January 11, 2009 – Opportunities of the Week

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17).

MAPLE GROVE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION YEAR 1909-2009
The New has come, but the old is still celebrated. Reserve Sunday, August 16 for our Centennial Celebration.

100 YEARS AGO (1909)
Millwood / Maple Grove members were prayerfully preparing for a meeting at the Old Sadsbury Church scheduled for Tuesday, January 19, where the location of a new church building was to be discussed.

75 YEARS AGO (1934)
There was much sadness at Millwood / Maple Grove. 19 year old Alice, daughter of Steven & Maggie Stoltzfus, died on Jan 11. 46 year old Amanda Kauffman, wife of M.S. Kauffman, died on Jan 15. On Sunday, Jan 14, Amos B. Stoltzfus preached on Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ … “

50 YEARS AGO (1959)
On January 7 a church meeting was held to decide what should be done about our crowded conditions; a committee of 5 was chosen to further investigate. “Our message for the New Year by Bro. Abner encouraged us to face the future with God.”
Every Sunday at 1:30 pm, Maple Grove broadcast “Rock of Ages” over WCOJ Radio. Melba Ann Beiler was the youth reporter for the Maple Breezes. The youth had their own Jr. sewing circle, prayer meetings, singings, socials and distributed “WAY.” (From Maple Breezes, January 1959)

25 YEARS AGO (1984)
Several members were hospitalized or ill: Sam Umble was recovering from hip surgery, Kent King had a leg operation, Lena Stoltzfus had knee surgery, Rachel Summers and Elam Mast were in poor health, Zachery Kennel had been in the hospital for croup. Plans were underway for the Keystone Bible Institute, held at Maple Grove January 22-26. (Maple Breezes, January 1984)

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

On January 11 & 18 the Adult Sunday School classes will meet together for a class about dealing with depression led by Mike Lusby.

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

FELLOWSHIP AND INSPIRATION COMING EVENTS

X-TREME WORSHIP will be on Tuesday, February 3 at 7:00 pm. “Audible Truth” will lead in praise and worship. There will be a special guest speaker. Food and fellowship will follow.

Would you like to learn to quilt? There will be a “Basic How-to” class on Wednesday, January 14 during the Sewing Circle time. Contact Patti White with any questions.

A SWEETHEART SOCIAL is scheduled for Wednesday, February 11 at Shady Maple Smorgasbord. The Cost is $20 per person. Call the church office to make your reservations.

The LADIES’ RETREAT will be held at the Eden Resort Inn and Suites in Lancaster, PA on February 20-22, 2009. Mary Wilson, Care Coordinator at Living Truth Fellowship Church, will be our speaker. The cost is $110 per person. Registration must be turned into Missy King by Sunday, January 18.

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.”

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

Clean out your quilt closets for the MCC PA RELIEVE 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.

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

YOUTH MINISTRIES

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.

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.

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

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.