Newsletter for August 18, 2013

Bearing Fruit

August 18, 2013

 Our Church

Happy Anniversary to:  Grant & Edie Nebel (8/18)

        Don & Phyllis Headrick (8/20)

Offering for 8/11/2013: $1785. 00 (regular)

Amanda is gone today visiting her brother in Milwaukee.

There is a sign-up sheet in the foyer for the Cabin Project.  Volunteers will be needed for Thursday, Friday and Saturday (specific tasks for each day are listed on the sheet).

There will be a new Sunday School class starting in September!  The class will be studying the book “Sacred Pauses” by April Yamasaki.  “In a fast-paced world full of distractions, spiritual practice can help us become more centered-more in touch with ourselves and others, more in touch with the world around us, more in touch with God. Sacred Pauses offers simple ways for readers to do just that. Each chapter explores a different spiritual practice-from the classic disciplines of Scripture reading and prayer to other creative approaches such as paying attention, making music, and having fun.”  If you’re interested in joining the study, talk to Mary Lou Farmer.

A family in town is in need of clothes.  The mother has a 7 year old boy, a 6 year old girl, a 1 year old girl, and 4 month old child.  If you have any clothes this family could use please bring them to church by next Sunday.

All who write reports for our year-end Annual Report need to submit their reports by August 28^th.  They can be emailed  to the church or placed on Andrea’s desk or mailbox.

Iowa Mennonite School

IMS began classes on Aug 15^th.  Please remember the students, faculty and staff throughout this year of changes, in your thoughts and prayers.  Thank you for your continued support!

IMS’s Compassion Group is sponsoring a blood drive through the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center on Tuesday, Aug 27^th, from 6:30-11am in the school gym.  The group is accepting appointments to donate (one must not have donated since July 2), and may also walk in that morning.  To donate, contact Bonnie Smith at 646.2116 or bonniecsmith at hotmail.com.  Thanks for your support!

Don’t miss an outstanding performance on the stage of IMS’ Celebration Hall, on Sat, Sept 14^th.  Renowned singer Tony Brown will perform the works of noted civil rights activist Paul Robeson (1898-1976); Robeson was an actor and singer.  Tickets are available by contacting the school at 656.2073 or 683.2586; the show begins at 7pm.

Crooked Creek Christian Camp

Don’t forget to sign up for the canoe trip down Skunk River with CCCC on Sat, Aug 24^th starting at 8:30am.  We will spend the day canoeing 16 miles down Skunk River.  Registration fees are $20/adult and $15/child (12 and under).  The day includes snacks, lunch, transportation, canoes and life jackets.  Register online at our website www.crookedcreekcamp.org/programs or call the camp to save your spot today!  319.653.3611  Half day option is available.

Central Plains Conference

All Central Plains women are invited to attend a retreat at Swan Lake Christian Camp at Viborg, S Dakota, Sept 21 & 22.  The theme is “Power Made Perfect: How’s a Woman to live?” with speakers Elisabeth Harder Schrock and Charlotte Loewen, both of Mountain Lake, Minnesota.  Elisabeth and her husband recently completed a four-year MCC term working with Old Colony Mennonites and indigenous communities in Bolivia.  Charlotte has a private practice as a counselor.  The cost is $75.  Please preregister by Sept 14^th to Esther Jane Buller at 507.427.3064 or hebuller at gmail.com.

Register now for Engaging the Mystery: Introducing Advent 2013.  Worship planners, don’t miss this opportunity to learn the Advent 2013 Leader worship, visuals, rituals, dramas and songs from the writers themselves.  Bring all your Advent worship planners to Manson Mennonite Church on Sat, Sept 7^th, from 10-10:30 for Engaging the Mystery: Introducing Advent 2013.  The cost is $25 per person.  Ask your church office for a brochure or go to goo.gl/yZXOo.

The Sower Prayer Request:  Pray for the Central Plains Outreach & Service Committee and the Ecuador Partners as they meet next weekend in Omaha.

Mennonite Agencies

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:   Thank God for Craig Maven’s able leadership of MMN’s board of directors for the past four years.  Pray for Madeline Maldonado, who now takes on this responsibility while continuing to serve as pastor of Iglesia Menonita Arca de Salvacion in Fort Myers, Fla.

Prayers for faith and learning:  During this first week of classes at Hesston College, remember all the students, faculty and staff who are new to the community.  Pray that they would feel welcomed and encouraged as they make a new start.

 Area Events

On Sunday Aug. 18th at 4:30 p.m. Pathway Christian School will have a time of praise and worship, along with a time of prayer to bless and dedicate Pathway Christian and its ministry, as the new school year begins. Everyone is invited: parents, students, grandparents, alumni, former parents, former students, staff, former staff, friends, and neighbors. This is an opportunity for the community to bless a part of the next generation as they prepare to hear and live out the call that God has and will put on their life.