E-News
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The family of Cindy Wiens wishes to thank everyone for their prayers, cards, meals, and gestures of support over the last two weeks. The delicious food people brought was so helpful as we were often feeling overwhelmed and exhausted with so many details and emotions. PMC pastor, Joanna Harader, was with us every step of the way and provided invaluable guidance. Her meditation for the memorial service was so well done and touched us deeply. Friends from the PMC community led the singing and provided the piano accompaniment and participated in special music for the memorial service. We felt all your support and it helped carry us through. Thank you so much from all of us– Melanie and Garrett Wiens-Kind (Cindy’s kids), Gwen Wiens(sister) and husband Robert Blum and family, Stan(brother) and wife Jan Wiens and family.
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Tuesday morning MDS Disaster Response Coordinator, Jeff Koller, and Jay Blough, MDS OK Unit chair, will lead a team that will investigate the tornado damage in the communities of Shawnee and Carney where storms hit May 16. They will start investigating the Moore tornado damage later in the afternoon. Search and Rescue efforts are still underway and according to Oklahoma VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster) relief groups are urged “not to self-deploy”. MDS enjoys a long-standing partnership with the Oklahoma VOAD and anticipates working with partner agencies within the VOAD to respond to this disaster as needed. MDS will be accepting funds for the cleanup and recovery efforts of the Oklahoma Tornados. You can donate directly to MDS, or make a donation through the church.
Copies of the minutes from last Congregational Meeting are available by the mail folders. Remember to let Joanna know if there are upcoming Sundays that you will be unavailable to join us for a special congregational meeting to discuss our Process Agreement related to our space issues in the next 2 – 3 weeks.
Come One! Come All! To the VBS Fun Fair,,,,,,where God’s World Comes Together. Jointly sponsored by Plymouth Congregational UCC, Trinity Lutheran & PMC, June 10-13 @ Plymouth Church, 5:15 pm for Family Dinner, 6:00-8:30 pm for VBS Fun, and June 14 @ South Park for a Potluck & Children’s Concert, 6 p.m. Registration deadline is Jun 1; enrollment fee is $15/child; three or more children from same family will be $45. Children must be 4 years old by June 1 up to children who have just completed the 4th grade. (2 & 3 year olds are welcome with a parent present). Registration fee includes all activities, snacks and a take-home CD with music & games. Brochure/registration forms available from church office. Please let Joanna know if you would like to volunteer to help!!
Mark your calendars – The annual assembly for Western District Conference will be held in Newton, KS, on August 1-2. Please consider attending, and let Joanna know if you are interested in being a delegate this year.
There is still time to sign up for the 2013 MCUSA Convention in Phoenix! The convention planning team and members of Mennonite congregations all across the country have been hard at work preparing worship services, seminars, special events and public witness gatherings to inspire, educate, engage and rejuvenate you this July. Check the website and/or contact Joanna for more information. http://convention.mennoniteusa.org/.You can check out a document from MCUSA to explore the goals of the delegate sessions so Andrea knows how best to represent us. Let Andrea know of any suggestions/concerns you might have. http://www.mennoniteusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/PreparingforPhoenix_English.pdf
Final Fridays in the Garden
Are you interested in visiting the gardens of PMC folks? Are you interested in seeing flowers, landscaping, new and interesting plants while getting ideas for your own garden? Come to “Final Fridays in the Garden” on Friday, May 31! The fun will begin at 6:30 with a progressive tour of several yards of PMC gardeners. We will end our tour around 9:00 at the garden of Anne and Rich Bailey. Please bring some hors d’oeuvres or a favorite beverage to share. An offering will be taken for an MCC project in Lebanon. Your gift will help Palestinian refugees living in settlements in rural Lebanon learn how to protect the environment by turning household waste into healthy soil. You may donate the night of the garden tour, or you may donate at the following link. https://donate.mcc.org/project/lebanon-composting-food-and-income
Route: Please arrange your travel time so you arrive at the following times to these gardens! You may also look at a live link at the Google address below. Call Anne Bailey at number below if you have questions!
- 6:30 – Roger Martin and Barb Yoder, 1212 W. 25th Street, 749-4463
- 7:00 – Andrea Zuercher, 1537 Rhode Island, 766-3755
- 7:30 – Judy and John Johnson, 5208 Campbell Place, 218-7116
- 8:00 – * Ken Lohrentz, 2921 Lawrence AVE, 841-6572
- 8:30 – Joey Sprague and Gary Brunk, 3121 Longhorn, 842-8196
- 9:00 – Anne and Rich Bailey, 3600 West Timber Court, 766-2762
* Change of garden location. Updated Google Maps link: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=210964998128061493264.0004dc71585af29b734d2&msa=0
Have you heard about the CLIMB program at LMH? It is a free program for kids ages 6-11 who have parents or caregivers, including grandparents, who suffer from cancer. The sessions will run on Monday evenings from 6-7:30 from June 3 to July 8 at LMH. These sessions are not limited to families with members being treated for cancer at LMH. Food will be included. Ask Joanna for a brochure to check out this program further.
Western District Conference’s “Year of the Bible” which will be launched August 1-2. Check it out at: http://www.yearofthebiblenetwork.org/.
Mark your calendar now for this year’s extended Bethel College Fall Festival weekend, scheduled for Oct. 3-6, 2013. It will begin with Taste of Newton Thur. evening, Oct. 3. The traditional Fall Fest fair on campus will be held Sat., Oct. 5. Other activities will occur Fri. and Sun. Then,,,,,,,looking ahead to 2014, Fall Festival will be later than usual, Sat., Oct. 18 — the first weekend in October with a home football game, as scheduled by the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. Taste of Newton will take place Thur. evening, Oct. 16.
CHARITABLE GIVING THROUGH MENNONITE FOUNDATION, AN AFFILIATE OF EVERENCE: You can make a difference in the world by faithfully supporting your church and favorite charities. This can be part of your overall financial plan through gift planning, gift administration and contributions. Everence can help you fund charitable foundations (including family foundations) and check out charities you’re interested in supporting, and guide you through the entire process. See everence.com or call a representative at 620-327-4043.
Message from the Worship Committee
What do you say to folks who start griping about Christians or the church – who may not even realize you go to Peace Mennonite or, if they do, don’t associate you with the genus “Christian?” who ask you to explain why a “loving” God created tsunamis, hurricanes and tornadoes?
On the other hand, what do you say to someone who contends that the Bible is inerrant? Or contends that he or she knows God’s will when it comes to what to do to be “saved”?
In a time of change – in the world at large and in Christianity itself – hard questions arise. What are the hardest ones for you to answer?
This summer at Peace Mennonite Church, the worship committee wants to open a conversation about the hard questions, the ones that cause you the greatest struggle. Please send your questions by e-mail to me: rmartin@ku.edu. I’ll forward them to the rest of the worship committee. We’ll choose the questions and then ask for volunteers to address them in church.
If you would like to speak about the question you’ve struggled to answer, please say so in your e-mail. As always, with Joanna’s having a .6 time appointment, we seek your thoughtful involvement (i.e., all the help we can get).
Camp Mennoscah News http://campmennoscah.org/
Hungry Things! Camp Mennoscah has 8 hungry summer staffers arriving for orientation on June 3rd. We’re wondering if anyone would like to offer the gift of a meal for our orientation week. This would allow the summer staffers and Olivia more time to focus on the different training sessions (and give them a bit of a respite). We’re not looking for a 7 course meal with fancy garnishes–just a simple, healthy-ish meal. Contact us at 620-297-3290 to become one of our orientation “chefs.”
Coming Soon! It’s almost time for our absolutely stunning and amazingly fun summer youth camps at Camp Mennoscah! Camps start June 9, so there’s still time to grab a friend and send in your registration forms. Our theme this summer is All Things New: Look What God is Doing! We’re also celebrating the Year of the Bible, so when you get the scriptures for the summer–start memorizing! We really can hardly wait these next two weeks before camps start. Find more information at www.campmennoscah.org
Whoop-de-doodle! We’ve got Family Camp! Camp Mennoscah is re-introducing Family Camp this summer, July 27-28. It’s inter-generational! Monty & Hope Graber will lead us in a weekend of fun and family. Be prepared for all sorts of great stuff. Questions? Contact us at campmno@mennowdc.org or 620-297-3290. More information will be coming soon!
Missing–Two Nurses! Camp Mennoscah is needing one nurse each for the weeks of July 14-20 and July 21-27. Nurses receive a stipend or a camper discount. Spend some time in the company of the next generation of cool folks while dispensing bandages, bug spray, and sunscreen! We’d be sad and sticker-ful without our nurses. Contact Camp Mennoscah at 620-297-3290 or campmno@mennowdc.orgor more information. Nurses are some of our camp heroes!
Camp Mennoscah Scholarship Information–We have posted information for BOTH churches and individuals on the Camp Mennoscah website atwww.campmennoscah.org under Camps. The information for churches talks about when scholarship funds are due and the camper information needed to correctly apply those funds. Thank you, churches, for your generosity in helping campers visit us! Know someone who doesn’t attend a church but would like to come to camp? Tell them about our campers scholarships! We want everyone to have a chance to come to camp.
Mental Health Spiritual Retreat–We know that our Mental Health Spiritual Retreat isn’t until Labor Day weekend, but here’s a little bit of information to start thinking about. Friends, family members, and those affected by mental illness are invited to Camp Mennoscah on September 1-2 to “Create Yourself Anew,” the theme for this year’s retreat. The retreat brochure is available online at www.campmennoscah.org under Retreats.
Save the Date: 2013 Women and Girls Retreat at Camp Mennoscah – September 6-8 – Denise Nickel, assisted by her sisters, will speak and share in song. Theme: ” Serving Creates Lifelong Memories” (serving is a daily choice, serving in difficult situations and serving those we care about). NEW Friday evening – Et Cetera Shop Fashion Show and desserts!
Serving in Worship this Sunday, May 12, 2013:
Worship Leader & Children’s Time: Joanna Harader; Song Leader: Jim Krause; Accompanist, Prelude & Offertory: Whitney Baker; Scripture Reader: Carol Grieb; Other Readers: Jenny Buller, Ken Lohrentz, Lidia Pagan, Andrea Zuercher, Jim Krause, Grace, James, and Jasmine Harader-Ellett; Table: TBA ; Childcare: Doug Koch & Bert Haverkate-Ens; Snacks: Sonja Kaufman.
Volunteer Opportunities
- Help with child care during worship
- Help with youth or children’s Sunday School
- Provide snacks after worship
- Serve and/or make casseroles for LINK ~ First Sunday of each month
Calendar of Events
- May 17 ~ Joni Fornelli’s Birthday
- May 19 ~ Ben Preheim’s Birthday
- May 19 ~ LaVonne Marks’ Birthday
- May 20 ~ Ron Renz’s Birthday
- May 23 ~ Nile Russo’s Birthday
- May 25 ~ John Young’s Birthday
- May 29 ~ Wilma Gates’ Birthday
