September 30, 2012 Newsletter

Bearing Fruit
September 30, 2012 

Our Church

Happy Birthday to:  Susan See (9/30),

        Brandy Miller (10/3)

Happy Anniversary to: Lynn & Kaylene Miller (9/30)

Offering for 9/23/12: $2035 (regular)

Congratulations to Jason Chalpua and Jillian Bruegge.  They were married here yesterday.  May God bless their new home.

MABROK - Today, 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.

We will be observing communion and foot washing next Sunday, October 7th on World Communion Sunday.

Next Sunday, October 7th, Washington Mennonite is responsible for services at McCreedy Home and Washington Care Center.  If you want to help sing & greet people please be at McCreedy Home at 1:45.

Iowa Mennonite School

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.

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

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.

Senior Day is this Thursday, October 4, at Crooked Creek Christian Camp from 9am-1:30pm at the Retreat Lodge. Don't miss out on this chance to fellowship with others in a beautiful setting! The theme is Let the Music Ring! We will have special music by a pastor's quartet, input from Barb Troyer and a chance for you each to share about how music has shaped your life. Bring a dish to share for the potluck, a memory or story to share about a certain hymn that has meaning to you, and a friend! We hope to see you!

Mennonite Agencies

Medicare: It’s complicated.  That’s why Kent Blossom of your local Everence office is offering “Understanding your options with Medicare in 2013” on Oct. 16 at 6:45 p.m. at Wayland Mennonite Church; on Oct. 18 at Pleasantview Home. Come find out what you need to know about Medicare, what’s covered, the types of supplemental plans offered and deadlines for enrollment. Don’t miss this opportunity to get your questions answered. Reserve a seat for yourself and a friend or family member by Oct. 9 at (877) 656.4242 or cheryl.martinmiller at everence.com.

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.

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:  Pray for Tim Detweiler, conference minister for ministerial leadership, as he begins a 3-month sabbatical, and for Dave Boshart, who is the only Conference Minister for two months.

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:  Praise God for a new meeting place for the growing Mennonite Christian Community of Riobamba in Ecuador, a MMN partner.  Pray that pastors, Luz Marina and William Valencia, and each worshiper in the congregation will feel the Lord’s presence and power in their lives.

Mennonite Education Agency Prayer Request:  Pray that the entire Sarasota Christian School community will be impacted by this year’s school verse that encourages them to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Galatians 5:13-14).  Pray that employees and students alike consider prayerfully what it means to be a servant, and how they can share the love of Jesus with those they walk alongside of every day.

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.

On Sunday, October 7, from 2:00-4:00 pm, join Paul and Julie Roberts & Bob and Kristie Black and other area fine bluegrass musicians as they lead a community hymn sing at the lovely, old St. Michael’s Church, Holbrook.  Song sheets are provided and songs are chosen by those who attend. Everyone is welcome to this informal, come-and-go gathering.  Free admission. Sponsored by the Friends of Old St. Michael’s.  For further information contact Stephen Hanson at 319-396-8674.