Newsletter for August 4, 2013

Bearing Fruit

August 4, 2013

Our Church

Happy Birthday to:  Lea Smothers (8/4)

Happy Anniversary to:  Jerry & Joyce Roth (8/5),

        Nathan & Brandy Miller (8/5)

Offering for 7/28/2013: $1786.57 (regular)

Grant and Edie are gone this week visiting family in PA.

Sunday the 11^th we’ll be having a VBS celebration picnic at Crooked Creek.  We’d like everyone to bring lots of food in case we have VBS visitors!

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.

There will be an Everence meeting here on Aug 6^th at 7pm.  David Gautsche, Everence Senior Vice President of Products and Services, will be here to answer questions about health care and insurance.  The topics covered will include how health care reform will affect individuals and employers, how you will get health insurance coverage, and how reform has affected Everence health plans.  This is a particularly important meeting for those under 65.  Please call 877.656.4242 by Aug 2^nd so they can plan ahead.

“Thank you for helping Jane move last week.  She tells me that the move went well and the really appreciates the help you gave her.  I appreciate having a group like yours we can refer to when our clients have needs that arise.  This is a wonderful ministry your church has chosen.  Thank you, Susan Mitchell, Washington County Public Health”

Iowa Mennonite School

Join us for a morning of golf at the 3^rd annual IMS Fairway Fun golf outing on Aug 17^th.  Bring a foursome or sign up individually for the 4-person best-ball tournament.  There will be prizes, lunch, 18 holes of golf (and a cart) included in your $75 entry fee; proceeds will benefit our Student Aid Fund.  Principal Norm Yoder will join us and be available to chat as well.  Please contact Larry Swartzendruber at the school to register.

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

The Sower Prayer Request:  Pray that Central Plains conference would call and equip pastors and congregational leaders with missional vision and leadership skills for the church.

 Mennonite Agencies

Results of the 2013 Iowa Mennonite Relief Sale are complete and posted on the bulletin board by the mailboxes.  The total income of $167,157.59 was $5,684.95 over the 2012 sale.  $110,000 has been sent to Mennonite Central Committee.  Next year's sale will be May 30 and 31.  Thank you for your support of this important work of our churches.

MCC Central States is accepting applications for an Office Manager/Bookkeeper in the North Newton, KS office.  Check for more details at serve.mcc.org (look for Office Manager/Bookkeeper-Central States) or email mwaltner at mcc.org.

You are invited to the MCC Learning Tour “Ukraine: Addressing the Basic Social Issues of a Broken-Down Society” July 25^th-Aug 4^th, 2014.  Contact Anna Yoder, annayoder at mcc.org or 316.283.2720, for more info.

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:   Pray for peace and hope among the people of South Africa in the uncertain times of Nelson Mandela’s passing from leadership.  Remember especially Anna and Joe Sawatzky and their four sons with MMN, and their colleagues in the Anabaptist Network in South Africa and at Bethany Bible School.

Prayers for faith and learning:  Dear God, you have blessed us with the care and guidance of young children.  But how do we best support children’s growth, development and learning to serve your purposes in a world radically changed by technology?  As we consider whether, why, how, and when to use screen time with young children, may these devices be used as hope-filled, peace-building tools.  Help us to balance children’s screen time by providing many other quality experiences so that they may live more child-friendly and less media-saturated lives.

Area Events

Invite your friends and join us for a community evening of worship through music and scripture.  The evening will include music ensembles as well as plenty of congregational singing.  This event will be held at Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church on Sunday, Aug 4^th at 7pm.

THE CALVARYMEN ARE COMING!  This southern gospel quartet from Hartville, Missouri, will be back in the area next weekend.  There will be a concert Saturday, August 10, 7:00 PM at Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church.  Sunday morning they will be at Bethel Mennonite Church near Wayland at 9:30.  The group is known for their beautiful harmony and powerful message.  You don’t want to miss them!