Newsletter for February 21, 2016

Bearing Fruit

February 21, 2016

Upcoming Events:

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 2/14/16: $1, 966 (regular); $100 (kitchen remodel pledge); $250 (HACAP); $25 (coins for camp)

▪ Soup and Game Night, 5:30 – Feb 28^th    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.

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

Iowa Mennonite School

▪ As the IMS community looks forward to hosting 450+ students (13 schools) Apr 8-10 for the Mennonite Schools Choir Festival, please consider how you might be involved.  There will be a need for homes from the various churches hosting students, as well as assistance with the concert itself, serving food, etc.  Please contact Larry Swartzendruber at 656.2073 with questions or for further information.

▪ Interested 8^th-grade students, potential transfer students, and parents are invited to an evening of information and getting acquainted at IMS.  This opportunity will take place Monday, Feb 29 at 7pm in Celebration Hall.  In addition to meeting faculty members and other families, there will be opportunity to receive course and financial information, as well as receive tours and ask questions.  Please contact the school (656.2073) for more information.

Central Plains Conference

▪ The next Central Plains Fellowship and Learning Tour to Ecuador is scheduled for June 3-15, 2016.  8 people from CPMC will join two people from the Colombia Mennonite Church to visit two areas of Ecuador: the rain forest where we will learn from the indigenous people about their faith and sustainable living practices and Quito where we will get to know members of the Mennonite churches and their work in peace education and refugee assistance.  Details and an application form are at http://www.central plainsmc.org/upcomingtrips.html.  Direct questions to Joetta Schlabach, jschlabach at faithmennonite.org.  Applications are due by the end of March.

▪ The Sower Prayer Request:  Pray for the Central Plains Conference Board as they meet March 3 to work on financial shortfalls and budgeting for next year.

Mennonite Agencies

▪ 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:  Praise God for Margot and Stephen Longley’s 30 years of ministry with MMN, first in Nepal and now in Korpo, Finland.  Margot’s degenerative neurological condition is progressing more slowly than anticipated.  Pray for continued health as they Longleys retire in Korpo.

 

Area Announcements

▪ 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 Doctrine 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 both the 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 540^th 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. 

▪ 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.

▪ 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 6^th.  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.”