February 1st, 2009 – Opportunities of the Week

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14)

Passionate Spirituality is built upon a life full of faith. There’s no question, People get passionate about sports. We support our team (Go Steelers!) and truly want them to win. We get caught up in the thrill of the game, the excitement that anything could happen. Some will even sit on uncomfortable bleachers in extreme heat or freezing cold for long periods of time, just to be at the game. That’s passion! As part of Jesus’ team, God wants us to be passionate about our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Are we passionate Christians?

CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY is extended to the family of Susie Glick, who went to be with the Lord on Thursday, January 29. There will be a viewing on Sunday, Feb 1st at Quarryville Retirement Community and at Maple Grove on Monday, Feb 2, 6:00 – 8:00 pm. A Memorial Service and luncheon will be held at Maple Grove on Tuesday, Feb 3, 11:00 am. You can see Susie’s obituary and sign the guest book at: http://obits.lancasteronline.com/index.php?p=2266682.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS
The Birdsong Family will be in concert on Sunday, March 1st at 10:30 am.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

‘Money Talks” is a 5-week Sunday School elective that will begin on March 1, in the sanctuary during the Sunday School hour.

Caring adults are needed to volunteer in the nursery during Sunday School. Please see Jen Eby if you are interested.

FAMILY LIFE OPPORTUNITIES

A SWEETHEART SOCIAL is scheduled for Wednesday, February 11 at Shady Maple Smorgasbord. The Cost is $20 per person. Mark & Abby King from Lord’s House of Prayer (Lancaster) are the featured speakers. Call the church office to make your reservations by Feb 8.

The LADIES’ RETREAT will be held at the Eden Resort Inn and Suites in Lancaster, PA on February 20-22, 2009. The theme is “Come to the Water.” Mary Wilson, Care Coordinator at Living Truth Fellowship Church, will be the speaker. The cost is $110 per person.

The MEN’S RETREAT is March 27-29 at the Ponderosa Lodge. Larry Constable will be the speaker.

A FAMILY LIFE CONFERENCE will be held on Sunday, May 3. Gerald and Marlene Kauffman will be our speakers. They are the authors of “Monday Marriage.”

YOUTH MININSTRY OPPORTUNITIES

BIBLE QUIZZING got off to a great start. Here are the results from January 25:
Maple Grove 2 (130) vs. Hinkletown 2 (35)
Maple Grove 2 (85) vs. Living Rock 1 (60)
Maple Grove 2 (55) vs. Timberline 1 (135)
Maple Grove 1 (20) vs. Zion 2 (130)
Maple Grove 1 (120) vs. Akron 1 (55)
Abbie Weaver quizzed out 3 times and Taylor Fritz, Kaitlyn Miller, & Christian Copeland each once.
Eight teams will compete at Maple Grove on Sunday, February 1. Opening worship is at 1:45 pm and quizzing competition will be from 2 to 5 pm. Come cheer on our teams!
Jeff & Rhonda Stoltzfus and Erin Metzler are coaches.Get all the information at www.accquizzing.org.

X-TREME WORSHIP is Tuesday, February 3 at 7:00 pm. “Audible Truth” will lead in praise and worship. Our speaker is Ryan Showalter, director of Discipleship Ministries (short-term mission groups) for Eastern Mennonite Missions. Food and fellowship will follow.

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. The youth will lead the Talent Show this week.

TALENT SHOW: The MYF will sponsor our Family Night Annual Talent Show on Wednesday, February 4th. Everyone is invited to share their talents that evening. Please Sign-up on the MYF bulletin board in the main foyer.

A SPORTS THEME DINNER will be held on Friday, February 27. Mark your calendar and plan to attend this great evening with lots of food and entertainment.

The MYF has ham loaves available for those who missed the sale. Contact Rhonda Umble to purchase a ham loaf for $8.50 each.

FINANCE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Church Offering Envelopes for 2009 have been placed in mailboxes. Contact Bill Umble if you did not receive envelopes.

“Money Talks” is a 5 week Sunday School elective, every Sunday in March, sponsored by the Finance Commission.

EVANGELISM AND SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

We are collecting blankets for MCC to distribute in Afghanistan, Iraq and North Korea. New single or double winter weight blankets are preferred. There is a box and display in the foyer for your contributions.

CPR classes will be held on the morning of Saturday, February 14 & Sunday, February 15 following worship. The cost is $25 per person; sign-up on the bulletin board in the foyer or see Cathy Case.

Clean out your quilt closets for the MCC PA RELIEF SALE, April 3-4. You can recycle quilt supplies, unfinished quilt projects and craft items. See the announcement posted in the foyer for more information.

Please view the mission bulletin board in the foyer. Cambodia and the ministry of Ryan and Bethany Umble are highlighted.

PENNY POWER is here. Bud Eby’s class is taking charge of Penny Power this year. There are two bottles in the foyer for your pennies. These will be taken to the MCC Relief Sale in April.

WOMEN’S MINISTRIES OPPORTUNITIES

The Ladies Bible Study meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. They are meeting at the home of Joy Sherman.

MAPLE GROVE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION YEAR 1909-2009
Reserve Sunday, August 16 for our Centennial Celebration. The 100th Anniversary Committee will meet on Sunday, February 8 at 12:00 noon. Lunch will be provided. Anyone interested is invited to come and participate.

The Committee is collecting historical items to use in preparation for the celebration and during the celebration. Please talk with Melba King if you have some interesting items. Historic photos are needed. Cathy Case is scanning and organizing these photos. Please bring photos to the sound booth at the rear of the sanctuary and they will be returned to you shortly.

SERVING CHRIST AT THIS LOCATION SINCE 1909
100 YEARS AGO (1909) The building committee was hard at work. “Land was taken from the Daniel R. Smoker and Mattie Kennel properties and work was began at once, much of the work was done by the members who helped liberally and also provided funds.” The foundation was completed on March 17, 1909.
75 YEARS AGO (1934) Henry Stauffer & Marian Feister were married by bishop John A. Kennel on Thursday, February 1, 1934. On Sunday, February 4, pastor Amos B. Stoltzfus preached on Matthew 18:19-20.
50 YEARS AGO (1959) On Sunday, February 1, Pastor Abner G. Stoltzfus brought the children’s sermon on stamps of different countries. Bishop Aaron F. Stoltzfus preached on “The Design of Water Baptism.” Mildred Beiler, Laura Engle, Twila Esh and Samuel Glick were baptized that day.
25 YEARS AGO (1984) Love was in the air. The following engagements were announced: Dwayne Smoker & Paula Burkholder; Beth Smucker & Mike Grieser; Wanda Yoder & Jeff Hayes.

MAPLE GROVE PRESCHOOL
Registration for the 2009-2010 school year will begin on February 5 for Maple Grove families. Registration for current students is February 9. Open registration begins on February 19. Check out www.maplegrovepreschool.org for more information.

MISCELLANEOUS
CD recordings of our Sunday morning worship services are available from the church office. Recordings of the Sunday School elective with Mike Lusby, as well as other special events, are also available.


THE WIDER BODY OF CHRIST
(See the bulletin board in the foyer for more information and additional announcements)

WEST FALLOWFIELD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL will have an OPEN HOUSE on February 5 and 24 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.

Expand your world and your family through Serving And Learning Together (SALT). If you are 18-27 years old, consider serving oversees for 11 months through Mennonite Central Committee’s SALT program. Visit www.mcc.org/salt for more information.

MCC is collecting AIDS Care Kits. You can help by assembling a kit. See www.mcc.org/kits/aids for more information.

Bridge of Hope Lancaster & Chester Counties invites you to its 10th Chester County Garden Luncheon with award-winning author Jane Kirkland, Chester Springs, talking on “Backyard Sanctuaries for Birds and Butterflies.” This event, held at The Desmond Great Valley Hotel, Malvern, on Saturday, March 21, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., helps homeless families build better futures. To make reservations, requested by March 10, call 610-380-1360 or visit www.bridgeofhopelcc.org.