First Mennonite Church is affiliated with the Central District Conference of Mennonite Church USA . The Mennonites are named after Menno Simons, one of our early church leaders, and are rooted historically in the “Anabaptist” movement, which began in 1525, with origins in Switzerland , Germany , and the Netherlands now reaching around the world.

Some primary Anabaptist convictions then and now are following Jesus Christ in service to others, rejection of violence and war, and joyful community life.

TODAY, August 24, 2008

   9:15 a.m.   -    Worship/Communion Service – Steven Yoder & Louise Wideman preaching

10:30 a.m.    -    Congregational Meeting, Sanctuary

12:00 p.m.    -    All Church Picnic – Village Park

THIS WEEK

Tuesday (26^th)      -     Morning Prayers, 7:00 a.m. Sanctuary

-        Staff Meeting, 9:00 a.m. , Parlor

Thursday (28^th)     -     Deacons Commission, 7:00 p.m. , Parlor

Friday (29^th)          -     Folding Menno-Life

NEXT SUNDAY

  9:15 a.m.   -     Christian Education for all ages

10:30 a.m.    -    Worship Service - Steven Yoder preaching

                         Scripture Texts: Exodus 3:1-15; Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c; Romans 12:4-21;  Matthew 16:21-28

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Today’s Psalm reading is from The Iona Abbey Worship Book published by Wild Goose Publications. 

The ann ual All Church Picnic is today at noon at Village Park . Plan to bring food to share, your own dishes, and lawn chairs. Water will be provided to drink. Organized games for children, ages 2-8, will be lead by Paul Neufeld Weaver and Tim P ann abecker.

Youth and Parents in Venture Club, JHYF and SHYF - We will have a potluck lunch after church on September 7 followed by brief meetings in our small groups to discuss scheduling for the year ahead. Please bring a dish or two to share and your own table service.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FIRST MENNONITE WOMEN – the one’s with true heart. Our September 8 meeting, 7:00 p.m. , Fellowship Hall, will be one you do not want to miss.  Jo ann e Sauder will show and speak about Women of the Bible Quilt.  Don’t forget your materials for school and relief kits. Let’s have a great heart year. 

                                                                                                             ~Joan Bauman, Mennonite Women President

OFFER YOUR MUSICAL GIFTS TO GOD and FMC:  All choirs and bells will begin re­hears­als on Wednesday, Sept. 3 for the fall season. Joyful Noise for grades K-3 ( Laurel Neufeld Weaver 419-358-0826), Jubilate for grades 4-8 (Cody Ridenour 419-230-0647), and Adult Bells (Ray Raeburn 419-358-1921) will be meeting at 6:00 p.m. Chancel Choir (Mark Suderman 419-358-1284) and Youth Bells (Ray Raeburn) will be meeting at 7:00 p.m.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call the directors. Enjoy these wonderful experiences that so greatly enhance our worship and spiritual growth.

It’s time for School kits! Lists for contents are on the bulletin table and it’s a good time to buy because of “back to school” sales. There are boxes on the pew in the Fellowship Hall for bags for kits, a box for filled kits, and a box for partial contents of a kit. 

We are also in need of volunteers to cut and/or make bags. Irene Hamman is making bags (last year she made 60 bags) but needs some help. Instructions for making bags are also on the bulletin table. Thread and fabric for bags gets expensive so donations of these items or towards these items is welcome. Last year we sent 80 kits - lets exceed that!! Any questions contact Ginger Theis at 419-358-4717. Thank you!

Tom Holmes and Jason Upthegrove will join us again for more conversation about the Circles program beginning soon in Lima . They shared here on July 13 in the Sunday morning worship. The meeting on Sept.7 will take place at 6:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall for all who are interested in knowing more about this program where small groups help people to become acquainted crossing racial and economic boundaries. Jason is president of the NAACP in Lima and Tom is executive director of Covenant Ministries.

                                                                                                            ~ Mission , Peace and Service Commission

Are you interested in exploring membership at First Mennonite Church ? A membership class will begin on October 26 and meet for four different sessions covering a range of topics. New members will be welcomed on Sunday, November 23. Please inform either Pastor Louise or Pastor Steve if you are interested. We will work to accommodate schedules if Sunday afternoons aren’t convenient for you.

Have extra vegetables in your garden? Share them with families in need.  Donations can be dropped off on the table underneath the stairs of the main entrance by 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday evenings through September 16. They will be taken to a food pantry or soup kitchen in Lima .

This school year there are sixten members of our church who will be full time students at Mennonite Colleges , Universites or Seminaries. We have received enough contributions to cover our fall scholarship payments but we still need approxi­mately $4,500 more to cover the $8,000 payment that we will need to make in late December. If you are interested in this program and have not already pledged or given please consider making a pledge now so that we can adequately plan for the funds to cover our next payment in December. If you wish you can sign and date a simple pledge note and put it directly in the offering plate or you can request a pledge form from the church office.                 ~George Lehman, Church College Relations Committee Chair

All Church Potluck to welcome University students is pl ann ed for Sunday, September 14 following worship.

A training session Safe Sanctuary for Children and Youth will be held on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 14^th in the Assembly Room immediately following the church potluck at noon . This training session is for anyone who is volunteering with nursery, elementary, Jr. High or Sr. High age youth and were not able to attend the training session last year. Laurel Neufeld-Weaver will lead this workshop which will last for 1 ½ hours.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Register for Y-LEAD! The registration deadline for Y-LEAD, the youth leadership development event to be held September 12-14 at Bluffton ( Ohio ) University, is September 5. Registration costs $75. For more information about this event, visit the CDC website at http://www.centraldistrict.mennonite.net/Youth.

Open spots still remain for the Damascus Road Anti-racism Analysis Training in Goshen , Indiana . The event will take place September 19-21 at Goshen College . Expand your understanding of systemic racism and how it impacts the church and society. What does it take to be a truly anti-racist church? Open to individuals and churches/organizations interested in starting an anti-racism ministry. Request information and registration at GreatLakesOfficemcc.org or call (574) 534-4133.

Golfing for Kids - On Monday, September 8^th, Adriel Foundation would like to invite you to join us in a day of fun and fellowship at DeMor Hills Golf Course for the ann ual Adriel Golf Scramble. For more information please call at 937-465-0010 or the NW Ohio Foster Care Office at 419-445-1980. You can also enter your team or sponsorship on the web at: www.adriel.org/golf. Proceeds benefit abused and neglected children.

Brazo en Brazo Update: Plan now to join us for the ann ual Fiesta fundraiser for Brazo en Brazo, September 14.  This year Ministerios del Corazón Abierto (Open Heart Ministries) is joining with us and the event will be called Fiesta Familiar (Family Festival). Starting at 3:00 p.m. , at Pike Mennonite Church , there will be large inflatable play areas and piñatas for the children, soccer and other games. At 4:00 p.m. , Kimi, the clown, will have about 45 minutes with the children. Food service will begin 4:30 PM , with roast pork (carnitas), rice, beans and more. We will enjoy seeing you there.

Offering was $55 and 15 people were present August 17.

It’s time to begin making plans for Mennonite World Conference in Asunción, Paraguay in July 2009.  Consider joining Bluffton University’s trip, July 8-22, 2009. The tour will take you from the Chaco Mennonite colonies to the historic Jesuit and Franciscan missions. You will gather among friends at the Assembly 15 of MWC and then conclude with visits to the Iguassu Falls and the Itaipú Dam!  For a trip preview, join Randy and Karen Keeler, the Bluffton University hosts, and Tara Nisley from Menno Travel today, August 24, 6:30 p.m., in Bluffton’s Marbeck Center. For trip details visit www.bluffton.edu/blufftonalumni/events/paraguay or call Joyce Schumacher at 419-358-3456.

Mark your calendar to hear Philip Yancey, author of 16 books, including What's So Amazing About Grace, and many others at Business as a Calling: Dividends of Hope, the ann ual convention of Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), being held November 6-9 in Columbus , Ohio . President Jim Harder is also a featured speaker at the conference. Register now: Go to www.businessasacalling.org or call (717) 560-6546.

The Missional Church Committee of Central District Conference invites you to consider attending the Midwest Interfaith Immigration Summit that will be held in Columbus , September 10 -11. The Peace and Justice Support Network of Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Central Committee are sponsors for the Summit . The organizers hope for participants from several states and have structured the Summit so that persons can build relationships and collaborate for humane immigration reform and local action.

GRATITUDE AND PRAYER REQUESTS

Mennonite Mission Network – Pray for Mennonite Mission Network international ministry workers who are in a time of transition, whether beginning a new assignment, returning to service after North American ministry or re-entering life in the U.S.

We wish a Happy Anniversary to Richard and Elfrieda Ramseyer – 50^th  August 30.

We wish a Happy Birthday to James Oberly – 87^th  August 27.