Newsletter for February 10, 2013

Bearing Fruit

February 10, 2013

 

Our Church 

Happy Birthday to:  Lynn Miller (2/14)

Offering for 2/3/2013:  $3,615 (regular); $7.53 (Coins for Camp); WMC’s Coins for Camp Total, $176.03

There will be a wedding grocery shower for Jillian (Bruegge) & Jason Chapla today following the service.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  If you would still like to contribute to the gift see Gloria Widmer.

It’s Dinner Theatre time!  We are having a script read-through tonight at the church at 5:30.  Anyone who is interested in participating in the dramas, please come and bring a snack to share.  There will also be opportunities to sign up for other parts of the program (choir, food and other committees).  If you are unable to attend, but are interested or have any questions please talk to Liz Widmer 319.653.2658 or Megan Miller 319.936.1700, meganpatricemiller at gmail.com.  The Dinner Theatre will be hosted at Crooked Creek on April 18th-20th.  We look forward to seeing you there!

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!

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.

Any and all interested 8th-grade students are invited to check out IMS on Monday, Feb 18th!  Potential students will visit classes, attend chapel, eat lunch on campus (no cost to the student) and meet other students and IMS personnel.  Please contact Candi Schmieder at cschmieder at iowamennonite.org, or call her at 319.656.2073 or 319.683.2586.

The IMS Alumni Association, along with the Washington Township Optomists, will host and serve the annual Turkey Steak Supper on Saturday, March 9th, from 4:30-7:00 pm.  Tickets for the meal are available from any IMS freshman, members of the two organizations, or by contacting the school.

Calling all singers!  IMS is hositng an alumni/friends event on May 25th, with former instructor William East returning to direct.  The Alumni Association, in conjunction with the Fine Arts Committee, is hosting the event, encouraging former students to participate.  For more information, please check the IMS website – www.iowamennonite.org – or call the school.

Crooked Creek Christian Camp

Join us at CCCC for a Wellness Day Retreat on March 2nd  from 9am-3pm.  Learn all about body, food and health from a biblical perspective and also from a health perspective.  Dave Boshart and Dr. Chris Grier will dive into issues related to our culture and offer suggestions on ways you can improve your overall wellness.  Fees are $30/person.  Call today for details and to register at 319.653.3611.

 

Is it time for a tune-up in your marriage?  Join Tim and Carol Detweiler for a weekend of Marriage Enrichment at CCCC on March 8th-10th.  This weekend will offer you the chance to get away with your spouse, learn to communicate effectively and offer insight into ways you can improve your overall marriage.  Fees are $225/couple and include lodging, meals and retreat input.  Scholarships are available.  Call the camp for details and to register at 319.653.3611.

Mennonite Agencies

JPOG (Just Peace Outreach Group) invites you to view “Weaving Life,” a DVD of memories about Dan Terry, a Methodist missionary who, along with several Mennonites, lost his life on a humanitarian mission in Afghanistan.  “Weaving Life” will be shown at West Union Mennonite Church on Sunday, Feb 17th.  Come at 6 pm for a finger-foods potluck and conversation (please bring your own table service) or at 7 pm for the film.  For more information contact Jane Yoder-Short at yodershort at netins.net.

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 for the ministries of the Quito Mennonite Church to children and refugees, and that God would lead them as they seek a more suitable facility.

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:   Thank you for your prayers, and join in praising God for healing Amanda Falla of MMN.  Her physicians report the bone marrow transplant a success and that her kidney function is nearing 100 percent.  Pray for the Falla family as they continue their ministry, both in Chicago where Amanda was hospitalized and in Colombia.

Prayers for Faith and Learning:  Thank God for the Bethel College students, faculty and staff who serve in local congregations each Sunday as choir directors, song leaders and instrumentalists.

 

Washington Area

Dine and Donate:  Alyssa Rodriguez, of First Mennonite Church in Iowa City, is beginning a 2 year international assignment with MMN in Quito, Ecuador at Quito Mennonite Church.  Quito Mennonite, pastured by César Moya and Patricia Ureña, is Central Plains Conference’s sister congregation.  Come out to Mami’s Authentic Mexican Restaurant (21 S Gilbert St, Iowa City) on Sat Feb 23rd from 4-10 pm, as Alyssa will receive 50% of all sales during this time.  Come show your support of MMN, Quito Mennonite and Alyssa.  *Mami’s is CARRY OUT ONLY.

The Bluffton University Camerata Singers (Bluffton, OH) will perform in concert at First Mennonite Church in Iowa City on Tuesday, March 5th at 7 pm.  “Promises of God’s Reign” is the concert theme.  The music will explore four promises: peace, comfort, hope and deliverance.  Everyone is welcoming to attend this evening of worship.

The 2013 Iowa Mennonite Relief Sale is in need of a volunteer to run the apple butter booth.  This effort could raise $3,500 more for Mennonite Central Committee’s work of relief, development and peace in the name of Christ, but we need a willing volunteer(s) to run the apple butter booth.  Would you be willing to consider supporting the sale and MCC in this way?  Find out more by contacting Wilbur Yoder at wyoder at yahoo.com or call 717.431.1951.