Newsletter for April 28, 2013

Bearing Fruit

April 28, 2013

Our Church

Happy Birthday to:  Cindy Kling (5/4), Dicky Miller (5/4)

Offering for 4/21/2013: $1003.00 (regular)

Amanda is preaching in Wayland this morning as part of the Southeast Iowa Cluster Pulpit Exchange.

“Wes and I are so very thankful to you for continued prayer both in the past week of surgery and dinner theatre, and going forward in rehabilitation.  May God bless our church family.”   - Liz Widmer

“The 2013 Lean On Me Dinner Theatre is now history.  I would like to thank each of you who helped in the kitchen preparing food, carving meat, doing dishes, running errands, setting tables or serving food.  We had a good time working together to accomplish a task that initially seemed overwhelming.  I appreciate your willingness to serve wherever needed.  Together we were a team and it was a team effort where each member of the team was important.  Thank you for a great week.”  - Blessings, Phyllis Litwiller

“A special thank you to the cast and choir for the card and financial gift.  We appreciate the time and hard work that everyone contributed to make this year’s show a success!”   - Liz Widmer & Megan Miller

Dinner Theatre choir members should return their black folders with music to Grant’s office as soon as possible.  Thanks.

Our group subscription plan to The Mennonite is renewing.  The Mennonite, magazine for Mennonite Church USA, seeks to fulfill its mission of helping readers glorify God, grow in faith and become agents of healing and hope in the world through articles that challenge and inspire, news that connects readers to the larger Mennonite community and much more.  If you are interested in joining our group plan, please contact Andrea by May 5^th.

Iowa Mennonite School

If you’re looking for a bit of silliness geared toward children “of all ages,” come on out to Celebration Hall this afternoon at 2:30pm.  The drama department will present Jack and the Beanstalk and other plays, directed by Mary Forney.  Admission is by donation.

The IMS Spring Concert is on Friday, May 3^rd at 7pm in Celebration Hall.  There is no admission charge, but an offering will be taken in support of the music department.

IMS’s Academic & Fine Arts Awards Night will take place Tuesday, May 7^th in Celebration Hall at 7pm. 

IMS will benefit from the annual Kalona Rotary Omelet Breakfast on Saturday, May 4^th.  The meal will be served from 6:45-10:30am at the Kalona Methodist Church; cost is $5 for adults, $3 for children 12 and under.  Proceeds will benefit IMS in support of equipment needs for Celebration Hall.  Tickets may be purchased at the door.

Anyone interested in and/or curious about IMS is invited to an Open House at the school on Sunday, May 5^th.  Come for a delicious meal to be served beginning at 12 noon, and see what’s happening at the schoool.  Students and teachers alike will be on hand to provide tours and share what’s happening on and off campus!  The come-and-go will last until 3pm.  Please contact Candi Schmieder for further info.

IMS is looking for adults and students to help plan activities and games for the MCC Children’s Booth May 31 and June 1.  Please contact Candi Schmieder at the school if there is interest in helping out.

  

 Crooked Creek Christian Camp

Don’t forget to register for the 5K Fun Run/Walk at CCCC on Saturday, May 4 at 8am.  Help us raise funds so that all kids can come to camp.  Register online at www.crookedcreekcamp.org or call at 319.653.3611.  Hope to see you there!

Mennonite Agencies

Remember, postmark your registration form for Central Plains Annual Meeting by April 30 and pay the lowest registration fee.  Rates rise as Annual Meeting nears.  Get registration forms and info from the church office or visit www.centralplainsmc.org and click on Annual Meeting.

Convention is only 2 months away, and we hope you are getting excited.  Did you know we have a whole host of special events you can sign up for?  From servant projects throughout the city to cross-border trips to a prayer walk through downtown Phoenix and even an evening outing to Wet N’ Wild Water Park, our time together will be anything but boring.  It’s not too late to register.  Visit www.MennoniteUSA.org/Convention for more info.

JPOG invites you to hear Rachel Halder speak about her work encouraging conversation about sexualized violence within Christianity, and particularly the Mennonite Church.  Rachel is a graduate of IMS and Goshen College, and worked for a year at a women’s empowerment center in Jayapura, Papua, Indonesia.  Join us at Wellman Mennonite Church, 1215 8^th Ave, Wellman, IA on Sunday, April 28^th at 6pm for a finger-foods potluck and conversation (please bring your own table service) or at 7pm for Rachel’s presentation.  For more information, call Kay Fleming at 319.646.2028 or email Jane Yoder-Short at yodershort at netins.net.

The Sower Prayer Request:  Pray for the Central Plains Church Planters Gathering next weekend in Clear Lake, IA.  Praise God for the lives transformed through our developing churches.

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:   Margrit Kipfer Barrón of MMN has a fruitful ministry among children and young adults in Bolivia.  Pray for her as she searches for openings to share the good news of Jesus’ love with their mothers through monthly meetings that include a meal, meditation, and crafts.  May these women become committed Christians.

Prayers for Faith and Learning:  Commencement exercises for Eastern Mennonite students and Eastern Mennonite University’s graduate and undergraduate students take place this weekend.  Thank God for work completed, and pray for the students’ new beginnings.

Washington Area

An area graduate student is researching the experiences of conscientious objectors in the US during WWI and WWII, and would like to speak with WWII conscientious objectors.  If you are a WWII conscientious objector and are willing to be interviewed, please contact Renea Reichenbach at 319.560.1392.  Thank you!

College Internships:  Crowded Closet is seeking to fill two part-time summer internships.  Term runs mid-May through mid-August.  Positions are each 30 hours per week including Saturdays.  A stipend is available.  Submit a resume by May 10^th.  For a full job description send an email to crowdedcloset.ic at gmail.com.

MCC Sale Meals in Homes:  We are still looking for more volunteers to open homes and serve a meal.  If you have a special authentic meal you enjoy making, this is your chance to share it with guests.  To list your meal for proper advertising, contact Marcia Miller at 319.656.3242, cell phone 319.430.3376 or email at Marcia at kctc.net.

The spring meeting of the Mennonite Historical Society will be held at Kalona Mennonite Church on April 29^th at 7 pm.  The program will include watching video excerpts from “Dramatic Monologues.”  The monologues portray the life challenges and joys of our Amish and Mennonite ancestors when they first came to this area.  The monologues were performed by local persons at the sesquicentennial celebration in 1996.  Refreshments will be served and a free will offering will be taken.  Everyone is welcome.

Quest 4  is coming!  “The Anthem, What Story will your life tell?”  Please come and bring a friend.  Quest is a free community event for all ages.  It’s coming to Mid-Prairie High School on May 5^th at 6pm.  Join us to lift up the name of Jesus!

The National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 373 of Washington, in conjunction with the US Postal Service, will be holding a local food drive on Saturday, May 11^th to help local families in need.  To participate, put non-perishable food near your mailbox on May 11^th before the mail carrier arrives.  All food collected will stay in Washington!