Newsletter for September 13, 2015

The Bearing Fruit

September 13, 2015

A Look Ahead     

MYF                                                           Sept 13

Monthly Quilting, Genesis 1:1 – 2:3                  Sept 16

Fall Business Meeting, 7pm                            Sept 16

Church Retreat at Crooked Creek               Sept 26-27

Saturday Kitchen                                           Oct 10

                                                                                   

  

Our Church

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

    Mike Leyden (9/19)

Happy Anniversary to:  Dicky & Alicia Miller (9/13)

Offering for 9/6/15:  $2,356 (regular)

Kitchen Update – Preparations are being made for the kitchen remodeling project.  Most of the kitchen cupboards are empty and contents packed up.  Until further notice, please bring anything you might need to serve or prepare food.

Sept 16 – Monthly Quilting at church.  Devotions will be used from “Spark: Igniting Your God-Given Creativity” for the coming year.  Scripture for September is Genesis 1:1 – 2:3.

FALL WORSHIP SERIES – If you didn’t get a chance to complete a leaf last Sunday identifying your “calling,” please do so today.  Instructions are included with the leaf.  Place the completed leaf in the offering basket this morning for inclusion in our display.

WMC CALLING TREE – Take a few minutes in the upcoming weeks to read the WMC “calling tree” in the foyer to learn more about how we are using our gifts throughout the community.  God is truly using all of us in a variety of ministries.

Coffee FOR SALE – Villatoro Family Blend Honduran whole bean coffee (12 oz bags) is available in the Fellowship Hall for $15/bag to continue support of the Max Villatoro family during Max’s deportation.  Checks can be made to Central Plains Mennonite Conference or cash can be placed in the basket and will be sent to the conference.

Central Plains Conference

Call to Prayer Sept 20-27 – Sept 20 marks the six-month anniversary of Pastor Max Villatoro’s deportation to Honduras, taking him away from his family, his church and his community.  Please set aside some time this week to pray specifically for Max’s return and for his family – Gloria, Anthony, Edna, Angela and Aileen.  In addition, consider sending a note to Gloria and her children at 2018 Waterfront Drive, Lot #67, Iowa City, IA 52240, or an email note of encouragement to Max at max73villatoro at gmail.com.  Find a prayer and action guide at www.friendsofpastormax.org.

The Sower Prayer Request:  Next weekend, Mennonite Women hosts a retreat for Central Plains women at Swan Lake Christian Camp, Viborg, South Dakota.  Pray for a time of spiritual growth and refreshment for the women who attend.

Mennonite Agencies

Leave or stay?  Many Syrian families face that question as international humanitarian assistance dwindles and the patchwork of resources they used to rely on wears thin.  Your gift of money helps Mennonite Central Committee continue to provide food, water, rent assistance and winter supplies so families that decide to stay in the region can survive the cold weather ahead.  Please give online at mcc.org/syria-iraq; by phone at 1-888-563-4676; or by check, sent to MCC U.S., P.O. Box 500, Akron, PA 17501.  Thank you!

MCC Borderlands Learning Tour 2015 – you are invited to participate in a learning tour designed to bring awareness about the increasing migrant deaths, militarization and effects on sister communities by the border wall along the Mexico/US Borderlands.  Participants will increase their understanding of the social, economic, political and theological significance of migration in border communities.  The tour is Oct 28-Nov 4, leaving from Tucson, AZ.  For more information contact Saulo Padilla, MCC US Immigration Education Coordinator at saulopadilla at mcc.org, or go to learn more and register mcc.org/borderlands-tour.

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:  Pray for MMN’s Mennonite Voluntary Service households as they settle in to community life in Alamosa, Colorado; Elkhart, Indiana; Kansas City, Kansas; Madison, Wisconsin; Manhattan and Rochester, New York; San Antonio; San Francisco; Seattle; Tucson, Arizona; and Washington, DC.

Area Announcements

 

Safe Families for Children will be hosting a training for current and prospective Safe Families volunteers Saturday, Sept 19^th from 9am-1pm at Grace United Methodist Church in Tiffin, IA.  Food and coffee will be provided.  For more information and to RSVP contact Brett Erickson at berickson at safefamilies.net or Sheila Raim at hstrings.raim at gamil.com.

We invite you to experience the Grillmasters of Kalona Mennonite Church at a bold, benevolent barbeque next Sunday to benefit the KMC International Student Aid Fund.  Our current project is Rudi Mucaj from Albania.  Rudi attended IMS as an exchange student and is currently attending Goshen College.  (Read more about his IMS experience on the IMS website).  The KMC Grillmasters will be grilling chicken breasts, hamburgers and hot dogs.  Other menu items include baked beans, coleslaw, chips and a sundae bar.  We will be serving until 1pm.  Hope to see you there!

Fall meeting of the Crowded Closet Association will be held Monday, Sept 21, 7pm at Wayland Mennonite Church.  ALL volunteers and interested persons are invited to attend and learn of the latest happenings at the Closet.