April 6, 2008 – Announcements

WE WELCOME PASTOR NILSON ASSIS and his wife, Mary Jane, with us on April 6 in the morning service. Pastor Nilson is President of the KATARTIZO Healing and Discipleship Center in Reinholds, PA. Check them out at www.katartizo.org. Pastor Nilson served as Interim Pastor of our church from September 2003 through September 2004.

ARCHAEOLOGY OF EASTER
What proof is there that the events of Holy Week actually happened? The written word we have in the Bible is from people who have a vested interest in the events of that week and the resurrection of Jesus. On Sunday, April 6, at 6:30 pm, Pastor Steve will consider the archaeological evidence of the people, times and events surrounding Holy Week. Pastor Steve is a member of the Biblical Archaeology Society (http://www.bib-arch.org/index.html).

YOUTH MINISTRY COMMISSION
Last Sunday affirmation ballots were cast for the Youth Ministry Commission. Arlin Kennel, Rhonda King & Linda Yost were elected by an overwhelming majority. The different youth group advisors will name their representatives and an organizational meeting will be held soon. Merv Stoltzfus, Conference Youth Minister, will help with orientation for the new commission.

LOOKING FORWARD – LOOKING BACK
The Gift Discernment Committee is considering who is gifted and willing to serve in the various ministries of our congregation. The Finance Commission is preparing next year’s budget.
5 YEARS AGO, April 2003, there was no lead pastor & Bill Blank was Associate Pastor. The Elders were Joe Lusby, Mike Weaver, Dan Bruner, & Vernon Stoltzfus. The church budget was $262,811.
10 YEARS AGO, April 1998, Enno Jurisson was Pastor. The Elders were Bob Byler, Rich Ressler, & Mast Stoltzfus. The church budget was $182,940.
15 YEARS AGO, April 1993, Phil Freed and Rick Umble were Pastors. The Elders were Arlin Kennel, Ron Smoker, & Bob Byler. The church budget was $181,610.
25 YEARS AGO, April 1983, Herman Glick was Lead Pastor and Steve Garman was Youth Pastor. The Elders were Larry Kennel, Richard Umble, & Joseph Zehr. The church budget was $86,841.
50 YEARS AGO, April 1958, Abner Stoltzfus was Pastor and Aaron Stoltzfus was Bishop.

WELCOME NEW BABIES AND CHILDREN
CONGRATULATIONS TO …
… Laura & Matt Ressler on the birth of their twins! Aubrey Louise and Kaylie Sue were born on March 28.
… Kim & Daryl Stoltzfus on the birth of their son, Nolan Jeffrey on March 31.
… Amy (Brubaker) & Dwayne Walton on the birth of their son, Elijah David on March 31.
… Erin & George Metzler on the adoption of Gabriel James on March 27 in Guatemala City. Gabriel’s birthday is October 15, 2004.

FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

VENTRILOQUIST AT MAPLE GROVE
“Ryan and Friends” will be at Maple Grove on Friday, April 18 at 7:00 pm.
Ryan, a talented comedian and ventriloquist, will introduce his friends in an evening of humor for all ages. 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 Stewardship 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. Contact Ken Umble, Concert Coordinator, if you can help.

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.

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.

EDUCATION AND INSPIRATION OPPORTUNITIES

WOMEN’S’ BIBLE STUDY EVENING
The follow-up to “Loving Well” (the study from the Ladies Retreat) is here. Women are invited to join us for a follow-up session on Sunday evening, April 13th at 6:30 pm. All women are encouraged to attend this evening of sharing our hearts before the Lord.

MEMBERSHIP CLASS
A class for church membership will begin on April 20; 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 “Prayer: Come as a Child.”

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

3-30 Offering $6098
The Building Fund current loan amount $86,650.

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.

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

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).