Newsletter for March 24, 2013

Bearing Fruit

March 24, 2013

Our Church

Happy Birthday to:  Leroy Reber (3/29)

Offering for 3/17/2013:  $2616.00 (regular)

Easter morning we’ll be having an MYF Easter breakfast fundraiser.  Come at 8:30 to support Tanner and Jacayla’s trip to convention this summer and enjoy a delicious breakfast!  We will not have Sunday School on Easter Sunday.  More details will follow.

If you, or someone you know, would like to attend WMC’s Dinner Theatre on April 18^th, 19^th, or 20^th, pick up a few brochures from the back table or out in the hallway above the mailboxes to register.

Calling all artists:  All painters, embroiderers, quilters, wood-workers, draw-ers, graphic designers, cross stitchers, print-makers, calligraphers, etc. etc.  Our summer series this year will be a celebration of our 12 congregational scriptures.  We would like to include visual arts as a part of this scriptural celebration.  We are asking for a different artist (or group of artists) each week to choose one of the twelve verses and create some kind of a work of art based upon the verse(s).  We’re working with a pretty loose definition of ‘art’ and ‘artistic’ here—and would like anyone who does some form of graphic art or craft to participate!  See Amanda soon to have your pick of scriptures.  Once the shoulder tapping starts, choices may be limited J

“Words cannot express the feeling in our hearts.  Thank you for being with us during this difficult time.  Your thoughts, prayers and words of sympathy will always be remembered.”  - The Arnold Bruegge Family

Iowa Mennonite School

IMS senior Keilah Brokaw will present a recital of works for piano, guitar and voice on Sunday, April 7^th, at 2pm in Celebration Hall at IMS.

Families and students considering IMS – as a new student – in the fall of 2013 are invited to an evening of information, on April 2 at 7pm.  Parents and students will have the opportunity to meet faculty and staff, other students, other potential students, and ask question and receive financial and other information.  For more information please contact Candi Schmieder at the school.

Prospective IMS students in grades 6-8 are invited to a skating party at the Wellman Skating Rink on Friday, April 5^th from 7-9pm.  Come and enjoy pizza, fun and prizes, and the chance to mingle with other potential IMS students.  Please bring $1 for skate rental, and additional funds for other snacks.  Contact Candi Schmieder for more information.

Old Creamery Theatre is coming to IMS!  It’s a camp for students ages 7-13 and/or in grades 10-12…a week long experience culminating in a performance at the end of the week.  The dates for the camp are July 8-12 from 8:30am-12:30pm, and the performance will be Friday, July 12 at 7pm; cost is $75 and includes a t-shirt, with discounts available for siblings from the same family.  Since camp size is limited, please contact Candi Schmieder at IMS.

Mennonite Agencies

Register for convention today!  The Mennonite Church USA convention in Phoenix is only four months away.  The convention planning team and members of Mennonite congregations all across the country have been hard at work preparing worship services, seminars, special events and public witness gatherings to inspire, educate, engage and rejuvenate you this July.  Early bird registration ends on April 25, so be sure to visit www.MennoniteUSA.org/Convention to register today!

Youth ages 14-20, consider applying for the Youth Venture trip to Barranquilla, Colombia, this summer.  Meet Mennonite youth your own age and work with younger children at a bilingual school.  The Mennonite Church of Colombia partners with Central Plains in the Ecuador Partnership, and this trip is a great way to learn more about Colombian Mennonites.  The trip begins July 10; the registration deadline is April 15.  For details, go to http://tiny.cc/9zg9tw.

The Sower Prayer Request:  Pray for White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church, Lame Deer Mennonite Church and Ashland Christian Fellowship as they prepare to host Central Plains Mennonite Conference Annual Meeting June 20-23.

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:   Martine Audéoud of MMN is a seminary professor based in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, who travels widely to teach upper-level theology students.  Pray for energy and protection for Martine in her travels, and for God’s peace for her husband, Gary Wittig, also a teacher, and their young son, Samuel, in Martine’s absence.

Prayers for Faith and Learning:  Thank God for the Bethel College supporters who will gather for fellowship before the Concert Choir home concert on campus this evening.

Washington Area

Kalona MOPS Annual Turkey and all the Fixings Lunch:  Please join the Kalona MOPS group at our annual fundraiser lunch this afternoon from 11:30 to 1:30 at Kalona Mennonite Church.  Menu includes turkey, potatoes, green beans, lettuce salad, fluff, roll and dessert.  Free will donations accepted.  Also, our new MOPS cookbooks will be available for purchase.

Community Good Friday Service:  Join local Central Plains Mennonite Conference churches as we worship together 7pm, Mar 29^th at Celebration Hall at IMS.  Seven area high school students will share testimonies relating to Jesus’ last seven words before his death on the cross.  Child care will be provided for ages 3-8.  Student speakers are Nicholas Yoder, Mariah Swartzentruber, Elliot Stalter, Enrique Mendoza, Cassidy Bontrager, Keilah Brokaw and Chase Murray.

Family Fun Night:  Wayland Mennonite Church will host a skate party at Wellman Skating Rink on Saturday, April 6 from 3:00-5:00pm.  Everyone is invited to come!  If you can, please RSVP to Tamara by April 1 by calling 319.217.2456.

Sacred Harp Singing:  Please join us on Sunday, April 7^th, at East Union Mennonite Church as we experience the power and joy of shape note singing!  Several of these early American hymns will be sung during the service beginning at 9:30am by a group of experienced singers.  Anyone interested is invited to join the group to sing or listen during adult Sunday School at 10:45am, rest your voice by eating delicious potluck food, and then sing some more in the afternoon from 1:00-3:00pm.  Songbooks will be provided.  Come see why this lost art is being rediscovered!  Contact Tammy Yoder with questions at 319.656.3743 or by email at greenearth at kctc.net.

Young Adult Night:  All young adults are invited to meet at Wayland Mennonite at 5:30pm on Saturday, April 20 at 5:30pm.  We will have a campfire BBQ.  If you can, please RSVP to Tamara by April 17 by calling 319.217.2456.