Newsletter for January 27, 2013

Bearing Fruit

January 27, 2013

Our Church

Happy Birthday to:  Gay Widmer (1/29), Tim Widmer (1/29), Joyce Roth (1/30)

Offering for 1/20/13: $5260.00 (Regular), $28.00 (Coins for Camp), $200.00 (Goncho Apts.)

Correction:  Last week’s Coins for Camp offering should have been reported as $69.50 instead of $37.00.

There will be a sign-up sheet in the foyer for anyone willing to help provide meals for Nathan and Brandy Miller.

This is a plea from the Christian Nurture Committee for teachers for the primary department. We have no teachers for either of the youth Sunday school classes beginning in February. Though our primary department is small, these children are the present and the future of the church and they need faithful teachers to nurture them. Please consider giving your time and talents to our children in the next months. We're asking for a minimum commitment of 2 months at a time, but are open to other arrangements you may suggest. Please see Amanda or Karen Bates to volunteer.

There will be a wedding shower for Jillian and Jason on Sunday, Feb 10th between church and Sunday School.  See Gloria Widmer for more information.

Iowa Mennonite School

IMS is in need of host families for international students for the 2013-2014 school year.  Students will be attending from several countries; more info is available by contacting principal Tony Miller at IMS.  Please consider opening your home for the year!

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 4:30-7:30pm 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 cupcake – for $35 (for an individual) or $60 (for a group).  The gifts will be ‘delivered’ on Thur, Feb 14th throughout the day.

Mennonite Agencies

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.

The Sower Prayer Request:  Pray that Central Plains pastors will be equipped with missional vision and leadership skills.  Pray for those who will attend Pastors Week at AMBS this week.

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:   A MMN family engaged in a sensitive ministry of facilitating Christian-Muslim understanding, requests prayer for the Middle East.  Many people, especially those in Egypt, Lebanon and Syria, fear for the future.  Pray for the churches in these countries as they witness to God’s peace and reconciliation.

Prayers for Faith and Learning:  Pray for the Hesston College Bel Canto Singers as they present a fundraiser concert for the Holy Cross Shrine in Pfiefer, Kan., today with the Goessel High School Elbiata Singers at the Cathedral of the Plains in Victoria, Kan.

Washington Area

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).