July 8, 2012 Newsletter

Bearing Fruit
July 8, 2012

Our Church

Happy Birthday to:  Karen Watson (7/12), Miriam Garrett (7/12), Kenna Roth (7/14)


Offering for 6/10/12: $5180.00 (regular)

VBS is coming up! Mark your calendars for August 10 and 11. On the 10th, we'll be meeting at the church from 9:30-3:30 and on Sunday the 11th, the children will help with our worship service followed by lunch and a church-wide swimming party at Crooked Creek.  We still need lots of helpers, so if you are interested, see Amanda or Karen Bates. Invitations are available on the table in the foyer for 

neighbors, grandkids, and young friends. All children ages 4 years to 5th grade are welcome.

Contact Jo Ann Stout if you would like to continue, or start, receiving Timbrel, Mennonite Women USA’s magazine.

Iowa Mennonite School

IMS is blessed and humbled by the overwhelmingly positive response to your requests for support!  As we closed our books early this past week, we were able to balance the budget…and also reduce a bit of the deficit incurred three years ago.  Thank you so much to all who helped make this happen, and for the support of Christ-centered education at IMS!

Grandfolks-Littlefolks day is just around the corner and we don’t want you to miss it!  On Friday, July 20 from 9-2:30 at Crooked Creek Christian Camp, we are hosting a day of fun for grandparents and their grand kids.  If you are ages 5-6 and have a grandparent or an adult who is very important to you, come spend the day at camp, cook over the fire, sing silly songs, and learn about nature.  Sign up today by calling the camp at 319.653.3611 or go to our website www.crookedcreekcamp.org to register.

Do you ever wonder, “What’s my life missing?”  The answer, if you already know Jesus, of course, is Ultimate Frisbee.  Come to IMS (near the soccer fields) at 6 pm on Sundays if you’d like to join a casual game of ultimate.  All ages welcome.

Mennonite Agencies

Please pray for all who have been affected by the wildfires causing immense devastation throughout the United States.  Mennonite Central Committee Central States is responding to the call from Mennonite churches in Montana and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe for immediate relief supplies.  The Ash Creek fire in Montana has burned nearly 190,000 acres so far.  Erica Littlewolf, MCC Central States Indigenous Vision Center staff worker and Northern Cheyenne Tribal member shares, “Officials keep referring to the number of houses burnt but they should use the amount of people affected. One house in the U.S. usually means four people, fire insurance and an emergency system to alert people to evacuate. On the reservation it means about 15 people in one home, no insurance, lack of financial means to rebuild, no emergency alert system/power outage, no land lines and no cell towers.”

Join MCC in responding by bringing the following items to your nearest MCC drop-off location by July 17: tooth brushes, tooth paste, deodorant, body soap, shampoo & conditioner, laundry soap, lotion, chap stick, hairbrushes, feminine products, hair ties and hairspray.  

MCC will also send canned meat and other relief supplies. Please call 316-283-2720 with questions.

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:  Churches in Bayankhongor, Mongolia, share the gospel through summer camps.  Pray that camp participants would come with open hearts, and that God would provide the necessary financial and human resources.  MMN partners with Joint Christian Services International in Mongolia.

The Sower Prayer Request:  Pray for the Hmong Mennonite Church of St. Paul, Minnesota, as they discern the pastoral leadership needs for their congregation.

Mennonite Education Agency Prayer Request:  Thank God for the teaching ministry of Walter Sawatsky as he retires from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary.  Give thanks also for his support of Christians in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.

Washington Area

JPOG (Just Peace Outreach Group) invites you to a Peace Picnic to hear stories about persons who have worked for God’s peace in our world.  Bring your own story, or listen to others.  Join us on Sunday evening, July 8, 2012, at Tom/Kay Fleming’s house, 1390 145^th St, Wellman, IA at 6 pm for a potluck picnic (please bring your own table service), peace stories, and conversations.  For more information call Roger Farmer at 319.653.2547 or email Jane Yoder-Short at yodershort at netins.net.

Everence Representative Kent Blossom will be available from 10am to 2pm at Wayland Mennonite Church on July 17th.