruit and vegetables, rice (white and brown), canned meat ("beef stew", "Spam", "canned Ham"), meal helpers (hamburger, tuna, rice, or pasta helpers), condiments (mayonnaise, ketchup and mustard), ramen noodles, raisins, cooking oil, salad dressing, flour & sugar, hot chocolate, pancake mix and syrup, cake icing, detergent, dish washing soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, diapers/ trainers sizes 5-7, & wipes, incontinence bed pads, adult diapers / underwear (large size). (bolded items Pennridge FISH is almost out of)

Please pray for the thousands of people in impacted by Hurricanes Eta and Iota.  As the flooding recedes, Mennonite Central Committee is partnering with local churches to distribute emergency food, blankets and hygiene kits. We are also supporting churches as they help with clean up. Please pray for everyone impacted by this disaster. Donate now to help provide emergency relief. https://donate.mcc.org/cause/hurricanes-eta- and-iota-relief  Hurricane Eta and Iota has caused devastation to , a country that was already suffering from the consequences of the pandemic. The Healthy Ninos Honduras staff are assisting the people in Honduras with food, water, clothes and shoes after the Hurricanes devastated so much of the country. Would you please help us in this effort? You can donate online at https://healthyninos.org/ or through Venmo (@healthyninos) or send the check to Healthy Ninos Honduras P.O. Box 53 East Greenville, PA 18041. Sunday, December 6 RamPacks: Thank you to everyone who has given to RamPacks this Advent II past year. We are providing food on weekends and school holidays to children experiencing food insecurity in the Pennridge School District so 9:30 a.m. – Worship Service. they are able to come to school ready to learn. Jeff Hollenbach, “Repentance” In the month of November we will be collecting: Mark 1:1-8  Mac and Cheese (individual microwave cups)  Individual Oatmeal Packets  Fruit Snacks Donations can be dropped off at Blooming Glen Mennonite Church in the basket outside the church office. To watch the worship service Financial donations can be made online at https://www.rampacks.com/ or checks can be online please visit made out to RamPacks and mailed to 104 Green Street, Sellersville PA 18960. www.bgmc.net. THANK YOU for your continued support!

Blooming Glen Mennonite Church 10 Month Financial Update

The financial reports for the first ten months of 2020 have been completed. The following is a

recap through October 31:

2020 2019 2018

Income $ 741,722 $ 815,103 $ 817,228

Spending $ 875,797 $ 971,124 $ 1,052,538

Deficit $(134,075) $(156,021) $( 235,310)

We want to thank each and every one of you for the financial gifts that have been made and

for your future gifts! We appreciate the faithful giving during this time. As you can see our

deficit is better than previous years. The 2020 amounts do not reflect the $71,000 that we

received through the Paycheck Protection Program. We anticipate applying for forgiveness in

the next few of weeks. Please reach out to any of the stewardship members for any questions

that you may have.

Thank-you

Bruce Thomas, Stewardship Chair

Financial Offerings

Thank you to the many persons who have mailed their donations or continued their online giving – it is so helpful as we try to meet our expenses. We have expanded our giving options – we now have a QR code as seen here and added a link on our website that you can give a one-time or reoccurring donation. These secure methods and donations will be added to your contribution statements. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Robin Long in the church office.

Our Church Family

Past Sunday, Nov. 22 In Our Thoughts and Prayers - Mike Ford, Cassidy Gehman, Cher Lutz, Gail Snyder

Attendance: Take a look at Mike Ford’s Caring Bridge page for updates and ways you can help: Worship 111 https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mikeford. Mike and family appreciate your continued Views online 111 prayers and the many ways you are staying in touch – thank you! Prayer and Business 57 Meeting Celebrating birthdays (December 6 to December 12): 6 - Gregory Bishop, Ethan Swartley; Prayer and Business 67 7 - Erin Moyer; 10 - Alexander Bishop; 11 - Elyse Rittenhouse; 12 - Joseph Primavera Meeting online Children’s Sunday School Christmas Celebration for Preschool – 5th Grade: Dec. 20 in Offerings: the Fellowship Hall. Pickup time for this special event is 11:45 a.m. Offerings $8,079 Jen Hunsberger, Children’s Ministry Director: [email protected] Electronic 2,400 Reminders: Total $10,479  Wear your mask  Bring a beach towel to sit on, if you want  Bring a labeled water bottle, if you want  Those not in Kindergarten yet may join in with a parent Sr. High Youth Future Events Sunday school hour: Use this ZOOM link every Sunday if Not even the powers of Rome could stop a star in logging in virtually for our 10:15 the East, nor the birth of the true King. In that same a.m. Sunday school hour. Zoom sprit we must welcome and celebrate the coming of Link: https://us02web. zoom.us/ Love in the season of Advent and Christmas. j/86702316305 Though we cannot hold our annual seasonal musical Password: BGMYF celebrations this year, our website and YouTube Channel will offer three musical worship services from Sunday, December 13th, 5pm- recent years. It’s worth a look and listen in the retelling of the timeless biblical narrative, 8pm: Annual Christmas Party in as well as remembering our peoplehood in gathered worship; this too is a timeless story. the Yoder barn. February 19-21, 2021: Winter  Advent I, November 29: I Hear the Prophet Callin’, 2017 program Retreat at Spruce Lake  Advent II, December 6: Schubert Mass in G, 2018 program Wilderness Camp  Advent III & IV, December 13: Messiah Sing-In, 2019 program

Sunday, November 29, Prayer Time Bible Study. We will meet on Jr. High Youth Sundays from 7-8 a.m. to pray and discern God’s voice. From 8-9 a.m. Friends Welcome we will have our regular Prayer Time session during which we’ll focus on to all events! Bible study. Those attending in person should meet in the BGMC Prayer Room. Those attending via Zoom can use the link below. December 6, Making Christmas  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81700586580? Cards with the Boys and Girls pwd=T2VsdGpsWi91eE11YVAvTnVoU0QyQT09 Club. Sign up at:  Meeting ID: 817 0058 6580 www.signupgenius.com/  Passcode: 830750 go/10C0848ABAD22A1F85- making.  One tap mobile: +13017158592,,81700586580#,,,,,,0#,,830750# US (Germantown)

December 9: Game Night @ Sunday, November 29, 9:30 a.m. Worship in the Sanctuary. BGMC: Drop-off @ 7pm; Pick-up @  The service will be livestreamed on BGMC’s YouTube Channel (https:// 8:30 pm www.youtube.com/channel/UCH6auDLY1oKMWeKWicjUuIg/live). Please make sure to subscribe to our channel. You can also access our channel through Boys and Girls Club our website at www.bgmc.net.

December 6, Making Christmas Wednesday, December 2, 8-9 p.m. - Zoom Prayer Time Bible Study. Cards with the Jr. High Youth. We will dig deeper into the Scripture passages we read on the Sunday Sign up at: before. If you weren’t able to participate on Sunday, it’s still fine to come www.signupgenius.com/ on Wednesday. This is a Zoom-only session. go/10C0848ABAD22A1F85- If there are any topics or Bible passages that bubble up for you making. during the week, that you would like us to address, please email Jenny at [email protected]. Also, several of us email book suggestions, resource links, or continued Scripture conversations during the week. Thank you all for sharing in this way!

 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88222525689? Children and Youth pwd=VjNXWjFMU0dkK2pHRUh3T3FLNGt6dz09 BGMC’s Medical Waiver and  Meeting ID: 882 2252 5689 Permission form and the Covid-  Password: 657453 19 Waiver for Children and Youth  One tap mobile: +19294362866,,88222525689#,,#,657453# US (New York) activities are now available to fill out online. All children and youth Sunday, December 6, 9:30 a.m. Worship in the Sanctuary including guests must have a completed form to participate in any Our last Facebook Live Blooming Buds Book Bunch is coming your BGMC children or youth gathering way Wednesday, December 9th @ 10 a.m. Keep an out for a date or event. Paper copies are this Spring when we can meet again! available by contacting the church office. Friday, December 11th - Community Milk & Cookies Drive Thru. Drive thru between 7:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m. on Friday and Fill out the Medical Waiver and pick up your Milk and a Cookie Decorating Kit for your child(ren) Permission form for each child: and join us on our Blooming Glen Facebook Page for a Facebook https://www.bgmc.net/children- Live Cookie Decorating and Storytime on Saturday morning at 10 youth-medical-infopermission-form- a.m.! Any questions email Jen Hunsberger at [email protected]. 20202021 Hope to see you there! Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/

Sign one Covid-19 Waiver for go/20f0e49adae22a1fb6-community entire family: https:// www.bgmc.net/covid-19-addendum

Please note: Groups using In Our Community the church during evenings and weekends are Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Online Concert: Celebrating 100 years of hope, responsible to lock/ unlock community and healing with MCC. Join the Pennsylvania Relief Sale on Sunday, and turn off the lights. December 6 at 8:00 p.m. (EST) for an online concert to support Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)'s work, featuring an opening performance by A Girl Named Tom To be certain your news item followed by an hour-long concert from musical group The Steel Wheels. Songs and stories will be included in the next will highlight MCC's work around the world. A link to access the FREE livestreamed concert issue, please submit it to the will be posted to pareliefsale.org/events on December 6. The program will include an editor, Michelle Ahn-Doettger opportunity to bid on a single, original painting online, as well as an intermission with ([email protected]), by opportunities to financially support the programs and mission of MCC. Online donations to Tuesday of each week. MCC can be made during the event at the same link.

Blooming Glen Mennonite COVID-19 has disrupted many aspects of our lives, but it has not interrupted substance use. Church In fact, in many cases, substance use has actually increased. Teens (and their families) are P.O. Box 238 invited to Penn Foundation for an evening of pizza and substance abuse prevention Blooming Glen, PA 18911 education on Tuesday, December 15 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. over zoom. Penn 215-257-3431 Foundation professionals will share their expertise and host a live Q&A following the webinar. www.bgmc.net Chiaro’s Pizzeria Restaurant (Sellersville, Skippack and Green Lane locations only) has partnered with Penn Foundation to offer 20% off your order on December 15 if Pastoral Care Team you register for this webinar. A coupon will be emailed to you upon registration. Contact anyone on this team Register at: https://www.pennfoundation.org/event/a-slice-of-prevention-for-teens-and-their- with pastoral care concerns. families/. For more information, contact Deb Ryan, Director of Community Outreach, at Michael Bishop, Pastor, 215.453.5165 or [email protected]. Donna Alderfer, Glenda Bergey, Joye Bryan, Mark High school public policy essay and video contest: The annual Mennonite Central Derstine, Karen Hunsberger, Committee (MCC) U.S. Washington Office essay and video contest highlights the Janet Landes, Ellen Lacher, perspectives of youth on significant public policy issues and promotes the involvement of Carolyn Marinko, Marilyn & young people in faithful witness to government authorities. The contest is open to Mennonite, Ralph Nase, Sylvia Shelly Brethren in Christ and other Anabaptist youth of high school age and to all youth who attend Mennonite high schools within the U.S., including Puerto Rico. Grand prizes of $150 each will If you or a family member are be awarded to the top video and the top essay. Topics this year are gun violence, immigration hospitalized, please inform and police reform and racial justice. Essay entries should be submitted to one of the pastors or pastoral [email protected] and video entries should be uploaded to our website by 11:59 p.m. EST visitor team members. Due to on February 26, 2021. For contest guidelines and other details, visit mcc.org/essay-contest or confidentiality, hospitals no contact [email protected]. longer inform congregations when our members are The Voices Together dedication admitted. We appreciate the launch celebration will take information you pass along to place via Zoom on Sunday, our team to help us better care December 13, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 and offer support to all our p.m. It will include a time to members. Thank you. Michael worship with new songs and Bishop resources, hear stories, and offer blessings for Voices Together and all who receive it. After Dayspring Counseling Center this time of worship there will be an overview of the process of creating Voices Together and of Penn Foundation will a time for questions with committee members. This event is free but registration is required to provide counseling sessions to receive the Zoom link. Register at: http://voicestogetherhymnal.org/digital-launch-registration/. congregational members and Shipping Update: their families at a reduced fee  We had expected to be shipping Voices Together orders the other week. However, some through the Member Assistance of our printers and manufacturers have had to temporarily close due to COVID outbreaks. Program (MAP). Call 215-257- Like you, we are anxiously awaiting these final products. Please be patient as we get the 6551 to schedule an remaining products produced and shipped. appointment. More details are  This delay will not affect the Dedication Launch event scheduled for Sunday, December available in MAP brochures 13, 2020. Thank you very much for your patience and please join us in prayer for those located in the foyers. who are battling COVID-19.

Survivors Safe Haven, a self Is Dock Mennonite Academy a fit for your family? Join them for their December virtual Open help support group for survivors Houses – EC to Grade 8 campus, Monday, December 7 at 7:00 pm and grades 9 to 12 of sexual abuse is meeting on campus, Tuesday, December 8 at 7:00 pm – and learn more about Dock from the comfort of the 2nd Wednesday of every month from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. your home. Experience video tours, meet faculty, staff, & students, learn about financial aid near the Lansdale train station. and ask questions about curriculum, learning support, and co-curricular opportunities for For exact location and more students. Register today at dock.org. information contact Karen at [email protected].