March 9, 2008 – Announcements

COMMUNION AND FOOT WASHING, Sunday, March 16
Jesus shared intimate moments with his disciples. During his final meal with them and just before his arrest, trial and crucifixion, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet and instituted the Lord’s Supper. Jesus wanted to demonstrate his self-sacrificing love and the attitude of servanthood he had towards us and that we should have for each other. As Jesus’ disciples today we share in the same tradition that has been passed down by Jesus’ disciples through the generations.
How can we prepare?
-Spend time in prayer and mediation (Colossians 4:2)
-Read through the related passages (Luke 22:7-20; John 13:1-17; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34).
-Confess your sins to the Lord (1 John 1:9).
-Seek to restore your broken relationships with others. (1 Peter 3:8).

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 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

The Junior MYF will hold a GAME NIGHT at the Kingdome, Tim King’s workshop. The Jr. MYF is for youth in grades 6 to 8. Boys are to bring drinks and girls are to bring snacks.

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

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 16 at 12:30 pm. Contact Ken Umble for more information.

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/.

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.

The Care Team is sponsoring a visit to Landis Homes to “Easter Carol” on Sunday, March 16. Bring a bag lunch for after worship and plan to depart at 1:00 pm.

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 they will continue their book study.

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 program is a tea and book swap.

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)

The Mennonite Mission Network (http://www.mennonitemission.net/) thanks Maple Grove for contributing $14,584.45 received from February 2007 through January 2008. These gifts, along with your prayers and participation, create ministries of healing and hope across the street and around the world. May you experience God’s blessings as we work together to share all of Christ with all creation.

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.

There will be a PURIM CELEBRATION on March 15 at 6:30 pm at Living Hope Community Church, 2823 Columbia Avenue, Lancaster.

THE PARKESBURG POINT has 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/.

Pray for our Brothers and Sisters in Puerto Rico Mennonite Church
Pray for Puerto Rico Mennonite Church as it gathers for its 60th Annual Convention Assembly March 13-16 in Aibonito, PR. Pray for PRMC and Atlantic Coast Conference leaders exploring a mission and ministry partnership that is mutually supportive and encourages to each church body.

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.

Christian Peace Witness for Iraq
Join Christian Peace Witness for Iraq for worship and witness for the end of the war and occupation of Iraq on Friday, March 7, at noon. Mennonite Church USA has the honor of participating in two worship services: Church of the Brethren (located at 337 N. Carolina Ave. SE, Washington, D.C., corner of 4th St.), At Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church ( located at 201 4th St. SE, Washington, D.C., Fourth and Independence Ave. SE, 20003). Each service has a preacher, a “witness of war” and music. Don’t forget the Peace and Justice Support Network/Anabaptist Peace Center. For registration and more information about this and the surrounding events: http://olivebranchinterfaith.org/webform/sign-up-form
Register for Mennonite evening LeoH@MennoniteMission.net
Questions? SusanML@mennoniteUSA.org

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