Newsletter for March 23, 2014

Bearing Fruit

March 23, 2014

Our Church

Happy Birthday to: Leroy Reber (3/29)

Offering for 3/16/2014: $1,052 (regular)

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 Sunday, March 30^th.

Iowa Mennonite School

The search committee for the new principal at IMS has continued to meet, work, and pray every month.  We have been reviewing resumes and are in the process of planning interviews with candidates.  There is much work that goes into this process, but it is also exciting.  We are confident that God is working in our midst and will bring about the right person in the right time for our school.  We ask for your prayers as we continue our work and for IMS as it continues its mission in our community. 

–Corey Miller, Search Committee member

Central Plains Conference

Please keep Max and Gloria Villatoro and their family in your prayers in a special way in the coming weeks. Max and his attorney, Dan Vondra, will be appearing before a 3-judge panel of the 8th Circuit Court judge in St. Louis, MO, on April 16. This is a crucial meeting, and may be Max's last chance for obtaining permanent legal status in the United States.
Please pray for God's Spirit to grant wisdom and clarity to Dan Vondra as he prepares his presentation. Pray for compassion and justice to guide the judges as they consider this case, which will also carry weight for many other immigrant families in our region of the country. And pray for

peace that passes understanding to reign in the hearts of Max, Gloria, Anthony, Edna, Angela, and Aileen. 

One of our partners in the Ecuador Partnership is the Colombian Mennonite Church.  As you know, part of the ministry in Ecuador is helping refugees from the violence in Colombia.  I would like to invite you and your congregation to join in a special day of prayer for Colombia on April 6th.  Currently the government is one year into peace negotiations with FARC, the country's largest guerilla group after a half centrury of violence.  The peace process has turned a corner and people are hopeful for a solutiion.  For further involvement and information you can go tohttp://washington.mcc.org/days/signup 

---Don Kempf and Lois Janzen Preheim

The Sower Prayer Request:  Pray for the Mennonite Camping Association meeting this week.  CCCC will host this annual gathering of Mennonite camp staffers which includes Swan Lake and Wilderness Wind camp staff.

Mennonite Agencies

Are you a youth sponsor?  Youth pastor?  A church member who enjoys working with youth and wants to learn more?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, then we want you to join us for Youth Ministry Council in Kansas City from May 12-15.  Speakers will include Michelle Hershberger, professor of Bible and Religion from Hesston College; Rachel Springer Gerber, the new MCUSA denominational minister for youth and young adults; and Curt Weaver, youth pastor from Portland, OR.  For more info and to register for this event, visit http://www.mennoniteusa.org/youth-leaders-2/youth-ministry-council-2014/. 

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:  Pray for opportunities for MMN’s Brian and Kelly McPhail to share Jesus’ love with their students in China where they serve through Mennonite Partners in China.

Prayers for faith and learning:  Pray for musicians from Bethany Christian Schools, Central Christian School, and Iowa Mennonite High School as they travel and perform at the Midwest Mennonite Regional Orchestra Festival at Bethany.

Area Events

Sugar Creek will host a Circle of Grace Curriculum training session for anyone currently working or is interested in working with children in the church.  This session will be from 7-9pm on Monday, March 24^th at Sugar Creek.  The Circle of Grace program educates children and young people to participate in safe environments and how to set appropriate physical, emotional, spiritual, and sexual boundaries.  K-12 Sunday school teachers are encouraged to attend this training.  Please RSVP to 319.256.6061 or email sugarcreekmc at farmtel.net if you plan to attend.

John Dear, activist, author, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee will be speaking at the First Baptist Church in Iowa City at 7pm on Thursday, March 27^th.  Dear is the author of “The Nonviolent Life.”

A night of Southern Gospel Music!  The Inspirations will be in concert with the Bontrager Family Singers on Saturday, April 12, 2014, 6:30pm at the Fairview Mennonite Church.  No tickets are required, a love offering will be taken.  All are invited to attend!  For questions call 319.330.513.