For Meditation: “The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom.” Psalm 111:10
*Reminder: We will have a potluck lunch and a congregational meeting following worship on August 15. Childcare will be provided. The meeting agenda includes: budget update; affirmation of two new committee members; information from the building group and some of the PMC committees; a brief report on Western District Conference gathering; and an opportunity to reach a consensus of support for Joanna’s decision to officiate a same-sex wedding.
Coming up in September: A presentation on “Nutrition for Helping Professionals”. If you spend any of your work or volunteer time using your energy to help others, or even if you are just interested in how whole, natural foods can enhance energy and health, you are welcome to come. If you would like to attend, please contact Patrice Krause about whether a Saturday afternoon or a Tuesday evening would be better for you. The date and time will be announced soon.
The Peace and Justice Committee has received a shipment of beadwork from the Panabaj bead cooperative in Guatemala. For two Sundays following the congregational meeting (August 22 and August 29), the committee will give the congregation an opportunity to purchase some beautiful and very reasonably priced beadwork. Bring a bit of extra cash and support a good cause by purchasing a gift for yourself or someone you love. (Only 135 shopping days left until Christmas!)
School Kits are Mennonite Central Committee’s most requested item. We will be collecting supplies for these kits in the coming weeks. (There are lots of back to school sales right now!) You are welcome to donate individual supplies or complete kits. Each kit contains: 4 spiral or perforated notebooks (70-80 sheets), 4 unsharpened pencils, 1 ruler (flat, flexible plastic; indicating both 30cm and 12in), 12 colored pencils (in packaging), 1 large pencil eraser.
*Western District Conference will buy our church some books. We can choose six books from a list of current resources. Please mark your choices on the poster in the entry area at church. Joanna will order books soon!
Starting in September, we will have monthly small group gatherings called Conversations Around the Table. Here is the basic idea:
- Groups will consist of 6-8 people.
- Those involved commit to meet together once a month for six months.
- Meetings will be in homes.
- Meetings will involve food–though not necessarily a full meal.
- Each group will choose their conversation focus: Bible study, book study, topical study, spiritual practices, testimonies . . .
- Each group will have a facilitator.
If you would like to participate in a Conversation group, please sign up at church or e-mail Joanna with the following information: Name, type/s of conversations in which you are most interested (see above), Would you be willing to serve as a facilitator?
Peace Mennonite has been invited to host a workshop on Becoming and Inclusive Church. Our building is available, but we are not sure we will be able to provide the requested meals. If you are willing to help make and/or serve a meal for 20 or so people on Nov. 19-20, please let Joanna know.
Thanks to everyone who sent mail to our campers this summer! When you see James, Jasmine, Mariah, Mikayla, or Calvin, ask them about camp.
Do you want to learn more about Peace Mennonite Church? Joanna will offer the Membership Exploration class this fall. The class generally meets 3-4 times and is designed to give you the information you need to decide whether or not you would like to join the church. Please let Joanna know if you would like to participate.
*Mennonite Church USA delegates passed an immigration statement in 2003 that says, “We reject our country’s mistreatment of immigrants, repent of our silence, and commit ourselves to act with and on behalf of our immigrant brothers and sisters, regardless of their legal status.”
In response to concerns raised by Iglesia Menonita Hispana, Mennonite Church USA’s Executive Board is sending a delegation to Phoenix, Ariz. on August 12-13, to witness “on the ground” the effects of Arizona’s new immigration law. Phoenix currently is the location for the denomination’s 2013 convention.
Phoenix city government leaders, who have expressed their disappointment with the new legislation, extended the invitation to the delegation to come; the Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau will cover expenses for the trip.
The group will meet with city officials, convention planners, local Hispanic and Mennonite Church USA congregations, and human rights workers who specialize in immigration. Delegation members will gather information about the potential multi-faceted impacts of holding the denomination’s 2013 convention in Phoenix, and will discern options for staying in Phoenix, finding a different location, or canceling the 2013 gathering.
Please hold the delegation in your prayers.
*Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty and ACLU of Kansas and Western Missouri present the film NO TOMORROW, August 19th, 2010 • 6:00pm • Lawrence Arts Center. The movie will be followed by a Q&A session featuring Kansas felony exoneree Eddie James Lowery, civil rights attorney Bill Raney and former parole board member Ben Coates.
*Crop Walk is October 3. For more information contact Suzanne Galle at 331-6259.
*Women and Girls Retreat: Women Uniquely Created by God, will be held September 10-12 at Camp Mennoscah. The speaker will be Florence Schloneger. Brochures with registration forms available by the mail slots at church.
*Please join us at Hesston College October 29-31 as we discern the whole story of Jesus—his life, death, resurrection and ongoing work and presence in the church and the world. Join us as we not only discover the 3-D Jesus but hopefully encounter him, to be changed as congregations and as individuals. Speakers are Steve Dintaman, Meghan Good, Kevass Harding, John Murray, Marion Bontrager and Michele Hershberger. Together they will help participants explore the whole picture of Jesus, through plenary sessions, drama, teaching vignettes and small and large group discussions. Check us out at www.hesston.edu/AVDS or on the Facebook page called 3-D Jesus.
The 15th annual Day on the Farm sponsored by Mennonite Agri-Urban will be held Saturday, August 21 at the farm of Carol Duerksen and Maynard Knepp, 3 miles north, 4 miles east, and ¾ mile north of Goessel, Kansas. This is a great family event that helps children from towns and cities connect with the rural upbringing of many of their parents/grandparents. Events which include horseback rides, pony cart rides, goat milking, pig catching and interaction with farm animals run continuously from 10 am to 3 pm. A meal will be served beginning at 11:30. The event is free however contributions to Agri-Urban are welcomed. Agri-Urban benefits Western District Conference, Mennonite Church USA and Bethel College.
Our annual fall retreat will be October 22-23. Like last year, we will meet at the Chihowa Retreat Center in Perry. Please mark your calendars now and send Joanna any ideas you have for our time together!
Peace Mennonite Calendar:
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August 15: Pot Luck and Congregational Meeting; following worship
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August 19: No Tomorrow film showing; 6 p.m., Arts Center
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September: Conversations Around the Table will begin!
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October 22-23: PMC Annual Retreat; Chihowa Retreat Center, Perry, Ks
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October 29-31: 3-D Jesus, Hesston College
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November 19-20: PMC to host Becoming an Inclusive Church workshop
Help Wanted!
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People to walk with Cindy Wiens—contact Gwen
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LINK casseroles and servers for the first Sunday of each month—contact Gwen
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Church calendar coordinator—contact Joanna
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Conversations Around the Table facilitators
Serving in Worship this Week :
Worship Leader and Table: Kirsten Bosnak; Song Leader: Joe Casad; Accompanist, Prelude and Offertory: Whitney Baker; Children’s Time: Jenny Buller and Joanna Harader; Sermon: Joanna Harader; Scripture Reader: Barbara Preheim; Childcare: ???? ; Snacks: Potluck lunch!
*And as your reward for reading all the way through the e-news, check out this video: http://www2.ljworld.com/videos/2010/aug/11/32048/ You will see some familiar faces about 30 seconds into it.
(Items with an * are new this week.)
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