In This Issue… Prayer Requests...........pg 1 Announcements..…pg 2-3 Looking Back…….....pg 3-4 News & Views Schedule: Items for the February newsletter must be given to Laura by Jan 5. News and Views First Mennonite Church, McPherson January 2016 Pastoral Ponderings: The Unexpected What the world teaches us to expect, and what the good news is, are quite different. We expect to get what we deserve. As followers of Jesus, we receive grace, the unearned gift of God's love. It's three strikes, and you're out, according to baseball rules and the world's sense of justice. Jesus showed mercy to sinners. The world says those who do wrong will get their just desserts. Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them. They don't know what they're doing.” The world tells us to add to our power and influence however we can. Jesus hung out with those who most needed him, those most on the periphery. The world reminds us again and again how important it is to protect ourselves. God's messengers remind us repeatedly in scripture, “Don't be afraid.” We expect to see people who look and act like us in the Kingdom. Peter heard the clear message, “God shows no partiality.” In the new calendar year, as well as a new church year, I encourage us to test out our own individual and congregational expectations. How is God calling us to live out the good news in refreshing ways that may be unexpected? Pray, wait, listen. We might be surprised at where and how God leads. Peace be with you. Pastor Kathy Prayer Requests • Pray for the vision of the church; that we will look to God for how to be mission oriented in our ministries. • Pray for friends & neighbors to know the love of Jesus. • Pray for our shut-ins and those struggling with chronic illness, grief or loneliness to experience God’s love. • Thank God for continued blessing of the ReUse it Center, so this ministry is able to bless others. • Pray for continued healing for Jay and Kaela after the accident. • Pray for Elva in her transition to nursing care at Pleasant View Home, Inman.
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Transcript
In This Issue…
Prayer Requests...........pg 1
Announcements..…pg 2-3 Looking Back…….....pg 3-4
News & Views Schedule: Items for the February newsletter must be given to Laura by Jan 5.
News and Views First Mennonite Church, McPherson
January 2016
Pastoral Ponderings: The Unexpected What the world teaches us to expect, and what the good news is, are quite different.
We expect to get what we deserve. As followers of Jesus, we receive grace, the unearned gift of
God's love.
It's three strikes, and you're out, according to baseball rules and the world's sense of justice. Jesus
showed mercy to sinners.
The world says those who do wrong will get their just desserts. Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them. They don't know what they're doing.”
The world tells us to add to our power and influence however we can. Jesus hung out with those who most needed him, those most on the periphery.
The world reminds us again and again how important it is to protect ourselves. God's messengers remind us repeatedly in scripture, “Don't be afraid.”
We expect to see people who look and act like us in the Kingdom. Peter heard the clear message,
“God shows no partiality.”
In the new calendar year, as well as a new church year, I encourage us to test out our own individual and congregational expectations. How is God calling us to live out the good news in refreshing
ways that may be unexpected? Pray, wait, listen. We might be surprised at where and how God leads.
Peace be with you.
Pastor Kathy
Prayer Requests
• Pray for the vision of the church; that we will look to God for how to be mission oriented in our ministries.
• Pray for friends & neighbors to know the love of Jesus. • Pray for our shut-ins and those struggling with chronic illness, grief or
loneliness to experience God’s love. • Thank God for continued blessing of the ReUse it Center, so this ministry is
able to bless others.
• Pray for continued healing for Jay and Kaela after the accident. • Pray for Elva in her transition to nursing care at Pleasant View Home,
Inman.
Announcements
Congratulations: Nicholai Carlton Miller, born to Seth & Nadia, Dec 8. Proud
grandparents are Stan & Marianne Miller. Big brother is Silas.
Quilt Winner: Congratulations to Fran Rogers for winning the quilt donated by Bev Oberly!
Listening Post: Jan 10, 1:00 p.m. Pizza and salad will be provided following worship, then we will move into the meeting. Plan to attend, and be prepared
to discuss congregational dreams, concerns and ideas. We hope to be prepared to discuss the final projector/screen proposal.
Pastor Kathy and Laura both out of office: Jan 16-24. Worship/Music
Committee is working on guest speakers. Marlene Unruh will be in the office to answer the phone. Bulletins for both Sundays will be printed Jan 15.
Annual Congregational Meeting: Feb 7, after worship we will have a meal,
followed by the meeting. We will be adopting the budget for 2016 and affirming new commission members. There will also be an update from the Constitution/Bylaws Task Force. Annual Reports will be in church boxes by Jan 15.
Mennonite Women USA Sister Care weekend: Feb 6, Bethel College. Marlene Bogard, Executive Director of MWUSA, is the main presenter. Expanding to College campuses will help young adult women develop skills & ideas that
they can use in supporting each other, & is an investment in the future leadership of Mennonite Women. Since college students don’t have extra
funds available, Women’s Groups &/or individuals are asked to donate. $30 pays one student's registration. Please make your check payable to Mennonite Women USA and send to Berni Kaufman, 718 N. Main Street, Newton, KS 67114. For more information, contact
Camp Mennoscah Executive Director: The Board of directors has accepted the
resignation of John Stoesz, executive director. If you are interested in this position, please contact David Weaver, recruiting consultant, at
[email protected], or 620-327-0371. Please keep Camp in your prayers as we search for a new Executive Director to focus on advancement and marketing.
2016 Cornelius Krahn Mennonite Multimedia Contest: The Mennonite Life journal
invites high school scholars & artists to submit historical essays, creative writing, multimedia projects, or original works of art or music on topics related to Mennonite & Anabaptist history, identity, or theology. Cash prizes awarded, as well as matching
scholarship from Bethel, Hesston, and Tabor Colleges. Submissions to [email protected] by April 1, 2016. For more information, see ml.bethelks.edu.
Mennonite World Report Recent Highlights for McPherson First Mennonite Church:
Harvest Mission Sunday was held on Nov 22. Mary Raber, a Mennonite Mission Partner at Odessa Theological Seminary, Odessa, Ukraine, gave a PowerPoint slide presentation during the Sunday
school hour and also brought the message.
Our Annual German Supper was Dec 5. The official beginning of preparation began on Oct 17 when 1532 verenika were made. In addition, volunteers of all ages gathered to make bohne
berrogi and 124 lbs of peppernuts for the event, coordinated by Andrea Hundley.
In 2011, the ReUse It Center opened its doors to McPherson and surrounding communities. The
purpose of the ministry was to:
• Collect and sell new and used donated building materials, • Reuse building materials and save landfill space,
• Build relationships with donors, customers, volunteers and those who benefit from non-profit proceeds,
• Support those living on the margins, both locally in McPherson County and globally, through
Mennonite Central Committee.
During the past year, the decision was made to find a new location with additional space, and a
new home for the Center was found. Under the leadership of LaVon Ediger, half of the former TG&Y building has been renovated, with space which will accommodate a large showroom for displaying merchandise and additional space for receiving and cleaning up donated merchandise. A service
of Blessing by McPherson County pastors and representatives was held on Nov 15. Through vision and transformation, the newly remodeled facility reopened for business on Dec 1.
– Janice Friesen
Looking Looking Looking Looking BacBacBacBack…k…k…k…
(Pictures on following page)
On Saturday, December 5, we served the biggest German Dinner in recent history. We plated around 350 dinners, both eat in and take out, to many community folks. Between the German
Dinner, Bake Sale and Quilt Raffle, we raised right around $4000. We're so grateful to all the willing hands who helped prepare food ahead and were there volunteering that evening. Special thanks to coordinators Andrea Hundley and Amber Stucky. It was a great time of fellowship, as well as a
significant outreach ministry. One quarter of the proceeds went for hats and mittens for needy kids in our own community. One quarter will go toward the purchase of a new convection oven
and other kitchen items to make this ministry easier for all involved, and half went toward the ministries of our congregation. Again, thank you and may God bless you.
Abigail Marshall and Caroline Beckman offer a spontaneous gift of music during the dinner.
Dayle & David wave at friends waiting
further down the line.
"And I'd like of that and some of
that, and..."
We happily served 350 meals to old and new community friends.
Even the littlest help get things ready for the German Supper.
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