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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. SUNDAY, September 5, 2010 9:15 a.m. - Christian Education All ages 10:30 a.m. - Worship Service – Neal Blough preaching THIS WEEK Monday (6th) - Office Closed Tuesday (7th) - Morning Prayers, 7:00 am, Sanctuary - Staff Meeting, 9:00 am, Parlor Wednesday (8th) - Adult Bell Choir, 6:00 p.m., AR - Youth Bell Choir, 7:00 p.m., AR - Chancel Choir, 7:00 p.m., Sanctuary Thursday (9th) - Senior Concerns Committee, 2:00 p.m., Parlor NEXT WEEK 9:15 a.m. - Christian Education All Ages 10:30 a.m. - Worship Service – Steven Yoder preaching Scripture texts: Jeremiah 4:11-12., 22-28; Psalm 14:1-7; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-10 12:00 p.m. - Freudige and Sojourners Class Potlucks 4:00 p.m. - All Council/Commission Members – Annual Retreat - Litzenberg Activity Barn 4:00 p.m. - Brazo en Brazo Festival – Lima Mennonite Church ANNOUNCEMENTS
Welcome to our worship service today. Please sign and pass the friendship pads in the pews. Wireless hearing aids are available . If you would like your children watched over while you worship, our staff will care for them in the nursery available down-stairs . Worship Activity Bags are available. Visitors are invited to receive a peace candle to take with you to your home congregation as our way of sharing the peace. These candles are found in the basket in the Fellowship Hall. The Missions, Peace and Service bulletin board is showing photos of Neal and Janie Blough and the work they are a part of in Paris, France. Notice the variety of groups that they participate in. A First Mennonite Church potluck is planned for Sunday, September 19 following worship to welcome university students to this community. Please bring plenty of food to share. ~Church College Relations Committee SHYF - We will kick off the year by attending the Brazo en Brazo Fiesta at Lima Mennonite Church, next Sunday, September 12. Please meet in the church parking lot at 4:00 p.m. to leave for Lima and bring $5 for the meal. Also, there will be games so dress comfortably. You are cordially invited to attend the Bluffton University Alumni Awards Banquet Friday, October 8 at 6:30 p.m . in Marbeck Center as we present the 2010 alumni awards to: Chad Stearns ’00, Outstanding Young Alumni Award; Dr. Paul Ropp ’66, Professional Achievement Award; Dr. Robert Smucker ’52, Lifetime Service Award and Dr. Stephen Jacoby, Faculty Staff Service Award. Bluffton University would be honored by your presence as we celebrate the achievements of these people. Please RSVP by September 24, 2010 by emailing , or by calling 419-358-3239. The Missions, Peace and Service Commission is seeking donations to the Iraqi Student Project. First Mennonite Church gives $3,000 to the project. $1,000 of this comes via the Spending Plan. We raise the remaining $2,000 through fundraising and donations. We still need $600 to fulfill our commitment in 2010. If you would like to donate to this project please write Iraqi Student Project on the memo line of your check made out to First Mennonite Church. Thank you. ~ MPS Commission Music Ensemble Rehearsals to begin : note the dates, times, locations and ages for the church’s music ensembles. Please consider offering your musical gifts to this important part of worship for our congregation and encourage others to join. We would gladly welcome new additions to the ensembles and will greatly enjoy the return of former members. · Chancel Choir (adults of all ages) continues on Wednesday, September 8 at 7:00 p.m. (Mark Suderman, director) – Choir Room · Jubilate (Grades K-6) begins on Wednesday, September 15 at 6:00 p.m. (Laura Hartzler, director) – Choir room · Adult and Youth (Grades 7-12) Bells begin on Wednesday, September 8 at 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. respectively (Ray Raeburn, director) – Assembly Room If you have ever had a noisy, wiggly child you know how difficult it can be to pay attention to the sermon . Children ages 4-6 are invited to attend jr. church after the children's story most Sundays. We are currently looking for volunteers to help staff jr. church. Volunteers would lead jr. church four times a year, once each season. There are no requirements during this time. You may allow children to play or lead them in activities of your choosing. Please consider serving our young children. If you are interested please contact Laura Hartzler at (419) 302-0607 or . All Council/Commission Members – Annual Retreat will take place at Litzenberg Activity Barn on September 12 from 4:00 pm – 7:30 pm. Each commission is assigned a food item to bring for 60 people. Please check with your commission for food assignments. We will take time to worship, share and reorganize. We will also begin working on the Spending Plan for 2011. Litzenberg Activity Barn is on SR 224 in Hancock County and is 1.5 miles east of SR 235. A car pool will leave from FMC at 3:30 pm. Men’s Retreat at Camp Friedenswald will be held November 12-14. We are interested in getting more men from FMC involved in this annual event. It is a fun-filled, rejuvenating, relaxing weekend filled with nature, singing, sports, games, worship and stimulating conversation. Men of all ages are invited to join us this year. If you are interested in car pooling contact Terry Chappell 419 358-4306 or Steve Yoder at the church office. The first meeting for Mennonite Women will be held on Monday, September 13 at 7:00 pm in the FH. At this meeting we will explain our mission to “our neighbors around the world”, Joyce Hostetler will present information about the Global Family Program, including the Menno Academy in Kenya. She also will be sharing pictures with us. Alice Ruth Ramseyer will clarify our support to our mission partners. We will also talk about our support to MCC by means of comforters and kits. Even if you haven’t come to meeting lately, why not come to see how you can help support our missions this year? COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS Brazo en Brazo update : Sunday, August 29 we said farewell again, this time to Genaro Hernandez. He is going to be with family in Iowa. He had come almost a year ago and attended regularly. He often affirmed Brazo en Brazo and appreciated the sense of brotherhood, the English class, the Beyond Borders Conference at Bluffton University and the interest of the English congregation in him as a person. Tomorrow, 9:00 A.M., Brazo en Brazo plans to observe the annual Labor Day Parade. Come join the friendship circle as the parade assembles in front of Lima Mennonite Church. Fiesta Familiar is next Sunday. Come join in the games and crafts and share the live music and food! ~ Paul and Ann Conrad Worship Arts Training at Laurelville Mennonite Church Center, Mt. Pleasant, Pa., Sept 24-26. Explore various elements of worship and learn how to tie all of them together, so that worship reflects both God’s oneness and diversity more faithfully. Groups of four or more save $35 per person. Visit www.Laurelville.org/worship_arts_training.html or call 800-839-1021 to sign up today. –Brian Paff, director of communications, Laurelville Mennonite Church Center Join us at Church Community Services (907 Oakland Ave. Elkhart, IN 46516) to hear from Executive Director Dean Preheim Bartel about how the organization supports the people in Elkhart County through emergency assistance and intensive job and life skills training. Special emphasis will be on the organization's program Soup of Success, whose mission "is to empower women, through education and resources, to build self esteem, develop independence and improve quality of life." CCS will cater the meal.RSVP by Monday, September 13 by phoning 87-RSVP-MEDA, emailing , or filling out the RSVP form online. (If you don't receive a confirmation email or phone call, please let us know.) Meal and program costs are $15 for members, $20 for non-members, and $5 for students. Please note any special dietary needs with reservation. The meal is payable at the event. Bluffton Town Hall Concert Series: Sacred Dances and Chants of Tibet September 7 at 7:00 pm, Third Floor of the Town Hall (handicap accessible), Main Street, Bluffton. No admission, donations only. Summary: The Village of Bluffton hosts Gaden Shartse Monks for their September Town Hall Concert in the historically restored town hall. Come join us for an evening of sacred sounds from the roof of the world. www.gadenshartsecf.org. Contact: Wendy Chappell-Dick, Cultural Affairs Committee of the Village of Bluffton wendymennofolk.org or 419-303-9769 Pakistan flooding - MCC is accepting donations that will be used to help the people of Pakistan recover from massive flooding. MCC does not have a program in Pakistan but will forward funds to trusted and experienced agencies working there. mcc.org/stories/news/race-against-time-pakistan GRATITUDE AND PRAYER REQUESTSWe wish Happy birthday to Marcile Suter – 96th September 5. Wendell and Jean Miller’s new address: 10860 Shifferly Rd. Bluffton, OH 45817
Erika
and Matt Fisher’s new address:
188 Charles Smith Rd. Saugerties, NY 12477 Thank you for all your prayers, visits, cards, calls during my recent accident and stay in the hospital and a special thanks to pastors Steve and Louise. ~ Margaret Tiessen |
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