Newsletter for September 20, 2015

The Bearing Fruit

September 20, 2015

A Look Ahead     

Church Retreat at Crooked Creek               Sept 26-27

Saturday Kitchen                                           Oct 10

          

                                                                         

Our Church

Happy Birthday to:  Phyllis Headrick (9/23)

Offering for 9/13/15:  $2,350 (regular);

    $250 (HACAP); $103 (kitchen

The new church fiscal year started on September 1, 2015.  In order to meet our budgeted expenses, offerings should average $2809 per Sunday.  Can you help us meet the goal?  Thanks for your generous support of the church ministry.

The worship committee is conducting a survey to evaluate Sunday morning worship and to provide direction for future worship planning efforts.  An electronic survey from Survey Monkey will be sent to email addresses from grant.edie at gmail.com.  There will be one survey allowed per email address.  Additional paper copies will be available in the foyer of the church if you prefer completing the survey in hard copy.  Completed paper surveys should be placed in Edie Nebel’s mailbox.

The IMS Jr. Class Pork Supper fundraiser will be held Saturday, Oct 10^th.  Jim Wang is selling tickets.  You can reserve your tickets by calling Tim and Cindy 653.6241 or emailing Jim at jwang2017 at iowamennonite.org.  Thanks for your support.

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.

Church Retreat Schedule

    Saturday, Sept 26

        5:30 – Potluck

        7:00 – Seed Spitting

        8:00 – Church Family Feud

        9:30 – Snacks and Games

    Sunday, Sept 27

        9:30   –  Coffee and rolls (provided)

        10:30 – Church Service

        12:00 – Fundraiser meal for Nacho and Malita

                         (invite your friends and family!)

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.friendsofpastor max.org.  Please DO NOT post Gloria’s mailing address on Facebook.

The Sower Prayer Request:  Today marks exactly six months since Pastor Max Villatoro was deported to Honduras.  Pray this week for God to make a way for Max to return to his family.  “For nothing will be impossible with God.”  (Luke 1:37)

Mennonite Agencies

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:  Today is Peace Sunday.  Pray that materials created by MMN’s Peace and Justice Support Network will help Mennonite congregations speak out against the violence of racism within the church and in our societies throughout the coming year.

Area Announcements

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.

J-POG (Just Peace Outreach Group) invites you to hear Ray McGovern and Coleen Rowley address the topic, “Is Biblical Justice an UnAmerican Activity?”  Raymond McGovern is a retired CIA officer and a former co-director of the Servant Leadership School at the Church of the Savior in Washington DC.  Coleen Rowley graduated from University of Iowa College of Law in 1980 and was named “Person of the Year” in 2002 by TIME magazine.  Join us at West Union Mennonite Church, 3253 305^th Street, Parnell, IA on Sunday, September 27, at 6pm for a finger food potluck (please bring your own table service), or at 7pm for the McGovern/Rowley presentation.  For more information, contact Roger Farmer at 319.653.2547 or Jane Yoder-Short at wilmajane17 at gmail.com

Ten Thousand Villages Iowa City is holding a “FUNDAY” fundraiser at Ride restaurant on Sunday, Sept 27, 5-9pm.  We will receive a portion of all food sales, so drop by Ride at 630 Iowa Ave, Iowa City, and enjoy a meal while supporting a local effort to establish a permanent Villages store in Iowa City.  Ten Thousand Villages brings fairly traded gifts, home décor, jewelry, art, and other treasures handcrafted by artists from over 35 countries.