Newsletter for June 15, 2014

The Bearing Fruit

June 15, 2014

Our Church

Happy Birthday to:  Addison Miller (6/17),

Becky Litwiller (6/20)

Offering for 6/8/2014: $1,785.00 (regular)

Washington Mennonite is invited to the variety show in the Chapel of Iowa Weslyan at 7pm on Saturday, June 21st as part of the CPMC Annual Meeting.  There will be lots of Washington Mennonite folks performing!

About the Summer Series:  As Grant and I were teaching the Jr High Sunday School class last fall, we thought perhaps the book we were using, “Claiming Faith: Youth Discover the Confession of Faith” might be a good church-wide book to study and think about.  In ten sessions, the book explores various aspects of the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective, including lessons on Claiming: Our Identity, God, Ourselves as God’s Creation, Sin and Salvation, the Church, the Promise, the Community, the Walk, Peace, and Allegiance.  Each session is written to go along with one or more article of the Confession of Faith.

Starting on June 29^th and running through September 14, each week of our summer series will feature worship oriented around the theme of the day, followed by a combined Jr High/High School/Adult Sunday School hour in the fellowship hall spent exploring the lesson.  We’re excited to get started learning about and renewing our understanding of God, the Church, and each of us through this study of the Confession of Faith!  - Amanda

Crooked Creek Christian Camp

4-5^th Grade camp June 15-20.  Thank you for your continued support of Crooked Creek with prayers as we minister to our children.

Central Plains Conference

Join your sisters and brothers across Central Plains Mennonite Conference at Annual Meeting 2014 in Mt Pleasant, IA, this weekend.  Feast on God’s Word and fellowship with Christian brothers and sisters.  Find registration information at www.centralplainsmc.org.

The Sower Prayer Request:  Pray for those participating in Central Plains Annual Meeting 2014 at Mt Pleasant, IA, that hearts and minds may be attuned to God’s will for our conference.

Mennonite Agencies

MCUSA  Prayer Request – Radical Hospitality Resource Guide – Coming soon: a six-week video curriculum focusing on immigration, the Bible and Christian hospitality.  Watch our Mennonite Church USA Facebook page for information about when this FREE resource; available for Fall 2014 Sunday School curriculum.

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:  Today, Mennonite women in Bolivia are concluding a three-day retreat.  May the renewal the women have received sustain them as they return to their daily lives, and may the new insights and encouragement from God’s word enrich them.  MMN partners with the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Bolivia.

Prayers for faith and learning:  Today worshippers in Eastern Mennonite University’s Lehman Auditorium, Harrisonburg, VA join in the 22^nd annual Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival Leipzig Service, prepared in the tradition of Bach’s day.  Thank God for a rich musical heritage!

Area Events

Would you prayerfully consider working for the ministry of Pleasantview Retirement Community? 

If you are a nurse or CNA our residents need your gift of nurturing and tenderness.  We are currently offering a weekend package, 2/12 hour shifts of 3/8 hour shifts.  Part-time and PRN positions are also available. 

Applications can be picked up and submitted in the lobby.  Our address is 811 3^rd St or call David Heusinkveld 319.656.2421 for more info.  Applicants must meet required licensing and pass pre-employment physical and background check.

The dinosaurs are coming!  Bethel Mennonite Church is hosting Dr G Thomas Sharp, the founder of Creation Truth Foundation.  Dr Sharp shares his vast knowledge of the creation and how our understanding of that impacts the rest of our understanding of God and His truth.  We invite everyone to join us beginning this Sunday evening at 6:30pm continuing at 7pm Monday – Wednesday evenings.

Polen in Concert:  Polen will be in concert at Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church on Saturday July 26^th at 7pm.  Polen is a 5-piece Christian electronic rock and worship band from Fredericksburg, OH.  With electrifying walls of guitar, pulsating rhythms, and pensive lyrics, Polen creates a sound that is deeply worshipful, always melodic.  For more information contact Jim Hershberger at jhershberger32 at gmail.com or 319.461.3847.

VANG, a two person play about recent immigrant farmers in Iowa, will be presented at the Washington Public Library on Saturday, June 28, 2014 at 7pm.  Mary Swander, poet laureate of Iowa, interviewed local immigrant farmers from Hmong, Mexican, Sudanese, and Dutch backgrounds and then compiled their comments into an hour long play about their struggle to survive in America.  Roger Farmer will be local host for this production of VANG (meaning “garden” or “farm” in Hmong).

Bethany Christian Service’s next host family training is scheduled for Saturday, June 28 at Grace Community Church in North Liberty.  BCS connects volunteer families with children who need a safe place to call home on a short-term basis, giving parents time to get back on their feet amidst crises that could lead to a family separation.  RSVP to safefamiliesia at gmail.com.  Join us and bring a friend!