March 2, 2008 – Announcements

CHURCH FAMILY NIGHT is Wednesday, March 5. Sub sandwiches will be served starting at 6:00 pm and the Movie, “The Ultimate Gift,” will be shown starting at 7:00 pm. The Ultimate Gift is a family film of the story of a young man’s journey to discover the “ultimate gift.” Find more information and a study guide at www.theultimategift.com.

Congratulations to the Maple Grove Bible Quizzing Team! They won a match last week! There are only two weeks left until the Invitational Tournament at Lancaster Bible College on March 14-16.

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
We thank everyone who participated in the February 17 Congregational Meeting. Minutes are in church mailboxes. Cassette tapes of the meeting are available from the church office.

EXTREME WORSHIP for Young Adults will be here on Tuesday, March 4, 7:00 pm. Worship will be led by the “Audible Truth” band and Dwayne Walton will be the speaker. A time of refreshments and fellowship will follow the worship time. “Audible Truth” gave a wonderful performance at the Church Talent Night.

PRAY FOR Scott Umble and Kim Mast who are in Mexico on a Missions Trip with a group from Ecola Bible School. They are roofing houses, pouring concrete and street witnessing from February 28 to March 10.
PRAY ALSO FOR Bud & Sue Eby, Naomi King and Judy King, who are serving with Mennonite Disaster Services at Pass Christian, MS, February 24 to March 2. They join Mennonites from around the USA to rebuild a home.

RUTHANN REMINDS US that items for the weekly printed church bulletin need to be in the church office by Thursday of each week. You can also send them to mgchurch@netzero.net.

The Maple Grove Preschool announces the annual JOE CORBI’S FUND RAISER. See Bonnie Bruner for more information. Money is due March 14 and orders will be delivered on March 28.

FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Men, mark your calendars for the Men’s Retreat to be held April 4-6 at the Ponderosa Lodge. There will be biking and rafting opportunities. Contact Nelson Stoltzfus or a member of the Family Life Commission for more information

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

The Lancaster Area MDS (Mennonite Disaster Services) Unit Annual Meeting will be held on Monday, March 10, 7:00 pm at Stumptown Mennonite Church. Contact Harold Umble for more information. Check out the work of MDS at http://www.mds.mennonite.net/.

Maple Grove is planning a Christian Music Talent Search and Concert in July. Ken Umble is heading up this ministry. We will have a planning meeting on Sunday, March 2 at 5:00 pm. Come be a part of this ministry!

MENNONITE MUTUAL AID (MMA) REPORTS
The MMA Sharing Funds provided $500 in matching funds to help provide an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for our church last year. Maple Grove received $12,089.50 in special needs grants over the past 5 years. Nate King serves as the MMA advocate in our congregation. Please contact him for more information.

Calling all Babies! VBS needs your empty plastic baby food containers with lids. Please have mom or dad bring them to the church.

The Evangelism & Service Commission is collecting Dutch-Way “Dollar Stretchers” to purchase items for families in need. Place your “Dollar Stretcher” coupons in the box in the foyer.

The Sewing Circle is collecting items for MCC Relief Kits. These kits will be distributed to families in need around the world. Please see http://mcc.org/kits/relief/ for a list of needed items. Place items in the box in the foyer.

EDUCATION AND INSPIRATION OPPORTUNITIES

The Maple Grove Mennonite Preschool presents a workshop for parents: POSITIVE PARENTING FOR PRESCHOOLERS. The workshop will be held March 14 from 9:30 to 11:30 am and repeated at the same time on March 15. Call 610-593-1159 to register.

MEMBERSHIP CLASS
A class for church membership will begin in April; it will be held during the Sunday School hour. Anyone interested should contact Pastor Steve.

Support our Maple Grove ACC Bible Quizzing Team. Jeff Stoltzfus is the coach and the team members are: Taylor Fritz, Greg Hall, Collin Nafziger, Kaitlyn Nafziger, Abbie Weaver. See http://www.accquizzing.org/ for all the information you need.

MYF (Mennonite Youth Fellowship) meets on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm. This week the group will join in the Church Family Night activities.

LIFT (Learn In Fellowship Together) is a program for mothers of young children. LIFT meets on Tuesday mornings from 9:15 to 11:00. Nursery care and preschool classes are provided. This week S. Showalter will speak about “What Do You Know? (based on Man Born Blind).

THE LADIES PRECEPT BIBLE STUDY is studying Genesis on Wednesday mornings at 9:15. Contact Darlene Groff or the church office for a study book or for more information.

Are you looking for rewarding experiences? Come teach Sunday School! Talk with Lynda King or Denyce Copeland if you can help?

THE WIDER BODY OF CHRIST
(You can get more information about any of these events by looking at the bulletin board in the foyer or by calling the church office)

Christiana/Atglen Meals on Wheels needs a volunteer to deliver meals. The need is for a driver for about an hour on a Wednesday or a Thursday once ever three weeks. Meals are picked up at Harrison House. Training is provided. Contact Selma Wells at 610-593-5467 or 717-354-7857.

Westminster Presbyterian Church is sponsoring a “Messiah Sing-A-Long” on Friday, March 28 at 7:00 pm.

BRIDGE OF HOPE of Lancaster and Chester Counties invites you to its 9th Annual Chester County Garden luncheon to be held at Chester Valley Golf Club, Malvern, Saturday March 15, 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. The event will feature a silent auction and garden talk by Mike McGrath, host of the nationally syndicated Public Radio program, You Bet Your Garden, herad locally on WHYY. The event benefits Bridge of Hope Lancaster and Chester Counties’ work to end homelessness for single mothers and their children. For more information visit www.bridgeofhopelcc.org.

THE PARKESBURG POINT will have a fund raising banquet on March 15 at the Point building in Parkesburg. There will be a silent auction. Reservations need to be made by March 1st. Contact Laura Demastus, Willie Lantz or Dan Bruner for more information or visit http://www.theparkesburgpoint.com/.