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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. TODAY, February 5, 2012 9:00 a.m. - Coffee – Fellowship Hall – From 9:00 am – 9:30 am 9:15 a.m. - Christian Education All Ages 10:30 a.m. - Worship Service – Louise Wideman preaching 12:00 p.m. - The Connections Class Potluck THIS WEEK Monday (6th) - Ted & Company, 7:00 p.m., Sanctuary Tuesday (7th) - Morning Prayers, 7:00 a.m., Sanctuary - Staff Meeting, 9:00 a.m., Parlor Wednesday (8th) - FIRST night “Anabaptists: Then and Now” 5:30-6:15 p.m. Sanctuary Adult Bell Choir, 5:30 p.m., AR Jubilate, 5:30 p.m., Room 101 (downstairs) Cherub Choir, 6:45 pm, 101 (downstairs) Meal and Intergenerational Activity, 6:20 – 7:15 p.m., FH Youth Bell Choir, 7:15 p.m., AR Chancel Choir, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Sanctuary NEXT WEEK 9:00 a.m. - Coffee – Fellowship Hall – From 9:00 am – 9:30 am 9:15 a.m. - Christian Education All Ages 10:30 a.m. - Worship Service – Louise Wideman preaching Scripture : 2 Kings 5:1-14; Psalm 30; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Mark 1:40-45 12:00 p.m. - Freudige & Sojourners Class Potlucks 5:00 p.m. - Anabaptist Mystery Supper, FH 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. Venture Club, JHYF and SHYF members , meet in the Fellowship H all tomorrow night (Monday) at 6:30 p.m. to attend the Ted & Co. show "I'd Like to Buy an Enemy." Tickets are $5 for youth and are available in the church office. For your February Calendars: February 12 – Anabaptist Mystery Supper, 5:00 pm, Fellowship Hall February 19 – Faculty Recital: Lucia Unrau, piano and Crystal Sellers, soprano; 2:30 pm, Yoder Recital Hall February 26 – Instrumental Concert – 2:30 pm, Yoder Recital Hall FIRST night begins again on Wednesday, February 8. Sign up today in the Fellowship Hall. This season the cost of the meal has increased slightly due to rising food costs. Meals will be $4/person or $12/family. Why not simplify life by signing up for the entire season at once. FIRST night Wednesday, February 8: $4/person or $12/family Many Gifts, One Spirit : “Mennonite Music” ~ Mark Suderman Table Setting Team : Anne Buller, Dave & Jenny Moser, Betty Shelly Cooking Team: Nurture Commission Clean Up Team : Dottie & Gene Long, Alice Ruth & Bob Ramseyer, Gary Bishop, Julie Mackey Intergenerational Program : “FMC in Review” ~ Ray Raeburn Joe D'Ambrosio became the 140th death row exoneree and Ohio's 6th on January 23, 2012. This exoneration comes at a time when Ohio is already examining the many problematic aspects of Ohio's capital punishment system. Contact Governor Kasich at 614-466-3555 and urge him to stop all executions until the Ohio Supreme Court’s Joint Task Force completes its thorough review of Ohio’s death penalty system. ~ Mission, Peace & Service Commission Author Program at Bluffton University, February 23 - Gerald Mast , author of Go to Church, Change the World: Christian Community as Calling, will be honored with a program and reception at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 23 in the Musselman Library Reading Room. Refreshments and conversation will begin at 3:45 p.m. There will be a book signing and books available for purchase. For more information about the book, see this link: http://store.mpn.net/productdetails.cfm?PC=2006 DVDs available – FMC worship services from 2007 through 2010 are available for taking on a table in the FH. Any unclaimed DVDs will be used for art projects. Jennifer and Aaron Chappell-Deckert are in their last five months of service in Bogota, Colombia. They ask for our prayers. See the Mission, Peace and Service bulletin board on the pillar in the foyer for their letter and photos of their church group and their family. Anabaptist Mystery Supper: Today is the last day to sign up in the FH to join the fun and fellowship at the Anabaptist Mystery Supper here at FMC on Sunday evening, February 12, from 5 :00 pm - 7:00 pm. Planners and hosts for the meal, a special event being held in accordance with the church's yearlong theme "Anabaptists Then and Now," include Alison King, Carrie Mast, Lori Nester, Gerald Mast, and children and youth from Venture Club, Jr. High and Senior High. Details can be found in the Menno - Life and on the sign up table in the FH. Bluffton University together with First Mennonite, Grace Mennonite, Lima Mennonite, and Salem Mennonite will host Ted and Company in the First Mennonite Church sanctuary tomorrow evening, February 6, 2012, 7:00 pm. Ted and Company will present one of their newer shows, “I’d Like to Buy an Enemy”. It is a show that is suited more for adults and youth rather than children. Tickets -- $10 for adults; $5 for students/youth/children go on sale today in the Fellowship Hall. Mark your calendars now for this inspirational evening. ~ Nurture Commission COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio is accepting applications for the Barbara Fleming Memorial Nursing Scholarship. The scholarship is meant to promote the career of nursing and is available to anyone pursuing a degree as a Licensed Practical Nurse, a Registered Nurse, or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The scholarship is to be used to pay school related expenses toward any of these degrees. The scholarship offers a minimum award of $500 and will be paid directly to the vocational school or college where the student is enrolled. Applications are available by contacting MMH, 410 W. Elm St., Bluffton, OH 45817; 419-358-1015. Applications are also available at mmhliving.org and clicking on the MHCO Logo on the home page. A completed application must be postmarked and/or returned to the above address by March 31st. You’re invited to attend “Is the Gospel of peace still relevant?” led by John D. Roth, Goshen College professor of history, on February 19, 6:00 p.m. at Menno-Hof, Shipshewana, Ind. Since 9/11 and the growing divisions within our national political culture, some Anabaptist congregations have begun to reconsider traditional understandings of nonresistance. Our young people today do not face the question of military conscription and arguments supporting the “war on terror” can sound compelling. Join in a conversation focused on these important issues. RSVP is required as seating is limited: or 260-768-4117. Brazo en Brazo Update - Veneranda called recently from Madison, Wisconsin. She told of recent insights God has given as she reads the Bible. She and Enriquez ask, “What do we need to do to go as missionaries? We want to go with the Mennonite church. That’s where we knew the Lord and were baptized (with Brazo en Brazo).” Their vision and dedication to share the Gospel with their people in southern Mexico prompt such questions and inspire us. We are taking steps to provide study materials and contacts as their vision moves forward. WANTED : The Black Swamp Benefit is looking for an individual or couple who would be interested in organizing the Oozeball Tournament to be held on Saturday, June 16, 2012 at the Fulton County Fairgrounds. For more details please contact Lisa Short at 419-335-3763. Concentus , a select community choir, will be performing a Benefit Choral Concert on Sunday, February 12 at 2:30 p.m. in Yoder Recital Hall at Bluffton University. This choir, formed in the fall of 2003, will present a program of songs with the theme Alélouya: Let The Whole World Sing . The first half of the program will include choruses from major works, often including a variation of the “Alleluia” text. The second half of the program will be songs from around the world: Haiti, Israel, Spain, Brazil, and more. A free will offering will be taken at the program. The offering will go to support the relief efforts in east Africa, where there has been severe drought and famine. Concentus was formed to offer an opportunity for area musicians to sing in a highly skilled chamber ensemble. The name “Concentus” is a Latin word meaning “singing together”, “harmony,” and “unity”. The 24 singers in the choir come from Bluffton, Defiance, Findlay, Lima, Pandora, and Toledo. Allison Ringold is the accompanist and Dr. Mark J. Suderman is the conductor. Both teach in the Bluffton University music department. Winter Family Retreat will be held at Camp Friedenswald on February 17-19, 2012. Enjoy the outdoors, a puppet show, worship, a session on parenting, and activities planned for children. Cost: $100 ages 13 and older; free ages 0-12. GRATITUDE AND PRAYER REQUESTS Mennonite Mission Network - Laura Schlabach of Mennonite Mission Network has ministered in Mongolia for nearly two decades. Pray with her as she discerns whether God is calling her to Altan Soembo, a new location within the country. We wish a Happy Birthday to Dorothy Williams – 92nd February 6, Elaine Rich – 86th February 8. Change of Address : Evelyn Krehbiel, Mennonite Memorial Home, Room 112.
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