Newsletter for December 10, 2017

The Bearing Fruit

December 10, 2017

Upcoming Events:

Dec 20  – Caroling, 5pm at Church

Dec 24  – Christmas Eve Service

Washington Mennonite

▪ Offering for 12/3/17 -  Regular Offering: $2530; Church Improvement Fund:  $200; HACAP:  $250

▪ Financial Report: Thanks to the congregation's strong support, the Annual Blueprint stands at $8196.76 in the black. This is great news. Thanks so much. If you have questions, see Mary Lou.

▪ Church Improvement Fund. We still need about $800 to fund the flooring on both entrances and the door for the opening from the kitchen to the Fellowship Hall. Council had approved the flooring project earlier fall. The door was also approved by Council when we found a very reasonable price. We have $1111 toward the project. Thank you for your support of maintaining our church facilities.

▪ Christmas Caroling:  We will meet at the church at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, December 20, to go Christmas Caroling.  It's OK if you can't make it at 5:00.  We will be at the church making up the plates, so come when you can.  Bring fruit, cookies, candy, etc. to make up the plates.  Be thinking of people that we can visit and share those names with Megan or Myron so they can make up a schedule.

▪ POTLUCK!  Come January 14th to a noon potluck at the church.  Come to continue our discussion of the church visioning process.  Come find out if we are "transactional" or "transformational".  Come find out what that even means!

▪ Do you have children's books still in good condition that you are no longer using and would be willing to donate to other families?  If so, please bring these books to church and put them in the box labeled "Book Donations" and the Outreach and Service Committee will find a home for them.  Thanks !!  See Roger Farmer for questions. 

Iowa Mennonite School

▪ We appreciate the love, prayers, and support we have felt this past week. We ask for continued prayers and support as we work through the grieving process. Please also keep the Cardenas family in your prayers.

▪ A memorial fund has been established to help the family with funeral and other expenses. If you would like to donate, please see the following: 

- Checks made out to "Teresa Cardenas Memorial"
- Donations can be taken in person to any Hills Bank location and indicate to the teller that the donation is for the Teresa Cardenas Memorial Fund.
- Donations can be sent to Hills Bank Kalona, PO Box 15210, Kalona, IA 52247.
- Donations can also be sent or turned in to IMS.

▪ Alumni Night Saturday December 16 Games start at 3:00PM (JVB, VB, VG). Prizes will be given away throughout the afternoon/evening including 3 overnight stays. There will also be alumni and student activities during the halftimes of each game as well as an alumni reception following the last game.

▪ Christmas Concert December 17 at 3:00PM in Celebration Hall. To close the concert, the choirs and band would like to invite anyone who has sung the Hallelujah Chorus before to join them on stage. There will be two rehearsals before the performance. The rehearsals will be held on Friday December 15 from 3:30-4:30PM and Saturday, December 16 from 9:00-10:00AM. If you cannot make it to the rehearsals but would still like to participate, you can join us on Sunday at the concert.

▪ Prospective Student Christmas Party December 17 following the Christmas Concert for all students in grades 6-8.

SundaySucCentral Plains Conference

▪ It’s not too late to start Advent family worship. Just go to www.anabaptistfaithformation.org and download “Yes! Let It Be!” a free guide for family worship from December 3 to January 6.

▪ Dear members of Central Plains, your conference needs your financial support. Our recent brochure tells the stories of how we all benefit from sharing together in the mission of Central Plains Mennonite Conference. Together, we can do things that we cannot do by ourselves. Please consider a year-end gift and donate at www.centralplainsmc.org/donate or P.O. Box 101, Freeman, SD  57029.  We are so grateful for the strong support of our members! 

▪ Central Plains Mennonite Conference Prayer Request: Pray for your sister churches in the Twin Cities: Emmanuel, Faith, St. Paul Hmong, Third Way, and The Mennonite Worker.

Mennonite Agencies

▪ Mennonite Education Agency Prayers for Faith and Learning – Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas – The light of Christ has come into the world — join the Bethel College community in praising God for the gift of the Son, as students, faculty, staff and friends observe the 32nd annual Lighting of the Green.

Area Events

▪ HOMEMADE CHEESE BALLS! Members of Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church are selling our popular homemade cheese balls as a way to raise funds for missions of the church.  The cheese balls are available in four flavors:  pineapple, ham, veggie and back by popular demand - pesto!  They will be made and ready for pickup at Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church on Saturday, December 16 from 10 a.m. to noon.  Cost is $9.50 each or 3 for $27.00.  To place an order call, the church at 656-2076 or email ldc@kctc.net by December 10.

▪ J-POG (Just Peace Outreach Group) invites you to hear Kathy Kelly address the topic, "Yemen, Afghanistan, and the War against the Poor"  Kathy Kelly is the coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence and has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times.  Join us on Sunday evening, December 10, 2017, at Kalona Mennonite Church, 902 6th Street, Kalona, IA at 6:00 p.m. for a finger-foods potluck and conversation (please bring your own table service) or at 7 pm to hear the presentation from Kathy Kelly.  All are welcome to attend.  For more information please call Roger Farmer at 319-653-2547 or email Jane Yoder-Short at yodershort@netins.net.

▪ SHAPE NOTE SINGING FROM THE SACRED HARP - You are invited to join us on Monday, December 11th, at 7:00PM in the East Union Mennonite Church foyer as we make a joyful noise unto the Lord! The acoustics are lively, the people are warm, and the harmonies are extraordinary. This a cappella, 4-part early American sacred music stirs your soul. All are welcome - no experience necessary! Questions? Contact Tammy Yoder at greenearth@kctc.net or Warren Yoder at dubyoder@gmail.com .