Newsletter for May 29, 2016

The Bearing Fruit

May 29, 2016

Upcoming Events:

June 3-4 – Iowa Mennonite Relief Sale

June 6   – Psalms Bible Study, 7pm

June 12 – Potluck at the Wellman Park

June 12 – First MYF Baptism Class

June 12 – MYF, 5:30pm at Amy’s

June 15 – Mennonite Women Sewing, 10am

June 16-19 – CPMC Annual Meeting

June 20 – Women’s Bible Study, 7:30am

June 21 – Elder’s Meeting, 7pm

Our Church

▪ Offering for 5/22/16: $5,300 (regular); $20 (kitchen)

▪ Thank you for helping with Saturday Kitchen this past Saturday, May 21^st.  We had a great crew of workers.  We stepped up our pace when we learned there was also a wedding at that church later in the day.  The Saturday Kitchen guests enjoyed the food and fellowship and the WMC workers were blessed as they worked together.  Then next Saturday Kitchen for WMC is July 16^th.  Join us as we work together, you will be glad you did.  – Phyllis Litwiller, Gloria Widmer, and Sandy Buhrow

▪ June 12 – Potluck at the Wellman Park – Join us for a picnic potluck on June 12^th at the Wellman Park (so that Dickie Miller can cross the road and join us!) at noon.  (Note: this potluck has been moved from June 19 to 12).

▪ Child’s story and playtime supervisor –  Sign up in the foyer to read a story and supervise our children as they play in the fellowship hall during our summer church services.  Children and supervisors will be dismissed after the morning singing time each Sunday this summer.

▪ Fellowship Snacks – Sign up in the foyer to provide a light snack for fellowship time on a Sunday morning or two this summer.

▪ Baptism class lunch – Sign up in the foyer to provide a light lunch for the MYF baptism class on one of the Sundays that they are meeting this summer. 

▪ Come and celebrate with Justin Litwiller as he graduates tonight from IMS!  Frank Yoder will give the keynote address entitled “Becoming an Adult.”  All are invited to attend at 6pm in IMS’ Celebration Hall.

Iowa MCC Relief Sale

▪ You are invited to the 37^th Annual Iowa Mennonite Relief Sale at the Johnson County Fairgrounds June 3 and 4, in Iowa City.  Your presence and support of the sale raises funds for the work of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC).  MCC works globally in the areas of relief, development and peace building, all “in the name of Christ.”  More information at iamccreliefsale.org.  Invite your neighbors, coworkers and friends!

▪ You may drop off your donated items for the Relief Sale at Kalona Mennonite and Washington Mennonite on Thursday, June 2, if you are unable to get them to the fairgrounds.  Items should be dropped off on Thursday before 3pm.

▪ Attention MCC Alumni!  MCC is celebrating you and your service with MCC with a free gift at the Iowa Mennonite Relief Sale.  Just stop by the MCC booth, fill out a sticker, wear it proudly and then go redeem the coupon for a free

Menno Tea drink!  Enjoy the sale, connect with fellows MCC alumni and thank you for your support of MCC!

Central Plains Conference

▪ Register for Central Plains Annual Meeting before the cost goes up June 1^st!  Don’t miss this annual gathering of worship and fellowship in Des Moines June 16-19.  Leonard Dow of Oxford Circle Mennonite Church in Philadelphia will be our speaker.  See more and register online at www.centralplainsmc.org. 

▪ The Sower Prayer Request:  Pray for the Hmong Mennonite Church of St Paul having a men’s and women’s retreat this weekend that the Spirit of Christ would inspire and guide their teaching and fellowship.

Mennonite Agencies

▪ Crowded Closet Thrift Shop is having a Founder’s Tea for those staff and volunteers from 1978-1988, the first decade of Crowded Closet, on June 9^th, 10am at Pleasantview Home in Kalona.  For more information see the flier on the bulletin board by the mailboxes in the foyer.

▪ MC USA Announcement:  Sunday School Curriculum: Returning Veterans, Returning Hope: Seeking Peace Together is a 6-week curriculum on returning veterans and how the church can play a part in their healing journeys.  This curriculum draws from biblical reflection, the latest understandings of trauma and moral injury, and the experiences of veterans themselves.  It is provided by the Peace and Justice Support Network (a partnership of MC USA and MMN) and MCC US.  See pjsn.org/vets

▪ Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:  In the land of Jesus’ birth, an outreach team composed of Arab Christians and Jewish believers is setting aside their differences in order to share God’s invitation to abundant life.  Pray for team members who face opposition and for MMN personnel working alongside them. 

Area Events

▪ JPOG (Just Peace Outreach Group) invites you to hear Vanessa Hershberger report on her work with MCC in the Democratic Republic of Congo as the Eastern Congo Humanitarian Coordinator.  Vanessa works with local church partners to coordinate the development and relief work of MCC in the eastern two provinces of the country, where Congo borders Rwanda and Burundi.  Join us on Sunday evening, June 5, at Kalona Mennonite Church at 6pm for a finger-foods potluck (please bring your own table service) or at 7pm for Vanessa’s presentation.  For more information call Roger Farmer at 319.532.2547 or email Jane Yoder-Short at wilmajane17 (at) gmail.com. 

▪ Water for Life in Haiti Fundraiser Meal will be on Thursday, June 9^th, from 5-8pm at Pathway Christian School.  The meal will consist of grilled turkey breast, baked beans, coleslaw, dinner roll, pie and ice cream.