Newsletter for January 20, 2013

 Bearing Fruit

January 20, 2013

Our Church

Happy Birthday to:  Becky Widmer (25th),  Craig Hemsath (26th)

Happy Anniversary to:  K P & Cindy Kling (21st)

Offering for 1/13/13: $2231.00 (Regular), $37.00 (Coins for Camp)

“Thank you so very much for remembering us.  We really enjoyed the Christmas carols and the nice plate of goodies.  Everything was good.                     Lovingly in Christ,

                                                                Dwight & Mary Graber”

Crooked Creek Christian Camp

CCCC has several Februrary and March weekend openings at all facilities.  To schedule your winter getaway for rest and rejuvenation, call the camp now at 319.653.3611.

Iowa Mennonite School

Youth in the community are invited to participate in basketball scrimmages during IMS varsity halftime contests, including the following: Jan 22 (3rd-4th grade boys); Jan 25 (7th-8th grade girls).  For more info, please contact Candi Schmieder at IMS: cschmieder at iowamennonite.org or 319.656.2073.

Come support IMS at the annual potato bar on Feb 3rd, serving from 11:30-1:00 at Upper Deer Creek Church.  A free will donation will be accepted for the IMS general fund.

Tickets to the annual Chili Supper at IMS, prepared and hosted by the senior class and their parents, are available from class members or by calling the school.  The meal, which includes chili or another soup option, cheese salad sandwiches, potato salad, veggie sticks, homemade desserts and coffee/water, will be served Sat, Feb 9th from 4:30-8:00pm in the school gym.

The Chamber Singers of IMS will once again be traveling the community sharing their gift on Valentines Day.  Singing Valentines are available by contacting Mary Lou Gingerich at the school (656.2073 or 683.2586).  Purchase one for your loved one – two songs and a flower – flor $35 (for an individual) or $60 (for a group).  The gifts will be ‘delivered’ on Thur, Feb 14th throughout the day.

Mennonite Agencies

Doyle Roth will be leading a Fellowship and Work Team traveling to Ecuador from Feb 21st to March 4th.  Volunteers for this group are still needed; those interested should contact Doyle as soon as possible at 402.641.0266 or doyleroth@hotmail.com.  A few women from Colombia will join this group, so women are especially encouraged to go.

Mennonite Central Committee Central States invites everyone to ”The Loss of Turtle Island” a participatory exercise on the story of Indigenous people of this land on Friday, Feb 22 from 10am-noon at Shalom Mennonite Church (800 East 1st Street in Newton, KS).  There will be a lunch by donation following the event that will include a brief MCC meeting.  Please RSVP for the event and/or the lunch with your name and email address, by Thursday, February 14 to Karin Kaufman Wall at kkw at mcc.org.

Want an international service experience next year?  Radical Journey may be for you!  It’s a year-long international service program for people ages (18-27) that helps to form you into the person God made you to be.  Possible locations for next year are England, Indonesia, Paraguay and South Africa.  For more info or to apply, visit MennoniteMission.net/Serve. 

The Sower Prayer Request:  Pray for those gathered in Montana this week to plan our conference’s annual meeting to be held there June 20-23.

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:  Thank God for the Mennonite Church in Burkina Faso, a MMN partner, as members begin to implement their three-year plan that includes the acquisition of land for new church buildings, evangelization programs, church planting, HIV/AIDS educational programs, and leadership training.  Pray that God would provide the necessary resources.

Prayers for Faith and Learning:  Pray for leaders and participants of Eastern Mennonite Seminary’s School for Leadership Training as they explore the church’s role in supporting those with mental illness.

Washington Area

The West Union MYF would like to thank you for your support by eating supper at Hu Hot last Monday evening.

You are invited to a free public viewing of the feature-length movie “October Baby” Tuesday, Jan 22, 6:30 PM, Nicola-Stoufer Room (2nd floor) of the Washington Public Library. Sponsored by Washington County Right to Life (in conjunction with Jefferson County Right to Life) in commemoration of the US Supreme Court decisions claiming that abortion in the US is legal for any reason throughout all nine months of pregnancy, and the 50 million+ babies who are dead as a result. This is a heart-warming and life-affirming story of forgiveness about a young college student who learns that she is actually adopted … after a failed abortion attempt, and embarks on a journey to discover her hidden past. Caution: PG-13 MPAA rating for mature thematic material.  Questions, call Angela Fritz 319.694.2311.

Washington Middle School Student Council will be having a Tip Night at Pizza Ranch in Washington Wed, Jan 23rd from 5-8pm.  All proceeds from this evening will be donated to Sue Spencer, a beloved Middle School teacher and life-long resident of Washington who is battling serious health issues.  Please come help us support the Spencer family.  If you cannot make it but would like to contribute, checks can be made out to WMS PIE and dropped off at the Middle School office between now and Jan 23rd.  Contact Rachel Meyer at 653.5414 with any questions.  Thank you in advance for your support.

Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church is presenting a Walk Thru the Bible Seminar in the New Testament on Saturday, January 26, 2013 from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M.   This years’ event will be held at Iowa Mennonite School and will include a Kids in the Book Event (Grades 1-5).  Registration fee for adults is $25 and includes lunch, snacks and materials.  Children grades 1-5 may enroll in the Kids in the Book Event FREE of charge with a paid adult!   Registration deadline is January 18 and may be done by phone (656.2076) or email (ldc at kctc.net).  You won’t want to miss this fun, educational event!

Sugar Creek’s MYF will be hosting a “Souper Bowl Sundae” on Sunday, Feb 3rd.  There will be a free-will donation to help send the MYF to Phoenix 2013.  Several kinds of soup and homemade bars will be served.  A group of 4th grade girls will have an art & craft sale with 50% of their proceeds going to the MYF.

Stewart Elementary is looking for donations for their spring carnival including gift certificates, tickets merchandise, or any other item that could be used in their silent auction or raffles.  Cash donations are welcome as well to offset the production costs.  Donors will be recognized in the Washington Evening Journal and through signage at the carnival and school correspondence.  Please contact April Cuddeback at 319.591.0859 with any questions.  All donations need to be received by March 15th and can be sent to 821 N 4th Ave, Washington (attn. April Cuddeback).