Newsletter for February 3, 2013

Bearing Fruit

February 3, 2013

Our Church

Happy Birthday to:  Mike Bruegge (2/3),

Phyllis Litwiller (2/7)

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 grocery shower for Jillian (Bruegge) & Jason Chapla on Feb 10.  If you’d like to donate money, please designate an amount on your offering check.

Caleb Detweiler has requested his membership be transferred to East Goshen Mennonite Church in Goshen, IN.  It has been transferred.  May God continue to bless Caleb & Heidi as they minister in the Goshen area.

Amanda is traveling with her family today to help find a new apartment for her brother in Milwaukee.

The Everence Sharing Funds provided $1,250 in matching funds to support special needs in our church last year.  Roger Roth serves as the Everence advocate for our congregation.  Please contact him 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.

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.

Crooked Creek Christian Camp

It is with sadness and regret that the Board of Directors of CCCC announces that Mary Lou Farmer has given her resignation as Administrator of the camp effective July 31, 2013.  A search team has been established.  We ask for your prayers for the camp staff and the search team in this time of transition.  Your continued support is appreciated.  We ask God’s blessing on Mary Lou and Roger as they make future plans and transition after being involved with Crooked Creek for the past 19 years, 12 years as Administrator.  – CCCC Board of Directors

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

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 Conference Board meeting on Saturday in Milford, Nebraska.

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:   Today, Antonio Lucero, Eduardo Vargas, and Marie Voth are bringing to a close a three-day Discerning Ministry Retreat in San Antonio, Texas.  Pray for the young adult participants who have served as summer staff for the DOOR Network as they seek God’s direction and practice what they have learned.  DOOR partners with MMN.

Prayers for Faith and Learning:  Pray for Stephanie Lee, third grade teacher at Sarasota Christian School, who was recently diagnosed with two unrelated rapid-growth, unrelenting and rare cancers with no possible treatments.  Also pray for her family, friends and students as they do what they can to surround her with love and care.

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.

Crowded Closet Volunteers are invited to attend an informational meeting where managers will be sharing shop updates, goals and ideas.  The same meeting will be conducted each morning, Feb 4th-8th from 8:30-9:30 am.  Plan to come learn and share.

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).

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.

If you would like to support the International Student Ministries at the University of Iowa by regularly praying for International Students, contact Dan Younkin at danyounkin244 at hotmail.com or call 319.541.7303.