Newsletter for December 8, 2014

Bearing Fruit

December 8, 2013

Our Church

Happy Birthday to:  Jordan Garrett (12/8),

Martha Hernandez (12/9), Amanda Beachy (12/10),

Mike Slagel (12/14)

Happy Anniversary to :  Jeff & Karla Garrett (12/11)

Offering for 12/1/2013: $3,790 (regular)

Grant and Edie went to Goshen, IN for the weekend.

“Would that I could convey my gratitude for delicious homemade soups and gestures great and small.  I learned about disability in a real way – for many a permanent condition of life.  May God bless you.”    – Liz Widmer

During Advent we’ll be having 15 minutes of Christmas caroling before our Sunday morning worship services.  Carols will start at 9:15 and our service will start at the usual time, 9:30.  Come sing with us to celebrate the season!

The Family Connections (formerly Parents as Teachers) is having a fun night Dec 19 for the families enrolled in the program.  If you are looking for a way to give somewhere this Christmas season, the program needs cut out sugar cookies without frosting.  The children who come to the party have fun decorating the cookies.  Contact Becky Widmer or Carol Detweiler if you can make 1 or 2 dozen cookies.  Thanks to the persons who have made them in previous years!!

‘Caroling caroling now we go’ on Dec 22!  Please meet at the church to assemble cookie plates at 5:30 (so bring cookies or fruit to share) and then we’ll go into the town with ‘joyous voices sweet and clear.’  We plan on singing at Autumn Park at 6:30.  We’ll meet back at the church for our own Christmas celebration, so bring goodies for that as well.  See you then!   - Megan and Myron, Frivolity Committee

Iowa Mennonite School

The search committee for the new principal at IMS continues to meet monthly to work and pray for the task at hand.  The open position has been advertised in various Mennonite publications and all interested and qualified applicants are being encouraged to apply.  We anticipate that times of interviewing will happen early in 2014.  We ask that your church be in prayer for this process and that God will lead the right person to IMS at this time.  May God surround you with His love in this Advent season.   – IMS Search Committee: Paula Buckwalter, chair, Pam Gerig-Unrub, Don Miller, Sheila Ours, Greg Yoder, Corey Miller

IMS’s Christmas Concert will be presented on Sunday, Dec 15 at 3:00pm in Celebration Hall.  The concert will feature the sounds of the season, performed by the Chorale, Concert Choir, Symphonic Band, and other smaller ensembles.  All are invited; the Music Boosters will serve truffles following the program, and all 6^th-8^th graders are welcome to enjoy a brief Christmas party at the conclusion of the concert.  Josh Tyson directs the program.

The IMS Alumni Association is sponsoring the annual Alumni Night festivities on Friday, Dec 20.  IMS hosts Pekin that evening, and all alumni are welcome to register for prizes, and will receive coupons to the concession stand.  Prizes are compliments of numerous area businesses.  Registration opens at 5pm – the ballgames will begin at 4:30 with a JV contest, followed by the girls and boys varsity games.

Central Plains Conference

The Sower Prayer Request:  Pray for congregations in Central Plains who are seeking pastors, and for the church in Quito, Ecuador, seeking a pastor.

Mennonite Agencies

A learning experience like no other!  This summer, Youth Venture invites young adults ages 14-22 to serve and learn together with churches in Philadelphia, Ft. Myers, Japan, Spain, and more!  Info and applications at MennoniteMission.net/Serve.

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:   Due to the onset of winter and the holidays, requests for assistance reach a peak this month in the nonprofit agencies for which MMN’s Mennonite Voluntary Service participants work.  Pray that the 57 MVSers in 17 locations will continue to serve their host communities with love and patience.

Prayers for faith and learning:  As Bluffton University students prepare for their final examinations of the fall semester Dec 9-13, please keep them in your prayers as they diligently study to finish the semester successfully.

Area Events

Last Chance!  The deadling for ordering cheeseballs from Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church has arrived.  Please contact the church by noon tomorrow (Dec 9) with your orders.  The flavors are ham, pineapple, veggie and pesto.  Prices are $9.50 each or 3/$27.  All proceeds go to a mission trip to Nicaragua that will take place in February.  Thank you!