May 22, 2014 E-News

E-News

There will be no children’s Sunday School during the summer months. Contact Jenny Buller if you would like to help coordinate some fun family activities!

For the summer months, the Worship Committee will not be assigning people to arrange the front table. Please feel free to bring flowers or other decorations as the Spirit moves.

The summer worship volunteer schedule is now available in the hall. Those of you on the schedule should also have received an electronic copy via email.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bookis the title of a new book release by Oliver Hall and Julie Unruh.  Everyone is invited to a book release party on Saturday, May 31 from 3 pm to 6 pm at Stan Herd’s Studio at 315 NE Industrial LN in North Lawrence, next to the car wash. Click here for a map.

A new contribution to our library:  Vegetable Garden written by Julie Unruh, illustrated Manda Barker.

Please consider being part of our community Vacation Bible School this summer! We are joining together with Plymouth Congregational Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, and First Baptist Church to provide a week of fun and faith June 9-16. We will meet in the evenings from 6-8:30 on Monday-Thursday with a potluck meal in the park on Friday. Children aged 4 – 4th grade (completed) are welcome to attend. Youth and adults of all ages are welcome to volunteer. Please see brochures or contact the office for more information.

Attention Women Singers:  Threshold Choir is a national women’s organization with a local chapter of women from several faiths here in Lawrence.  We provide ease and comfort through singing to those on the threshold of living and dying.  We seek to provide a calm, focused presence with gentle voices to various local senior homes and hospices.  To join our simple practice sessions or ask questions, contact Jean Drumm at (785) 841-6067 or Patrice Krause at 785-841-2646.

Bethel College Alumni Weekend this year is June 6-8 on campus, including the Alumni Banquet and recognition of the 2014 Outstanding Alumnus and Distinguished Achievement Award winner. See  www.bethelks.edu/alumni/events-for-alumni-and-friends/alumni-weekend/ for a complete schedule, or call 316-284-5251.

New sermons have been uploaded to our church podcast site. Check them out at peacemennonite.sermondrop.com.

We remember Lola and her comforter-making efforts for Mennonite Central Committee which provides comforters and blankets to hospitals, refugee camps, orphanages and disaster locations.  In the last several years, shipments have been sent to countries including Iraq, Swaziland and Zambia.  See this program and donate online at mcc.org/kits/blankets.

It is a year since Cindy Wiens passed away. She bravely faced Huntington’s Disease.  It would be nice to defeat this disease.  The Hereditary Neurological Disease Centre, specializing in Huntington’s Disease, is a non-profit that is one of the top research sites for Huntington’s in the country and they provide the only free services for families in Kansas and the surrounding area.  You can check them out and donate at www.huntingtonsdiseaseclinic.com – and their address is 3223 N Webb, Suite 4, Wichita, KS 67226.

The next Taizé service will be on Friday, May 23, 6:00 pm, Central United Methodist Church, 1501 Mass ST.  Bookmarks with all service dates and locations are available in the entryway.

Run for your health!  Run for Habitat!!  The Free Methodist Church “4 for Others” Run on Saturday, June 7 will benefit Habitat’s Building on Faith house.  More information can be found here: lfmchurch.org/4forothers

Mennonite Central Committee would like to invite you to a Learning Tour to Haiti November 8-17, 2014. This 10 day tour will give you a first-hand look at the social- economical issues Haiti continues to face. The estimate cost for this learning tour is $700 per person, which includes food, lodging, and in-country transportation. Airfare needs to be purchased separately. Space is very limited. For more information contact Anna Yoder by Monday June 2, 2014 at annayoder@mcc.orgor 316.283.2720.

Free weekly email subscriptions available for WDC communication pieces:  1) WDC Seeds announces what’s new and good in Western District Conference ministries and congregations.  2) WDC Sprouts has articles from staff and information about Western District Conference and Mennonite Church USA events.  To subscribe, email wdc@mennowdc.org.  

On the Way newsletter– Did you know that Mennonite Church USA Staff puts out a quarterly newsletter exploring various justice issues around the church?  If you’re not a subscriber yet, sign up to receive our next edition of On the Way, which will feature highlights from the recent women doing theology conference.  http://www.mennoniteusa.org/publications/on-the-way/on-the-way-vol-2-no-1/

The 2014 WDC Annual Assembly will be held July 4-6 at Lakeview Camp & Retreat Center in Waxahachie, TX. www.lakeviewcamp.net  Let Joanna know if you would be interested in riding with her (and others) on a charter bus from Newton and/or if you are interested in serving as a delegate this year.  The focus will be celebrating our Year of the Bible and church planting.   As more information becomes available, it will be posted at: http://mennowdc.org/conference-life/annual-assembly/

Planning is underway for the next Mennonite Church USA’s biennial convention, June 30-July 5, 2015 in Kansas City, MO.  In the convention newsletter you will find information on the theme and scripture that has been chosen for this week, along with other convention details. A copy of the newsletter can be found at: here.  As more planning is done, updates will be posted on the website, http://convention.mennoniteusa.org/.

Be a good steward of the environment and get a 1% reduction on the interest rate for a vehicle loan. That’s possible when you finance the purchase of a hybrid or fuel efficient vehicle with an Everence Federal Credit Union vehicle loan.  As of today, the new car loan rate is 2.49% for a 5 year or less loan. So, the rate would be 1.49% for a hybrid car.  Call (800) 451-5719, or apply online at everence.com.

FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUNDS – Charitable giving can be a family activity with a family endowment fund administered by Mennonite Foundation, an affiliate of EVERENCE.   Because such a fund is established for the long-term, it can involve multiple generations of family members, and charities enjoy long-term support.  The fund is an ongoing account in which contributions are invested for the long-term. Only investment income is disbursed.  The fund would bear your family name or any name you choose, and you and family members can donate a wide variety of assets to it.  Deferred gifts, such as a charitable bequest in a will, life insurance proceeds, or the remainders of charitable trusts and gift annuities can be included, too. Since the foundation is a public foundation, the tax benefits are more generous than if you donated assets to a private foundation. We help convert non-cash assets to cash, and assist in getting qualified appraisals and documenting the value of your gifts. You receive immediate charitable tax deductions for your donations to your family endowment fund.  Call 800-348-7468 for more information.

Serving in Worship this Sunday, May 25, 2014

Worship Leader & Scripture Reader: Jeff Weber; Children’s Time & Preacher: Joanna Harader; Song Leader: Jim Krause; Accompanist, Prelude & Offertory: Whitney Baker; Childcare: Carol Moyer & Sara Weber.

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
• Volunteer at Ten Thousand Villages, 835 Mass ST
• Help Greg clean our worship space

Calendar of Events

• May 23 ~ Nile Russo’s Birthday
• May 23 ~ Taizé service
• May 25 ~ John Young’s Birthday
• May 29 ~ Susan Rieger’s Birthday
• May 29 ~ Wilma Gates’ Birthday
• May 31 ~ Oliver/Julie Book Signing
• Jun 3 ~ Jeff Weber’s Birthday
• Jun 9-16 ~ Vacation Bible School
• Jun 16 ~ Tara Heilke’s Birthday
• Jun 17 ~ Feliz Janzen-Chappell’s Birthday
• Jun 29 ~ Ben Weber’s Birthday

From Camp Mennoscah

Summer camps start June 8!  That means we’re counting down the days for you to send in your Camp Mennoscah registration forms.  We’ve got adventures coming out of our ears!  Grab a friend, throw your swimsuit into a bag, and start practicing letting your little light shine!  Registration forms can be found online at www.campmennoscah.org with an online payment option.

Potatoes are not hard to peel.  Many of you are aware of this wondrous fact and have chosen to spend a week or two at Camp Mennoscah as a kitchen helper.  Some of you, however, have been led astray by your fears of simple kitchen tasks.  Let us reassure you that you have nothing much to fear–maybe a little sweat, maybe a bit of camper noise, maybe an overabundance of fun.  We still need helpers for July 27-Aug. 1.  Contact us at 620-297-3290.

Dish It Up!  Camp Mennoscah is looking for a few cooks to provide a main course, casserole-type dish for meals during our summer staff orientation week (June 1-8).  This will make preparing meals easier for the staff, allowing us more time together in training.  We’ll provide side dishes and whatnot.  Contact us at campmno@mennowdc.orgor 620-297-3290.  Thanks for helping us provide a great experience for all our summer guests!

Nurse needed at Camp Mennoscah!  We seek a camp nurse for July 13-19, our ever-exciting week of Junior High led by Derek & Kara Klingenberg.  It couldn’t get much funner.  Contact Camp Mennoscah at 620-297-3290 for more information.  This position comes with either a stipend or a camper discount–and a free camp tee!

Hey, folks of all ages!  We’ve got our intergenerational Family Camp coming up July 26-27 and you are all invited!  This camp is for college students, grandparents, grandkids, moms and dads–everyone but the pets!  (All children must be supervised.)  Keep your eyes open for the brochures and more information!

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May 15, 2014 PMC E-News

E-News

There will be no children’s Sunday School during the summer months. Contact Jenny Buller if you would like to help coordinate some fun family activities!

For the summer months, the Worship Committee will not be assigning people to arrange the front table. Please feel free to bring flowers or other decorations as the Spirit moves.

The summer worship volunteer schedule is now available in the hall. Those of you on the schedule should also have received an electronic copy via email.

New sermons have been uploaded to our church podcast site. Check them out at peacemennonite.sermondrop.com.

On the Way newsletter – Did you know that Mennonite Church USA Staff puts out a quarterly newsletter exploring various justice issues around the church? If you’re not a subscriber yet, sign up to receive our next edition of On the Way, which will feature highlights from the recent women doing theology conference. http://www.mennoniteusa.org/publications/on-the-way/on-the-way-vol-2-no-1/

We remember Lola and her comforter-making efforts for Mennonite Central Committee which provides comforters and blankets to hospitals, refugee camps, orphanages and disaster locations. In the last several years, shipments have been sent to countries including Iraq, Swaziland and Zambia. See this program and donate online at mcc.org/kits/blankets.

It is a year since Cindy Wiens passed away. She bravely faced Huntington’s Disease. It would be nice to defeat this disease. The Hereditary Neurological Disease Centre, specializing in Huntington’s Disease, is a non-profit that is one of the top research sites for Huntington’s in the country and they provide the only free services for families in Kansas and the surrounding area. You can check them out and donate at www.huntingtonsdiseaseclinic.com – and their address is 3223 N Webb, Suite 4, Wichita, KS 67226.  There will also be a piggy bank at church you can drop your donations in.

Mennonite Central Committee would like to invite you to a Learning Tour to Haiti November 8-17, 2014. This 10 day tour will give you a first-hand look at the social- economical issues Haiti continues to face. The estimate cost for this learning tour is $700 per person, which includes food, lodging, and in-country transportation. Airfare needs to be purchased separately. Space is very limited. For more information contact Anna Yoder by Monday June 2, 2014 at annayoder@mcc.org or 316.283.2720.

The next Taizé service will be on Friday, May 23, 6:00 pm, Central United Methodist Church, 1501 Mass ST. Bookmarks with all service dates and locations are available in the entryway.

The Lawrence Dining for Women chapter had resumed its dinners. Dining for Women is a dinner giving circle. We “dine in” together once a month or so, each bringing a dish to share and our “dining out” dollars are sent to international programs empowering women. Dinners are scheduled on May 19. All are held at Trinity Lutheran Church’s fellowship hall at 6 pm, 1245 New Hampshire. Join us for incredible food and fellowship as we change the world one dinner at a time! To learn more about this organization go to diningforwomen.org or contact Ann Chapman at 865-6876 or at achap@ku.edu.

Run for your health! Run for Habitat!! The Free Methodist Church “4 for Others” Run on Saturday, June 7 will benefit Habitat’s Building on Faith house. More information can be found here: lfmchurch.org/4forothers

Free weekly email subscriptions available for WDC communication pieces: 1) WDC Seeds announces what’s new and good in Western District Conference ministries and congregations. 2) WDC Sprouts has articles from staff and information about Western District Conference and Mennonite Church USA events. To subscribe, email wdc@mennowdc.org.

The 2014 WDC Annual Assembly will be held July 4-6 at Lakeview Camp & Retreat Center in Waxahachie, TX.   www.lakeviewcamp.net  Let Joanna know if you would be interested in riding with her (and others) on a charter bus from Newton and/or if you are interested in serving as a delegate this year. The focus will be celebrating our Year of the Bible and church planting. As more information becomes available, it will be posted at: http://mennowdc.org/conference-life/annual-assembly/

Planning is underway for the next Mennonite Church USA’s biennial convention, June 30-July 5, 2015 in Kansas City, MO. In the convention newsletter you will find information on the theme and scripture that has been chosen for this week, along with other convention details. A copy of the newsletter can be found at: here. As more planning is done, updates will be posted on the website, http://convention.mennoniteusa.org/.

Be a good steward of the environment and get a 1% reduction on the interest rate for a vehicle loan. That’s possible when you finance the purchase of a hybrid or fuel efficient vehicle with an Everence Federal Credit Union vehicle loan. As of today, the new car loan rate is 2.49% for a 5 year or less loan. So, the rate would be 1.49% for a hybrid car. Call (800) 451-5719, or apply online at everence.com.

FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUNDS – Charitable giving can be a family activity with a family endowment fund administered by Mennonite Foundation, an affiliate of EVERENCE. Because such a fund is established for the long-term, it can involve multiple generations of family members, and charities enjoy long-term support. The fund is an ongoing account in which contributions are invested for the long-term. Only investment income is disbursed. The fund would bear your family name or any name you choose, and you and family members can donate a wide variety of assets to it. Deferred gifts, such as a charitable bequest in a will, life insurance proceeds, or the remainders of charitable trusts and gift annuities can be included, too. Since the foundation is a public foundation, the tax benefits are more generous than if you donated assets to a private foundation. We help convert non-cash assets to cash, and assist in getting qualified appraisals and documenting the value of your gifts. You receive immediate charitable tax deductions for your donations to your family endowment fund. Call 800-348-7468 for more information.

Serving in Worship this Sunday, May 11, 2014

Worship Leader, Scripture Reader & Children’s Time: Joanna Harader; Song Leader: Andrea Zuercher; Accompanist, Prelude & Offertory: Twila Schmidt.

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
• Volunteer at Ten Thousand Villages, 835 Mass ST
• Help Greg clean our worship space

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 23 ~ Taizé service
• May 25 ~ John Young’s Birthday
• May 29 ~ Susan Rieger’s Birthday
• May 29 ~ Wilma Gates’ Birthday

From Camp Mennoscah

Woo-whee! Camp Mennoscah’s summer camps are beginning to fill up! We still have openings in all of our camps, but don’t wait too long to get your registration in. We don’t want you to miss out on Finding Your True Self in Jesus! Registration forms and the online payment option can be found at www.campmennoscah.org–we’ll see you this summer!

Dish It Up! Camp Mennoscah is looking for a few cooks to provide a main course, casserole-type dish for meals during our summer staff orientation week (June 1-8). This will make preparing meals easier for the staff, allowing us more time together in training. We’ll provide side dishes and whatnot. Contact us at campmno@mennowdc.org or 620-297-3290. Thanks for helping us provide a great experience for all our summer guests!

Be a BandAid Hero!–Camp Mennoscah is looking for a fun-loving, kid-friendly nurse for the week of July 13-19. This is the week directed by Derek & Kara Klingenberg and is sure to be a great time! You won’t want to go back to the humdrum of everyday life after this. Kitchen staff also still needed for the week of July 27-Aug 1. Contact us at 620-297-3290 or campmno@mennowdc.org

Hey, folks of all ages! We’ve got our intergenerational Family Camp coming up July 26-27 and you are all invited! This camp is for college students, grandparents, grandkids, moms and dads–everyone but the pets! (All children must be supervised.) Keep your eyes open for the brochures and more information!

 

Read Full Post »

May 7, 2014 PMC E-News

E-News

We remember Lola and her comforter-making efforts for Mennonite Central Committee which provides comforters and blankets to hospitals, refugee camps, orphanages and disaster locations.  In the last several years, shipments have been sent to countries including Iraq, Swaziland and Zambia.  See this program and donate online at mcc.org/kits/blankets.

It is a year since Cindy Wiens passed away. She bravely faced Huntington’s Disease.  It would be nice to defeat this disease.  The Hereditary Neurological Disease Centre, specializing in Huntington’s Disease, is a non-profit that is one of the top research sites for Huntington’s in the country and they provide the only free services for families in Kansas and the surrounding area.  You can check them out and donate at www.huntingtonsdiseaseclinic.com – and their address is 3223 N Webb, Suite 4, Wichita, KS 67226.

Spring & Summer Shopping for a good cause! Chico’s, 643 Mass ST, will donate 10% of your purchase to Lawrence Habitat on Thursday, May 8, 3:00 – 7:00 pm.

Mennonite Central Committee would like to invite you to a Learning Tour to Haiti November 8-17, 2014. This 10 day tour will give you a first-hand look at the social- economical issues Haiti continues to face. The estimate cost for this learning tour is $700 per person, which includes food, lodging, and in-country transportation. Airfare needs to be purchased separately. Space is very limited. For more information contact Anna Yoder by Monday June 2, 2014 at annayoder@mcc.org or 316.283.2720.

Pizza Benefit all Month of May at Morningstar’s NY Pizza, 4931 6th ST.  Roger Morningstar is offering a great opportunity to try his great pizza and Italian food, and help Americana Music Academy at the same time.  Better yet, Americana will provide live music every Monday night in May beginning May 5th at 7 pm. Come eat, drink and enjoy live music.

God is doing a new thing in Lawrence. It’s an organization made up of congregations, whose mission will be to bring unity among believers and to do justice in the city. Next month, we will be investigating the theme of doing justice through a sermon series entitled “A City on a Hill”.  Eighteen congregations across Lawrence – 17 churches and the Islamic mosque – will be exploring what our sacred texts say about justice. As we gather for worship in the weeks after Easter, we can celebrate the fact that many other people of faith in Lawrence are also learning more about what it means to seek God’s justice in our world.

The next Taizé service will be on Friday, May 23, 6:00 pm, Central United Methodist Church, 1501 Mass ST.  Bookmarks with all service dates and locations are available in the entryway.

The Lawrence Dining for Women chapter had resumed its dinners. Dining for Women is a dinner giving circle. We “dine in” together once a month or so, each bringing a dish to share and our “dining out” dollars are sent to international programs empowering women. Dinners are scheduled on May 19. All are held at Trinity Lutheran Church’s fellowship hall at 6 pm, 1245 New Hampshire. Join us for incredible food and fellowship as we change the world one dinner at a time! To learn more about this organization go to diningforwomen.org or contact Ann Chapman at 865-6876 or at achap@ku.edu.

Run for your health!  Run for Habitat!!  The Free Methodist Church “4 for Others” Run on Saturday, June 7 will benefit Habitat’s Building on Faith house.  More information can be found here: lfmchurch.org/4forothers

There is a good online presentation on understanding good investment choices by Mark Regier given last March 11. It’s a clear presentation, short and covers a number of important topics, from green investing, social responsibility, class action, and fracking – it’s an education in itself!  There is a link to the audio of Mark Regier’s presentation on our Kansas website:  http://www.everence.com/kansas/  The link is at the bottom left of the page under Resources.

Free weekly email subscriptions available for WDC communication pieces:  1) WDC Seeds announces what’s new and good in Western District Conference ministries and congregations.  2) WDC Sprouts has articles from staff and information about Western District Conference and Mennonite Church USA events.  To subscribe, email wdc@mennowdc.org.

Americana Music Academy will be holding their Kid’s Summer Music Camp June 2 – 6 and August 4 – 8 for ages 5 – 12.  The theme  will be “A Celebration of our American Roots.”  Sign up before May 1st for a $20 discount.  Call 785-830-9640 or email americanamusicacademy@gmail.com to reserve a spot, or for more information. Space is limited. Cost is $200 for a full week of fun, supplies, snacks, T-Shirt, and certificate! They are located at 1419 Massachusetts ST.

The 2014 WDC Annual Assembly will be held July 4-6 at Lakeview Camp & Retreat Center in Waxahachie, TX. www.lakeviewcamp.net  Let Joanna know if you would be interested in riding with her (and others) on a charter bus from Newton and/or if you are interested in serving as a delegate this year.  The focus will be celebrating our Year of the Bible and church planting.   As more information becomes available, it will be posted at: http://mennowdc.org/conference-life/annual-assembly/

Planning is underway for the next Mennonite Church USA’s biennial convention, June 30-July 5, 2015 in Kansas City, MO.  In the convention newsletter you will find information on the theme and scripture that has been chosen for this week, along with other convention details. A copy of the newsletter can be found at: here.  As more planning is done, updates will be posted on the website, http://convention.mennoniteusa.org/.

Be a good steward of the environment and get a 1% reduction on the interest rate for a vehicle loan. That’s possible when you finance the purchase of a hybrid or fuel efficient vehicle with an Everence Federal Credit Union vehicle loan.  As of today, the new car loan rate is 2.49% for a 5 year or less loan. So, the rate would be 1.49% for a hybrid car.  Call (800) 451-5719, or apply online at everence.com.

FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUNDS – Charitable giving can be a family activity with a family endowment fund administered by Mennonite Foundation, an affiliate of EVERENCE.   Because such a fund is established for the long-term, it can involve multiple generations of family members, and charities enjoy long-term support.  The fund is an ongoing account in which contributions are invested for the long-term. Only investment income is disbursed.  The fund would bear your family name or any name you choose, and you and family members can donate a wide variety of assets to it.  Deferred gifts, such as a charitable bequest in a will, life insurance proceeds, or the remainders of charitable trusts and gift annuities can be included, too. Since the foundation is a public foundation, the tax benefits are more generous than if you donated assets to a private foundation. We help convert non-cash assets to cash, and assist in getting qualified appraisals and documenting the value of your gifts. You receive immediate charitable tax deductions for your donations to your family endowment fund.  Call 800-348-7468 for more information.

Serving in Worship this Sunday, May 11, 2014

Worship Leader: Joey Sprague; Song Leader: TBA ; Accompanist: Twila Schmidt; Prelude & Offertory and Children’s Time: Miriam Friesen; Scripture Reader: Carol Grieb; Preacher: Joanna Harader; Table: Gwen Wiens; Childcare: Jasmine Harader-Ellett and LaVonne Marks;  Snacks: Jasmine Harader-Ellett.

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
• Volunteer at Ten Thousand Villages, 835 Mass ST
• Help Greg clean our worship space

Calendar of Events

• May 7 ~ Rob  Claassen’s Birthday
• May 7 ~ Alison Unruh’s Birthday
• May 14 ~ John Johnson’s Birthday
• 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 23 ~ Taizé service
• May 25 ~ John Young’s Birthday
• May 29 ~ Susan Rieger’s Birthday
• May 29 ~ Wilma Gates’ Birthday

From Camp Mennoscah

Online Payments–Camp Mennoscah is now accepting online payments for summer youth camps.  Go to: www.campmennoscah.org for instructions and to pay.  Registration forms must still be sent in separately.  We hope this makes signing up for Camp Mennoscah easier for you!

One Month!  There’s one month before Camp Mennoscah’s summer youth camps explode onto the scene.  We’ve got camps for those going into 3rd grade through High School–and we want them filled to the brim with energetic, witty, and brilliant campers.  (That means YOU!)  Activities include worship, crafts, swimming, river play, and just about a bazillion more things.  Registration forms can be found at www.campmennoscah.org under Camps.  Contact us at 620-297-3290 with questions.  It’s a summer of adventures!

Dish It Up!  Camp Mennoscah is looking for a few cooks to provide a main course, casserole-type dish for meals during our summer staff orientation week (June 1-8).  This will make preparing meals easier for the staff, allowing us more time together in training.  We’ll provide side dishes and whatnot.  Contact us at campmno@mennowdc.org or 620-297-3290.  Thanks for helping us provide a great experience for all our summer guests!

Read Full Post »

April 30, 2014 PMC E-News

E-News

We remember Lola and her comforter-making efforts for Mennonite Central Committee which provides comforters and blankets to hospitals, refugee camps, orphanages and disaster locations. In the last several years, shipments have been sent to countries including Iraq, Swaziland and Zambia. See this program and donate online at mcc.org/kits/blankets.

It is a year since Cindy Wiens passed away.  She bravely faced Huntington’s Disease.  It would be nice to defeat this disease.  The Hereditary Neurological Disease Centre, specializing in Huntington’s Disease, is a non-profit that is one of the top research sites for Huntington’s in the country and they provide the only free services for families in Kansas and the surrounding area.  You can check them out and donate at www.huntingtonsdiseaseclinic.com – and their address is 3223 N Webb, Suite 4, Wichita, KS 67226.

We had a productive visit to the church property on Sunday afternoon.  You should have received an email from Andrea with a link to the pictures of the church and grounds along with a copy of a survey to fill out.  If you feel like providing some input based on looking at the photos, please do so.  You may email the completed survey to Andrea, or return it to the church office.  The building group is hoping to compile responses by the middle of next week, so that we can present the findings to the coordinating committee.  So we’d appreciate your response by this Sunday, May 4.  Thanks very much!

“Journey of the Universe,” a documentary exploring the human connection to Earth and the cosmos will be shown at Liberty Hall on May 5 at 6:30 p.m. A facilitated community dialogue will follow the screening. Doors open at 6:00 for a reception and snacks. Community groups will have information available throughout the evening. The event is organized by Lawrence Ecological Teams United in Sustainability (LETUS). Founded in 2011, LETUS is an interfaith network of communities in the Lawrence area working to be faithful, relevant, and effective in educating/advocating toward justice and environmental sustainability. “This film provides an excellent overview of the development of life as we know it,” explains event organizer, Rachel Myslivy. “Yet it also demonstrates how human actions are negatively impacting the environment and compromising the future of life on Earth. We hope the film will encourage constructive dialogue among diverse community members.”

God is doing a new thing in Lawrence. It’s an organization made up of congregations, whose mission will be to bring unity among believers and to do justice in the city. Next month, we will be investigating the theme of doing justice through a sermon series entitled “A City on a Hill”. Eighteen congregations across Lawrence – 17 churches and the Islamic mosque – will be exploring what our sacred texts say about justice. As we gather for worship in the weeks after Easter, we can celebrate the fact that many other people of faith in Lawrence are also learning more about what it means to seek God’s justice in our world.

The next Taizé service will be on Friday, May 4, 6:00 pm, St. John’s United Church of Christ, 396 E 900 RD, Baldwin City. Bookmarks with all service dates and locations are available in the entryway.

Save the Date ~ Spring Work Day at PMC May 10, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm.  Come join in the fun and fellowship as we care for our space.  More details to follow.

From Lawrence Habitat ~ We are in need of a large group of volunteers for an upcoming event on Sunday, May 11. Body Boutique is hosting their WOW 5k run on Mother’s Day this year with all the proceeds benefiting Lawrence Habitat. Will you help us make the event a success? Volunteer duties will consist of the following: 1. Finish Line; 2. Results; 3. Set up/take down; 4. Registration table; 5. Bib & t-shirt table; 6. Water station; 7. Food/beverage station; 8. Course guides. We need your help in making this Mother’s Day 5k a success – grab a friend, your mother, your brother, your sister and come out Sunday for a couple of hours of volunteering. Please contact me at maddie@lawrencehabitat.org or by calling the office at 785-832-0777 if you would like to help, and share the info with others who you think might want to, too! More info about the race can be found here:  http://lawrencehabitat.org/wowrun/ . We appreciate you and the support you provide Lawrence Habitat. Please note: volunteers are required to attend 2 volunteer info meetings taking place at Body Boutique. The last meeting on Sunday, May 4 is required. April 14, 4:30-5:30 and Sunday, May 4 (required), 4:30-5:30. Please let us know if you have any questions, and I look forward to hearing from you!

The Lawrence Dining for Women chapter had resumed its dinners. Dining for Women is a dinner giving circle. We “dine in” together once a month or so, each bringing a dish to share and our “dining out” dollars are sent to international programs empowering women. Dinners are scheduled on May 19. All are held at Trinity Lutheran Church’s fellowship hall at 6 pm, 1245 New Hampshire. Join us for incredible food and fellowship as we change the world one dinner at a time! To learn more about this organization go to diningforwomen.org or contact Ann Chapman at 865-6876 or at achap@ku.edu.

Run for your health! Run for Habitat!! The Free Methodist Church “4 for Others” Run on Saturday, June 7 will benefit Habitat’s Building on Faith house. More information can be found here:  lfmchurch.org/4forothers

There is a good online presentation on understanding good investment choices by Mark Regier given last March 11. It’s a clear presentation, short and covers a number of important topics, from green investing, social responsibility, class action, and fracking – it’s an education in itself! There is a link to the audio of Mark Regier’s presentation on our Kansas website: http://www.everence.com/kansas/ The link is at the bottom left of the page under Resources.

Free weekly email subscriptions available for WDC communication pieces: 1) WDC Seeds announces what’s new and good in Western District Conference ministries and congregations. 2) WDC Sprouts has articles from staff and information about Western District Conference and Mennonite Church USA events. To subscribe, email wdc@mennowdc.org.

Americana Music Academy will be holding their Kid’s Summer Music Camp June 2 – 6 and August 4 – 8 for ages 5 – 12. The theme will be “A Celebration of our American Roots.” Sign up before May 1st for a $20 discount. Call 785-830-9640 or email americanamusicacademy@gmail.com to reserve a spot, or for more information. Space is limited. Cost is $200 for a full week of fun, supplies, snacks, T-Shirt, and certificate! They are located at 1419 Massachusetts ST.

The 2014 WDC Annual Assembly will be held July 4-6 at Lakeview Camp & Retreat Center in Waxahachie, TX;  www.lakeviewcamp.net.  Let Joanna know if you would be interested in riding with her (and others) on a charter bus from Newton and/or if you are interested in serving as a delegate this year. The focus will be celebrating our Year of the Bible and church planting. As more information becomes available, it will be posted at:  http://mennowdc.org/conference-life/annual-assembly/

Planning is underway for the next Mennonite Church USA’s biennial convention, June 30-July 5, 2015 in Kansas City, MO. In the convention newsletter you will find information on the theme and scripture that has been chosen for this week, along with other convention details. A copy of the newsletter can be found at: here. As more planning is done, updates will be posted on the website, http://convention.mennoniteusa.org/.

Ten Thousand Villages is in need of both store volunteers and new board members. Please contact Carolyn Winters-Hazelton (cwinhazel@aol.com) if you would like more information about these opportunities.

Fair trade retailer in downtown Lawrence, Ten Thousand Villages, is seeking a full-time manager. Strong commitment is essential to the Ten Thousand Villages’ mission: to create opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to our markets through long-term, fair trading relationships. Contact tenthousandvillageslawrencehr@gmail.com, visit http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/lawrence, or call the store at (785) 856-7370 for more information.

Be a good steward of the environment and get a 1% reduction on the interest rate for a vehicle loan. That’s possible when you finance the purchase of a hybrid or fuel-efficient vehicle with an Everence Federal Credit Union vehicle loan. As of today, the new car loan rate is 2.49% for a 5 year or less loan. So, the rate would be 1.49% for a hybrid car. Call (800) 451-5719, or apply online at everence.com.

FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUNDS – Charitable giving can be a family activity with a family endowment fund administered by Mennonite Foundation, an affiliate of EVERENCE. Because such a fund is established for the long-term, it can involve multiple generations of family members, and charities enjoy long-term support. The fund is an ongoing account in which contributions are invested for the long-term. Only investment income is disbursed. The fund would bear your family name or any name you choose, and you and family members can donate a wide variety of assets to it. Deferred gifts, such as a charitable bequest in a will, life insurance proceeds, or the remainders of charitable trusts and gift annuities can be included, too. Since the foundation is a public foundation, the tax benefits are more generous than if you donated assets to a private foundation. We help convert non-cash assets to cash, and assist in getting qualified appraisals and documenting the value of your gifts. You receive immediate charitable tax deductions for your donations to your family endowment fund. Call 800-348-7468 for more information.

Serving in Worship this Sunday, May 4, 2014

Worship Leader & Children’s Time: Joanna Harader; Song Leader: Jim Krause; Accompanist, Prelude & Offertory: Whitney Baker; Scripture Reader: Judy Johnson; Sermon: Hannah Whitmer; Table: James Harader-Ellett; Childcare: Marike Janzen & Nadine Koch; Snacks: Wilma Gates.

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
• Volunteer at Ten Thousand Villages, 835 Mass ST
• Help Greg clean our worship space

Calendar of Events

• May 4 ~ Taizé service
• May 5 ~ “Journey of the Universe” screening
• May 6 ~ Sonja Kaufman’s Birthday
• May 7 ~ Rob Claassen’s Birthday
• May 7 ~ Alison Unruh’s Birthday
• May 10 ~ Spring Work Day at PMC
• May 14 ~ John Johnson’s Birthday
• 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 ~ Susan Rieger’s Birthday
• May 29 ~ Wilma Gates’ Birthday

From Camp Mennoscah

Online Payments–Camp Mennoscah is now accepting online payments for summer youth camps. Go to: http://www.campmennoscah.org for instructions and to pay. Registration forms must still be sent in separately. We hope this makes signing up for Camp Mennoscah easier for you!

How’s Your Summer Looking? We bet it’s empty and dull and needs some spicing up. We can help you! Camp Mennoscah is looking for kitchen helpers, head cooks, and nurses to make the camp experience great for our many campers. It’s a hootin’ fun way of being part of our camping ministry. Clanging camp bell, joyous shrieks, and free tee-shirt included! Parents receive a camper discount. Contact us at 620-297-3290.

Read Full Post »

April 23, 2014 PMC E-News

E-News

We will have an opportunity to visit the church property that we discussed at our most recent congregational meeting. You are welcome to arrive at 1115 N. 1700 RD beginning at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 27. We will have a brief service of hymns and prayer at 3:30, and you can stay and look around as long as you like. There will be surveys to fill out and if there is sufficient interest in the property after this visit, the building group and Coordinating Committee will plan a special congregational meeting to discuss next steps.  Click here for map.

God is doing a new thing in Lawrence. It’s an organization made up of congregations, whose mission will be to bring unity among believers and to do justice in the city. Next month, we will be investigating the theme of doing justice through a sermon series entitled “A City on a Hill”. Eighteen congregations across Lawrence – 17 churches and the Islamic mosque – will be exploring what our sacred texts say about justice. As we gather for worship in the weeks after Easter, we can celebrate the fact that many other people of faith in Lawrence are also learning more about what it means to seek God’s justice in our world.

The Palm Sunday piece is posted on our web site: http://peacemennonite.org/sermons/for-palm-sunday/.

There is a good online presentation on understanding good investment choices by Mark Regier given last March 11. It’s a clear presentation, short and covers a number of important topics, from green investing, social responsibility, class action, and fracking – it’s an education in itself! There is a link to the audio of Mark Regier’s presentation on our Kansas website: http://www.everence.com/kansas/ The link is at the bottom left of the page under Resources.

Run for your health! Run for Habitat!! The Free Methodist Church “4 for Others” Run on Saturday, June 7 will benefit Habitat’s Building on Faith house. More information can be found here: lfmchurch.org/4forothers

Free weekly email subscriptions available for WDC communication pieces: 1) WDC Seeds announces what’s new and good in Western District Conference ministries and congregations. 2) WDC Sprouts has articles from staff and information about Western District Conference and Mennonite Church USA events. To subscribe, email wdc@mennowdc.org.

The Lawrence Dining for Women chapter had resumed its dinners. Dining for Women is a dinner giving circle. We “dine in” together once a month or so, each bringing a dish to share and our “dining out” dollars are sent to international programs empowering women. Dinners are scheduled on May 19. All are held at Trinity Lutheran Church’s fellowship hall at 6 pm, 1245 New Hampshire. Join us for incredible food and fellowship as we change the world one dinner at a time! To learn more about this organization go to diningforwomen.org or contact Ann Chapman at 865-6876 or at achap@ku.edu.

The next Taizé service will be on Friday, April 25, 6:00 pm, Plymouth Congregational Church, 925 Vermont ST. Bookmarks with all service dates and locations are available in the entryway.

Community Village Lawrence is excited to invite you to A Trip Down Memory Lane: 1969 Orange Bowl Revival with special guest Bobby Douglass on Sunday, April 27, from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at the Crown Toyota Showroom, 3430 Iowa Street. This is a date change from the original announcement). Please join us for a colorful afternoon of local food and beverages from Buffalo Bob’s, Ramen Bowls, Great Harvest, Eileen’s Colossal Cookies, and Johnny’s Tavern, 23rd Street Brewery, and On the Rocks and a variety of exciting auction items including local business and art items, KU memorabilia, and a vacation package! Music performance by the local Junkyard Jazz band. Guest Bobby Douglass is the KU quarterback at the 1969 Orange Bowl, and continued on to play for the Chicago Bears. The event coincides with the launch of our free Telephone Reassurance, Home, and Fire Safety Programs in March. These sample services will help connect participants to resources in our community and assure participants and their families that all is well. Funds raised at the event will support our full launch in summer 2014 with a full vetted network of volunteers, discounted service providers, and member social and educational programs. Tickets are $10 for one or $15 for two. We are proud to have Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Johnny’s Tavern, Natural Breeze Remodeling, Benefits of Home, William J. Meyers, and First State Bank and Trust as our event sponsors. Contact: 785-505-0187 (Kris), 785-505-0188 (Allison), info@communityvillagelawrence.org, www.CommunityVillageLawrence.org

From Lawrence Habitat ~ We are in need of a large group of volunteers for an upcoming event on Sunday, May 11th. Body Boutique is hosting their WOW 5k run on Mother’s Day this year with all the proceeds benefiting Lawrence Habitat. Will you help us make the event a success? Volunteer duties will consist of the following: 1. Finish Line; 2. Results; 3. Set up/take down; 4. Registration table; 5. Bib & t-shirt table; 6. Water station; 7. Food/beverage station; 8. Course guides. We need your help in making this Mother’s Day 5k a success – grab a friend, your mother, your brother, your sister and come out Sunday for a couple hours of volunteering. Please contact me at maddie@lawrencehabitat.org or by calling the office at 785-832-0777 if you would like to help, and share the info with others who you think might want to, too! More info about the race can be found here:http://lawrencehabitat.org/wowrun/ . We appreciate you and the support you provide Lawrence Habitat. Please note: volunteers are required to attend 2 volunteer info meetings taking place at Body Boutique. The last meeting on Sunday, May 4th is required. April 14th, 4:30-5:30 and Sunday, May 4th (required), 4:30-5:30. Please let us know if you have any questions, and I look forward to hearing from you!

MCC Central States is currently recruiting for a “Young Adult Program Coordinator” position. This is a full-time position, working with the young adult programs for Central States, as well as leadership development. The location is open within the Central States region, with a preference for an urban setting. Persons who are interested can send a letter of intent and resume to Melissa Waltner (melissawaltner@mcc.org). You can view the job description at: http://serve.mcc.org/positions/young-adult-program-coordinator-cs.

Americana Music Academy will be holding their Kid’s Summer Music Camp June 2 – 6 and August 4 – 8 for ages 5 – 12. The theme will be “A Celebration of our American Roots.” Sign up before May 1st for a $20 discount. Call 785-830-9640 or email americanamusicacademy@gmail.com to reserve a spot, or for more information. Space is limited. Cost is $200 for a full week of fun, supplies, snacks, T-Shirt, and certificate! They are located at 1419 Massachusetts ST.

The 2014 WDC Annual Assembly will be held July 4-6 at Lakeview Camp & Retreat Center in Waxahachie, TX. http://www.lakeviewcamp.net Let Joanna know if you would be interested in riding with her (and others) on a charter bus from Newton and/or if you are interested in serving as a delegate this year. The focus will be celebrating our Year of the Bible and church planting. As more information becomes available, it will be posted at: http://mennowdc.org/conference-life/annual-assembly/

Planning is underway for the next Mennonite Church USA’s biennial convention, June 30-July 5, 2015 in Kansas City, MO. In the convention newsletter you will find information on the theme and scripture that has been chosen for this week, along with other convention details. A copy of the newsletter can be found at: here. As more planning is done, updates will be posted on the website, http://convention.mennoniteusa.org/.

Ten Thousand Villages is in need of both store volunteers and new board members. Please contact Carolyn Winters-Hazelton (cwinhazel@aol.com) if you would like more information about these opportunities.

Fair trade retailer in downtown Lawrence, Ten Thousand Villages, is seeking a full-time manager. Strong commitment is essential to the Ten Thousand Villages’ mission: to create opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to our markets through long-term, fair trading relationships. Contact tenthousandvillageslawrencehr@gmail.com, visit http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/lawrence, or call the store at (785) 856-7370 for more information.

Be a good steward of the environment and get a 1% reduction on the interest rate for a vehicle loan. That’s possible when you finance the purchase of a hybrid or fuel-efficient vehicle with an Everence Federal Credit Union vehicle loan. As of today, the new car loan rate is 2.49% for a 5 year or less loan. So, the rate would be 1.49% for a hybrid car. Call (800) 451-5719, or apply online at everence.com.

FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUNDS – Charitable giving can be a family activity with a family endowment fund administered by Mennonite Foundation, an affiliate of EVERENCE. Because such a fund is established for the long-term, it can involve multiple generations of family members, and charities enjoy long-term support. The fund is an ongoing account in which contributions are invested for the long-term. Only investment income is disbursed. The fund would bear your family name or any name you choose, and you and family members can donate a wide variety of assets to it. Deferred gifts, such as a charitable bequest in a will, life insurance proceeds, or the remainders of charitable trusts and gift annuities can be included, too. Since the foundation is a public foundation, the tax benefits are more generous than if you donated assets to a private foundation. We help convert non-cash assets to cash, and assist in getting qualified appraisals and documenting the value of your gifts. You receive immediate charitable tax deductions for your donations to your family endowment fund. Call 800-348-7468 for more information.

Serving in Worship this Sunday, April 27, 2014

Worship Leader: Steve Unruh; Song Leader: Joe Casad; Accompanist: Twila Schmidt; Prelude & Offertory: Mariah Kaufman; Scripture Reader: TBA; Children’s Time: Miriam Friesen; Sermon: TBA; Table: Roberta Hofer; Childcare: Rosie Claassen & TBA; Snacks: Rosie Claassen.

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
• Volunteer at Ten Thousand Villages, 835 Mass ST
• Help Greg clean our worship space

Calendar of Events

• Apr 25 ~ Taizé service
• Apr 25-27 ~ Women in Conversation Retreat
• Apr 27 ~ Visit 1700 RD property
• May 6 ~ Sonja Kaufman’s Birthday
• May 7 ~ Rob Claassen’s Birthday
• May 7 ~ Alison Unruh’s Birthday
• May 14 ~ John Johnson’s Birthday
• May 17 ~ Joni Fornelli’s Birthdaay
• 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 ~ Susan Rieger’s Birthday
• May 29 ~ Wilma Gates’ Birthday

From Camp Mennoscah

Online Payments–Camp Mennoscah is now accepting online payments for summer youth camps. Go to: http://www.campmennoscah.org for instructions and to pay. Registration forms must still be sent in separately. We hope this makes signing up for Camp Mennoscah easier for you!

How’s Your Summer Looking? We bet it’s empty and dull and needs some spicing up. We can help you! Camp Mennoscah is looking for kitchen helpers, head cooks, and nurses to make the camp experience great for our many campers. It’s a hootin’ fun way of being part of our camping ministry. Clanging camp bell, joyous shrieks, and free tee shirt included! Parents receive a camper discount. Contact us at 620-297-3290.

Read Full Post »

April 17, 2014 PMC E-News

E-News

Worship Opportunities for Holy Week and Easter:

•  The Lawrence Ecumenical Community Worship services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church,1245 New Hampshire ST,  12:00 pm, Monday, April 14 – Friday, April 18.  A simple  lunch will follow each service except on Friday. Everyone is encouraged to attend. Joanna will be preaching on Wednesday.
•  The Worship Committee will host a Good Friday Community Vigil on Friday, April 18 at 7:30 pm. We invite you to bring a creative piece to share that somehow reflects the theme of death. You may share music, visual art, dance, poetry, prose . . . something written/created by you or by someone else. The Worship Committee would appreciate knowing about contributions in advance — though last-minute sharing is also welcome. Committee members are: Ryan Ellett, Barbara Yoder, Roger Martin, Joe Casad, and Joanna Harader.
•  Plans for Easter Sunday include a Sunrise Service will be held on the church lawn at 6:30 am, and then a potluck brunch at 9:00 am in the PMC building.  Bring a dish to share and your own table service.

There will be a vigil at the Lawrence Jewish Community Center (917 Highland Dr.) Monday, April 21, 7:00 pm.  Various Lawrence faith communities will respond to the recent shooting in Overland Park with prayer, silence, and song, showing support for our Jewish sisters and brothers. The Merc has agreed to allow overflow parking for attendees; please park away from their doors so their customers can access them easily.

We will have an opportunity to visit the church property that we discussed at our most recent congregational meeting. You are welcome to arrive at 1115 N. 1700 RD beginning at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 27. We will have a brief service of hymns and prayer at 3:30, and you can stay and look around as long as you like. If there is sufficient interest in the property after this visit, the building group and Coordinating Committee will plan a special congregational meeting to discuss next steps.

God is doing a new thing in Lawrence! It’s an organization made up of congregations, whose mission will be to bring unity among believers and to do justice in the city. Next month, we will be investigating the theme of doing justice through a sermon series entitled “A City on a Hill”.  Eighteen congregations across Lawrence – 17 churches and the Islamic mosque – will be exploring what our sacred texts say about justice. As we gather for worship in the weeks after Easter, we can celebrate the fact that many other people of faith in Lawrence are also learning more about what it means to seek God’s justice in our world.

Free weekly email subscriptions available for WDC communication pieces:  1) WDC Seeds announces what’s new and good in Western District Conference ministries and congregations.  2) WDC Sprouts has articles from staff and information about Western District Conference and Mennonite Church USA events. To subscribe, email wdc@mennowdc.org.

The next Taizé service will be on Friday, April 25, 6:00 pm, Plymouth Congregational Church, 925 Vermont ST.  Bookmarks with all service dates and locations are available in the entryway.

From Lawrence Habitat ~ We are in need of a large group of volunteers for an upcoming event on Sunday, May 11. Body Boutique is hosting their WOW 5k run on Mother’s Day this year with all the proceeds benefiting Lawrence Habitat. Will you help us make the event a success?  Volunteer duties will consist of the following:  1. Finish Line; 2. Results; 3. Set up/take down; 4. Registration table; 5. Bib & t-shirt table; 6. Water station; 7. Food/beverage station; 8. Course guides.  We need your help in making this Mother’s Day 5k a success – grab a friend, your mother, your brother, your sister and come out Sunday for a couple hours of volunteering. Please contact me at maddie@lawrencehabitat.org or by calling the office at 785-832-0777 if you would like to help, and share the info with others who you think might want to, too! More info about the race can be found here:http://lawrencehabitat.org/wowrun/ . We appreciate you and the support you provide Lawrence Habitat.  Please note: volunteers are required to attend 2 volunteer info meetings taking place at Body Boutique. The last meeting on Sunday, May 4th is required. April 14th, 4:30-5:30 and Sunday, May 4th (required), 4:30-5:30. Please let us know if you have any questions, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Community Village Lawrence is excited to invite you to A Trip Down Memory Lane: 1969 Orange Bowl Revival with special guest Bobby Douglass on Sunday, April 27, from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at the Crown Toyota Showroom, 3430 Iowa Street. This is a date change from the original announcement). Please join us for a colorful afternoon of local food and beverages from Buffalo Bob’s, Ramen Bowls, Great Harvest, Eileen’s Colossal Cookies, and Johnny’s Tavern, 23rd Street Brewery, and On the Rocks and a variety of exciting auction items including local business and art items, KU memorabilia, and a vacation package! Music performance by the local Junkyard Jazz band. Guest Bobby Douglass is the KU quarterback at the 1969 Orange Bowl, and continued on to play for the Chicago Bears.  The event coincides with the launch of our free Telephone Reassurance, Home, and Fire Safety Programs in March. These sample services will help connect participants to resources in our community and assure participants and their families that all is well. Funds raised at the event will support our full launch in summer 2014 with a full vetted network of volunteers, discounted service providers, and member social and educational programs. Tickets are $10 for one or $15 for two. We are proud to have Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Johnny’s Tavern, Natural Breeze Remodeling, Benefits of Home, William J. Meyers, and First State Bank and Trust as our event sponsors. Contact: 785-505-0187 (Kris), 785-505-0188 (Allison), info@communityvillagelawrence.org,www.CommunityVillageLawrence.org

The Lawrence Dining for Women chapter had resumed its dinners. Dining for Women is a dinner giving circle. We “dine in” together once a month or so, each bringing a dish to share and our “dining out” dollars are sent to international programs empowering women. Dinners are scheduled on Apr 21, and May 19. All are held at Trinity Lutheran Church’s fellowship hall at 6 pm, 1245 New Hampshire. Join us for incredible food and fellowship as we change the world one dinner at a time! To learn more about this organization go to diningforwomen.org or contact Ann Chapman at 865-6876 or at achap@ku.edu.

MCC Central States is currently recruiting for a “Young Adult Program Coordinator” position.  This is a full-time position, working with the young adult programs for Central States, as well as leadership development.  The location is open within the Central States region, with a preference for an urban setting.  Persons who are interested can send a letter of intent and resume to Melissa Waltner (melissawaltner@mcc.org).  You can view the job description at: http://serve.mcc.org/positions/young-adult-program-coordinator-cs.

Americana Music Academy will be holding their Kid’s Summer Music Camp June 2 – 6 and August 4 – 8 for ages 5 – 12.  The theme  will be “A Celebration of our American Roots.”  Sign up before May 1st for a $20 discount.  Call 785-830-9640 or email americanamusicacademy@gmail.com to reserve a spot, or for more information. Space is limited. Cost is $200 for a full week of fun, supplies, snacks, T-Shirt, and certificate! They are located at 1419 Massachusetts ST.

The 2014 WDC Annual Assembly will be held July 4-6 at Lakeview Camp & Retreat Center in Waxahachie, TX. www.lakeviewcamp.net  Let Joanna know if you would be interested in riding with her (and others) on a charter bus from Newton and/or if you are interested in serving as a delegate this year.  The focus will be celebrating our Year of the Bible and church planting.   As more information becomes available, it will be posted at: http://mennowdc.org/conference-life/annual-assembly/

Planning is underway for the next Mennonite Church USA’s biennial convention, June 30-July 5, 2015 in Kansas City, MO.  In the convention newsletter you will find information on the theme and scripture that has been chosen for this week, along with other convention details. A copy of the newsletter can be found at: here.  As more planning is done, updates will be posted on the website, http://convention.mennoniteusa.org/.

Ten Thousand Villages is in need of both store volunteers and new board members. Please contact Carolyn Winters-Hazelton (cwinhazel@aol.com) if you would like more information about these opportunities.

Fair trade retailer in downtown Lawrence, Ten Thousand Villages, is seeking a full-time manager.  Strong commitment is essential to the Ten Thousand Villages’ mission: to create opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to our markets through long-term, fair trading relationships.  Contact tenthousandvillageslawrencehr@gmail.com, visit http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/lawrence, or call the store at (785) 856-7370 for more information.

Be a good steward of the environment and get a 1% reduction on the interest rate for a vehicle loan. That’s possible when you finance the purchase of a hybrid or fuel-efficient vehicle with an Everence Federal Credit Union vehicle loan.  As of today, the new car loan rate is 2.49% for a 5 year or less loan. So, the rate would be 1.49% for a hybrid car.  Call (800) 451-5719, or apply online at everence.com.

FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUNDS – Charitable giving can be a family activity with a family endowment fund administered by Mennonite Foundation, an affiliate of EVERENCE.   Because such a fund is established for the long-term, it can involve multiple generations of family members, and charities enjoy long-term support.  The fund is an ongoing account in which contributions are invested for the long-term. Only investment income is disbursed.  The fund would bear your family name or any name you choose, and you and family members can donate a wide variety of assets to it.  Deferred gifts, such as a charitable bequest in a will, life insurance proceeds, or the remainders of charitable trusts and gift annuities can be included, too. Since the foundation is a public foundation, the tax benefits are more generous than if you donated assets to a private foundation. We help convert non-cash assets to cash, and assist in getting qualified appraisals and documenting the value of your gifts. You receive immediate charitable tax deductions for your donations to your family endowment fund.  Call 800-348-7468 for more information.

Serving in Worship this Sunday, April 20, 2014

Worship Leader: Joe Casad; Song Leader: Andrea Zuercher; Accompanist: Whitney Baker; Prelude & Offertory & Scripture Reader: Jim Krause; Children’s Time and Sermon: Joanna Harader; Table: EVERYONE BRING FLOWERS!!

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
• Volunteer at Ten Thousand Villages, 835 Mass ST
• Help Greg clean our worship space

Calendar of Events

• Apr 14-18 ~ Holy Week Services, 12:00 pm
• Apr 16 ~ Joanna preaching at Holy Week service
• Apr 16 ~ PMC providing cookies for lunch at Holy Week service
• Apr 18 ~ Good Friday Community Vigil
• Apr 19 ~ Anne Bailey’s Birthday
• Apr 20 ~ Easter Sunrise Service, 6:30 am
• Apr 20 ~ Easter Brunch Potluck, 9:00 am
• Apr 21 ~ Vigil at Jewish Comm Center
• Apr 22 ~ Tor Fornelli’s Birthday
• Apr 25 ~ Taizé service
• Apr 25-27 ~ Women in Conversation Retreat
• Apr 27 ~ Visit 1700 RD property

From Camp Mennoscah

Online Payments–Camp Mennoscah is now accepting online payments for summer youth camps.  Go to: www.campmennoscah.org for instructions and to pay.  Registration forms must still be sent in separately.  We hope this makes signing up for Camp Mennoscah easier for you!

How’s Your Summer Looking? We bet it’s empty and dull and needs some spicing up. We can help you! Camp Mennoscah is looking for kitchen helpers, head cooks, and nurses to make the camp experience great for our many campers. It’s a hootin’ fun way of being part of our camping ministry. Clanging camp bell, joyous shrieks, and free tee shirt included! Parents receive a camper discount. Contact us at 620-297-3290.

Retirees’ Relaxation Retreat (April 21-23)–This retreat isn’t for just anyone. This retreat is only for retirees of all ages. The theme is Little Drops of Water, Little Grains of Sand and will focus on the little things we do that have a great impact. Bring a friend or two and enjoy a few days on the prairie! Contact us at 620-297-3290 for more information!

Men and Boys Retreat at Camp Mennoscah is April 4-6.  Come whenever you want over those three days, but meals will only be provided from Saturday supper through Sunday lunch. Peter Goerzen will be our speaker for the weekend.  No pre-registration is necessary. You’ll be able to sleep in the staff houses or cabins, or bring your own tent or RV. It’s a great weekend to fellowship, go fishing, or just hang out and do nothing. We’re still looking for church groups or individuals to help with meal preparation. For an optional work project, we might be sandbagging to combat erosion on the river bank. If you have any questions, or if you want to help with meals, call Kevin Neufeld at 316-284-0450.

 

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April 9, 2014 PMC E-News

E-News

Worship Opportunities for Holy Week and Easter:

• The Lawrence Ecumenical Community Worship services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church,1245 New Hampshire ST,  12:00 pm, Monday, April 14 – Friday, April 18.  A simple  lunch will follow each service except on Friday. Everyone is encouraged to attend. Joanna will be preaching on Wednesday.
• PMC will again be providing cookies during The Lawrence Ecumenical Holy Week services. We need six dozen cookies on Wednesday, April 16. You can deliver them to church by 11:00 am that day or take them to Trinity Lutheran Church before the noon service.
• The Worship Committee will host a Good Friday Community Vigil on Friday, April 18 at 7:30 pm. We invite you to bring a creative piece to share that somehow reflects the theme of death. You may share music, visual art, dance, poetry, prose . . . something written/created by you or by someone else. The Worship Committee would appreciate knowing about contributions in advance — though last-minute sharing is also welcome. Committee members are: Ryan Ellett, Barbara Yoder, Roger Martin, Joe Casad, and Joanna Harader.
• Plans for Easter Sunday include a Sunrise Service will be held on the church lawn at 6:30 am, and then a potluck brunch at 9:00 am in the PMC building. Bring a dish to share and your own table service.

Thank you to all who contributed your pennies to our Penny Power jar!  We collected a total of $66.32 for MCC!!  Thank you to Rob & Rosie for delivering them to the MCC Relief Sale in Hutchinson!

Rev. Bob Beecher, pastor at Beatrice Mennonite Church, died this past week after having a stroke. You are invited to sign the sympathy card we will be sending as a church.

This Monday, April 14, Ron Byler, the executive director of Mennonite Central Committee, will be in Lawrence. You are invited to join him and Joanna for the Holy Week worship service (noon at Trinity Lutheran) and/or for lunch following.

Free weekly email subscriptions available for WDC communication pieces:  1) WDC Seeds announces what’s new and good in Western District Conference ministries and congregations.  2) WDC Sprouts has articles from staff and information about Western District Conference and Mennonite Church USA events.  To subscribe, email wdc@mennowdc.org.

The next Taizé service will be on Friday, April 11, 6:00 pm, St. John the Evangelist Church, 1234 Kentucky ST.  Bookmarks with all service dates and locations are available in the entryway.

From Lawrence Habitat ~ We are in need of a large group of volunteers for an upcoming event on Sunday, May 11. Body Boutique is hosting their WOW 5k run on Mother’s Day this year with all the proceeds benefiting Lawrence Habitat. Will you help us make the event a success?  Volunteer duties will consist of the following:  1. Finish Line; 2. Results; 3. Set up/take down; 4. Registration table; 5. Bib & t-shirt table; 6. Water station; 7. Food/beverage station; 8. Course guides.  We need your help in making this Mother’s Day 5k a success – grab a friend, your mother, your brother, your sister and come out Sunday for a couple of hours of volunteering. Please contact me at maddie@lawrencehabitat.org or by calling the office at 785-832-0777 if you would like to help, and share the info with others who you think might want to, too! More info about the race can be found here:http://lawrencehabitat.org/wowrun/ . We appreciate you and the support you provide Lawrence Habitat.  Please note: volunteers are required to attend 2 volunteer info meetings taking place at Body Boutique. The last meeting on Sunday, May 4th is required. April 14th, 4:30-5:30 and Sunday, May 4th (required), 4:30-5:30. Please let us know if you have any questions, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Trinity Lutheran Church, 13th and New Hampshire (just south of South Park), will host the Trinity Fitness Walk (5K and 2K) on the Saturday, April 12. This will be a non-competitive walk – no times will be kept. It is a fun, fitness-raising event – not a fundraising event. The walk is designed for participants who just need a little extra incentive to get them out and walking in the springtime.

• The 2014 Trinity Fitness Walk will be held on Saturday, April 12 (weather permitting).
• Both 5K (3.10 miles) and 2K (1.24 miles) distances will be offered; these walk routes will begin and end at the church.
• Registration for all walkers will be held from 10-10:30 am, in the Trinity Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall.
• There is no fee to participate; however, participants are encouraged to bring a can of food which will be donated to the Trinity Interfaith Food Pantry.
• All walkers will be required to fill out a basic information form/liability release prior to the walk.
• If you have questions about the Trinity Fitness walk, please call Joan Wells, at 842-6160.

Community Village Lawrence is excited to invite you to A Trip Down Memory Lane: 1969 Orange Bowl Revival with special guest Bobby Douglass on Sunday, April 27, from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at the Crown Toyota Showroom, 3430 Iowa Street. This is a date change from the original announcement). Please join us for a colorful afternoon of local food and beverages from Buffalo Bob’s, Ramen Bowls, Great Harvest, Eileen’s Colossal Cookies, and Johnny’s Tavern, 23rd Street Brewery, and On the Rocks and a variety of exciting auction items including local business and art items, KU memorabilia, and a vacation package! Music performance by the local Junkyard Jazz band. Guest Bobby Douglass is the KU quarterback at the 1969 Orange Bowl, and continued on to play for the Chicago Bears.  The event coincides with the launch of our free Telephone Reassurance, Home, and Fire Safety Programs in March. These sample services will help connect participants to resources in our community and assure participants and their families that all is well. Funds raised at the event will support our full launch in summer 2014 with a full vetted network of volunteers, discounted service providers, and member social and educational programs. Tickets are $10 for one or $15 for two. We are proud to have Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Johnny’s Tavern, Natural Breeze Remodeling, Benefits of Home, William J. Meyers, and First State Bank and Trust as our event sponsors. Contact: 785-505-0187 (Kris), 785-505-0188 (Allison), info@communityvillagelawrence.org, www.CommunityVillageLawrence.org

The Lawrence Dining for Women chapter had resumed its dinners. Dining for Women is a dinner giving circle. We “dine in” together once a month or so, each bringing a dish to share and our “dining out” dollars are sent to international programs empowering women. Dinners are scheduled on Apr 21, and May 19. All are held at Trinity Lutheran Church’s fellowship hall at 6 pm, 1245 New Hampshire. Join us for incredible food and fellowship as we change the world one dinner at a time! To learn more about this organization go to diningforwomen.org or contact Ann Chapman at 865-6876 or at achap@ku.edu.

MCC Central States is currently recruiting for a “Young Adult Program Coordinator” position.  This is a full-time position, working with the young adult programs for Central States, as well as leadership development.  The location is open within the Central States region, with a preference for an urban setting.  Persons who are interested can send a letter of intent and resume to Melissa Waltner (melissawaltner@mcc.org).  You can view the job description at: http://serve.mcc.org/positions/young-adult-program-coordinator-cs.

Americana Music Academy will be holding their Kid’s Summer Music Camp, June 2 – 6 and August 4 – 8 for ages 5 – 12.  The theme  will be “A Celebration of our American Roots.”  Sign up before May 1st for a $20 discount.  Call 785-830-9640 or email americanamusicacademy@gmail.com to reserve a spot, or for more information. Space is limited. Cost is $200 for a full week of fun, supplies, snacks, T-Shirt, and certificate! They are located at 1419 Massachusetts ST.

The 2014 WDC Annual Assembly will be held July 4-6 at Lakeview Camp & Retreat Center in Waxahachie, TX. www.lakeviewcamp.net  Let Joanna know if you would be interested in riding with her (and others) on a charter bus from Newton and/or if you are interested in serving as a delegate this year.  The focus will be celebrating our Year of the Bible and church planting.   As more information becomes available, it will be posted at: http://mennowdc.org/conference-life/annual-assembly/

Planning is underway for the next Mennonite Church USA’s biennial convention, June 30-July 5, 2015 in Kansas City, MO.  In the convention newsletter you will find information on the theme and scripture that has been chosen for this week, along with other convention details. A copy of the newsletter can be found at: here.  As more planning is done, updates will be posted on the website, http://convention.mennoniteusa.org/.

Ten Thousand Villages is in need of both store volunteers and new board members. Please contact Carolyn Winters-Hazelton (cwinhazel@aol.com) if you would like more information about these opportunities.

Fair trade retailer in downtown Lawrence, Ten Thousand Villages, is seeking a full-time manager.  Strong commitment is essential to the Ten Thousand Villages’ mission: to create opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to our markets through long-term, fair trading relationships.  Contact tenthousandvillageslawrencehr@gmail.com, visit http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/lawrence, or call the store at (785) 856-7370 for more information.

Be a good steward of the environment and get a 1% reduction on the interest rate for a vehicle loan. That’s possible when you finance the purchase of a hybrid or fuel-efficient vehicle with an Everence Federal Credit Union vehicle loan.  As of today, the new car loan rate is 2.49% for a 5 year or less loan. So, the rate would be 1.49% for a hybrid car.  Call (800) 451-5719, or apply online at everence.com.

FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUNDS – Charitable giving can be a family activity with a family endowment fund administered by Mennonite Foundation, an affiliate of EVERENCE.   Because such a fund is established for the long-term, it can involve multiple generations of family members, and charities enjoy long-term support.  The fund is an ongoing account in which contributions are invested for the long-term. Only investment income is disbursed.  The fund would bear your family name or any name you choose, and you and family members can donate a wide variety of assets to it.  Deferred gifts, such as a charitable bequest in a will, life insurance proceeds, or the remainders of charitable trusts and gift annuities can be included, too. Since the foundation is a public foundation, the tax benefits are more generous than if you donated assets to a private foundation. We help convert non-cash assets to cash, and assist in getting qualified appraisals and documenting the value of your gifts. You receive immediate charitable tax deductions for your donations to your family endowment fund.  Call 800-348-7468 for more information.

Serving in Worship this Sunday, April 13, 2014

Worship Leader: Gary Brunk; Song Leader: Anne Bailey; Accompanist: Miriam Friesen; Prelude & Offertory: PMC Choir; Children’s Time & Coordinator: Barbara Yoder; Scripture Reader: Roger Martin; Speakers: Joe Casad & Roger Martin; Childcare: Ben Chappell & Jim Russo; Snacks: Sonja Kaufman; Communion Bread: Andrea Zuercher.

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
• Volunteer at Ten Thousand Villages, 835 Mass ST
• Help Greg clean our worship space

Calendar of Events

• Apr 9 ~ Kaylynn Weber’s Birthday
• Apr 10 ~ Rod Hofer’s Birthday
• Apr 11 ~ Taizé service
• Apr 11 & 12 ~ MCC Relief Sale
• Apr 12 ~ Judy Johnson’s Birthday
• Apr 12 ~ Guided writing workshop for women
• Apr 14-18 ~ Holy Week Services, 12:00 pm
• Apr 16 ~ Joanna preaching at Holy Week service
• Apr 16 ~ PMC providing cookies for lunch at Holy Week service
• Apr 18 ~ Good Friday Community Vigil
• Apr 19 ~ Anne Bailey’s Birthday
• Apr 20 ~ Easter Sunrise Service, 6:30 am
• Apr 20 ~ Easter Brunch Potluck, 9:00 am
• Apr 22 ~ Tor Fornelli’s Birthday
• Apr 25-27 ~ Women in Conversation Retreat

From Camp Mennoscah

Online Payments–Camp Mennoscah is now accepting online payments for summer youth camps.  Go to: www.campmennoscah.org for instructions and to pay.  Registration forms must still be sent in separately.  We hope this makes signing up for Camp Mennoscah easier for you!

How’s Your Summer Looking? We bet it’s empty and dull and needs some spicing up. We can help you! Camp Mennoscah is looking for kitchen helpers, head cooks, and nurses to make the camp experience great for our many campers. It’s a hootin’ fun way of being part of our camping ministry. Clanging camp bell, joyous shrieks, and free tee shirt included! Parents receive a camper discount. Contact us at 620-297-3290.

Retirees’ Relaxation Retreat (April 21-23)–This retreat isn’t for just anyone. This retreat is only for retirees of all ages. The theme is Little Drops of Water, Little Grains of Sand and will focus on the little things we do that have a great impact. Bring a friend or two and enjoy a few days on the prairie! Contact us at 620-297-3290 for more information!

Men and Boys Retreat at Camp Mennoscah is April 4-6.  Come whenever you want over those three days, but meals will only be provided from Saturday supper through Sunday lunch. Peter Goerzen will be our speaker for the weekend.  No pre-registration is necessary. You’ll be able to sleep in the staff houses or cabins, or bring your own tent or RV. It’s a great weekend to fellowship, go fishing, or just hang out and do nothing. We’re still looking for church groups or individuals to help with meal preparation. For an optional work project, we might be sandbagging to combat erosion on the river bank. If you have any questions, or if you want to help with meals, call Kevin Neufeld at 316-284-0450.

 

 

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April 2, 2014 PMC E-News

E-News

Only ONE more weeks to bring your pennies to contribute to our penny jar which will be donated to MCC’s Penny Power project. This is a project brought to you by PMC youth. Penny Power raises money for Mennonite Central Committee projects of peace, relief and development around the world. There will be special containers for your pennies, which will then be taken to the MCC Relief Sale in Hutchinson on April 11 & 12.

More new stuff on our church web site. Joanna has been hard at work on it again!!
There is now a new “Sermons” page. On this page, you will find:
–a link to Joanna’s blog, with many of her sermon manuscripts
–a link to Joe Casad’s sermon about the political context of Jesus’ day (which is really wonderful and took far too long to post)
–a link to our brand-spanking-new church podcast site with an audio file of this past Sunday’s sermon
If you have suggestions for the church web site, please pass them along. And if you’d like to help with site development and maintenance, let Joanna know.

The next Taizé service will be on Friday, April 4, 6:00 pm, Central United Methodist Church, 1501 Mass ST. Bookmarks with all service dates and locations are available in the entryway.

Be a good steward of the environment and get a 1% reduction on the interest rate for a vehicle loan. That’s possible when you finance the purchase of a hybrid or fuel efficient vehicle with an Everence Federal Credit Union vehicle loan. As of today, the new car loan rate is 2.49% for a 5 year or less loan. So, the rate would be 1.49% for a hybrid car. Call (800) 451-5719, or apply online at everence.com.

MCC Central States is currently recruiting for a “Young Adult Program Coordinator” position. This is a full-time position, working with the young adult programs for Central States, as well as leadership development. The location is open within the Central States region, with a preference for an urban setting. Persons who are interested can send a letter of intent and resume to Melissa Waltner (melissawaltner@mcc.org). You can view the job description at: http://serve.mcc.org/positions/young-adult-program-coordinator-cs.

Americana Music Academy will be holding their Kid’s Summer Music Camp June 2nd – 6th and August 4th – 8th for ages 5 – 12. The theme will be “A Celebration of our American Roots.” Sign up before May 1st for a $20 discount. Call 785-830-9640 or email americanamusicacademy@gmail.com to reserve a spot, or for more information. Space is limited. Cost is $200 for a full week of fun, supplies, snacks, T-Shirt, and certificate! They are located at 1419 Massachusetts ST.

From Lawrence Habitat ~ We are in need of a large group of volunteers for an upcoming event on Sunday, May 11th. Body Boutique is hosting their WOW 5k run on Mother’s Day this year with all the proceeds benefiting Lawrence Habitat. Will you help us make the event a success? Volunteer duties will consist of the following: 1. Finish Line; 2. Results; 3. Set up/take down; 4. Registration table; 5. Bib & t-shirt table; 6. Water station; 7. Food/beverage station; 8. Course guides. We need your help in making this Mother’s Day 5k a success – grab a friend, your mother, your brother, your sister and come out Sunday for a couple hours of volunteering. Please contact me at maddie@lawrencehabitat.org or by calling the office at 785-832-0777 if you would like to help, and share the info with others who you think might want to, too! More info about the race can be found here:http://lawrencehabitat.org/wowrun/ . We appreciate you and the support you provide Lawrence Habitat. Please note: volunteers are required to attend 2 volunteer info meetings taking place at Body Boutique. The last meeting on Sunday, May 4th is required. April 14th, 4:30-5:30 and Sunday, May 4th (required), 4:30-5:30. Please let us know if you have any questions, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Worship Opportunities for Holy Week and Easter:
~ The Lawrence Ecumenical Community Worship services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church,1245 New Hampshire ST, 12:00 pm, Monday, April 14 – Friday, April 18. A simple lunch will follow each service except on Friday. Everyone is encouraged to attend. Joanna will be preaching on Wednesday.
~ PMC will again be providing cookies during The Lawrence Ecumenical Holy Week services. We need six dozen cookies on Wednesday, April 16. You can deliver them to church by 11:00 am that day or take them to Trinity Lutheran Church before the noon service.
~ The Worship Committee will host a Good Friday Community Vigil on Friday, April 18 at 7:30 pm. We invite you to bring a creative piece to share that somehow reflects the theme of death. You may share music, visual art, dance, poetry, prose . . . something written/created by you or by someone else. The Worship Committee would appreciate knowing about contributions in advance — though last minute sharing is also welcome. Committee members are: Ryan Ellett, Barbara Yoder, Roger Martin, Joe Casad, and Joanna Harader.
~ Plans for Easter Sunday include a Sunrise Service will be held on the church lawn at 6:30 am, and then a potluck brunch at 9:00 am in the PMC building. Bring a dish to share and your own table service.

Dialog Institute of the SouthWest is organizing “Interfaith Academy Project” that is a 8 week informative lecture series. We hope that participants will enjoy the pleasure of learning more about different cultures, traditions and faiths. It is open to public. Interfaith Academy, a Jewish – Christian – Muslim Dialog Education Programs, is a collaborative initiative that created by Dialog Institute of the Southwest, Jewish Community Center, Ecumenical Campus Ministries, West Side Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church, St. John Evangelical Catholic Church, St. Margaret Episcopal Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Luke African American Church to foster interfaith understanding/friendship among the society that we live in. Dinners will be provided after the presentations. Please RSVP at eyyupesen@gmail.com three days before the event you want to participate. SESSION 8: April 6,5:00 pm. Worship and prayers in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Venue: St. Luke African American Church. Main Sponsor: St. Luke African American Church and Dialog Institute of the Southwest.

Trinity Lutheran Church, 13th and New Hampshire (just south of South Park), will host the Trinity Fitness Walk (5K and 2K) on the Saturday, April 12. This will be a non-competitive walk – no times will be kept. It is a fun, fitness-raising event – not a fundraising event. The walk is designed for participants who just need a little extra incentive to get them out and walking in the springtime.
The 2014 Trinity Fitness Walk will be held on Saturday, April 12 (weather permitting).
Both 5K (3.10 miles) and 2K (1.24 miles) distances will be offered; these walk routes will begin and end at the church.
Registration for all walkers will be held from 10-10:30 am, in the Trinity Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall.
There is no fee to participate; however, participants are encouraged to bring a can of food which will be donated to the Trinity Interfaith Food Pantry.
All walkers will be required to fill out a basic information form/liability release prior to the walk.
If you have questions about the Trinity Fitness walk, please call Joan Wells, at 842-6160.

Community Village Lawrence is excited to invite you to A Trip Down Memory Lane: 1969 Orange Bowl Revival with special guest Bobby Douglass on Sunday, April 27, from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at the Crown Toyota Showroom, 3430 Iowa Street. This is a date change from the original announcement). Please join us for a colorful afternoon of local food and beverages from Buffalo Bob’s, Ramen Bowls, Great Harvest, Eileen’s Colossal Cookies, and Johnny’s Tavern, 23rd Street Brewery, and On the Rocks and a variety of exciting auction items including local business and art items, KU memorabilia, and a vacation package! Music performance by the local Junkyard Jazz band. Guest Bobby Douglass is the KU quarterback at the 1969 Orange Bowl, and continued on to play for the Chicago Bears. The event coincides with the launch of our free Telephone Reassurance, Home, and Fire Safety Programs in March. These sample services will help connect participants to resources in our community and assure participants and their families that all is well. Funds raised at the event will support our full launch in summer 2014 with a full vetted network of volunteers, discounted service providers, and member social and educational programs. Tickets are $10 for one or $15 for two. We are proud to have Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Johnny’s Tavern, Natural Breeze Remodeling, Benefits of Home, William J. Meyers, and First State Bank and Trust as our event sponsors. Contact: 785-505-0187 (Kris), 785-505-0188 (Allison), info@communityvillagelawrence.org, http://www.CommunityVillageLawrence.org

The Lawrence Dining for Women chapter had resumed its dinners. Dining for Women is a dinner giving circle. We “dine in” together once a month or so, each bringing a dish to share and our “dining out” dollars are sent to international programs empowering women. Dinners are scheduled on Apr 21, and May 19. All are held at Trinity Lutheran Church’s fellowship hall at 6 pm, 1245 New Hampshire. Join us for incredible food and fellowship as we change the world one dinner at a time! To learn more about this organization go to diningforwomen.org or contact Ann Chapman at 865-6876 or at achap@ku.edu.

Women (sorry guys) are encouraged to join Joanna for the Women in Conversation retreat April 25-27 in Hesston. This event is co-sponsored by Mennonite Women USA and Laurelville Mennonite Church Center. Contact Joanna for more information.

The 2014 WDC Annual Assembly will be held July 4-6 at Lakeview Camp & Retreat Center in Waxahachie, TX. http://www.lakeviewcamp.net Let Joanna know if you would be interested in riding with her (and others) on a charter bus from Newton and/or if you are interested in serving as a delegate this year. The focus will be celebrating our Year of the Bible and church planting. As more information becomes available, it will be posted at: http://mennowdc.org/conference-life/annual-assembly/

Planning is underway for the next Mennonite Church USA’s biennial convention, June 30-July 5, 2015 in Kansas City, MO. In the convention newsletter you will find information on the theme and scripture that has been chosen for this week, along with other convention details. A copy of the newsletter can be found at: here. As more planning is done, updates will be posted on the website, http://convention.mennoniteusa.org/.

Ten Thousand Villages is in need of both store volunteers and new board members. Please contact Carolyn Winters-Hazelton (cwinhazel@aol.com) if you would like more information about these opportunities.

Fair trade retailer in downtown Lawrence, Ten Thousand Villages, is seeking a full-time manager. Strong commitment is essential to the Ten Thousand Villages’ mission: to create opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to our markets through long-term, fair trading relationships. Contact tenthousandvillageslawrencehr@gmail.com, visit http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/lawrence, or call the store at (785) 856-7370 for more information.

FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUNDS – Charitable giving can be a family activity with a family endowment fund administered by Mennonite Foundation, an affiliate of EVERENCE. Because such a fund is established for the long-term, it can involve multiple generations of family members, and charities enjoy long-term support. The fund is an ongoing account in which contributions are invested for the long-term. Only investment income is disbursed. The fund would bear your family name or any name you choose, and you and family members can donate a wide variety of assets to it. Deferred gifts, such as a charitable bequest in a will, life insurance proceeds, or the remainders of charitable trusts and gift annuities can be included, too. Since the foundation is a public foundation, the tax benefits are more generous than if you donated assets to a private foundation. We help convert non-cash assets to cash, and assist in getting qualified appraisals and documenting the value of your gifts. You receive immediate charitable tax deductions for your donations to your family endowment fund. Call 800-348-7468 for more information.

Serving in Worship this Sunday, April 6, 2014

Worship Leader: Jeff Weber; Song Leader: Jasmine Harader-Ellett; Accompanist: Whitney Baker; Prelude & Offertory: Ben Chappell and Marike Janzen; Children’s Time: Jim Russo; Scripture Reader: Patrice Krause; Preacher: Joanna Harader; Childcare: Doug Koch & TBA; Snacks: Andrea Zuercher.

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
• Volunteer at Ten Thousand Villages, 835 Mass ST
• Help Greg clean our worship space

Calendar of Events

• Apr 4 ~ Taizé service
• Apr 6 ~ Interfaith Academy Project; Session 8
• Apr 8 ~ Roberta Hofer’s Birthday
• Apr 9 ~ Kaylynn Weber’s Birthday
• Apr 10 ~ Rod Hofer’s Birthday
• Apr 11 & 12 ~ MCC Relief Sale
• Apr 12 ~ Judy Johnson’s Birthday
• Apr 12 ~ Guided writing workshop for women
• Apr 14-18 ~ Holy Week Services, 12:00 pm
• Apr 16 ~ Joanna preaching at Holy Week service
• Apr 16 ~ PMC providing cookies for lunch at Holy Week service
• Apr 18 ~ Good Friday Community Vigil
• Apr 19 ~ Anne Bailey’s Birthday
• Apr 20 ~ Easter Sunrise Service, 6:30 am
• Apr 20 ~ Easter Brunch Potluck, 9:00 am
• Apr 22 ~ Tor Fornelli’s Birthday
• Apr 25-27 ~ Women in Conversation Retreat

From Camp Mennoscah

Online Payments–Camp Mennoscah is now accepting online payments for summer youth camps. Go to: http://www.campmennoscah.org for instructions and to pay. Registration forms must still be sent in separately. We hope this makes signing up for Camp Mennoscah easier for you!

How’s Your Summer Looking? We bet it’s empty and dull and needs some spicing up. We can help you! Camp Mennoscah is looking for kitchen helpers, head cooks, and nurses to make the camp experience great for our many campers. It’s a hootin’ fun way of being part of our camping ministry. Clanging camp bell, joyous shrieks, and free tee shirt included! Parents receive a camper discount. Contact us at 620-297-3290.

Retirees’ Relaxation Retreat (April 21-23)–This retreat isn’t for just anyone. This retreat is only for retirees of all ages. The theme is Little Drops of Water, Little Grains of Sand and will focus on the little things we do that have a great impact. Bring a friend or two and enjoy a few days on the prairie! Contact us at 620-297-3290 for more information!

Men and Boys Retreat at Camp Mennoscah is April 4-6. Come whenever you want over those three days, but meals will only be provided from Saturday supper through Sunday lunch. Peter Goerzen will be our speaker for the weekend. No pre-registration is necessary. You’ll be able to sleep in the staff houses or cabins, or bring your own tent or RV. It’s a great weekend to fellowship, go fishing, or just hang out and do nothing. We’re still looking for church groups or individuals to help with meal preparation. For an optional work project, we might be sandbagging to combat erosion on the river bank. If you have any questions, or if you want to help with meals, call Kevin Neufeld at 316-284-0450.

Read Full Post »

March 27, 2014 PMC E-News

E-News

Please plan to attend our Congregational Meeting this Sunday, March 30, following worship and a potluck.  On the Agenda: budget report, committee reports, discussion and update of our Fall 2012 Process Agreement.  Please bring a dish to share at our meal and your own table service to save time on clean-up.  Let Joanna or LaVonne know if you will need childcare during the meeting.

More new stuff on our church website.  Joanna has been hard at work on it again!!  There is now a new “Sermons” page.  On this page, you will find:

• –a link to Joanna’s blog, with many of her sermon manuscripts
• –a link to Joe Casad’s sermon about the political context of Jesus’ day (which is really wonderful and took far too long to post)
• –a link to our brand-spanking-new church podcast site with an audio file of this past Sunday’s sermon

If you have suggestions for the church website, please pass them along. And if you’d like to help with site development and maintenance, let Joanna know.

Only TWO more weeks to bring your pennies to contribute to our penny jar which will be donated to MCC’s Penny Power project.  This is a project brought to you by PMC youth.  Penny Power raises money for Mennonite Central Committee projects of peace, relief and development around the world.  There will be special containers for your pennies, which will then be taken to the MCC Relief Sale in Hutchinson on April 11 & 12.

The next Taizé service will be on Friday, March 28, 6:00 pm, Plymouth Congregational Church, 925 Vermont ST.  Bookmarks with all service dates and locations are available in the entryway.

Anabaptist theologian J. Denny Weaver will speak at Central Baptist Seminary on Monday, March 31, 7-8:30 pm. His lecture is titled: “The Working of God: Atonement to Nonviolence.”  This lecture is open to the public.

Be a good steward of the environment and get a 1 percent reduction on the interest rate for a vehicle loan. That’s possible when you finance the purchase of a hybrid or fuel-efficient vehicle with an Everence Federal Credit Union vehicle loan.  As of today, the new car loan rate is 2.49% for a 5 year or less loan. So, the rate would be 1.49% for a hybrid car.  Call (800) 451-5719, or apply online at everence.com.

MCC Central States is currently recruiting for a “Young Adult Program Coordinator” position.  This is a full-time position, working with the young adult programs for Central States, as well as leadership development.  The location is open within the Central States region, with a preference for an urban setting.  Persons who are interested can send a letter of intent and resume to Melissa Waltner (melissawaltner@mcc.org).  You can view the job description at: http://serve.mcc.org/positions/young-adult-program-coordinator-cs.

Americana Music Academy will be holding their Kid’s Summer Music Camp June 2nd – 6th and August 4th – 8th for ages 5 – 12.  The theme  will be “A Celebration of our American Roots.”  Sign up before May 1st for a $20 discount.  Call 785-830-9640 or email americanamusicacademy@gmail.com to reserve a spot, or for more information. Space is limited. Cost is $200 for a full week of fun, supplies, snacks, T-Shirt, and certificate! They are located at 1419 Massachusetts ST.

From Lawrence Habitat ~ We are in need of a large group of volunteers for an upcoming event on Sunday, May 11th. Body Boutique is hosting their WOW 5k run on Mother’s Day this year with all the proceeds benefiting Lawrence Habitat. Will you help us make the event a success?  Volunteer duties will consist of the following:  1. Finish Line; 2. Results; 3. Set up/take down; 4. Registration table; 5. Bib & t-shirt table; 6. Water station; 7. Food/beverage station; 8. Course guides.  We need your help in making this Mother’s Day 5k a success – grab a friend, your mother, your brother, your sister and come out Sunday for a couple hours of volunteering. Please contact me at maddie@lawrencehabitat.org or by calling the office at 785-832-0777 if you would like to help, and share the info with others who you think might want to, too! More info about the race can be found here: http://lawrencehabitat.org/wowrun/ . We appreciate you and the support you provide Lawrence Habitat.  Please note: volunteers are required to attend 2 volunteer info meetings taking place at Body Boutique. The last meeting on Sunday, May 4th is required. April 14th, 4:30-5:30 and Sunday, May 4th (required), 4:30-5:30. Please let us know if you have any questions, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Worship Opportunities for Holy Week and Easter:

• The Lawrence Ecumenical Community Worship services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church,1245 New Hampshire ST,  12:00 pm, Monday, April 14 – Friday, April 18.  A simple  lunch will follow each service except on Friday. Everyone is encouraged to attend. Joanna will be preaching on Wednesday.  
• PMC will again be providing cookies during The Lawrence Ecumenical Holy Week services. We need six dozen cookies on Wednesday, April 16. You can deliver them to church by 11:00 am that day or take them to Trinity Lutheran Church before the noon service.
• The Worship Committee will host a Good Friday Community Vigil on Friday, April 18 at 7:30 pm. We invite you to bring a creative piece to share that somehow reflects the theme of death. You may share music, visual art, dance, poetry, prose . . . something written/created by you or by someone else. The Worship Committee would appreciate knowing about contributions in advance — though last minute sharing is also welcome. Committee members are: Ryan Ellett, Barbara Yoder, Roger Martin, Joe Casad, and Joanna Harader.
• Plans for Easter Sunday include a Sunrise Service will be held on the church lawn at 6:30 am, and then a potluck brunch at 9:00 am in the PMC building.  Bring a dish to share and your own table service.

Dialog Institute of the SouthWest is organizing “Interfaith Academy Project” that is a 8 week informative lecture series. We hope that  participants will enjoy the pleasure of learning more about different cultures, traditions and faiths. It is open to public. Interfaith Academy, a Jewish – Christian – Muslim Dialog Education Programs, is a collaborative initiative that created by Dialog Institute of the Southwest, Jewish Community Center, Ecumenical Campus Ministries, West Side Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church, St. John Evangelical Catholic Church, St. Margaret Episcopal Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Luke African American Church to foster interfaith understanding/friendship among the society that we live in. Dinners will be provided after the presentations. Please RSVP at eyyupesen@gmail.com three days before the event you want to participate.   SESSION 7:  March 30, 5:00 pm.  Stewardship-Giving in Abrahamic Traditions.  Venue: Trinity Lutheran Church.  Main Sponsor: Trinity Lutheran Church and Dialog Institute of the Southwest.  SESSION 8:  April 6,5:00 pm.  Worship and prayers in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.  Venue: St. Luke African American Church.  Main Sponsor: St. Luke African American Church and Dialog Institute of the Southwest.

Join us for a Holden Evening Prayer service on Tuesday, April 1, at 7:30 pm. We will worship with the good folks at Lutheran Campus Ministry in their building: 1421 W 19th Street (next to the Islamic Center).

“Find Your Voice, Write Your Stories,” a guided writing workshop for women, will be offered at the Hollis Retreat Center, Kansas City, KS on Saturday, April 12, 2014 from 9 am – 4 pm.   Everyone’s story is worth telling. The workshop leader, Brenda Glanzer Lilliston, M.Div., BCC, SSHC is a certified Legacy Facilitator called a LifeSAGEr. Come spend the day away from your normal routine to get in touch with what really matters – your legacy.   Bring your sister, your mother, your neighbor, your friend…and join us for a day of retreat and intentional focus on writing your stories.  Cost: $100 (includes lunch) Makes a great early Mother’s Day gift!  See brochure for more details.  Registration deadline: April 1, 2014.

Trinity Lutheran Church, 13th and New Hampshire (just south of South Park), will host the Trinity Fitness Walk (5K and 2K) on the Saturday, April 12. This will be a non-competitive walk – no times will be kept. It is a fun, fitness-raising event – not a fundraising event. The walk is designed for participants who just need a little extra incentive to get them out and walking in the springtime.

• The 2014 Trinity Fitness Walk will be held on Saturday, April 12 (weather permitting).
• Both 5K (3.10 miles) and 2K (1.24 miles) distances will be offered; these walk routes will begin and end at the church.
• Registration for all walkers will be held from 10-10:30 am, in the Trinity Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall.
• There is no fee to participate; however, participants are encouraged to bring a can of food which will be donated to the Trinity Interfaith Food Pantry.
• All walkers will be required to fill out a basic information form/liability release prior to the walk.
• If you have questions about the Trinity Fitness walk, please call Joan Wells, at 842-6160.

Community Village Lawrence is excited to invite you to A Trip Down Memory Lane: 1969 Orange Bowl Revival with special guest Bobby Douglass on Sunday, April 27, from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at the Crown Toyota Showroom, 3430 Iowa Street. This is a date change from the original announcement). Please join us for a colorful afternoon of local food and beverages from Buffalo Bob’s, Ramen Bowls, Great Harvest, Eileen’s Colossal Cookies, and Johnny’s Tavern, 23rd Street Brewery, and On the Rocks and a variety of exciting auction items including local business and art items, KU memorabilia, and a vacation package! Music performance by the local Junkyard Jazz band. Guest Bobby Douglass is the KU quarterback at the 1969 Orange Bowl, and continued on to play for the Chicago Bears.  The event coincides with the launch of our free Telephone Reassurance, Home, and Fire Safety Programs in March. These sample services will help connect participants to resources in our community and assure participants and their families that all is well. Funds raised at the event will support our full launch in summer 2014 with a full vetted network of volunteers, discounted service providers, and member social and educational programs. Tickets are $10 for one or $15 for two. We are proud to have Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Johnny’s Tavern, Natural Breeze Remodeling, Benefits of Home, William J. Meyers, and First State Bank and Trust as our event sponsors. Contact: 785-505-0187 (Kris), 785-505-0188 (Allison), info@communityvillagelawrence.org, www.CommunityVillageLawrence.org

The Lawrence Dining for Women chapter had resumed its dinners. Dining for Women is a dinner giving circle. We “dine in” together once a month or so, each bringing a dish to share and our “dining out” dollars are sent to international programs empowering women. Dinners are scheduled on Apr 21, and May 19. All are held at Trinity Lutheran Church’s fellowship hall at 6 pm, 1245 New Hampshire. Join us for incredible food and fellowship as we change the world one dinner at a time! To learn more about this organization go to diningforwomen.org or contact Ann Chapman at 865-6876 or at achap@ku.edu.

Women (sorry guys) are encouraged to join Joanna for the Women in Conversation retreat April 25-27 in Hesston. This event is co-sponsored by Mennonite Women USA and Laurelville Mennonite Church Center. Contact Joanna for more information.

The 2014 WDC Annual Assembly will be held July 4-6 at Lakeview Camp & Retreat Center in Waxahachie, TX. www.lakeviewcamp.net  Let Joanna know if you would be interested in riding with her (and others) on a charter bus from Newton and/or if you are interested in serving as a delegate this year.  The focus will be celebrating our Year of the Bible and church planting.   As more information becomes available, it will be posted at: http://mennowdc.org/conference-life/annual-assembly/

Planning is underway for the next Mennonite Church USA’s biennial convention, June 30-July 5, 2015 in Kansas City, MO.  In the convention newsletter you will find information on the theme and scripture that has been chosen for this week, along with other convention details. A copy of the newsletter can be found at: here.  As more planning is done, updates will be posted on the website, http://convention.mennoniteusa.org/.

Ten Thousand Villages is in need of both store volunteers and new board members. Please contact Carolyn Winters-Hazelton (cwinhazel@aol.com) if you would like more information about these opportunities.

Fair trade retailer in downtown Lawrence, Ten Thousand Villages, is seeking a full-time manager.  Strong commitment is essential to the Ten Thousand Villages’ mission: to create opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to our markets through long-term, fair trading relationships.  Contact tenthousandvillageslawrencehr@gmail.com, visit http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/lawrence, or call the store at (785) 856-7370 for more information.

FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUNDS – Charitable giving can be a family activity with a family endowment fund administered by Mennonite Foundation, an affiliate of EVERENCE.   Because such a fund is established for the long-term, it can involve multiple generations of family members, and charities enjoy long-term support.  The fund is an ongoing account in which contributions are invested for the long-term. Only investment income is disbursed.  The fund would bear your family name or any name you choose, and you and family members can donate a wide variety of assets to it.  Deferred gifts, such as a charitable bequest in a will, life insurance proceeds, or the remainders of charitable trusts and gift annuities can be included, too. Since the foundation is a public foundation, the tax benefits are more generous than if you donated assets to a private foundation. We help convert non-cash assets to cash, and assist in getting qualified appraisals and documenting the value of your gifts. You receive immediate charitable tax deductions for your donations to your family endowment fund.  Call 800-348-7468 for more information.

Serving in Worship this Sunday, March 30, 2014

Worship Leader: Joanna Harader; Song Leader: Jim Krause; Accompanist, Prelude & Offertory: Twila Schmidt;  Children’s Time: Patrice Krause; Scripture Reader: Stan Moyer; Speaker: Ryan Ellett; Childcare: Patrice Krause & Jenny Buller.

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
• Volunteer at Ten Thousand Villages, 835 Mass ST
• Help Greg clean our worship space

Calendar of Events

• Mar 27 ~ Bert Haverkate-Ens’ Birthday
• Mar 28 ~ Taizé service
• Mar 30 ~ Congregation Meeting & Potluck
• Mar 30 ~  Interfaith Academy Project; Session 7
• Apr 1 ~ Holden Evening Prayer service; Lutheran Campus Ministry
• Apr 6 ~ Interfaith Academy Project; Session 8
• Apr 8 ~ Roberta Hofer’s Birthday
• Apr 9 ~ Kaylynn Weber’s Birthday
• Apr 10 ~ Rod Hofer’s Birthday
• Apr 11 & 12 ~ MCC Relief Sale
• Apr 12 ~ Judy Johnson’s Birthday
• Apr 12 ~ Guided writing workshop for women
• Apr 14-18 ~ Holy Week Services, 12:00 pm
• Apr 16 ~ Joanna preaching at Holy Week service
• Apr 16 ~ PMC providing cookies for lunch at Holy Week service
• Apr 18 ~ Good Friday Community Vigil
• Apr 19 ~ Anne Bailey’s Birthday
• Apr 20 ~ Easter Sunrise Service, 6:30 am
• Apr 20 ~ Easter Brunch Potluck, 9:00 am
• Apr 22 ~ Tor Fornelli’s Birthday
• Apr 25-27 ~ Women in Conversation Retreat

From Camp Mennoscah

Online Payments–Camp Mennoscah is now accepting online payments for summer youth camps.  Go to: www.campmennoscah.org for instructions and to pay.  Registration forms must still be sent in separately.  We hope this makes signing up for Camp Mennoscah easier for you!

How’s Your Summer Looking? We bet it’s empty and dull and needs some spicing up. We can help you! Camp Mennoscah is looking for kitchen helpers, head cooks, and nurses to make the camp experience great for our many campers. It’s a hootin’ fun way of being part of our camping ministry. Clanging camp bell, joyous shrieks, and free tee-shirt included! Parents receive a camper discount. Contact us at 620-297-3290.

Retirees’ Relaxation Retreat (April 21-23)–This retreat isn’t for just anyone. This retreat is only for retirees of all ages. The theme is Little Drops of Water, Little Grains of Sand and will focus on the little things we do that have a great impact. Bring a friend or two and enjoy a few days on the prairie! Contact us at 620-297-3290 for more information!

Men and Boys Retreat at Camp Mennoscah is April 4-6.  Come whenever you want over those three days, but meals will only be provided from Saturday supper through Sunday lunch. Peter Goerzen will be our speaker for the weekend.  No pre-registration is necessary. You’ll be able to sleep in the staff houses or cabins, or bring your own tent or RV. It’s a great weekend to fellowship, go fishing, or just hang out and do nothing. We’re still looking for church groups or individuals to help with meal preparation. For an optional work project, we might be sandbagging to combat erosion on the river bank. If you have any questions, or if you want to help with meals, call Kevin Neufeld at 316-284-0450.

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March 20, 2014 PMC E-News

E-News

Easter Sunrise Service will be held at John and Sue Young’s house: 23941 Cantrell RD.

Planning is underway for the next Mennonite Church USA’s biennial convention, June 30-July 5, 2015 in Kansas City, MO.  In the convention newsletter you will find information on the theme and scripture that has been chosen for this week, along with other convention details. A copy of the newsletter can be found at: here.  As more planning is done, updates will be posted on the website, http://convention.mennoniteusa.org/.

Ten Thousand Villages is in need of both store volunteers and new board members. Please contact Carolyn Winters-Hazelton (cwinhazel@aol.com) if you would like more information about these opportunities.

Fair trade retailer in downtown Lawrence, Ten Thousand Villages, is seeking a full-time manager.  Strong commitment is essential to the Ten Thousand Villages’ mission: to create opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to our markets through long-term, fair trading relationships.  Contact tenthousandvillageslawrencehr@gmail.com, visit http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/lawrence, or call the store at (785) 856-7370 for more information.

This Sunday, March 23, Southern Hills Mennonite in Topeka will host a Bible Festival with guest speaker Sarah Wenger-Shank. Contact Southern Hills for more information. (southernhillsmc@networkplus.net)

Dialog Institute of the SouthWest is organizing “Interfaith Academy Project” that is a 8 week informative lecture series. We hope that  participants will enjoy the pleasure of learning more about different cultures, traditions and faiths. It is open to public. Interfaith Academy, a Jewish – Christian – Muslim Dialog Education Programs, is a collaborative initiative that created by Dialog Institute of the Southwest, Jewish Community Center, Ecumenical Campus Ministries, West Side Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church, St. John Evangelical Catholic Church, St. Margaret Episcopal Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Luke African American Church to foster interfaith understanding/friendship among the society that we live in. Dinners will be provided after the presentations. Please RSVP at eyyupesen@gmail.com three days before the event you want to participate.   SESSION 7:  March 30, 5:00 pm.  Stewardship-Giving in Abrahamic Traditions.  Venue: Trinity Lutheran Church.  Main Sponsor: Trinity Lutheran Church and Dialog Institute of the Southwest.  SESSION 8:  April 6,5:00 pm.  Worship and prayers in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.  Venue: St. Luke African American Church.  Main Sponsor: St. Luke African American Church and Dialog Institute of the Southwest.

Bethel College Concert Choir will be performing at Yardley Hall on the campus of Johnson County Community College at 7:30 p.m. on the evening of Saturday, March 22.  Members of your congregation are cordially invited to attend.  The concert is free, and there won’t even be an offering taken!  There will also be a reception following the concert. ~ Dale Schrag

Our next Congregational Meeting will be held on March 30, following worship and a potluck.  On the Agenda: budget report, committee reports, discussion and update of our Fall 2012 Process Agreement.  Please bring a dish to share at our meal and your own table service to save time on clean-up.  Let Joanna or LaVonne know if you will need childcare during the meeting.

Join us for a Holden Evening Prayer service on Tuesday, April 1, at 7:30 pm. We will worship with the good folks at Lutheran Campus Ministry in their building: 1421 E. 19th Street (next to the Islamic Center).

“Find Your Voice, Write Your Stories,” a guided writing workshop for women, will be offered at the Hollis Retreat Center, Kansas City, KS on Saturday, April 12, 2014 from 9 am – 4 pm.   Everyone’s story is worth telling. The workshop leader, Brenda Glanzer Lilliston, M.Div., BCC, SSHC is a certified Legacy Facilitator called a LifeSAGEr. Come spend the day away from your normal routine to get in touch with what really matters – your legacy.   Bring your sister, your mother, your neighbor, your friend…and join us for a day of retreat and intentional focus on writing your stories.  Cost: $100 (includes lunch) Makes a great early Mother’s Day gift!  See brochure for more details.  Registration deadline: April 1, 2014.

PMC youth will be collecting pennies throughout Lent to donate to MCC’s Penny Power project.  Penny Power raises money for Mennonite Central Committee projects of peace, relief and development around the world.  There will be special containers for your pennies, which will then be taken to the MCC Relief Sale in Hutchinson on April 11 & 12.

Click on the following link to view a video of the “Pulpit Exchange” service and sermon Joanna gave at Rainbow Mennonite Church:  https://vimeo.com/87963539  The password:  rmc14

Trinity Lutheran Church, 13th and New Hampshire (just south of South Park), will host the Trinity Fitness Walk (5K and 2K) on the Saturday, April 12. This will be a non-competitive walk – no times will be kept. It is a fun, fitness-raising event – not a fundraising event. The walk is designed for participants who just need a little extra incentive to get them out and walking in the springtime.

• The 2014 Trinity Fitness Walk will be held on Saturday, April 12 (weather permitting).
• Both 5K (3.10 miles) and 2K (1.24 miles) distances will be offered; these walk routes will begin and end at the church.
• Registration for all walkers will be held from 10-10:30 am, in the Trinity Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall.
• There is no fee to participate; however, participants are encouraged to bring a can of food which will be donated to the Trinity Interfaith Food Pantry.
• All walkers will be required to fill out a basic information form/liability release prior to the walk.
• If you have questions about the Trinity Fitness walk, please call Joan Wells, at 842-6160.

Community Village Lawrence is excited to invite you to A Trip Down Memory Lane: 1969 Orange Bowl Revival with special guest Bobby Douglass on Sunday, April 27, from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at the Crown Toyota Showroom, 3430 Iowa Street. This is a date change from the original announcement). Please join us for a colorful afternoon of local food and beverages from Buffalo Bob’s, Ramen Bowls, Great Harvest, Eileen’s Colossal Cookies, and Johnny’s Tavern, 23rd Street Brewery, and On the Rocks and a variety of exciting auction items including local business and art items, KU memorabilia, and a vacation package! Music performance by the local Junkyard Jazz band. Guest Bobby Douglass is the KU quarterback at the 1969 Orange Bowl, and continued on to play for the Chicago Bears.  The event coincides with the launch of our free Telephone Reassurance, Home, and Fire Safety Programs in March. These sample services will help connect participants to resources in our community and assure participants and their families that all is well. Funds raised at the event will support our full launch in summer 2014 with a full vetted network of volunteers, discounted service providers, and member social and educational programs. Tickets are $10 for one or $15 for two. We are proud to have Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Johnny’s Tavern, Natural Breeze Remodeling, Benefits of Home, William J. Meyers, and First State Bank and Trust as our event sponsors. Contact: 785-505-0187 (Kris), 785-505-0188 (Allison), info@communityvillagelawrence.org, www.CommunityVillageLawrence.org

The Lawrence Dining for Women chapter had resumed its dinners. Dining for Women is a dinner giving circle. We “dine in” together once a month or so, each bringing a dish to share and our “dining out” dollars are sent to international programs empowering women. Dinners are scheduled on Apr 21, and May 19. All are held at Trinity Lutheran Church’s fellowship hall at 6 pm, 1245 New Hampshire. Join us for incredible food and fellowship as we change the world one dinner at a time! To learn more about this organization go to diningforwomen.org or contact Ann Chapman at 865-6876 or at achap@ku.edu.

Women (sorry guys) are encouraged to join Joanna for the Women in Conversation retreat April 25-27 in Hesston. This event is co-sponsored by Mennonite Women USA and Laurelville Mennonite Church Center. Contact Joanna for more information.

The 2014 WDC Annual Assembly will be held July 4-6 at Lakeview Camp & Retreat Center in Waxahachie, TX. www.lakeviewcamp.net  Let Joanna know if you would be interested in riding with her (and others) on a charter bus from Newton and/or if you are interested in serving as a delegate this year.  The focus will be celebrating our Year of the Bible and church planting.   As more information becomes available, it will be posted at: http://mennowdc.org/conference-life/annual-assembly/

There is a new reading plan available with five weekly scripture readings listed. For those reading through the entire Bible, you will want to read all five readings each week–possibly one reading per week day. You can also select a reading track if you prefer a lighter reading load. For a track, you would read one (or more) of the assigned readings per week. Bookmarks are in your mail folders.

• First Reading: New Testament. Along with the reading plan we just finished, this track will take you through the entire New Testament. (2-3 chapters per week)
• Second Reading: Poetry.  Read through the Psalms, interspersed with other poetic books of the Bible–Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, and Lamentations.  (About 5 chapters per week.)
• Third Reading: History. This track takes you through the first five books of the Bible, plus the historical books of 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, and 1 & 2 Chronicles. (9-10 chapters per week)
• Fourth Reading: Prophets. This track includes the major and minor prophetic books of the Hebrew scriptures. (About 6 chapters per week)
• Fifth Reading: Anti/Heroes.  This track explores some of the interesting characters in the Old Testament–Joshua, the Judges, Ruth, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, and Daniel.

FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUNDS – Charitable giving can be a family activity with a family endowment fund administered by Mennonite Foundation, an affiliate of EVERENCE.   Because such a fund is established for the long-term, it can involve multiple generations of family members, and charities enjoy long-term support.  The fund is an ongoing account in which contributions are invested for the long-term. Only investment income is disbursed.  The fund would bear your family name or any name you choose, and you and family members can donate a wide variety of assets to it.  Deferred gifts, such as a charitable bequest in a will, life insurance proceeds, or the remainders of charitable trusts and gift annuities can be included, too. Since the foundation is a public foundation, the tax benefits are more generous than if you donated assets to a private foundation. We help convert non-cash assets to cash, and assist in getting qualified appraisals and documenting the value of your gifts. You receive immediate charitable tax deductions for your donations to your family endowment fund.  Call 800-348-7468 for more information.

Serving in Worship this Sunday, March 23, 2014

Worship Leader: Andrea Zuercher; Song Leader: Joe Casad; Accompanist: Whitney Baker; Prelude & Offertory: Joni Fornelli and Jasmine Harader-Ellett; Children’s Time: Lidia Pagán; Scripture Reader: Joni Fornelli; Preacher: Joanna Harader; Childcare: Carol Moyer & Sara Weber; Snacks: Barb Preheim.

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
• Volunteer at Ten Thousand Villages, 835 Mass ST
• Help Greg clean our worship space

Calendar of Events

• Mar 23 ~ Ben Chappell’s Birthday
• Mar 24 ~ Mike Kaufman’s Birthday
• Mar 27 ~ Bert Haverkate-Ens’ Birthday
• Mar 30 ~ Congregation Meeting & Potluck
• Mar 30 ~  Interfaith Academy Project; Session 7
• Apr 1 ~ Holden Evening Prayer service; Lutheran Campus Ministry
• Apr 6 ~ Interfaith Academy Project; Session 8
• Apr 11 & 12 ~ MCC Relief Sale
• Apr 12 ~ Guided writing workshop for women
• Apr 25-27 ~ Women in Conversation Retreat

From Camp Mennoscah

Online Payments–Camp Mennoscah is now accepting online payments for summer youth camps.  Go to: www.campmennoscah.org for instructions and to pay.  Registration forms must still be sent in separately.  We hope this makes signing up for Camp Mennoscah easier for you!

How’s Your Summer Looking? We bet it’s empty and dull and needs some spicing up. We can help you! Camp Mennoscah is looking for kitchen helpers, head cooks, and nurses to make the camp experience great for our many campers. It’s a hootin’ fun way of being part of our camping ministry. Clanging camp bell, joyous shrieks, and free tee shirt included! Parents receive a camper discount. Contact us at 620-297-3290.

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