Newsletter for February 17, 2013

Bearing Fruit

February 17, 2013

Our Church

Happy Birthday to:  Don Headrick (2/20),

                Andrea Nussbaum (2/22)

Offering for 2/10/2013:  $2656 (regular);

                $10 (Coins for Camp)

Congratulations to Angela and Jared Widmer!  They welcomed their new daughter Eliza Jean into the world on Tuesday, February 12th at 11:15 pm.  She weighed 7 lbs 1 oz and was 19 ¼ in long.  Jared, Angela and Eliza are doing well.

Martha Hernandez will be ordained the 24th of February at Centro Cristiano’s 2:30 church service.  There will be a meal following.  Chicken, beans, rice, and tortillas will be provided, and guests are asked to bring either a salad or a dessert to share.  All are invited, but please let Amanda know if you will be attending and staying for the meal.  Martha would like a count for the kitchen.

Iowa Mennonite School

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

God is working in incredible and creative ways in the city.  Come and see!  You can serve through DOOR (Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection) in cities like Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, LA, Miami, or San Antonio.  Join in God’s work in the city for a week, several months or a year!  Check things out at www.DOORNetwork.org. 

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 Disaster Service is having its Church Contact Person training session and annual meeting at Kalona Mennonite Church on Saturday and Sunday, Feb 23rd and 24th.  This is open to any interested person who would like to see how MDS works and how it reaches all over the country to provide assistance to those in need.  The sessions begin at 2:00pm on Saturday, and again at 2:00pm on Sunday.  Contact Myron Graber if you would like to attend.

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 Terry LeBlanc as he prepares to speak at our Central Plains Annual Meeting this summer in Ashland, Montana.  Terry is a pastor and scholar who has served the Native community in a variety of leadership roles.

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:   In December, personnel from seven European Mennonite centers, partners with MMN, met for their annual gathering.  They discussed how to respond to immigration issues.  Pray that Mennonite institutions on all continents will be places of welcome for the strangers among us.

Prayers for Faith and Learning:  Bluffton University will present its annual Winter Instrumental Concert in Yoder Recital Hall today.  Keep the performing students in your prayers as they use their God-given talents to inspire others.

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.

Wellman Mennonite invites you to the Annual Mush Fry on March 3rd.  This old fashioned meal of fried mush, tomato gravy, liverwurst, sausage, eggs and applesauce will be served from 11:30-1:00.  Proceeds will benefit the Wellman Mennonite MYF.

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.

It’s Jukebox Saturday Night at the Royal Sock Hop.  St. James School’s fundraiser on Saturday, March 16th at the KC Hall will include fine dining, 50’s rock’n roll music, a silent and live auction and dancing.  Tickets are $60 each.  For dinner reservations, please contact Kathleen Brinning at 319-863-3806 or by email at skbrinning at Cloudburst9.net.