December 30, 2007 ANNOUNCEMENTS

January 2, Family Night
Dinner at 6:00 pm, followed by
a “Ping Pong Tournament”
Sign up on December 30 on the friendship pads if you will be joining us for dinner or call the church office. You may sign up for the tournaments on Wednesday night. Any questions call Doug Lapp. This Family Night is brought to you by the Ushers and the Jr. MYF. The Jr MYF will bring snacks.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
“If the scriptures don’t sometimes pierce us like a sword, we’re not paying close enough attention.” (Kathleen Norris, The Cloister Walk, Riverhead Books, 1996, page 115)

“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24) Suggestion: Pray around the world on New Year’s Eve. Locate the countries in every time zone in the world. As the New Year arrives at each time zone, pray for the people who live in those places.

Pastor Steve is on vacation from December 27 to January 2. Please contact one of the Elders in an emergency.

Digging Deeper into the Adult Bible Study Sunday School lesson
Each week comments and inspirational thoughts based on each lesson are posted at www.mph.org/abs. Select the tab for the lesson you want to review.
Purpose is distributed weekly in church mailboxes for those who have requested it. Each issue amplifies the themes discussed in the Sunday School lesson. Contact Ruth Ann Bruner if you want to receive this resource in your mailbox.

ONE YEAR AGO IN MAPLE GROVE HISTORY
We are called to remember the good times and the not-so-good times in our past. The good times encourage us to continue; the unpleasant times remind us that we are humans saved by grace. A year ago Pastor Bill Blank announced his resignation; this was a difficult time for our congregation. We thank the Lord for Pastor Bill’s ministry and we ask the Lord’s blessing in his life. Pray for Pastor Bill, Glenda and Emily as they continue to seek the Lord’s leading in their lives.

“Bibles, Buyers and Bling: Can I Have It All?” is a conference that will be held at Maple Grove Mennonite on January 18 & 19. Jim Miller of MMA will lead us as we discuss our relationship to God and Money. Plan to attend. Childcare provided.

“Weekend to Remember”
Marriage is defined by memories. They can be memories of joy and fulfillment or pain and heartbreak. It all depends on how well you apply the principles that make marriage thrive. For thirty years, the Weekend to Remember conference has been helping couples create the kind of memories that build a healthy marriage. Remember your marriage. Remember this weekend.
Weekend to Remember is a weekend marriage conference that teaches God's design for marriage and family. The environment is fun, non-threatening, and sometimes hilarious. And it's a wonderful time for couples to refresh good marriages or heal troubled ones. There are over 150 conferences in cities all across the U.S. each year. Registration is open to individuals, couples, or groups. Whether you're engaged, newlywed, or remarried, enrich your marriage and begin a godly legacy for your family by attending a conference in a city near you. Or plan a memorable getaway to a destination of your choosing.
February 15-17, 2008 at Hershey, PA