April 27, 2008 – Announcements

LOOKING BACK – LOOKING FORWARD
Problems can bring change. 65 years ago, on April 19, 1943, the roof blew off the Millwood Mennonite Church building. There was a lot of damage; “both ends were blow out and bricks were torn loose about three feet from the square.” At the time, Maple Grove and Millwood were together as one congregation meeting in two places, alternating weeks between the two buildings. During reconstruction, until July 4, all worship services were held in the Maple Grove building.
It must have given the Maple Grove folks a taste of what weekly worship services would be like. On July 18 the entire congregation voted to hold worship separately in both houses of worship. This began a movement to separate the two congregations in other ways. On April 17, 1944 a group from Maple Grove met secretly to draw up a resolution asking the Conference to intervene. After a long and divisive process, on September 19, 1944, by a 69% vote, Maple Grove and Millwood effectively became two separate churches.
What if the roof didn’t blow off the Millwood church? Things might be very different. Hopefully we don’t need a disaster and church division to bring positive change.

PRAY FOR OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
The Leadership Team will meet on Monday. The LT is charged with providing vision, oversight and direction for the congregation. Their ministry is to see that the various ministries of the congregation are being attended to and are in tune with the mission and vision of the congregation.

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.

VBS is coming June 13-19. Sign up to help on the bulletin board in the foyer. A list of items needed is posted.

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.

Maple Grove Preschool is collecting money to help Chuck and Jen Hadley. Jen is a teacher at the Preschool and her husband Chuck goes to Hershey Medical Center every day for radiation therapy. Please see Sarah Byler or Ruth Ann Bruner if you wish to contribute.

Relay for Life is June 20 & 21 in our area. Ruth Ann Bruner is looking for people to be on her team. June 6 is a fund raiser for the Relay fund raiser, the 4th annual LanChester Golf Outing at Moccasin Run Golf Course. Ruth Ann has a table in the foyer with more information and to sign up. See http://lanchesterrelayforlife.org/ for more information.

EDUCATION AND INSPIRATION OPPORTUNITIES

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 go to Village Greens for a night of mini-golf.

LIFT (Learning 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 marks the closing of the program year with a farewell brunch.

Are you looking for rewarding experience? Come teach Sunday school. Talk to Lynda King or Denyce Copeland; teachers are greatly needed for next quarter.

STEWARDSHIP

April 20 Offering $5596
The Building Fund current loan amount $65,900.

From the Building Stewardship Committee: Thank you for supporting the building fund through laughing during the “Ryan and Friends” performance and through participating in a time of renewal of Faith Commitments. “Ryan & Friends” raised $1900 and last Sunday’s special offering was $14,910, plus about $65,000 in future commitments.
If you were unable to participate in the April 20 recommitment time, you can find additional forms in the friendship pads or beside the offering box in the foyer. Place completed forms in the offering box or basket, or give to Rhonda Stoltzfus.

Following worship on April 27, Mike King, Director of Finance, will lead a short information session about the parking lot paving, landscaping and new church sign.

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)

Latta Memorial Presbyterian Church in Christiana will have an Over 60s Senior Fellowship on Tuesday, April 29 at 11:00 am. Dr. Tindall will be the speaker and a light lunch will be served. Call the church office for more information, 610-593-5467.

LANCASTER MENNONITE SCHOOL will hold a Spring Open House on Sunday, May 18 for parents and students exploring Christian education in grades preK to 12. The open house will run from 1 to 3 pm in the Alumni Dining Hall of the Lancaster Campus and will include campus tours, refreshments and information about the four campuses. The high school Spring Concert will follow at 3 pm in the Fine Arts Center. For more information visit http://www.lancastermennonite.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.

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.