Announcements

Sunday, May 2, 2021

OUR CHURCH FAMILY
As many of you know, we are expecting new life in our congregation this spring and summer! Our First Mennonite tradition is to provide families with meals following the birth of a child. If you have interest in being added to this list to provide meals, please let Sarah Showalter know: sarah-showalter@uiowa.edu.

Our giving this year is $24,000 behind giving for the same time last year. Thank you to all who have continued to give to the work of First Mennonite Church. As of March 31 (7 months), $251,000 has been given with $288,000 spent on the missions of our congregations. We have spent $37,000 more than we have received. We were fortunate to have started the year with a balance of just under $15,000 which has led to a negative balance of $22,000. Please continue to keep First Mennonite Church finances in mind as you consider your giving.

Staying connected to FMC: Reading Commission Minutes on the FMC website is one way to be virtually active.

MYF on May 5 at 7 PM at Rempels for outdoor dinner and games

If you’re driving to Goshen, IN on June 4 and returning June 7, please let the church office know if you’re willing to provide a ride. Thank you.

To check-out Library materials, contact Ann Valenta at 530-5549, astevev@gmail.com OR Jill Miller at 541-0102, djmiller1984@hotmail.com (Jill works at the Library Thursday 2-5 PM) OR submit a Request Form here.

Reminder: The church building is locked and the staff are working from home.
    Libby: Phone or text: 319-400-7348 and email: libbyconley@hotmail.com
    John: Phone or text: 319-371-5560 and email: jmyoderschrock@gmail.com
Libby's and John’s day off will be Monday; the church office is also closed then.
To contact the church office, please email (firstmenno@msn.com) or leave a message on Mary’s home phone: 319-683-3505. Mary will be in the church office most Thursday and Friday mornings.

CONFERENCE & COMMUNITY NEWS
Vaccine supply has greatly increased in Johnson County. There are currently many pharmacies and community locations to receive COVID-19 vaccines. Please visit our website to learn about your options and find appointments. https://coronavirus-johnsoncounty.hub.arcgis.com/

Blood Drive: We'd love to see you at Upper Deer Creek Church (3369 320th St. Wellman) on Monday, May 10, from 2:30-7:30 PM. Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center requires masks and pre-scheduled appointments. To schedule, contact Chris Ciasto, 563.349.1608 or cciasto@mvrbc.org. Bring a photo ID and remember to eat before donating! You may also schedule an appointment online at: https://login.bloodcenter.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/91768

From Central Plains Mennonite Conference (CPMC):

Did you know? Central Plains Annual Meeting will be online this year—which means that you can attend without making pesky travel or hotel arrangements! Visit our website to learn more about our speaker, schedule and workshops and to register! www.centralplains.org/annual-meeting-2021

From Crooked Creek Christian Camp:

Creekline News: Read about thanks, needs, wishes, food service sponsorships, and programs for the summer here.
Is your church or Sunday school class looking for a fun way to get involved and support the ministry of camp? Become a camp sponsor! Look through the sponsorship list below and contact the camp office for the item(s) you are willing to contribute this summer for camp.
- Ground Beef Sponsor: Supply 350 pounds of ground beef for summer camp meals.
- Zip-Lock Bag Sponsor: We're always bagging things up to send on cookout and need 20 boxes of gallon sized ziplocks, 15 boxes of quart sized ziplocks and 10 boxes of pint sized ziplocks.
- Carrot and Celery Stick Sponsor: We love our healthy snacks and eat lots for these stick veggies.
- Large Tortilla and Taco Sized Tortilla Sponsor: From burritos to breakfast wraps to tacos we use loads of tortillas for various meals!
- Biscuit Sponsor: The infamous biscuit, cooked over the fire and enjoyed by all. Each week we need 20 cans of biscuits to make our cookout complete.
- Juice Sponsor: OJ, AJ, GJ...you name it, we'll drink it (well maybe not tomato juice...)
Summer Camp 2021: Now accepting applications for counselors, housekeepers, kitchen staff, and lifeguards. For more information and to apply click here! Contact Heather at heather@crookedcreekcamp.org with any questions.

From Hillcrest Academy:

Apple Fritters | Now you don't have to wait until fall to get the famous Hillcrest Academy apple fritters! Come to Small Town Flavors on Fri, May 7 from 11 AM-6 PM in the Kalona Mennonite Church parking lot and you'll have the opportunity to pick-up apple fritters, soft pretzels, tacos/taco salad, ribeye sandwiches, pork burgers, and bbq chicken all while supporting some wonderful area organizations. All orders are carry-out, while supplies last, with no on-site dining. Go to tinyurl.com/small-town-flavors for details.
Gate Taker Volunteers Needed | We are looking for volunteers to take gate at our home softball/baseball games. Volunteers would get in free to the game and complementary concession stand food. Interested? Please sign up HERE or contact Laurie Miller at lmiller@hillcrestravens.org.
Sarah Miller, Virtual Senior Recital | Please join us as Sarah performs a variety of music including her college audition pieces, music on guitar, and a small ensemble. Video will be released at hillcrestravens.org on Sat, May 8.
Summer Camps | Hillcrest Academy is excited about our summer camp lineup! Please go to hillcrestravens.org/summer-camps to learn about our camps, and for registration and payment.

From the Iowa Mennonite Relief Sale:

This year's Iowa Relief Sale includes an online auction and a drive-through meal. The online auction will be active May 30-June 6. The online auction is looking for volunteers and donations. The auction, which helps support MCC's relief efforts worldwide, is powered by your generosity. Hosted meals, donated products/services, and handmade items are greatly appreciated and help generate as much support for MCC as possible! Also, with the entirety of the auction taking place online this year, we're looking for a few more volunteers to help. The deadline for donations is May 9, with volunteers needed immediately. If you are interested in donating or volunteering, contact Susan Gingerich, our FMC Sale rep, or Steve Groenwold at stevegroenewold@gmail.com.
In addition to the online auction, a drive-through meal will be held at Kalona Mennonite Church on Friday, June 4, 4:30-7:30 PM. Relief Sale updates will be posted on Facebook at www.facebook.com/iowamennonitereliefsale and www.iamccreliefsale.org.

From Mennonite Church USA:

The Executive Board of Mennonite Church USA approved a $1.4 million budget for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, announced a special delegate session for May 27-30, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri, and reviewed several proposed resolutions during its April meeting. Read more here.
MennoCon21: Registration is now open for MennoCon21! Learn more about online and in-person registration options for the first-ever hybrid convention here: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/in-person-mennocon21
#BringThePeace: Mennonite Church USA has released a new online curriculum called, “Defund the Police? An Abolition Curriculum.” The nine-week interactive multi-media curriculum focuses on a biblical view of personal and community safety, in response to the continued brutalization of Black, Brown and Indigenous people by police. Learn more about the curriculum here.
Menno Snapshots: Glen Guyton, executive director of Mennonite Church USA, responded to the verdict in the George Floyd murder case in his blog, “Unfulfilled: A Reaction to the Chauvin Guilty Verdict.” Read it here.

From Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship (MHF):
Read the latest from MHF here.

From MennoMedia:

Staying Connected & Staying Safe: Find the link to the podcast -ing, this week’s Salt & Light Bible Study video, read how to pre-order the latest Herald Press book addressing discipleship & poverty, Faithful in Small Things: How to Serve the Needy When You're One of Them by Kevin Wiebe: “… Wiebe shows readers that writing big checks isn’t the only—or even the best—way to alleviate poverty. Along the way, he shines a spotlight on the value of small acts of love as a means of changing the world, and as vitally important to following Jesus.” and more here.

From Mennonite Men:

Read the latest happenings in our newsletter, Engage: A Connection with Men, here.

From Mennonite Mission Network (MMN):

Read the latest from MMN Network News & Beyond here.

From Pleasantview:

Director of Marketing needed: an exciting full-time opportunity! With Pleasantview’s upcoming building project we will be adding products and services; we need your creativity, ambition and demonstrated marketing experience to share our story! Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in business administration, marketing, or related field preferred. Five years’ experience in marketing and long-range planning which administrative ability has been demonstrated is also preferred but not required. Inquiries or resumes for the Director of Marketing position should be sent to kschrock@pvkalona.com

From Mennonite Women USA:

Read blog posts from women across our denomination at Mennonite Women Voices here.

From Mennonite World Conference (MWC):

Read the latest newsletter, Courier, from MWC here.

Birthdays (May 2 - 8)

Monday   Caleb Gingerich,
Carol Enns, Nicole Elliott
Wednesday   John Halder, Avery Hershberger
Thursday    Amanda Gerig Sickles
Friday Emily Hooley
Saturday      Maria Portillo

Events for the coming week
(May 2 - 9)
Sunday 9:30 AM Zoom Worship & Communion: Mar Upton, proclaimer
Tuesday 7 PM Mission Commission
Wednesday 7 PM MYF
7 PM Worship Commission
Sunday 9:30 AM Online Worship: Maya Kehr Yoder, proclaimer

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