Newsletter for October 23, 2016

The Bearing Fruit

October 23, 2016

Upcoming Events:

Oct 23  – MYF, 5:00 at Amy’s

Oct 24  – Central Plains Webinar, 7:30pm

Oct 30  – Grant’s Retirement Celebration

Nov 2   – Council Meeting, 7pm

Nov 5   – Saturday Kitchen, UP Church

Nov 6   – Baptism Class, 10:30am

Nov 6   – Mexican Meal Fundraiser

Nov 12 – Birthday Breakfast Club, 9:30am

Nov 15 – Crowded Closet Work Night

Nov 16 – Mennonite Women Quilting, 10am

Washington Mennonite

▪ Offering for 10/9/16:  $2,170 (Regular)

▪ Offering for 10/16/16:  $1,502 (Regular)

▪ It’s time to update the church directory!  Please make any changes or additions to the directory pages out in the foyer or Fellowship Hall.

▪ October 30, Grant's Retirement Celebration Plan to attend a church service, potluck, and program honoring Grant's years of service to Washington Mennonite! Let us say "farewell" to Grant (and Edie) well!

▪ The second Central Plains Bible Study Webinar is around the corner! We had a great turnout for the first one--join us at 7:30pm on Monday, October 24 in our church sanctuary. In A Two-Edged Sword: Reading the Bible Like an Anabaptist, we will look at some of the difficult texts in the Bible. These webinars are especially for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, but anyone is welcome!  

▪ Washington Mennonite Church will be taking our turn to host Saturday Kitchen at the Washington United Presbyterian Church on Saturday November 5^th, 2016.  Signup sheets are on the table in the foyer for both workers and donated food items.  Please sign for the job and time that best suits your schedule and or the food items you would like to be responsible for.  Saturday Kitchen continues to meet a need in our community both as a need for a hot meal and also to fellowship around a table with others.  As workers we are blessed as we work together and also meet and greet the guests.

▪ November 6, Mexican meal fund raiser Enjoy delicious Mexican food made by Nacho and Melitza and help support an IMS student!

▪ November 12, Birthday Breakfast Club If your birthday is in November or December, join Amanda for breakfast at 9:30 at the church on November 12. 

▪ Friends, it appears that Pastor Max has run out of legal options for returning to the United States. Friends of Pastor Max is initiating a call to prayer that God would make a way for Max to be reunited with his family.  We invite you to set aside one meal on the first Tuesday of every month to fast and pray for the Villatoro's to be reunited, whether in the US or elsewhere. Our hope is in God alone, and to God we will make our plea.

Crooked Creek Christian Camp

▪ November 10 is Annual Meeting. Join the Board of Directors and staff for dinner at 6:15pm followed by a program as we celebrate the past year of camp ministry. All interested in learning and hearing more about Crooked Creek Christian Camp are invited to attend. 

▪ November 18-19 is Come to the Table Craft Retreat. This bring-your-own-craft weekend features an opportunity to work on your project and connect with others as crafty as you. See more details at www.crookedcreekcamp.org 

Iowa Mennonite School

▪ Blood Drive - The IMS chapter of the National Honor Society is hosting a blood drive on Monday November 7 7:00-11:00AM. Plan now to donate blood by scheduling a donation time through the IMS office. 319.656.2073  Thank you for giving in this special way!

▪ Buy your tickets now! The one act Christmas opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors, by Gian-Carlo Menotti, will be on the Celebration Hall stage for one night only, December 17 at 7:30 PM. Come experience the story of the three Magi’s visit to the home of Amahl, the crippled shepherd boy and his mother, while on their journey to seek the Christ child. Tickets are $15 adults; $10 students. Call the IMS office to reserve your tickets today (656.2073 or 683.2586).

▪ The IMS Fall Drama, Those Crazy Old Ladies In The House On The Corner will be showing in Celebration Hall on November 5 at 7:00PM and on November 6 at 3:00PM. Get your tickets now by calling the office at 319.656.2073. Tickets are $8/Adults and $5/Students.

SundaySu

Central Plains Conference

▪ Central Plains Mennonite Conference Prayer Request:  Pray for the Central Plains Christian Formation Committee as they meet this weekend to discern how best to provide formation resources to our member congregations. Lewis Miller of Beemer, Nebraska, is the chair and Shana Peachey Boshart staffs the committee.

 

Mennonite Agencies

▪ October 31 is the deadline for confirming your participation in the January 7-19, 2017 Ecuador Partnership Learning & Fellowship Tour. This is a wonderful opportunity to escape the Midwest winter and make new friends in Ecuador and experience the beautiful diversity of the Amazon rainforest. Info at centralplainsmc.org or by contacting Joetta Schlabach, jschlabach(at)faithmennonite.org or 651.290.2185.

▪ Mennonite Mission Network (MMN) Prayer Request:  Marvin Lorenzana gives leadership to Mennonite Mission Network’s Missional Discipleship Initiative. Pray for Marvin and the 200 participants in 18 congregations who learn to share their faith in ways that can be heard as good news. Pray for others to join this initiative.

Area Announcements

▪ We will be having a fundraising meal on Sunday, October 30^th 11:30 – 1:00 at West Union Mennonite Church to raise money for needs in the Dad community inside La Valle de Jacmel, Haiti.  David Raphael, a West Union member, has family in this area working with a local committee to provide relief for immediate needs of food, shelter and building materials to replace roofs on their homes.

▪ Get your feather or foam pillows cleaned, sanitized, deodorized & NEW TICKING on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 8:30 a.m.—4:00 p.m.  At Kalona Mennonite Church 902 6^th Street Sponsored by the Kalona Mennonite WMSC

▪ West Union Mennonite Church is hosting a special weekend focus on Worship on November 11-13.  Rebecca Slough, Academic Dean and Associate Professor of Worship and the Arts at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, is our featured speaker for the weekend.  Our theme is "We are here to worship...Now What?"  On Friday night, we will meet for a light supper and then hear an introductory presentation on "Why Worship?"  The conversation continues on Saturday morning with "What is Worship?"  On Saturday afternoon, Rebecca will lead a workshop for worship leaders, scripture readers and story tellers.  In the evening, Rebecca will lead us in a hymn sing.  It will be a full weekend.  If you are interested in attending all or any part of this weekend, you are welcome to come, free of charge.  If you are interested, please let Candi Schmieder, our Administrative Assistant know of how many might be coming so we can prepare accordingly.