April 20, 2008 – Announcements

FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

MYF POTATO BAR
Plan to stay after worship on Sunday, April 27 and enjoy a baked potato. There will be a variety of toppings available. Donations will be accepted for the Youth Summer Mission Project.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

SPRING CLEANING AT MAPLE GROVE
Wednesday, April 23 we will gather at 6:30 pm to clean the outside of the church grounds and spread mulch. Bring your shovels, wheelbarrows and rakes.

VBS IS COMING June 15-19
On the bulletin board you will find sign up sheets for the different jobs. Please look over the different needs and see where you fit in. Sign up to help! There is also a list of items needed for VBS posted. Please put your contributions in the box in the foyer.

CHUCK HADLEY FUND
The Maple Grove Preschool is collecting money to help Chuck & Jen Hadley. Jen is a teacher; Chuck has a brain tumor. He will receive radiation at Hershey Medical Center. Contributions can be given to Sarah Byler or Ruth Ann Bruner.

MAPLE GROVE WILL HOLD AN OUTDOOR SUMMER CONCERT on July 13th.
Save the date for:
- an afternoon and evening of music
- an outdoor open air concert
- featuring local talent
- including traditional hymns
- an evening concert by the Birdsong Family (returning by popular demand)
Come help with the planning – many hands are needed. Contact Ken Umble, Concert Coordinator, if you can help. There will be a meeting on Sunday, April 27 following worship for those who are willing to help.

THANKS
We thank everyone for their wonderful response to the appeal for MCC relief buckets. A total of $1300 was collected, which was taken to MCC on April 19. This will fill 32 buckets. We already completed 8 buckets, so we will continue to collect for this until we reach our goal of filling 50 buckets. The Maple Grove Sewing Circle will receive funds through May 15. See Cathy King for more information.

ALLEN UMBLE TO ALBANIA
Contributions may be made to the church for Allen Umble to return to Albania for missionary service with the Virginia Mennonite Missions. Mark your check with “VMM-Allen Umble;” these gifts will go in addition to the church budget contribution.

The RELAY FOR LIFE is June 20 & 21. Ruth Ann Bruner is looking for people to be on her team. There is a sign-up table in the foyer. June 6 is the 4th Annual LanChester Golf Outing at Moccasin Run in support of Relay for Life. Everyone is encouraged to sign-up.

EDUCATION AND INSPIRATION OPPORTUNITIES

MAPLE GROVE FAMILY LIFE CONFERENCE
Conrad and Keidi Kenegy will lead a Family Life Conference on Sunday, May 4. Adults and Youth are invited to come together in the main auditorium during the Sunday School hour for the first session. The second session will be the message during worship. Following worship we will have a fellowship meal and the third session will follow.

SUNDAY SCHOOL ELECTIVES
May through August there will be “optional” classes taught in the main auditorium. There will be a different topic each week. May 4 will be “Marriage and Family” taught by Conrad and Heidi Kanegy. This class will be continued in the worship service and in the afternoon following a fellowship meal.

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. This week the Youth will join in the church work night as a service project.

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. The program for April 22 is “God’s Faithfulness” led by the Staff.

Are you looking for rewarding experience? Come teach Sunday school. Talk to Denyce Copeland; teachers are greatly needed to start in September. Adults are needed for worship time childcare on May 4, June 1, July 6 and August 3.

STEWARDSHIP

April 13 Offering $6484
The Building Fund current loan amount $82,700.

In anticipation of the spring Paving Project, there will be a special Building Fund offering on Sunday, April 20th. This will also be a time to update Faith Commitments for 2008 and 2009. Prayerfully consider an additional gift or a series of monthly or weekly gifts to the Building Fund.

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)

Tel Hai Camp and Retreat will hold a Spring Celebration on Monday, April 21 at 6:30 pm. The Celebration is held at the Shady Maple Banquet Facility and includes a free meal. Walt Mueller, founder of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding, is the guest speaker. Anyone interested in Tel Hai Camp is encouraged to attend. Call 610-273-3969 for more information or to make a reservation. More information can be found at www.telhaicamp.org.

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.

ACC Peace and Justice Committee "Urban Connections Tour
FRIDAY, APRIL 25TH - Reading/Lancaster areas. Join persons from NYC, Baltimore, and Reading/Lancaster congregations to learn about current social justice issues and to form supportive relationships between ACC congregations. 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm. For more information - contact Keith Wilson at ACC, atlanticcoast@frontiernet.net or 717-355-0550.

“God at Work in our Space” ACC Spring Assembly
SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH – Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster. Carlos Romero will be the keynote speaker in a day of worship, discussion, and relationship building. Contact Keith in the ACC office for more information – keithw@frontiernet.net, 717-355-0550

JOB OPPORTUNITIES
The Maple Grove Mennonite Preschool has an opening for an assistant teacher in the 3 year old class for the 2008-2009 school year. Please contact Judi Woods, Preschool Director, for more information (610-593-1159 or mgpreschool@epix.net).