Announcements

Oct. 1 - 7. 2022

OUR CHURCH FAMILY
Next Sunday, October 9, John Sharp will be our guest speaker in worship. John is the father of MJ Sharp, a peacemaker in Africa, who was killed. John will share MJ’s story and reflect on our call to the ministry of reconciliation. All are invited to the Fellowship Hall for the Education Hour where John will respond to your questions.
You can find the book Disarmed: The Radical Life and Legacy of Michael ‘MJ’ Sharp by Marshall V. King in our church library. Listen to an interview with the author on the PeaceBuilder podcast at this link.

An AED (automatic external defibrillator) has been installed across the hall from the office by the mailboxes. Training in CPR and the use of the AED will be scheduled soon.

Bible Study Opportunity: As part of the celebration of 500 years of Anabaptism, MennoMedia is creating an Anabaptist Bible. Small groups will study selected passages of Scripture together in four sessions and then submit comments to be considered for marginal notes in the Anabaptist Bible. See https://www.mennomedia.org/reading-scripture-together/ for more information. Contact Margaret Yoder if you are interested in participating.

Planning is underway for Crooked Creek Christian Camp’s 3rd annual online auction! The auction will be live December 6-11 on the Mennonite Auctions website: https://mennoniteauctions.org/. First Mennonite Church has committed to provide a gift basket of crafts for children ages 3-10. Please give your cash donations to Faye Gerig or contact her at 319-430-2987 by October 2. You may also donate NEW or LIKE NEW items and antiques. Food, experience, and meat bundles have been some of the best sellers. Contact Heather (heather@crookedcreekcamp.org) or our camp rep (Carol Miller) to donate.

Volunteers are needed for the Pleasantview Benefit Sale Evening Meal on Friday, Nov. 4. There are two shifts ( 4-6 PM and 6-8 PM) and a variety of jobs. Adults and school age children are welcome. Please call or text John Yutzy at (319) 530-8414 or email at jnyutzy@gmail.com by Oct 23. Thank you!

Thank-you to Mary Forney and Kathy Ropp for the worship visuals that reflect our fall worship theme.

CONFERENCE AND COMMUNITY NEWS
Fernau Fundraiser Meal, Sunday, October 2, hosted by East Union & Upper Deer Creek, will be served at Upper Deer Creek Church (3369 320th St. Wellman) from 11:30 AM -1:30 PM. Cost is on a donation basis and if unable to attend, donations can be made via East Union's or Upper Deer Creek's website/giving portal. Thanks in advance for supporting Joe & Carmen as they continue Joe's battle with lymphoma.

or https://www.udcchurch.com/

Ten Thousand Villages will be financially empowering Pakistani artisans by hosting their 6th Annual Fair Trade Rug Event October 13-16 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in the Iowa River Landing in Coralville. This year’s Rug Event is particularly important as many of the artisans who create the Persian and tribal rugs and hand-woven pillows live predominantly in areas where Pakistan has been inundated with flooding. Approximately 300 rugs, each handmade in Pakistani homes by fairly paid adult artisans, will be available in a variety of unique designs and sizes. Thurs-Sat 10 am-7 pm, Sun 11-5. Visit bunyaad.com to view or call 319-519-2104 for information.

From the Consultation of Religious Communities:

An ecumenical Taize Evensong service will be held on October 16 at 5 PM at New Song Episcopal Church, 912 Twentieth Ave., in Coralville. The hour-long contemplative service will include chants, silence, short readings, and prayers for the world. Taize gatherings will continue at the same time and place on the third Sunday of each month. All are welcome! Contact Linda Kroon (lstewartkroon@gmail.com) or Dorothy Whiston (dwwhiston@gmail.com or 319-321-7920) for more information.
The Consultation of Religious Communities will host its annual Warm Winter Wear Distribution (WWWD) on October 16-22 in the new winter shelter at the far east end of the Guide Link Center, 340 Southgate Ave, Iowa City.

Begin collecting your donations of new or gently used outerwear for children and adults. Highest
   priority items: winter coats & jackets of all sizes, and other outerwear (snow pants, hats, gloves /
   mittens, winter scarves, warm socks & winter boots / shoes). Also gladly accepted are sweaters,
   sweatshirts & sweatpants. Other items needed: a box or two of large, strong lawn and leaf bags
   that can hold several coats for the shoppers; and a dozen sturdy coat racks to borrow.
And save the week of October 16 - 22 for volunteer opportunities as follows:

October 16, set up & begin receiving donations (Sun., NOON - 4 PM)
October 17 & 18: continue to receive donations, sort items & set up (Mon. & Tues., 9 - 6 PM.)
October 19 & 21: distribution of clothing (Wed, - Fri.: 9 – 6 PM)
October 22: distribution of clothing (9 - NOON); Clean-up: (Noon to 4 PM)

For more detailed instructions and to access the Sign-up Genius for Volunteers click on: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B49A9AE2FA20-warm1
For further questions, contact John Barr at BarrJohnO@sau.edu

From Crooked Creek Christian Camp (CCCC):

Join us at camp this fall for our upcoming programs:
- October 6 Lunch and Lecture (Senior Day) starting at 9:30 AM. John Sharp will be sharing and a soup lunch will be provided.
- October 21-23: Fall craft retreat at the Lodge.

More information is on our website at www.crookedcreekcamp.org.

Read the latest Creekline News at this link.

From Crowded Closet:

Ready for a new adventure? Join the volunteer community at Crowded Closet Thrift Shop! New flexible roles fit any schedule or level of commitment. Engaging service for any interest or ability. Stay active this winter as a Retail Assistant, process donations with friends in our bustling workroom, or get to know our loyal customers as cashiers. Our volunteers are building an enduring ministry that creates a stream of revenue to support Mennonite Central Committee now, and for years to come! Join us! Contact Christine at crowdedcloset.volunteer@gmail.com or 319-337-5924 to plan your visit.

From Hillcrest Academy:

We are thankful for the two families who will host our African exchange students. Ilham (Ghana) & Mariam (Mali) arrived the last week of September and we look forward to them being an important part of Hillcrest Academy. We are blessed to have such a diverse school community with 30% of our students being people of color. Our diversity is part of what makes us unique and our backgrounds, personalities, life experiences and perspectives, are all of the things that make us who we are as a school.
Join us on campus for Homecoming & Alumni Family Weekend on October 14-15, 2022! Find info about The Steel Wheels concert, register for the Joetown Classic 5K, and get tickets for the annual Pork Supper all at hillcrestravens.org/homecoming.
The Hillcrest Academy FFA will be hosting a Harvest Party for 5th-8th graders on Saturday, October 22 from 4:30-7:30 PM. There will be a light supper provided along with games, a bonfire, s'mores, and other goodies. We'll be outside for the entire time so please dress accordingly. Bring a friend and sign up at hillcrestravens.org/5-8events!

From Mennonite Central Committee (MCC):

Nov 6-11: Puerto Rico Peace Camp: Young adults are invited to join MCC on November 6-11 on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico as we discover new ways to live and proclaim the gospel of peace. This week-long experience will be filled with practical learning about deconstructing oppressive systems, building community, participating in spaces of healing and commitment to hospitality. This experience will be facilitated in Spanish; a minimum of conversational Spanish is expected from all participants. Registration fee is $200; sign up now at mcc.org/campamento-de-paz. More information about peace camps: mcc.org/peace-camps. Our prayers are with the people of Puerto Rico after the devastation from Hurricane Fiona this past weekend. After speaking with peace camp organizers on the ground there, we are glad to know that they are managing okay, and that the peace camp location was not impacted. As of today, we expect the peace camp to take place as planned.

From Mennonite Church USA (MCUSA):

Learn, Pray, Join: Mass Incarceration: Mennonite Church USA launched the “Learn, Pray, Join: Mass Incarceration” initiative in September. This initiative, in conjunction with the “For Justice in the U.S. Criminal Legal System” resolution, seeks to raise awareness of injustices in the U.S. criminal legal system, especially those that disproportionately affect people of color and people without financial security. The initiative will continue through the end of October. Read more here: mennoniteusa.org/news/lpj-mi
Menno Snapshots: Several years ago, when the congregants of College Mennonite Church in Goshen, IN, agreed to follow strategic priorities that included embracing diversity and practicing active inclusion, they knew they were taking a big step, but they didn’t know how deeply it would affect their church. Read Marty Lehman’s blog, The dangers of strategic planning, to learn more about how these priorities led to a robust immigrant resettlement ministry in their community.
#BeTransformed: Like most other Americans alive on Sept. 11, 2001, Drew Strait has strong memories attached to the tragedies that occurred that day. This day set him down a path toward Anabaptism, nonviolence and a professional focus on combatting Christian nationalism. Read his story.
#MennoCon23: MennoCon23, Mennonite Church USA’s largest faith formation gathering, will be held July 3-8, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri. There will be programming for all ages, including a one-day Climate Summit for youth and young adults. See the tentative block schedule here: mennoniteusa.org/mennocon-schedule.

From other Mennonite Organizations:

Read the latest information in Staying Connected from MennoMedia.
Get the latest news from Mennonite Mission Network at the Network News & Beyond.

Birthdays (Oct. 1 - 6)
Saturday Kathy Ropp
Sunday Allison Krabill
Saturday Mike Cook

Events for the coming week
(October 1 - 7)
Sunday: 9:30 AM Worship & Communion, Terry Zimmerly, proclaimer
10:45 AM Sunday School
Tuesday: 7 PM Mission Team
Wednesday: 7 PM Worship Planning Team
Sunday: 9:30 AM Worship, John Sharp, proclaimer
10:45 AM Sunday School and Q&A time with John Sharp