Contact Us

email: washingtonmennonitechurch@gmail.com

phone: 319-653-6041

address:

815 Polk Street

Washington, IA 52353

https://washmenno.weebly.com


Thursday, February 11, 2016

Newsletter for February 14, 2016

The Bearing Fruit
February 14, 2016




Upcoming Events:
Feb 17  – Mennonite Women Sewing (at church)
Feb 28  – Soup and Game Night, 5:30pm
Mar 4   – World Day of Prayer Service, 1:30pm
Mar 26 – Saturday Kitchen (UP Church)





Our Church

▪ Offering for 2/7/16: $1795 (regular); $62 (coins for camp)

▪ Soup and Game Night, 5:30 – Feb 28th    Bring your favorite game and something to accompany soup.  We’ll join in games and supper with one another.

▪ Yoga knitting?  Really?  There has been interest in learning easy yoga and/or knitting.  If you would be interested in being a part of either group, let Martha know.

▪ This year, Washington Mennonite has the honor of hosting Washington’s World Day of Prayer Celebration.  Women, men, and children in more than 170 countries and regions around the world will celebrate World Day of Prayer, Friday, March 4, 2016.  This year, services have been planned by the World Day of Prayer Committee of Cuba.  Join us in learning about and praying for Cuba at this prayer service for those around the world who are suffering from poverty, violence and injustice.  Our service will be on Friday, March 4 at 1:30pm.





Iowa Mennonite School

8th grade students – and students considering a transfer – are invited to visit IMS for a day on Monday, Feb 15.  The day includes visiting classes, attending chapel, eating lunch on campus, and meeting other students and faculty members.  To register, contact the school or visit www.iowamennonite.org.

▪ Families interested in checking out IMS are invited to do so by attending Prospective Family Night at the school on Monday, February 28th.  Come and meet faculty members (and other families), tour the facilities, and receive valuable information!  Please call the school for more information.

▪ IMS will host more than 450 high school students during the 54th annual Mennonite Schools Council Choir Festival, April 8-10.  The concert itself, to be held Sunday the 10th at 3pm, will take place at the Washington High School in Washington.  Dr Scott Hochstetler, associate professor of music at Goshen College, will guest conduct the mass choir.  Choirs from 13-15 schools will participate, singing individually and culminating with a mass choir performance.  Please watch the bulletin for further details, as well as the school website –iowamennonite.org—and other news outlets.


Crooked Creek Christian Camp

▪ Coins for Camp is in February!  Join with other churches collecting coins for camp that will go towards purchasing a new camera to take photos and videos.  We plan to post a fabulous picture slideshow after each week long camp with highlights from that week.

▪ February 21 is Open Gym at the Activity Center 3-5pm.  The climbing wall will be available and if interested please call the camp office.

▪ February 22 is Open Gym for parents and young children (Pre-K and younger) 10am-12pm.

▪ The High School Retreat is April 2nd-3rd at Crooked Creek for one night of woods games, worship and wolfing down food!  Churches and/or sponsors have been given more information including registration.  You can go online to read more at www.crookedcreekcamp.org. 


Central Plains Conference

▪ Families, we have a set of At-Home Lent Devotionals available for you.  From Feb 9 through Easter Sunday, nurture your family’s identity as Christ-followers by using these daily scripture readings and activities.  Research shows that the best way to pass faith to children is through family worship in the home.  These family devotions give you just the tools you need!  If interested, see Andrea or email the church office.

The Sower Prayer Request:  Pray for Youth Escape 2016, the July 15-17 weekend retreat for Central Plains youth.  Pray that youth will attend and be encouraged to live “inside out,” finding their identity in Jesus Christ.


Mennonite Agencies

▪ Ten Thousand Villages Iowa City thanks our shoppers and volunteers for helping us have another successful holiday pop-up store.  Though the Iowa City store is closed for the season, you can continue to purchase Ten Thousand Villages products at the Schlabaugh and Sons Woodworking showroom in Kalona at 714 14th St.  Artisans around the world are able to feed and educate their families because Ten Thousand Villages brings their products to US markets.  Give hope to artisan by purchasing fairly-traded items.

 ▪ You’re invited to join the MCC Central States Board and Staff at our annual Community Engagement Event on Saturday, Feb. 27.  Our event this year will be held in the chapel at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan. From 8:30-10:45am focusing on Mass Incarceration.  We will have a variety of speakers share with the group and time for questions and answers.  Please call our office to let us know if you’ll be attending at 316.283.2720.  All are welcome to attend this informative event with opportunity to engage with MCC board and staff!

▪ Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:  Many weddings occur this time of year in Cambodia due to the cooler, dry season.  On this Valentine’s Day, pray for Petrus and Yuliana Handoyo of MMN as they mentor young Christian couples and model Christ-centered relationships.


Area Announcements

▪ You are invited to a Valentine coffee house and chocolate buffet at Kalona Mennonite Church on Sunday, Feb 14th, 5pm-7:30pm.  Come join us for a night of java, lots of chocolate, personal stories and performances by various local musicians.  Come alone or bring your family and friends.  Everyone is welcome!  Proceeds will benefit KMC’s International Student Aid Fund.  Our current project is Rudi Mucaj who is currently attending Goshen College.

On Monday, February 15, from 6-8pm at Dave and Anna Geyer’s, Dr Joy Lapp, Pastor Luann Benge, and Anna Geyer will introduce Butler Bass’s book, Grounded, and explore what she describes as a spiritual revolution based on the experience of God with us (see announcement below).  Registration for the event is $10 per person and includes supper around the indoor pizza oven.  Registration is limited to 20 people.  To register, please call Anna at 319.325.6609.

▪ Sunday, February 28, 3:30pm.  You are invited to attend Iowa Wesleyan College’s Annual Manning Lectures in Religion with Diana Butler Bass, one of America’s keenest commentators on religion, spirituality, and culture.  She will speak in the Chapel Auditorium at Iowa Wesleyan college on the topic, “Finding God in the World: A Spiritual Revolution.”  She will speak from her latest book, Grounded: Finding God in the World – A Spiritual Revolution.  Shane Clairborne writes, “In Grounded, Diana Butler Bass brings theology back down to earth.  She writes about the environment and about the church in a way that makes sense, feels authentic, and doesn’t put you to sleep.  A stunning book that will open up new conversations in the church and beyond.”  Free and open to the public.  For more information: joy.lapp@iw.edu or 319.385.6403.

▪ J-POG (Just Peace Outreach Group) invites you to hear Erica Littlewolf and Karin Kaufman Wall address the topic, People of the Land: Mennonites and the Doctrine of Discovery.”  The Doctrin of Discovery is the philosophy and set of policies that justified the conquest of Native American peoples.  Erica and Karin work for Mennonite Central Committee and will describe botht he scriptures used to support this doctrine, as well as the current realities that have resulted.  Join us to hear Erica and Karin on Sunday evening, February 21, at Iowa Mennonite School, 1421 540th St SW, Kalona, IA at 6pm for a finger-foods potluck and conversation (please bring your own table service) or at 7pm for Erica and Karin’s presentation.  For more information call Roger Farmer at 319.653.2547 or email Jane Yoder-Short at wilmajane17 at gmail.com. 

A special opportunity for more discussion with Erica and Karin about this topic will take place on Monday, February 22, from 6pm-8pm at Geyer’s Farm, 1259 Rohret Road, Oxford, IA.  Registration for Monday’s event is required.  Cost is $10, and includes pizza.  Call Anna Geyer at 319.325.6609 for reservations. 

▪ Kalona Mops Fundraiser Meal, Sunday, February 28, 11:30am-1:30pm at Kalona Mennonite Church.  Free will donation.  Serving pork loin, cheesy potatoes, green beans, rolls, fluff and dessert.

▪ The Wellman Mennonite Mush Fry will be Sunday, March 6th.  Serving will be from 11:30-1:00.  Join us for this old fashioned meal of fried mush, sausage, liverwurst, scrambled eggs, tomato gravy and applesauce.  Proceeds will benefit the MYF and WMC mission projects.”

▪ Hesston College’s Bel Canto Singers will be performing at IMS on Saturday evening, March 12, at 7:30pm and on Sunday morning, March 13, during the worship service at First Mennonite in Iowa City.  Anyone interested in hosting choir members overnight on March 12th may contact Sheila Raim at 319.828.1123 or by email at hstrings.raim at gmail.com.  Following the concert hosts may pick up their students at IMS for overnight lodging.  Students should be brought back to the school on Sunday morning by 7:45 for their departure to Iowa City.  Thank you in advance for your willingness to help host choir members!

▪ Save the Date: Parkview Home Benefit at Bethel Mennonite Church on Saturday, March 19, 2016.

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