March 16, 2008 – Announcements

Creator God, this is the day you have made. We rejoice in it, and in the one who comes in your name, who puts a human face on your steadfast love. Amen. (from Mennonite Bulletin Series, 3/16/08)

GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE
“The Way of the Cross” will follow Jesus through the Stations of the Cross that led to the greatest sacrifice of all time. Please join us for this solemn and meditative service on Friday, March 21 at 7:00 pm.

LOOKING BACK
Sharing the Lord’s Supper and Foot Washing has been an important part of Maple Grove’s tradition since the beginning. Almost 89 YEARS AGO on April 27, 1919 the first communion service was held at Maple Grove. Normally communion was celebrated only at the Millwood church, but the Millwood church building was closed for 10 weeks for remodeling. John A. Kennel led worship and John S. Mast preached on “Christ’s Sufferings.” It must have been a wonderful acknowledgement of God’s presence through times of suffering. During the fall of 1918 all the churches were closed, along with all schools and public gatherings, because of the worldwide influenza epidemic. 36 thousand died from the flu in Pennsylvania; the stones in our cemetery attest to the fact that our church was deeply affected by the epidemic.

MAPLE GROVE CONCERT SERIES
GOSPEL BOND will be in concert at Maple Grove on March 30, 7:00 pm. Check them out at www.gospelbond.com. Invite your friends and neighbors.

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

FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

ATTENTION WOMEN
The Red Hat and Pink Hat Ladies will meet on Thursday, March 27, 6:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Come and enjoy chili and cornbread and an old fashioned taffy pull.

ATTENTION MEN
The Annual Men’s Retreat will 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

ATTENTION EVERYONE
“Ryan and Friends” will be at Maple Grove on Friday, April 18 at 7:00 pm. This is a special event that the whole family will not want to miss. Check them out at http://www.ryanandfriends.com/. (Sponsored by the Building Finance Committee, an offering will be collected for the Building Fund.)

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

MAPLE GROVE WILL HOLD AN OUTDOOR SUMMER CONCERT on July 13th. Come help with the planning – many hands are needed. A planning meeting will be held on Sunday, March 30 at 5:00 pm. Contact Ken Umble 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

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.

MYF (Mennonite Youth Fellowship) meets on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm.
This is a time of fun and spiritual growth for youth in grades 9 to 12.

LIFT (Ladies 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 program is “Postpartum Story” by Susan Houck.

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.

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)

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

Speaking of Peace: A Festival of the Arts at Frazer Mennonite
Calling All Artists! Frazer Mennonite Church is soliciting original works of art for Speaking of Peace: A Festival of the Arts which will be held Saturday, May 31, 2008, from 1 - 9pm. The festival will provide an intersection of faith, art and peacemaking that is designed to spark an interactive exchange that is authentic and visionary. Original work will be accepted in many mediums. For more details please contact Sharon Thompsonowak at artofpeace@frazermennonite.org by March 21, 2008.

Spring Peace Forum featuring Dr. Charles Kimball at James Street Mennonite Church April 13th, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM. Charles Kimball, author of When Religion Becomes Evil and an expert on Islam, the Middle East, and Jewish-Christian-Muslim relations, will speak on the topic, "Finding a Common Word: Negotiating the Volatile Mix of Religion and Politics in US-Iranian Relations.” Kimball is professor of comparative religion in the Department of Religion and the Divinity School at Wake Forest University (divinity.wfu.edu/faculty-kimball.html) For more information visit: www.lancasterinterchurchpeacewitness.org/events.htm