March 1, 2009 – Opportunities of the Week

“Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.” (Psalm 95:2)

As we head toward Easter lets think about how we can Grow Our Faith. Remember how the children helped Pastor Steve plant an amaryllis bulb? How is our bulb doing? Is it growing? More important, “How is your faith doing?” We plant the bulb of our faith when we make a commitment to Jesus. Sometimes we call this inviting Jesus into our hearts and lives. Our Christian life will never grow, flourish and bloom unless it starts with a firm commitment to follow Jesus. Do you need to re-commit your life to Christ?

THIS WEEKEND
THE BIRDSONG FAMILY
Youth Oriented Concert & Fellowship Time, Saturday, February 28, 6:30 pm
Sunday Morning Worship, Sunday, March 1st at 10:30 am.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

‘Money Talks” is a 5-week Sunday School elective that will begin this Sunday, March 1, in the sanctuary during the Sunday School hour. You can view a preview trailer on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NhpvGyJ6tE&feature=related, and episode 2 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS1Fx8sLtdE.

There are NEW BOOKS IN THE CHURCH LIBRARY. Some of the new titles are “Have a New Kid by Friday” by Dr. Kevin Leman, “Fierce Goodbye: Living in the Shadow of Suicide” by G. Lloyd Carr, and “The Carol of Christmas: Life Story of Christmas Carol Kaufmann” by Marcia Kauffman Clark

FAMILY LIFE OPPORTUNITIES

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

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 continues. This week (Mar 1st) the competition for our team is at Akron Mennonite Church at 6:30 pm. Come cheer on our teams! Jeff & Rhonda Stoltzfus and Erin Metzler are coaches. Last week (2/22) Taylor Fritz, Dillon King, Kaitlyn Nafziger & Abbie Weaver quizzed out. Get all the information at www.accquizzing.org.

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.

Xtreme Worship on Tuesday, March 3 at 7:00 pm. Music by Audible Truth; message by David Klingensmith, youth pastor at Sandy Hill Community Church.

FINANCE ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

EVANGELISM AND SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

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 for projects of peace, relief and development. Go to www.pennypower.org for more information.

WORSHIP & MUSIC OPPORTUNITIES

“Music in the Meadow” is will be held on July 12. Your help is needed for this fun and inspirational event. The next organizational meeting is April 26. Contact Ken Umble for more information.

WOMEN’S MINISTRIES OPPORTUNITIES

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER will be held on Friday, March 6 from 9:00 to 11:00 am at Sandy Hill Mennonite Church. Sarah Mechler, missionary to Mongolia is the speaker. Dorothy King will bring the devotions.

PRECEPTS FOR WOMEN
A 3 week study on the Book of Titus will be held on Wednesday mornings (9:15 to 11:30 am) on March 18, 25 and April 1st. Titus will teach us how to develop character and integrity in the midst of a society which has lost respect for God. Childcare will be provided.

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, March 8 at 12:00 noon. Anyone interested is invited to come and participate.

MAPLE GROVE PRESCHOOL
Registration for the 2009-2010 school year is open. Check out www.maplegrovepreschool.org for more information.

MISCELLANEOUS
Reminder: Please contact the church office when repairmen are scheduled at the church facilities. Please lock doors when you leave.

CD recordings of our Sunday morning worship services are available from the church office. MP3 downloads of the services are also available; give Chuck White your e-mail address and the date(s) of the services you want and he will send them to you.

Recycle Christian Literature
During the month of March a box is in the foyer (next to the mailboxes) for our Christian reading and study materials. These will be distributed to other English speaking countries.

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

The Parkesburg Point will hold its 3rd Annual Fundraising Banquet on Saturday, March 21, 5:00 to 8:30 pm, at West Fallowfield Christian School. See Laura Demastus or Dan Bruner for tickets or more information. Check it out at http://theparkesburgpoint.com/.

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.

Book Signing and Church Tour at Hopewell Mennonite
March 1, 2009 - 3:00PM-4:00PM - A new book, Windows, by Harry Yocom - a theological and historical reflection on the stained glass windows of Hopewell Mennonite Church. Book signing and tour of the historical House of Worship, originally home of the German Second Reformed Church of Reading.

Panel Discussion with Poet Julia Spicher Kasdorf at Strasburg Mennonite Church
March 10 - 7 pm. “Fact and Fiction: Reconsidering the landmark, Rosanna of the Amish,” on Historian and genealogist S. Duane Kauffman will also speak. Amish half-moon pies, associated with the book’s Big Valley setting, will be available for sale at the event. Strasburg Mennonite Church address is 1514 Village Road, located on Route 741. Event is sponsored by the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society; call us for more information at (717) 393-9745