September 23, 2012 Newsletter

Bearing Fruit
September 23, 2012

Our Church

Happy Birthday to:  Phyllis Headrick (9/23),

        Johnathon Miller (9/29)

Offering for 9/9/12: $2810 (regular), $150 (HACAP)

MABROK - September 30, at 3:00 PM, we will meet at the shelter just east of the rocket slide in Sunset Park, and ride the Kewash Trail to West Chester.  This is MENNO'S (9th) ANNUAL BIKE RIDE ON KEWASH.  This is a slow paced, family ride.  Bring your friends.   A sag wagon will be available in West Chester if you can't make it back.  Back at Sunset Park, we will have hot dogs, brats, chips, lemonade.  See the posters and sign up in the foyer.

With just 17 ballots coming in, the results of the adult Sunday School survey are:

Bible Study – 4

Book Study – 3

Sermon Discussion – 8 

Uniform Series – 2 

The Christian Nurture Committee will review these results and come up with a plan/proposal for adult Sunday School this year.

Iowa Mennonite School

Our first event for 6th - 8th grade students is fast approaching. Please join us this Tuesday, Sept. 25th for an ice cream social between the JV and Varsity volleyball matches at IMS.  The fresh-soph match starts at 5:30.  We will have ice cream sundaes and some information about IMS for you.

IMS’s Fall Music Concert will take place in Celebration Hall on Sunday, Oct 7 at 3:00 pm.  The entire music department – vocal and instrumental – will present their first concert of the year, under the direction of Josh Tyson.  All are invited; there is no admission charge, but a freewill offering will be taken.

Coming up...Hayride for 6th - 8th grade students and game night for their parents Saturday, October 13. Activities will start at IMS at 5:30 and should last until around 8:30.  Please RSVP to Candi by Oct. 10th so we make sure to have enough food for everyone at cschmieder at iowamemnonite.org 319.656.2073. 

IMS is in need of bus drivers for athletic trips and possibly field trips on occasion.  Anyone interested in taking the necessary class to become certified should contact Iris Brenneman for more information.

IMS is currently ranked 38th out of all schools participating across the country in US Cellular's Calling All Communities contest.  We need to be in the top 18 by the end of the contest on Oct. 21st for a chance to win up to $150,000.  The money will be used for technology updates and student aid.  If you haven't gone out to get a voting card from your nearest US Cellular store, please do so as soon as you can.  Please also pass the word on to friends and family to vote too. You don't need to be a US Cellular customer to vote. Please contact the IMS office if you have any questions or see the poster on the bulletin board in the foyer.

Crooked Creek Christian Camp

Senior Day at CCCC is just around the corner on Thursday, October 4 from 9am-1:30pm at the Retreat Lodge. The day will be filled with lots of music! We will have special music, a hymn sing and a special time for you to all share stories about how music, or particular songs, have shaped you over the years. Please join us and bring a friend and a dish to share for the potluck. See the poster at your church for more information. Please RSVP by calling the camp at 319.653.3611.

Woodcutting Day at CCCC begins at 8 a.m., on Saturday, October 6. Come to the camp to cut and split fallen or dead trees. Half of the wood goes home with you; the other half will be used to fill camp's woodsheds! Camp will provide lunch and snacks but RSVP by Wed., October 3 at 319.653.3611.

Mennonite Agencies

September 23 is “International Day of Prayer for Peace”. This day will be an opportunity for us to unite and pray that the process of dialogue that has been started between the Colombian government and FARC would be strengthened.  In spite of the deficiencies of this process, it is one way that generates hope for reconciliation and life.

How do we live faithfully by reusing, recycling, refreshing, recreating? The Annual Mennonite Women’s Fall Meeting is Sunday, October 21st, at 3:00 pm.  We are working with Crowded Closet by using their space and hearing how they take our “stuff” and reuse, recycle and recreate. See projects that have been created from donated items, including the plates we will eat our desserts off of!  We will see how others are rejoicing, responding and possibly re-evaluating how we can live our lives.  Come and join us!!  Bring $10/person to cover the cost of the event.  RSVP by October 10th to carolyncyoder at gmail.com or call 319.656.5191.

Do you have an extra refrigerator or freezer sitting unused in your basement or garage? The Iowa Mennonite Relief Sale is in need of several refrigerators and/or freezers for use at the sale. If interested contact Curtis Helmuth at 936.8607 or kalonach at yahoo.com. 

It’s not too soon to be thinking about serving next year! If you’d like to live in community and join a congregation doing service for God’s kingdom, check out Mennonite Mission Network service programs, including DOOR: Dwell, Mennonite Voluntary Service, Radical Journey or Service Adventure. Terms begin next August/September.  Find more info at MennoniteMission.net/Serve.

The Sower Prayer Request:  On this International Day of Prayer for Peace, our partners in Ecuador invite prayer for the negotiations taking place between the Colombian government and FARC to end the civil war.

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:  Members of the London Mennonite Trust, a MMN partner, are refurbishing new properties in Birmingham, England.  Pray for discernment as they collaborate with United Kingdom Anabaptist Network to develop a new vision for ministry.

Mennonite Education Agency Prayer Request:  Pray for international students who are attending Mennonite educational institutions at all levels.  Ask the Spirit to give them a strong sense of belonging and peace in the midst of separation from family.  Give thanks for their courage to live and study in a new culture.

Washington Area

Jan Gleysteen, noted Mennonite historian and lecturer will be the featured speaker at the fall meeting of the Mennonite Historical Society.  Jan will be speaking on the Hutterites in the morning and in the afternoon will tell his life story which includes living through the German Nazi occupation of Holland during World War II.  The meeting will take place at 10:00 on Saturday, October 6 at Kalona Mennonite Church. All are invited to attend.  Please bring a dish to share for the potluck lunch.  A freewill offering will be taken.