Newsletter for January 12, 2020

Bearing Fruit

January 12, 2020

Washington Mennonite

▪ “To the wonderful people of Washington Mennonite Church:  I usually have plenty to say; however, when I opened the Christmas Card from the church I was speechless. Thank you so much for your generous  gift, I am blessed, Pam”

▪ Mark your calendar: Jan 19: celebrating the "E" of BELLS, an Open House at Unruh's from 5-7p.m. Come and enjoy snacks and fellowship with your church community. 

SundaySucHillcrest Academy

▪ 75 Year Anniversary Cookbook | One of the ways we will be celebrating our anniversary is by publishing a cookbook full of recipes, stories, and photos from the past 75 years of our school. And we need your help to create this book! Please submit your recipes AND stories to recipes@ hillcrestravens.org by Jan 31 and we will take care of the rest (photos or scans of recipe cards are acceptable). Please send questions to the same email or ask your churches committee rep. 

▪ The Chili Supper | The annual Chili Supper is hosted by the senior class and has been a tradition since 1960. The senior class is currently selling tickets and tickets will also be available at the door. Tickets are $10 adults, $9 seniors 65+, $5 kids 4-12, and free kids 0-3. Plan to join us on Sat, Feb 15 in Hillcrest Union serving from 4:30-7:00 PM. And in addition to  the  traditional  (and  vegetarian)  chili,   we  will  again  be

serving the Mexican soup, Pozole [po'sole] with all the fixings. Also like last year, in Celebration Hall we will being doing our modern spin on the Audubon Society films you may remember from years ago.

▪ Visit Day | Our next Visit Day is on Jan 20. Visits involve shadowing a current student for either a half day or full day. And we will treat you to lunch! Details and registration can be found at hillcrestravens.org/visit. There will also be a coffee time at the beginning of the day for parents to meet with the administrative team.

Central Plains Conference

▪ Central Plains Prayer Request:  Pray for the refugee ministry of Quito Mennonite Church. We give thanks for faithfulness and pray for strength as their small team prepares to minister to refugees for another year. 

Mennonite Agencies

▪ Crowded Closet Thrift Shop is pleased to continue to provide a local drop off site for Mennonite Central Committee material resources. Items can be dropped off at the shop's donation drive through, Mon-Fri, 9:30-4:30 and Sat, 9:30-3:30. All items should be labeled and enclosed in bags or boxes. Please ensure all items comply with MCC's requests. Visit mcc.org/get-involved/kits for details.

▪ Our cup runneth over! 2020 is the 100th anniversary of Mennonite Central Committee! Organized as a collaboration of Mennonite churches in 1920 to assist Russian Mennonites caught in the crisis of drought and war, MCC has provided disaster relief, development and peacebuilding work around the world since those early years. Join the Iowa Mennonite Relief Sale as we celebrate and give towards MCC’s cup that truly  runneth  over!   Consider giving  $100 for 100 years of Mennonite Central Committee. Donations can be made via PayPal at  www.iamccreliefsale.org or mailed to PO Box 234, Kalona, Iowa 52247. Thank you! 

▪ MDS Needed Volunteers – Work continues in Avant, OK repairing homes that were flooded in the spring of 2019 and the Oklahoma Unit is asking for volunteers. Please consider helping our neighbors in Oklahoma and bring additional helpers. Jay Blough, Oklahoma MDS Unit Co-chair and Bill Mast, the Avant, OK project director, plan on continuing this response thru Spring 2020. The Oklahoma Unit has an opportunity for 4-5 volunteers per week for an estimated 12 - 15 weeks beginning immediately. The work will be repairing flood damaged homes and finishing a new home. The materials for the new home are sitting on the ground waiting on volunteers. This response can also use daily volunteers. There are accommodations to house volunteers or hookup for campers. Please call Jay Blough (405) 412-4414 or Bill Mast (405) 590-7747 for more information.

▪ Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request:  Mennonite Mission Network requests prayer for Hong Kong in this sixth month of unrest. Pray for the unity of all churches in the face of increasing repression by the Chinese government. Pray also for reconciliation between the authorities of China and Hong Kong and between the police and protesters.

▪ MC USA Announcement: Please pray for the Mennonite Church USA Executive Board meeting on January 17-18. The Board will be reviewing the recommendations of the Membership Guidelines Advisory Group, among other agenda items. To learn more about the Membership Guidelines Advisory Group, visit http://mennoniteusa.org/ news/mc-usa-membership-guidelines-advisory-group-meeting/

Area Announcements

▪ The Parkview Annual Meeting will be held Monday, January 20, 2020 @ 7:00 PM in the Lower Level Family Room.  Everyone is welcome to attend!

▪ Bethel Church is hosting a hands-on, biblically based seminar: "4 Chair Discipling" presented by Jeff Polen. This seminar focuses on training ordinary Christians to be faithful in Jesus' charge to make disciples. This seminar is for all who are, or hope to be, teachers or mentors. Join us on Saturday, February 1st from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm; lunch is provided. Registration is required by January 22nd; call 319-256-8531 or email: bethel.wayland@gmail.com. Cost is $25 for materials, payable the day of the seminar; doors open at 8:30 am.