Newsletter for December 24, 2017

The Bearing Fruit 

December 24, 2017

This Week at WMC Sunday Dec 24th Monday Dec 25th  Tuesday Dec 26th Wednesday Dec 27th  Thursday Dec 28th     Friday Dec 29th   Saturday Dec 30th  ▪ Centro Cristiano (2:30) ▪ Centro Cristiano (5:00-9:00 pm, Fellowship Hall) ▪ Ballet Classes (Fellowship Hall, 4:00-5:30pm) ▪ Centro Cristiano (7pm) Birthday -      ▪ Jason Litwiller  Anniversary -      ▪ Wes & Liz    Widmer Birthday -      ▪ Dale Wacker Upcoming Events ▪ Jan 10   –  Church Council Meeting  (5:00pm, at Church) ▪ Jan 14   –  Potluck after Sunday School  (Fellowship Hall) ▪ Jan 17   –  Mennonite Women Monthly Quilting  (10:00am, Fellowship Hall) ▪ Jan 27   –  Saturday Kitchen  (UP Church)

Washington Mennonite

▪ Offering for 12/17/17 -  Regular Offering: $2870; Church Improvement Fund:  $100

▪ Amanda will be out of the office during the week between Christmas and New Years, but you can contact her by phone if needed.

▪ Office Changes!  The office at the back of the sanctuary (the old secretary’s office) is now an office for Martha and Ramiro Hernandez as they continue in their work with Centro Cristiano.  The new Church Office is now at the front of the sanctuary (Grant’s old office).   If you have any questions, you can talk to any Church Council member.

▪ 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!

▪ Saturday Kitchen  was served by WMC on Saturday December 9th.  We served eighty seven in the dining room and made twenty four carry-outs.  We had a challenge in that the dish washer was broke so we had to send Myron to buy paper plates and plastic glasses because all glass items we use have to be run thru the sanitizer. We served Christmas cookies for dessert and the guests seemed to enjoy that.  Thank you to everyone who helped in any way to serve our meal.  We are so grateful for each of you.  Our next turn

to serve at Saturday Kitchen is January 27th.    - Saturday Kitchen Committee, Gloria Widmer, Phyllis Litwiller and Sue Widmer

▪ 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

▪ Merry Christmas from IMS | May the Christmas message of hope and love fill your life with joy and peace.

▪ Visit Day | January 15 & February 19 8th grade and transfer students are invited to visit IMS for a day on January 15 or February 19, 2018. This visit will have a different format than the fall visit days so feel free to come again. Parents are invited for a short meeting at the start of the day to visit with the administrative team. Students are invited from 8:10AM - 3:15PM to tour facilities, visit classes with a host student, eat lunch, meet faculty & other future students, and hear from a panel of current students. Register to attend at www.iowamennonite.org/visit. 

▪ Continue to remember the Cardenas Family in your prayers. And remember a memorial fund has been set up in her name. Gifts to the Teresa Cardenas Memorial Fund can be made to IMS or to Hills Bank in Kalona.

SundaySucCentral Plains Conference

▪ Central Plains Mennonite Conference Prayer Request: Pray for your sister churches in the River City Cluster: Casa de Oracion in Davenport, IA; Templo Alabanza in Moline, IL; El Balsamo in Muscatine, IA; Torre Fuerte in Iowa City and Centro Cristiano in Washington, IA.

Mennonite Agencies

▪ Mennonite Education Agency Prayers for Faith and Learning – Iowa Mennonite School, Kalona, Iowa – Pray with thanksgiving for our supporting congregations who see the value in our mission as we work to serve Christ.

▪ Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request – Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for all those who have left homes and families for the sake of the gospel. May they be embraced by the global family of God and be blessed by discovering fresh insights into the meaning of Christmas.

Area Events

▪ Pleasantview Home looking for Chaplain.  30+ hours / week.  Full time benefits.  Duties include lead Bible studies & prayer groups, schedule services, counsel & support residents in Independent living and nursing care.  Occasional preaching and worship leading.  Mail or email resume to davidheus@pvhome.org by January 12, 2018 to Pleasantview Home, 811 Third St., Kalona IA 52247 (attn. David). 

▪ "Saving Brinton" (the Mike Zahs movie) will be shown on December 26th at the Washington Community Center at 7:00pm. Tickets are $10 and are available at the Jones Funeral Home, Hills Bank in Washington, and The Village.