Feb 26, 2012 Newsletter

Bearing Fruit
February 26, 2012

Our Church

Happy Birthday to:  Karen Seaton (2/26)

Prayers of Washington Mennonite --

·         Jeff Garrett

Offering for 2/19/12:  $2,831.36 (regular), $5.00 (Coins for Camp)

Amanda will be licensed by the Central Plains Mennonite Conference on Sunday, March 4 during the church service with a potluck afterward.

Lenten Luncheon - On March 13, Amanda will speak at the United Presbyterian Lenten Luncheon beginning at 11:45.  Washington Mennonite has been asked to prepare the meal. We would receive the proceeds from the donations given that day.

Saturday Kitchen - Held at the United Presbyterian fellowship hall every Saturday over noon every seventh Saturday. Our church is responsible for the meal on March 31. We are responsible for preparing, serving, cleanup, and food expenses. An estimated 15 people will be needed each Saturday. See Cindy Widmer for more information.

Iowa Mennonite School

Senior Recital - IMS senior Sam Swartzendruber, son of Larry & Connie Swartzendruber of Kalona, will present his Senior Recital on Saturday, March 3, 7:00 p.m. in the school's Celebration Hall.  Sam will present piano works by Liszt, Debussy, Bernstein, Dohnanyi and others, and will also share his vocal gift as well as a few guitar pieces.  He has studied piano with Susan See for 10 years.  All are invited to attend the recital; refreshments will be served in the lobby following the program.

IMS’s Turkey Steak Supper is scheduled for Saturday, March 10, with serving from 4:30-7:00 p.m.  Please consider volunteering your time and gifts by either working a shift or baking a pie or two . . . or both!  We are in need of 5 pies and 4 workers from 5:30-7:15 p.m., and appreciate any and all volunteers.  There is a signup sheet posted in the library and in the fellowship hall.  Thank you!

The IMS Board invites you to join them in prayer for IMS every Wednesday morning at 7:30 AM.  Come to IMS or ask to have the prayer guide emailed to you.  Join us either way as we invite God’s guidance and blessing for IMS each week.

Crooked Creek Christian Camp

Last chance to register for exploring foods and farming! You don't want to miss this program. We have wonderful input planned by Neal Eash, Diane Zaerr Brenneman, our worship team and our panel members.  The Myth of Sustainability on March 2-3, 2012 will be a great time of conversation, challenging input, and thought-provoking activities. Call the camp to register (319) 653-3611 or go to our website at www.crookedcreekcamp.org to download a brochure for registration. Don't wait! Register now!

Mennonite Agencies

MDS (Mennonite Disaster Service) will be sending people to Minot, ND to work in that area the weeks of March 18^thand March 25^th. If you can help please contact John Schrock at 646-2260 or at 319-430-3426. You can also contact your church representative if you can help.

Mennonite/s Writing VI: Solos and Harmonies: You’re invited to a literary arts festival March 29-April 1, 2012 at Eastern Mennonite University, co-sponsored by Conrad Grebel University College. Features playwright Vern Thiessen; poet Greg Orr; a growing list of Mennonite scholars and writers including Katherine Arnoldi, Stephen Raleigh Byler, Todd Davis, Dora Dueck, Jeff Gundy, Ann Hostetler, Jean Janzen, Julia Spicher Kasdorf, Keith Ratzlaff, Sofia Samatar, Hildi Froese Tiessen, and Rudy Wiebe. Learn more and register by March 16 at www.emu.edu/mennos-writing  Early registration discount available through February 3.

Thinking about service next year? Mennonite Voluntary Service’s early bird application deadline is March 16.Adults ages 20+ are invited by local congregations and communities around the country to spend a year engaging with them in service, reconciliation and sharing the love of Jesus. For more information on how you can apply, visit Service.MennoniteMission.net.

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:  Pray that God would grant peace of mind, health and wisdom to Radical Journey Director Darrell Gascho as he travels to China, England, Paraguay and South Africa to visit each of the teams and their hosts as they serve and learn together.  Radical Journey is a Mennonite Mission Network program.

The Sower Prayer Request:  From Feb 23 to Mar 5, 13 people from Central Plains are working and visiting in Ecuador.  The group will continue construction of a church building at Arajuno, working alongside brothers from the churches in Quito and Colombia.  Pray for good fellowship and safe travel.

Washington Area

The Goshen College Men's Choir is on a Mid-west tour and will be giving a concert at First Mennonite Church on Wed., Feb. 29th at 7:00 pm.  Dr. Scott Hochstetler directs the choir of 48 men (two from this area). All are welcome to attend this concert of singing on the theme of "Light in the Darkness".

World Day of Prayer is a global inter-denominational movement of Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action. Christian women of many traditions come together to observe a common day of prayer each year, and who, in many countries, have a continuing relationship in prayer and service.  There is a World Day of Prayer gathering at the United Presbyterian Church in Washington on March 2 at 1:30 pm.  See the bulletin board for more information.

St. James Home and School Association is holding their annual Royal Ball on Saturday, March 17 at the KC Hall in Washington.  This year’s theme is “Everyone’s Irish.”  Come enjoy appetizers, gourmet Irish meal, live Irish music by Dunlavin Green, dancing, and a live and silent auction.  Tickets are $60 per person.  To make your reservation, please contact Kathleen Brinning at 319-863-3806 or kbrinning at cloudburst9.net.  For more information see the bulletin board.

GriefShare, a world-side grief recovery support program meets on Thursday evenings at 7:00-8:30 pm in the library at First Christian Church.  This is a video based support group for anyone who has lost a loved one.  Previous participants are also encouraged to repeat the class as they move through the grief process.  For more information contact: Jan Boyd, 653-4567; Deb McCreedy, 319-461-6783, or Stan McCreedy 319-430-9237.

Wilderness Wind is offering a free canoe trip in Minnesota. Gather a group of five first-time participants, and the sixth person goes free. Wilderness Wind offers Christ-centered canoe trips in the Minnesota Boundary Waters. Canoe trips provide experiential learning that is conducive for reflection, enriching connections and discussions. Contact (316) 217-1129 or www.WildernessWind.org.