Howard-Miami Mennonite

  Church Newsletter

August 2010                                                                                                          Vol. 29   Issue 2

 Two (potentially) Life-Changing Questions 

Once a month I meet with a group of other Mennonite youth pastors. It’s a time where I get to connect with others who are experiencing similar things as me, and who encourage me, challenge me, and help equip me so that I may continue to minister to the youth at Howard-Miami Mennonite Church.

            We often do a book study together, talk about common concerns or issues related to youth ministry, pray for our churches and youth groups, and share ideas for recent youth group events, activities or lessons that went really well.

            A few months ago, John Troyer, the youth pastor at Clinton Frame Mennonite Church in Goshen, shared about a simple Bible study he led that had some profound impact on his youth. He asked his group two questions.

Question #1: What do you need in your life to become more passionate about God?

What a profound question! I would say that most people who attend church on a regular basis come because they desire to grow closer to God. They want to learn more about God and develop a deeper relationship with Him.  Probably, most of us would even say we want to become more passionate about God.

            Unfortunately, many of us don’t know how to answer this question. What do you need in your life to become more passionate about God? Some of us may think we need more time. If we had more time, we could read our Bible and pray more. Others might realize they need the desire to be more passionate about God. It’s hard to become more passionate about God if it’s not something you currently desire. A few people might just need a good nap. It’s hard to be passionate about much of anything when you’re tired.

            After John asked his youth group the first question, he challenged them with the second.

Question #2: What keeps it from happening?

            We have more control over our lives than we sometimes realize. When I was in college, I used to really struggle with over-committing myself. I just couldn’t say “no” to people, especially when everything I said “yes” to was something good. I quickly realized that saying “yes” to a lot of good things just meant that I didn’t do any of them very well.

After many months of frustration and exhaustion, I realized that choices I was making were preventing me from growing in my relationship with God. Even though I was doing lots of good things (volunteering at service organizations, leading Bible studies, attending worship nights, working at a Christian bookstore, meeting friends at coffee shops who were going through a rough time, etc.) I was allowing them to keep me from the really important things.

If we can honestly answer the second question that John posed to his youth group, we will be able to realize the things we can control and the things that are actually controlling us.

            So what about you? What do you need in your life to become more passionate about God? What keeps it from happening? 

            May you seek God’s presence as you seek the answers, and may you end up more passionate about God that you ever imagined possible!           

                                    Always, Pastor Sarah

 

Mennonite Women

July 1, 2010

 

At 9 a.m., there was lots of excitement about the bolts of cloth and 12 banana boxes of fabric, yarn and other textiles from the Rescue Mission.  We sorted and re-packed these items until noon.  By that time, we had stacked six boxes of fabric for MCC, five boxes for the Depot, one box for Morning Star Church, Muncie, a box for our Amish lady sewer and a great addition to our own sewing supplies!!

 Our president, Hilda Schrock, greeted everyone at our together time.  She read from Isaiah 54:10, 13, & 17.  Linda Miller, in an opening prayer, asked for peace acceptance for persons with health and life problems. 

 Hilda’s announcements included

ü  Timbrel renewal time

ü  Mennonite Ladies Retreat Nov. 7 & 8

ü  Next month’s project will be “back-to-school packs for local children.”

 Karen Kendall reported that a prayer shawl had been given to Janalyce Hatton.

 In lieu of a speaker, Hilda read from Isaiah 52: 7, 10 & 12.  Later she presented Quilt Mania, a French quilter’s magazine.  We discussed quilt patterns and the use of color in design.

 Lee and Marty’s retirement quilt is completed and will hang, temporarily, in the Fellowship Hall for all to admire.

 Two comforters were knotted today.  A new quilt was put in frame. 

Hostesses Lola Mast, Lyl Beachey and Rose Horner served a very nice lunch to 17 women.

 

Beulah Cobb,

Secretary

  

Amigo

CENTRE      

Sturgis, MI

 

Sept. 17-19    MCC Bike Michiana

Sept. 24-26       Scrapbook Retreat

Oct. 8-10            IN-MI Mennonite Women’s Fall Retreat

Oct. 15-17         Celebrate Amigo

Nov. 5-7            Pastoral Leadership Team

Dec. 3-5            Quilt Retreat

For more information about any of these programs, visit their website at www.amigocentre.org or contact Amigo at: info@amigocentre.org or call 269-651-2811.

Amigo Centre offers a variety of housing options.  Choosing between the hotel-style Retreat Center, West Shore Lodge or more rustic Cabins.  Amigo Centre also operates Amigo Park family campground and Mirror Valley Retreat.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Connecting people with God,

creation and each other!"

Help support Amigo's ministry just by searching the Internet with GoodSearch.com (powered by Yahoo)

or shopping online with GoodShop.com.  Just go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter Amigo Centre as the charity you want to support. Thanks for helping!

  

Amigo Centre's Wishlist 

If you can help with a donation of something listed below or the funds to purchase these items... please contact our office at either (269) 651-2811 or email info@amigocentre.org

 

  • Paddle boats (pontoon style)

  • Good quality living room furniture, especially sofas & loveseats

  • Working VCR players

  • Steam Carpet Cleaner

  • Large Passenger Vans - 2 needed

  • A 'Big Event' Tent (at least 20' x 40')

  • Sing The Journey and/or Sing The Story Hymnal Supplements (or funds to purchase)

  • Gently-used, good quality passenger car

  • Campbell's Soup & Box-Top for Education labels

  • Good used Rocking Chairs

  • Air Compressor - preferably a single stage, 135PSI max. with 60 gal. tank

  

Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Vine

 

August 1

New Service Adventure units are being formed this month. Pray for openness and patience as unit leaders and participants learn to know each other and their new communities.

August 8

Monsoon season is in full swing in many areas of the world. Pray for workers laboring in the midst of these annual drenching rains and the resulting flooding, as roads and bridges are often impassable and the challenge of daily ministry is increased.

August 15

Pray for Akiko Aratani and Raymond Epp and their four children as they live out the good news of Jesus through Menno Village, an award-winning urban/rural agricultural initiative in Japan.

August 22

Last month, Junta Menonita de Missões Internacionais—the mission branch of the Evangelical Mennonite Alliance of Brazil—celebrated 12 years of service. Pray that God would continue blessing the fruitful ministries of Brazilian mission workers in Albania and Mozambique.

August 29

Mennonite Church USA and the Mennonite churches in Congo have a 100-year history. Pray this relationship will continue to encourage and transform congregations on both continents.

 

MENNONITE MUTUAL AID ASSOCIATION

 Get value-oriented loans

Mennonite Financial Federal Credit Union offers consumer and home loans, including special discounts that help you care for God’s creation.  Visit www.MennoniteFinancial.com  or call (800) 451-4719.

                        --Linda Miller, MMA Advocate

 

 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR 

 

 Sept. 8-Oct. 13  Wednesday Evening Women’s Bible Study

Sept. 10-12         All-Church Camping Event at Mississinewa Campgrounds

Sept. 19               Fall Congregational Meeting & MYF fundraiser meal

Sept. 25              Michiana Relief Sale, Goshen

Oct.  23               Hog Roast  4:30 – 8 p.m.

Nov. 5-6              H-M’s 3rd Annual Ladies Retreat

Nov. 20                MYF Fish Fry    4:30 – 7:30 p.m.

 

VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION

Thanks to all who volunteer their time and resources to help as needed.  Here are just a few of many ways in which we have helped each other and others in God’s family.

The Cattle Project:  MYF youth continue to help raise cattle to be donated to Kokomo Urban Outreach.  Others are helping by making donations and helping with fundraisers.  

Greentown Choir (July 11):  Many from our church family enjoyed the Greentown Choir Worship Service at the Fairgrounds, followed by fellowship at Norman & Carol Wagler’s home!

Donations for KUO project: Many items were collected and donated to the Kokomo Urban Outreach Program, including forty-six (46) backpacks.  Thanks for your generosity!!

Donations and volunteers for Muncie Picnic (July 17):  Thanks to the 12 people who volunteered at the picnic this year and thanks to those who donated 32 dozen cookies as well as food items and clothing.    

Landscaping Team:  Thanks for all who helped clean up and trim shrubs and trees, etc. around the church.  It looks great!   J

 

Text Box:             2010 Worship Attendance                    June 27       159                    July 4        120                    July 11      104                    July 18      129                    July 25      131             2010 Yearly Average:            131

 

 

 

 

 

 SECOND SUNDAY EVENT

Sunday, August 8

6:00 p.m.

 We will come together for a time of singing praises to our Lord

with friends from other Central Indiana Mennonite Churches,

followed by a time of fellowship

 Bring finger foods and invite your friends and family to come!

 

 

ALL LADIES ARE INVITED!!

 WHAT:   3rd LADIES ANNUAL RETREAT

 WHEN:         Fri., November 5  7 – 10 p.m.

                      Sat. November 6  9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

 WHERE:       Howard-Miami

 COST:          $15.00

 WATCH FOR DETAILS!

 

Junior Youth August Events

Aug. 8       Second Sunday Evening Music Night and Fellowship 6 p.m.

 Aug. 21     Community Picnic, 5:30 p.m.

 Aug. 27     Pool party at DeAngulo’s, 4:30-7:00 p.m.

 MYF August Events

Aug. 1      Worship with Shae Miller & Book Study #3, 6 p.m.

 Aug. 8       Second Sunday Evening Music Night and Fellowship, 6 p.m., Book Study #4, 7:30 p.m.

 Aug. 15     Book Study #5, 6 p.m. Swimming at the DeAngulo’s after Bible Study

 Aug. 21     Community Picnic, 5:30 p.m.

 Aug. 22     Cookout and game night, 6 p.m.

 Aug. 29     No MYF

  

ALL-CHURCH CAMPING WEEKEND

SEPTEMBER 10- 11-12

You are invited to an all-church camping trip to be held at Mississinewa Campgrounds on Fri., Sept. 10 through Sun., Sept. 12.  If you’re planning to camp, you need to make reservations at the campgrounds – information is available on the bulletin board. 

There will not be services at the church building on that Sunday (Sept. 12).  We will be worshiping together at the campgrounds on Sunday beginning at 10:30 a.m.  We will also be sharing a carry-in picnic.  We have arranged for worship services to be held at the beach area.  A map is available at the Information Center. 

If you are not interested in traveling to the campgrounds for worship service, you are encouraged to attend Parkview Mennonite Church in Kokomo that morning.  Parkview’s worship services begin at 9:30 a.m. with Sunday school following.

Penny Power

The purpose of Penny Power is three-fold: to connect children with Mennonite Central Committee’s (MCC) global programs; to encourage children while still young to begin sharing their allowance money; and to raise money to support MCC's work around the world.  This activity is fun for both young and old!

The Penny Power Jug is in the Fellowship Hall to receive your change for the annual collection at the Michiana Relief Sale on Sat., Sept. 25.  Pick up a “light bulb shaped container” and start collecting your coins at home! J  In a few weeks, you will find a Penny Power Calendar in your mailbox.  It will be filled with lots of ideas to encourage you and your children to share your change with needy people around the world.

 

 

Christmas Boxes

Special Request for Howard-Miami:

The donations at the Kokomo Rescue Mission for our Christmas boxes are way down this year.  If you have any gently used games, toys (not stuffed animals), jewelry, puzzles, coffee mugs (we wash these and put tea bags in them as gifts), or gift items we could use in our boxes, you can get them to me or bring them to church and I can pick them up there.

                        Thank you,  Judy Otto

  

Treasurers’ Update

 

Income for July    

Regular Offerings (through July 25)    $16,083.53

    Total Receipts to date          $200,854.99

    Total Expenses to date         $200,669.07

    Budget to date                     $213,111.63

 

GOSPEL ECHOES FREEDOM RALLY

Miami Correctional Facility

Saturday August 14

Help is always needed for the annual Gospel Echoes Freedom Rally at the Miami Correctional Facility on Saturday, August 14 and, of course, this means we will need plenty of help assembling the "whoopie pies" on Friday, Aug. 13, beginning at 6 p.m.

 

 

ANNUAL HOWARD-MIAMI PICNIC

Saturday, August 21

5:30-7:30 p.m.

We will have activities for the children, music, games, and plenty of good food.

 Invite your friends, co-workers and neighbors come prepared to have a good time.

 

Meijer Community

RewardsSM Program

The church continues to participate in the Meijer Community Rewards program.  The church receives cash rewards when members are enrolled and use cash, debit card or Meijer credit card.  Cash rewards are not available if credit cards (other than Meijer) are used for purchases. 

You must be enrolled and have a Meijer credit card or a “Meijer 1 cardSM”   if you wish participate.  You can do this by going online at www.meijer.com/mcr/rewards.jsp  or picking up an application form from the Church Office.  Howard-Miami’s member number is    778344.

 

As in heaven, so also on earth:

Indiana-Michigan Conference

Annual Sessions 2010

During Annual Sessions 2010, delegates examined the center of the Lord’s Prayer—“as in heaven, so also on earth”—which sits in the center of the Sermon on the Mount, which Anabaptists consider the center of the gospel. Through sermons, readings, songs, sculpture and dance, Annual Sessions participants considered what it means to truly sit with and work for the possibilities that emerge if we take this phrase seriously. Worship services invited participants to examine necessary tensions among actions or values that are vital.

In worshipful work sessions, delegates sat in table groups, continuing discussion about those values that may be good, that may be right, and that also may conflict among individuals or as part of a community—especially one encouraging missional imagination. As members of table groups became more familiar with one another, they talked about their comfort with differences and ways to enter into difficult conversations. Finally, they brainstormed on what difficult future conversations may be needed in congregations and across the conference, and how those conversations might progress.

Among other actions, delegates:

·         Approved a 2010-2011 spending plan of $510,000—the same bottom line as last year.

·         Affirmed 23 individuals nominated by the Gifts Development Team for positions on various boards, committees and teams.

·         Welcomed Kalamazoo (Mich.) Mennonite Fellowship into the conference and regretfully accepted the request of Coldsprings Christian Fellowship, Mancelona, Mich., to withdraw.

Look for full coverage of Annual Sessions in the July/August issue of Gospel Evangel.

 

Significant Living

July/August Highlights

Laughing Matters:  According to Scripture, “a merry heart doeth good like a medicine.”  With that in mind, you might say legendary funnyman Tim Conway is a doctor of comedy.  Tim has been dispensing liberal doses of merriment to a lot of people throughout his more than 50 years as an entertainer.  Tim talks about his faith, family-friendly comedy, and his desire to help others.

Fun and Momsense:  It’s been a wild ride going from stay-at-home mom to You-Tube phenomenon, but Anita Renfroe doesn’t mind.  She’s certain that God is ordering the circumstances.  This pastor’s wife, mother and grandmother has audiences in stitches with her unique brand of musical comedy, whether they are watching her at a concert tour, an inspirational women’s conference, a Good Morning America Appearance, or on YouTube.  But her real joy comes from using her gift of humor to serve God.

Awakening Wonder:  Gardening expert and author Sharon Lovejoy shares ides for connecting with your grandchildren through nature in her new book, Toad Cottages and Shooting Stars:  Grandma’s Bag of Tricks.  Sharon’s grandmother kindled her passion for nature when she was a young child, and Sharon aims to do the same with her own grandchildren.  Her story shares ideas to get kids, and those who love them, engaged with the wonders of God’s creation.   

 

HELP US SUPPORT

OUR TOGETHER NEWSPAPER

At Howard-Miami, we publish a newspaper which is distributed to approximately 3000 homes encircling our church building.

We have found that this “targeted” approach to reaching our neighbors it the best advertising we can do, as we share our stories with our community.   

If you happen to live “outside” the five mile or so radius of the church which receives this publication in their mailboxes, we do provide copies for you near the mailboxes.  The next issue will be mailed out the last of August.  Check it out!

We are accepting advertising to help defray the cost of the printing and distribution of Together.  If you would like to consider advertising, an ad the size of a small business card would cost you $150 per year – that would reach 3000 households immediately surrounding the church –three or four times a year.  Please contact the Church Office if interested.