April 15, 2012 Newsletter

Bearing Fruit

April 15, 2012

Our Church

Upcoming Events

·         Spring Business Meeting on Wednesday, April 18 at 7pm  – all are invited

Prayers of Washington Mennonite

·         Marlene Leichty

Offering for 4/8/12:  $2369.50  (regular), $150 (HACAP)

A new update from Dennis and Connie Byler is posted on the bulletin board.

Dear Washington Mennonite,

Thank you so much for having us down to visit your congregation and share about our upcoming move to the Middle East.  We were blessed by the teaching, music and always warm and friendly welcome of your congregation.  Thank you as well for the financial gift!  These gifts help us get one step closer to moving overseas and beginning the work God had called us to.  Thanks for being a part of what God is doing in the Middle East in bringing the hope, peace and love of Jesus and His Kingdom to many in Jordan for the first time.                  - For the Kingdom, The Nelsons

Iowa Mennonite School

Enrollment Director Candi Schmieder invites anyone interested in sharing enrollment ideas to a brainstorm/planning session on Monday, April 16.  The meeting will take place at 6:30pm in the conference room on the IMS campus.  Please contact her at candi.schmieder at gmail.com for further information.

The IMS theatre department will present Princess and Bottle of Joy in the ever-popular Children’s Drama production on April 28 and 29.  Thirty-two students, under the direction of Mary Forney, will entertain children of all ages on the IMS stage.  Performances are at 7pm on the 28^th and 2pm on the 29^th; admission is by donation, with proceeds benefiting the theatre department.  Prospective students are especially invited Saturday, and to enjoy refreshments following the performance.

Crooked Creek Christian Camp

Join us today (April 15) from 4-6 for the last Volleyball Club Session at the Activity Center for the spring.  We will resume Volleyball Club in the Fall.

Have you started training? What better way to get in shape, enjoy the beautiful outdoors and spend time with friends/family then to participate in the 5K FUN RUN/WALK hosted by Crooked Creek Christian Camp. We invite you to join us on Sunday, May 6, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. to help us raise money for our Campership Fund. Remember to pre-register by April 20 to receive a free t-shirt. Register today on the orange brochure.

Crooked Creek Christian Camp needs a volunteer couple to serve from one to four weeks this summer, June 11-July 6, 2012. Assignments will include helping in the kitchen, cleaning, doing laundry and other small projects as well as interacting with the campers by serving as “camp grandparents.” Housing and meals are provided. Contact Mary Lou Farmer at 319-653-3611 for more information.

  

Mennonite Agencies

Everence representative Justin Brokaw will be available from 10am to 2 pm on April 17^th at Wayland Mennonite Church to help with questions on current accounts, Medicare supplement, budgeting and retirement savings assistance, as well as health, life and long term care insurance needs.

MCC responds to Middle East Crisis: MCC is appealing for $500,000 and relief kits to assist partner organizations in the Middle East as they provide humanitarian aid and build peace at the community level. Tens of thousands of Syrians have fled violence in their country to seek refuge in neighboring countries.  A significant part of MCC’s response is helping partners in Lebanon expand efforts that strengthen conflict prevention efforts and disaster preparedness.  Donations should be marked Middle East Crisis and sent to MCC PO Box 235 North Newton, KS 67117. For more information about assembling relief kits please call 316-283-2720 or visit mcc.org/kits/relief.

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:  Concordia Mennonite Church, a German-speaking congregation in Paraguay, is discerning God’s will in beginning a ministry for their Spanish-speaking neighbors.  Pray for C Paul and Hildi Amstutz of MMN and for other members of the team who are preparing an integration proposal to be presented this month.

The Sower Prayer Request:  Pray for the congregation at Pleasant View Mennonite Church, Mt Pleasant, IA, as they discern how God is calling them to be witnesses to his reign in the Mt Pleasant community.

Washington Area

Curtis Fry, who went to jail for muder, is speaking Sunday, April 15^th at 7pm in the WACO High School gym, sponsored by the Bethel Mennonite Church Youth Group.  Curtis made the choice to celebrate his 21^st birthday with alcohol and while heavily intoxicated he killed a man with his fists.  Curtis will be sharing his story and speaking about how the choices we make in life affect those around us.  Most importantly he will share how our choices represent Jesus Christ.  Contact 319-548-0068 for more information.

An evening of music, prayer, and drama at the Stockyard, Hwy 78 in Wayland on Sunday, April 15 from 6:30-8:30.  Sharon Benell will minister in music, and Michael Ernst is performing “America, Did You Know.”  Hosted by Partners in Prayer, www.seiowaworshipandprayer.com.  Snacks available.

The Young Adults at West Union Mennonite Church invite you to an evening coffee house at West Union on Wednesday evening April 18. Dust off your instruments or your singing ability and come ready to perform or just come to listen.  There will be homemade refreshments on a donation basis.  Proceeds will go to help buy coffee for the Free Lunch Program in Iowa City.  Music starts at 7 p.m.  

You are invited to a French Toast Breakfast on Saturday, April 21st, to benefit "Empowering Haiti: The Ivy Jane Yoder Baby Rooms" from 6:30AM - 10:30AM at Kalona Mennonite Church. Come join us as we raise money to help build a permanent health clinic in Lambert, Haiti. The menu will include French toast, scrambled eggs, sausage, and homemade rolls. There will be a free will donation and carryouts are available. Questions? Call Trent and Tammy Yoder at 656-3743. More information about Empowering Haiti can be found online at www.empoweringhaiti.org .

You are invited to a fundraiser meal and cake auction at East Union Mennonite Church on Sunday, April 22nd for Mitch and Heidi Siemens-Rhodes and family, starting at noon.  Mitch is the son of Dale and Charlene Rhodes and grew up in the Kalona area. Mitch met Heidi at Goshen College and after they were married, they lived in the area from 2000-2002.  During this time, they actively attended East Union and Mitch worked on the family farm while Heidi taught English at IMS for a semester.  Mitch and Heidi now live in Goshen, Indiana with their three sons.  In late September of 2011, Heidi was diagnosed with metastasis of melanoma. Heidi is currently on a vigorous immunotherapy infusion treatment plan. For more detailed information, go to www.caringbridge.org then enter HeidiSiemensrhodes to visit her site. The meal and cake auction are sure to be a fun and lively time! Your RSVP to mitchandheidifundraiser at gmail.com is appreciated to help with planning.

The Crowded Closet is seeking 2 part time positions.  One part time workroom assistant, and one part time retail assistant manager.  All positions must be able to lift, bend and be on your feet much of the day.  Should be able to work independently and as part of a team.  All positions will help with opening and closing the store, and answering phones.  Applicants must be able to work one Saturday a month, and occasional evenings.  Excellent public relations skills required.  Post secondary education appreciated.  For more information, contact Betsy at 319-337-5924.