Newsletter for January 6 2013

 Bearing Fruit

Bearing Fruit January 6 2013

Our Church

Happy Birthday to:  Hayden Hemsath (01/07)

Sandy Buhrow (01/09) Stan Skinner (01/10) and

Jacob Garrett (01/11)

Happy Anniversary to: Harmon and Mary Martin (01/06)

Offering for 12/30/12: $1405.00 (Regular)

We will conduct our final Conversation Café next Sunday morning, January 13^th.  We want to select twelve scriptures that guide Washington Mennonite’s congregational life.

Sunday, January 13^th at 5 PM we will hold a congregational meeting in the fellowship hall.  Phyllis Litwiller, Edie Nebel & Gay Widmer will give a report from the SE Iowa regional meeting they attended Dec 15^th.  Everyone is welcome & encouraged to attend.

There is $293 left on the van purchase.  If anyone would like to contribute to this fund please do so by next week.  The council suggested using general funds to clear up the remainder if there is a negative balance after Jan 13^th.

The Elder’s meeting is Tuesday January 8^th with Phyllis Litwiller, Edie Nebel & Gay Widmer present to report from their SE Iowa regional meeting.  The meeting is at church at 5:30.

Crooked Creek Christian Camp

Jr. High WinterFest at CCCC is quickly approaching!  (Jan 11-13, 2013)  Packets with registration information were sent to your church JYF sponsors.  Reminder that registrations postmarked after Jan 2^nd will be assessed with a $10 late fee/person.  Don’t miss this chance to come to camp, have a blast, learn about God and be with friends!

Coins for Camp packets have been distributed to your church camp reps.  Coins for Camp is a Jan fundraiser for kids and adults and includes a calendar with scriptures and directions on collecting those coins each day of the month.  This year we are raising money for the water slide and other

miscellaneous things. Look for those calendars in your mailboxes or see your church rep to get one.

Mennonite Agencies

The Sower Prayer Request:  Pray for God’s guidance and wisdom for conference leaders as they develop a response to the counsel received during the fall regional meetings.

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:  Serbian Orthodox believers will celebrate Christmas tomorrow after fasting since the end of November. Lane Stopher serves with Mennonite Mission Network and is learning about reducing materialism from new faith expressions. Pray for Lane’s ministry with youth and at the War Trauma Center in Serbia

Prayers for Faith and Learning:  Lord, help us to model Christ more clearly as we interact with young children, aligning our attitudes and actions with the words we use to teach them about God’s love. Help us to provide understanding and tools needed for cooperation and peacemaking. –Mennonite Early Childhood Network

Washington Area

The MCC meat canning committee thanks each one who made monetary contributions for purchasing turkey meat this year. Also thank you to each one for volunteering your time on canning day to help make it a huge success. It was wonderful to see everyone working together and enjoying the fellowship. We canned approximately 10,500 cans of turkey chunks which MCC will distribute to hungry people throughout the world. Thanks so much and we look forward to seeing you again next year.

Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center Kalona Community Blood Drive:  Sponsored by the Optimist Club will be held on Mon, Jan 7^th from 2:30pm to 7:30pm at Kalona Mennonite Church.  To donate call Ed Yoder at 319.656.2134 or 319.656.2283 or go online at www.bloodcenterimpact.org. 

Parkview Home’s first “Steak for the Stake Holders” dinner will be the evening of February 9 at Sugar Creek. The evening will include a catered meal and a short program with several popular items from past auctions. Seats are still available for the meal.  See the attached invitation (by the Bearing Fruit) for details.

West Union MYF would like to invite you to come to HUHOT Mongolian Grill on Mon, Jan 14^th and have supper.  The MYF will be the helping hands there from 5pm to 8pm and 10% of the sales will go towards their expenses for the 2013 Youth Convention.  There will also be a tip jar for donations.  Questions or directions?  Call Lisa Lammer 319.930.7500 or Ramona Miller 319.430.6832.

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@kctc.net).  You won’t want to miss this fun, educational event!