Newsletter for March 6, 2016

The Bearing Fruit

March 6, 2016

Upcoming Events:

Mar 13 – MYF (5:30pm at Amy’s)

Mar 15 – Elder’s Meeting

Mar 16 – Mennonite Women Sewing

Mar 24 – Maundy Thursday Service (6:30pm)

Mar 26 – Saturday Kitchen (UP Church)

Mar 27 – Easter Potluck (8:30am)

Apr 9    – Bday Breakfast Club Mar/Apr (9am)

Apr 13  – Spring Business Meeting (7pm)

Apr 16  – Spring Clean-Up Day (8:30am)

Our Church

▪ Offering for 2/28/16: $2,505 (regular); $5,500 (kitchen pledge); $263.25 (coins for camp, grand total = $369.26)

▪ Birthday Breakfast Club, March and April Birthdays – If you celebrate your birthday in March or April, mark your calendars and join Amanda for breakfast and fellowship on April 9^th at 9:00am.

Crooked Creek Christian Camp

▪ Lenten Quiet Day is March 12 at the Retreat Lodge.  Please sign up by March 8 for this free event and lunch.  More information online.

▪ Camp is seeking Kitchen Assistants to work 1-2 weekends per month throughout the year.  Job description is available at crookedcreekcamp.org/employment-opportunities. 

▪ Camp is seeking Housekeeping Assistants for cleaning our facilities year round.  Job description is available at crookedcreekcamp.org/employment-opportunities. 

▪ Hey High Schoolers!  The High School Retreat is April 2-3.  Come find out what a Dutch Auction is.  Register online or call camp 319.653.3611.

Iowa Mennonite School

▪ The IMS Alumni Association and Washington Township Optimists will collaborate to serve the Turkey Steak Supper on Saturday, Mar 12.  Serving will be from 4-7pm in the cafeteria, with proceeds from the donation-only meal benefiting both organizations.  Following the meal, the Bel Canto Singers from Hesston College will perform in Celebration Hall (7:30pm).  The choir, directed by Dr Russell Adrian, features local students Hannah Miller (Nancy & Corey) of Parnell; Casey Perez (Kathy & Gil) of Kalona; and Eleya Raim (Sheila & Dan) of Oxford.

▪ IMS’ Compassion Club is hosting a blood drive for the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center on Thursday, Mar 17, from 6:30-10:30am in the lobby of Celebration Hall.  Please contact Gloria Yoder at 656.2073 if willing to donate.  Each donation provides a critical and lifesaving resource for three or four people!

▪ IMS’ Culinary Arts class is once again offering the popular ‘restaurants’ for the public!  Come and enjoy tasty breakfast fare from four different regions of the world.  The four-member class, under the direction of Ranee Brokaw, will research and prepare the menus, as well as serve and host the meals.  Dates are as follows; Mar 23 (French Patisserie Brunch); Mar 30 (Down Home Breakfast); Apr 20 (English Tea Brunch); and Apr 27 (Mexican Fiesta Breakfast).  The meals will be served at 8:30am each time; reservations can be made by calling 656.2073.  Cost is $8/person, and the seats are filling fast!

Central Plains Conference

▪ The Sower Prayer Request:  Pray for the MC USA Constituency Leaders Council meeting in Goshen, IN, Monday through Wednesday.  Pray for God’s guidance as these representatives of the area conferences meet.  Pray for wisdom for David Boshart as he facilitates the meetings.

Mennonite Agencies

▪ IOWA ANNUAL MDS MEETING will be held March 19 at Fairview Mennonite Church in Kalona.  Church Contact Training will be from 9:30-11:30.  After a light lunch, the annual meeting will be from 1:15-3:15, featuring Executive Director Kevin King and a question and answer time.  Contact Myron Graber if you are interested in attending.

▪ Mennonite Church USA :  Register now for Sent 2016: A gathering of Mennonites planting Jesus-centered communities, March 31-April 2 in New Orleans.  This church planting summit is open to people who are testing a call to church planting as well as church planters, pastors, missiologists and conference leaders.  Learn more and register at mennoniteusa.org/sent. 

▪ Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:  Alisha and Josh Garber of MMN teach and mentor students at LCC International University in Lithuania.  Throughout the winter, Josh has battled bronchitis.  Pray for renewed energy for Josh and for the health of Alisha and their first child expected in May.

Area Announcements

▪ The Wellman Mennonite Mush Fry will be TODAY, 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.”

▪ The 23 voice Bel Canto Singers from Hesston College, and director Russell Adrian will present the program “Transform Our Lives” on Saturday, March 12, 7:30pm, Iowa Mennonite School, Kalona, IA and Sunday, March 13, 9:30am, First Mennonite Church, Iowa City IA.  Alumni and friends are invited to attend and a free will offering will be taken for the Spring Break Tour costs.  Go to www.hesston.edu for complete tour details.

▪ Spring meeting of the Crowded Closet Association will be held Monday, March 21, 7pm at Kalona Mennonite Church.  All volunteers and interested persons are invited to attend and learn of the latest happenings at the Closet