Newsletter for November 18, 2018

The Bearing Fruit

November 18, 2018

Upcoming Events:

Nov 18 – Ladies Afternoon Out

Nov 24 – Saturday Kitchen, UP Church

Nov 25 – Hanging of the Greens, 4pm

Washington Mennonite

▪ Offering for 11/4/18 - Regular offering: $1,635;

   Haiti Mission Trip: $300

▪ Offering for 11/11/18 - Regular offering: $1,667;

   HACAP: $200

▪ “Thanks to everyone, for all the birthday cards on my 80th birthday.”  - Gordon

▪  “Last night was an absolute delight at your Church! It was inspiring, sincere, funny, and so unique! The food was delicious!! The corn had us believing you had just picked and shucked it! That chocolate mint treat was worth every extra calorie! Nothing wrong with any of the other food either! In this troubled time your presentation was what we need to calm our minds and hearts. Lea Smothers will never have to ask if I want to attend your next performance. Yes I do! Thanks to all of you no matter what your role was. I can happily be fed and entertained anytime by all of you!”                 – Gladys Ferguson (Lea’s neighbor on 2^nd floor)

▪ Francis Litwiller celebrated his 80^th birthday Wednesday November 14^th.  Between the Worship Service and Sunday School today please join him in the Fellowship Hall with special treats as we celebrate the gift of life with him.

▪ Saturday Kitchen will be hosted by WMC on Saturday November 24^th  at the United Presbyterian Church.  Saturday Kitchen will be a bit different this time because the town of Washington is celebrating the beginning of the holiday season on Saturday on November 24^th with many special events planned.  Breakfast with Santa will be at the United Presbyterian Church with the Washington Lions Club providing breakfast from 8:00 – 10:00AM which means we do not have access to the kitchen until sometime after 10:00AM.  The Washington Lions Club has agreed to work with us with their pancakes and sausage so we will only need a smaller crew of workers and donate only fruit cups, milk and coffee.  You will find the sheet to donate these food  items and someone to serve coffee on the table in our foyer. Please sign up to donate either milk or bananas for our November 24^th Saturday Kitchen.  If you have questions please contact Gloria Widmer or Phyllis Litwiller

▪ Please join us for a “Hanging of the Greens” on Sunday, November 25 at 4:00 p.m.  We will work together as we prepare our church for the Advent Season.  If you are not into hanging greens, you can help bake, decorate and sample cookies for our Sunday a.m. coffee time.  A light supper will follow, soup and drink will be provided.  Please bring a munchie or side if you’d like.  Come join in the fun!

SundaySucIowa Mennonite School

▪ The IMS leadership would like to create opportunity for congregations to have dialogue with us about the rebranding initiative. All perspectives are welcome and all persons are welcome and encouraged to attend the special forums. Please come with your comments and questions on Nov 18 at 1:00PM at West Union, Nov 25 at 6:30PM at LDC, or Dec 2 at 12:00PM at First Mennonite as we discuss the current situation and the steps we need to take towards a brighter future.

▪ Visit Days | The remaining first semester Visit Day is November 26. It is open to transfer students, 7th graders and 8th graders. These Visit Days involve shadowing a current student, you can come for a half day or full day, and we will treat you to lunch. Details and registration can be found at iowamennonite.org/visit. There will also be a coffee time at the beginning of the day available for parents to meet with our administrative team.

▪ #GivingTuesday | 11.27.18 for the twenty-four hours of GivingTuesday we encourage you to give to IMS and give generously. You can give any size donation online or you can send a check to the school postmarked 11.27.18. Through this event we hope to raise $20,000 in one day for The Annual Fund. By participating you are making a difference in the lives of our students and in our community!

▪ Save The Date | The Alumni Night basketball games will be on Tuesday, December 18. More details to come.

Mennonite Agencies

▪ Looking to serve in a mentoring role to young adults? Service Adventure is seeking leaders for its unit location in beautiful Anchorage, Alaska. This is a unique opportunity to serve as a mentor and to foster community with a household of young adults through faith formation, daily living, and house activities. For more information, contact Susan Nisly at Mennonite Mission Network: susann@mennonite mission.net.

▪ Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:  Mary Raber, serving with Mennonite Mission Network, is seeking temporary resident status in Ukraine. Pray for patience with the bureaucratic process and that God will open the way for a document that gives her greater freedom for ministry.

▪ MC USA Prayer Request:  Maribel Ramírez Hinojosa shares personal reflections on death, grief and supporting each other on the Menno Snapshots blog. Read her thoughts at mennoniteusa.org/season-of-loss.

Area Announcements

▪ Thank you for your support of the Pleasantview Home Benefit!  We were blessed with an abundance of items to auction, a wonderful turnout, and generous bidders. Gross proceeds from the Benefit auctions, meals, and donations exceed $76,500.  Thank you very much!!

▪ Crowded Closet Thrift Shop is on the move! Join the excitement by touring the new shop to view progress. Visitors are welcome to the new shop site on Tuesday, December 4 at 3:30pm. New shop is located at 851 Hwy 6 in Iowa City. Enter through the customer entrance. Email crowded closet.volunteer@gmail.com and request to receive weekly updates to stay informed. 

▪ Remember the Mennonite Historical Society of Iowa meeting Monday November 19, at7:00 p.m. at Kalona Mennonite Church.  Bring old school song books and memorabilia. Copies of Frank Yoder’s newly published book, All In One Room; A History of Country Schools in Johnson County, Iowa will be available for purchase.  Frank will be present to sign your copy.

▪ Sunday December 2^nd, Kalona Mennonite Church will be hosting a love offering meal at noon for Conrad, Kalen and Oliver Yutzy.  One year old Oliver has a genetic disorder which has been life changing. Please join us in showing our love and support for this family.

▪ A Ladies Christmas Tea: Saturday, December 8 at 6:00 pm at Upper Deer Creek Church - 3369 320th St. Wellman. Bring a plate of your favorite holiday treats and come enjoy an evening of Christmas loveliness with community women! 

▪ A Perspectives of the World Christian Movement Class is coming to Kalona in January of 2019. Learn to use what's in you to bless the world around you as you experience 15 powerful lessons with a new instructor each week. We will study how Scripture, history, culture, and strategy converge to reveal the unfolding of God's redemptive purposes. Dual credit is available through Excelsior College for older high school students. Undergraduate and graduate credit is also an option through Trinity International. Check out perspectives.org for more information, pricing, and registration. For questions contact Karla Neuschwander, neuschb@gmail.com/319-328-8733.