Newsletter for Sept 14, 2014

The Bearing Fruit

September 14, 2014

Our Church

Happy Birthday to:  Matti Miller (9/14), Caleb Miller (9/15),

    Mike Leyden (9/19)

Offering for 9/7/2014:  $2,790 (regular); $200 (HACAP)

Come one, come all to the annual Fall Business meeting, September 17 at 7:00pm.  We will be entertaining a proposal and discussion about a possible kitchen remodel.  We’d like all interested (and uninterested) parties to attend—this is a big discussion and decision in the life of our congregation!

All church “Love Came Down” Dinner Theatre Kickoff, Sunday, Sept 14^th, 5:30pm.  ALL are invited!  We’ll preview the show, sign up for where we’d like to help, eat tasty Christmas treats to get in the mood, and have a special blessing for our Dinner Theatre Season.

Crooked Creek Christian Camp

September 21 at 5pm:  Sing & Smores at the new Sunset Shelter.  Canoeing and kayaking at the pond also available.

October 9, 9:00-2:30pm:  Senior Day at the Retreat Lodge; Presenting The Power of Story by story-teller David Worth of Lititz, Pennsylvania.  David has worked for MCC and Habitat for Humanity and traveled to more than 40 countries.  Music provided by local musicians of The Great Bluegrass Herons and the Banjoy Band.  Additional information is forthcoming in the summer newsletter.  $25 includes lunch and program.

October 10-11:  Come to the Table Craft Retreat is an overnight get-away for women to socialize and work on craft projects together.

November 18:  CCCC Annual Meeting.  All supporters and interested people of camp are invited to attend (membership not required to attend).  We will tell the story of Crooked Creek with pictures, dinner, and a program with a short business meeting.

Iowa Mennonite School

Come enjoy an evening of music with IMS faculty Josh Tyson, Susan See, and Karenza Yoder, on Friday, Sept 19^th at 7:00pm.  All Things Bright and Beautiful…All Creatures Great and Small will be performed in Celebration Hall, and will also feature the Southeast Iowa Piano Trio.  There will be vocals and piano, as well as violin and cello; admission is by donation and will benefit the IMS Annual Fund.

Mennonite College USA institutions will be represented on the IMS campus Monday, Sept 15 and Tuesday, Sept 16…meeting with students and parents, and available to answer questions and promote their colleges.  Admissions counselors will be present from Bethel College (N Newton, KS); Bluffton University (Bluffton, OH); Eastern Mennonite University (Harrisonburg, VA); Goshen College (Goshen, IN); and Hesston College (Hesston, KS).  Please contact Dwight Gingerich, IMS guidance counselor, for more information.

Central Plains Conference

A webinar is bring offered to Central Plains Sunday School teachers to introduce the new Shine curriculum.  The same webinar will be offered twice; choose the date that works for you: Monday, Sept 15 at 7:30pm or Thursday, Sept 25 at 7:30pm.  To register, go to www.centralplainsmc.org/shine.  Please register at least four days prior to the webinar.  For more information, contact Shana Peachey Boshart at 319.936.5905 or shanaboshart at centralplainsmc.org.

 

The Sower Prayer Request:  Pray for those participating in the women’s retreat at Swan Lake camp next weekend, that each would find a path to a deeper relationship with God, God’s people and God’s mission.

Mennonite Agencies

The Fall meeting of the Crowded Closet Association will be held Sept 15, 7:00pm at Bethel Mennonite Church, rural Wayland.  All volunteers and interested persons are invited to attend and learn of the latest happenings at the Closet.  (NOTE: W55 is closed S of Washington due to bridge work)  For more info call 319.337.5924 or email crowdedcloset.ic at gmail.com.

MC USA Announcement:  Immigration.  The word is tossed around and debated in our media, government, classrooms, and churches.  What are the basic fact s about US immigration?  Who are the people involved?  What does the Bible have to say to us as Christians about immigration?  What role might we fill as Anabaptists within this age-old challenge?  These questions and more are unpacked in the Bible study, Radical Hospitality: responding to the issue of immigration.  This free resource is specifically designed to be flexible and accessible – all materials are available below for download and the curriculum can be customized to meet your group’s needs.  The core curriculum is based on 5 videos (each 15-20 mins) with the accompanying Resource Guide.  This resource is ideal for adult Sunday School classes, small fellowship groups, weekend adult Bible Schools, and congregational in-services.  http://www.mennoniteusa.org/what-we-do/immigration/radical-hospitality-discussion-guide/

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Justin Shenk and Valerie Showalter, who serve through MMN, are helping the Round Chapel, a congregation in London, England, find new ways of engaging the community – a weekly parent-toddler time, and intergenerational sessions of exploring arts and cooking.  Pray that people will be drawn to Jesus through these activities.

 

Area Announcements

Glenn Henrikson, an accomplished and versatile pianist and organist from Iowa, will be performing Sept 21^st  at 1:30pm at the United Methodist Church in Washington.  For more information on this free concert, see the bulletin board.

Evie Yoder Miller, a Kalona native, will conduct a book reading on Monday, Sept 22, 7pm, at the Kalona Public Library.  Her second recently published book, Everyday Mercies, is a novel of four generations of women from Mennonite backgrounds whose lives reveal the tensions and humor of family living.  Come spend the evening with Evie and Everyday Mercies.

You are cordially invited to a free community program Human Trafficking: Making A Difference on Tues, Sept 23^rd.  The doors open at 6pm and the program is from 6:30-7:30pm in the McAuley rooms in Mercy Medical Plaza, Lower Level, 540 E Jefferson St, Iowa City.  There is free parking in the Mercy Medical Plaza ramp.  The presenter, Sister Emily Devine, RSM, is co-chair of Sisters/Brothers Collaborating Against Trafficking in Cedar Rapids.  To register call Mercy on Call 319.358.2767 or visit www.mercyiowacity.org. 

Human Trafficking in Iowa: How You can be part of the Solution, Sept 25^th, 7-9pm at hotel Vetro, downtown Iowa City.  For more information see the poster in foyer.