March 4, 2012 Newsletter

Bearing Fruit
March 4, 2012

Our Church

Happy Birthday to:  KP Kling (3/4)

Happy Anniversary to: Roger & Mary Lou Farmer (3/10)

Prayers of Washington Mennonite --

·         Lynn Miller as he recovers from hip replacement surgery

·         Brandy Miller’s father Brian as he recovers from hip replacement surgery

·         Wayland Mennonite Church as they search for a  co-pastor

·         Megan Miller

Offering for 2/19/12:  $2,955.86 (regular)

A reminder that our clocks will spring forward on March 11.  Don’t be late for church!

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.

Iowa Mennonite School

IMS’s Turkey Steak Supper – The IMS Alumni Association and Washington Township Optimists are once again joining efforts to host and serve the Turkey Steak Supper on Saturday, March 10.  Serving will be in the IMS gym from 4:30-7:00pm.; the menu includes turkey steak, baked potato, tossed salad, homemade desserts, and coffee/water.  Tickets are available from any IMS freshman; members of either organization; or by contacting the school.  Woody Guthrie’s American Song will also be performed in Celebration Hall, at 7:30 pm.

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.

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:  Barbara and Darrell Jantz, serving with MMN in The United Kingdom, request prayer for the London Mennonite Trustees as they discern future ministry.  Pray especially that they will find a new home for the London Mennonite Centre.

The Sower Prayer Request:  Continue to pray for Kalona Mennonite Church and Pastor Scott Swartzendruber as they grieve the loss of Mick and Julie Murray and discern the way forward with regard to leadership of the church.

Washington Area

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.

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.

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.