March 11, 2012 Newsletter

Bearing Fruit
March 11, 2012

Our Church

Happy Birthday to:  Emma Wood (3/11), Jillian Bruegge

               (3/15), Kennedy Slagel (3/16), Vickie Bender (3/17)

Happy Anniversary to:  Tim & Cindy Widmer (3/17)

Prayers of Washington Mennonite --

·         Ty Blas as he travels to visit his family

·         Lynn Miller as he recovers from hip replacement surgery

Offering for 2/19/12:  $2,742.00 (regular)

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.

On Sunday, March 18, Vanessa will be at Washington Mennonite to speak briefly about her family’s upcoming move to do mission work in Jordan. We will be having a free-will donation roll sale to help support their mission, and she will be on hand during fellowship time to speak one on one with individuals interested in contributing and learning more about their work in Jordan.

Saturday Kitchen - Held at the United Presbyterian fellowship hall every Saturday over noon.  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 the sign-up sheets or Cindy Widmer for more information.

Our group subscription plan to The Mennonite is renewing.  The Mennonite Church USA magazine seeks to fulfill its mission of helping readers glorify God, grow in faith and become agents of healing and hope in the world through articles that challenge and inspire, news that connects readers to the larger Mennonite community and much more.  If you would like to renew your subscription or start receiving it as part of the church’s group rate either email the church at wash.mennonite at juno.com or talk to Andrea Nussbaum by April 8^th.

Iowa Mennonite School

IMS students are available for hire!  Please contact Mary Lou Gingerich at IMS (656-2073 or 683-2586) if you would like to hire one or more students on Friday, March 16.  Students are available for yard work, cleaning, and/or other errands or jobs you might have for them.  All wages earned will go toward IMS' Student Aid program, assisting families and students with financial obligations to the school.  Thank you in advance for your support of our Work Day program!

The IMS Symphonic Band, along with orchestras from Bethany Christian (Goshen, IN) and Central Christian (Kidron, OH), will present a joint concert on Sunday, March 18 at 3:00 p.m. in Celebration Hall.  Students will arrive Friday and spend two nights in the area, spending much of the day Saturday on campus rehearsing.  Host homes are also needed; for more information or to open your home, please contact Paula Buckwalter attpbuck@netins.net.  All are invited to enjoy the concert on Sunday.

IMS’s Touring Choir, under the direction of Karenza Yoder, will begin their spring concert schedule with a program of worship at Bethel Mennonite Church near Wayland, on Sunday, March 25 at 9:30 a.m.  The choir is comprised of 31 juniors and seniors; they will present a variety of sacred pieces.  All are invited to attend the service.  A free-will offering will be taken for the school.

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.

The annual Iowa Mennonite Disaster Service meeting will be March 25, 2012 at 2:00 PM at Upper Deer Creek Mennonite Church.

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:  MMN invites us to join our Japan Mennonite Fellowship brothers and sisters today in creating a ring of prayer around the earth on this first anniversary of the Tohoku Earthquake that set off multiple disasters.  Pray for the families of the 20,000 victims.  Pray for the 23,000 people still living in refugee camps.  Pray for renewal of the contaminated land.  Pray for all who are working in stricken areas.

The Sower Prayer Request:  Pray for the Central Plains Conference Board and committees meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, on Friday and Saturday.  The board and each committee will meet separately on Friday, followed by a workshop for everyone led by Iris deLeon Hartshorn on intercultural transformation.

Washington Area

Come to Sugar Creek Mennonite Church March 18 and help build a camp cabin.  A lasagna lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Proceeds will go to build a new cabin for Crooked Creek Christian Camp.  Eight of the cabins are more than 80 years old, have lead paint, and are not secured to the ground.  We would like to raise the $11,000 needed to replace one cabin for the more than 350 children ages 6-16 who attend summer camp at CCCC.  Our goal is to raise the necessary funds by April 15.  Direct questions and/or donations to Chris Boshart, Sugar Creek’s CCCC representative, 319-256-4545 or cboshart at agriwaypartners.com

Quest is a free community event on March 18, at 6 PM at Mid-Prairie High School. Quest is an event planned for the community by community people. The event is a movement toward getting those who are seeking and looking for answers involved and plugged into small groups where they can pursue their faith. The purpose of Quest is to bring in friends (adult and youth) who are open to the Gospel, but may be unchurched or non-Christians. Brad Murray (Mick’s nephew) will bring a message and also featuring the Murray family and music by The Ransom Project. For more information contact Rodney & Jodi Gehman: 319-683-3357.

Everence Representative Justin Brokaw will be available from 10 am to 2 pm March 20^th at Wayland Mennonite Church, or by appointment the rest of the day.  He will answer questions on current accounts, Medicare supplement, budgeting and retirement savings assistance, as well as health, life, and long term care insurance needs.  Our desire at Everence is to help you follow God’s will for your life in managing what God has given.  Give us a call at 877-656-4242.

The Bethel College Concert Choir will be in the area as part of their spring tour.  You can see them Thursday, March 22, 7 pm at West Union Mennonite Church or on Friday, March 23 as part of IMS’s morning chapel.

Crowded Closet will be giving its proceeds on Saturday, March 24^th to the Murray children.  Come shop and help the family at the same time. 

You are invited to attend the annual Kalona MOPS fundraiser meal on March 25th at Kalona Mennonite Church.  We will be serving from 11:30 - 1:30.  The menu features turkey, party mashed potatoes, green beans, lettuce salad, fluff, dinner roll, and dessert.  Free will donations will be accepted.  Please join us and help support your local MOPS group.

Jubilance Children's Choir, a community children's choir with 35 singers, will present their spring concert Come Celebrate God's Gift of Music on Sunday, April 1 at 4pm at Kalona Mennonite Church.  

The Washington Area Ministerial Association (WAMA) is inviting the entire community to come together on Good Friday, April 6^th at noon.  We will start at the post office for a moment of reflection and then continue on to 13 different locations around Central Park, ending at First Baptist Church.  We will be reflecting on Jesus’ suffering and death.  The walk will take around an hour.  Everyone is welcome to join!  If you have any questions, please call Pastor Jim Stiles at 319-653-5446.

The Crowded Closet is seeking 2 part time positions, one workroom assistant, one retail assistant manager.  For more information, contact Betsy or Karen at 319-337-5924.