FIRST MENNONITE CHURCH - OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, ROOTED IN CHRIST
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  • Home
  • Welcome
    • Location and Hours
    • Staff
    • Sunday Services
    • Christian Formation >
      • Kids and Youth
      • Adults
    • Small Groups
    • Library
    • Newcomers
    • Contact Us
  • Church Life
    • Order of Worship
    • Announcements
    • Listen to/View a Sermon
    • Church Calendar
    • Sunday Volunteer Calendar
    • Church Ministry Minutes
    • Contact Info Update
    • Facebook Policy
    • Directory
    • Photo Gallery
  • Who We Are
    • Who Are the Mennonites?
    • Who is First Mennonite Church?
    • Statement of Environmental Stewardship
    • Missions >
      • Across the Street
      • Around the World
    • Safe Church Policy
  • Parking
    • Football Parking >
      • Football Parking Maps
      • Make a Payment
    • Weekday Parking >
      • Make a Payment
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Announcements

June 2 - 10, 2023
OUR CHURCH FAMILY
Please notice the different communion table up front! Last year each congregation was to bring a piece of wood to the Central Plains Mennonite Conference annual gathering. A table was created with these pieces and reminds us that we are Connected (one of 48 congregations), which happens to be our worship theme for the month of June. Make sure to look at the tabletop with the many different wood pieces.
 
Sunday there are two gatherings following worship:
  1. Immediately following worship will be the congregational meeting to approve the volunteer slate and vote on some bylaw changes.
  2. When the meeting is finished, feel free to pick up some coffee or tea and return to the sanctuary and join the Central Plains Mennonite Conference delegates for a conversation to prepare for the Annual Gathering, June 15-18. The Central Plains board has provided questions for each congregation to reflect on in light of the Resolution for Repentance and Transformation that passed at the Mennonite Church USA convention last May. (Questions: What are the identity markers of our congregation? How does our identity shape our reading of this resolution? To what extent can we practice a spirit of forbearance with congregations who may respond to diversity in human sexuality differently than we do?)
 
This month you’re invited to bring a quilt, afghan or blanket that is meaningful to you and drape it over any of the pews as a symbol of being Connected (our June worship theme). Let’s fill our sanctuary with color and visual stories.
 
Parents of Toddlers: For the next 6 months we will not have a staffed toddler room since we currently have very few toddlers (Under 2). Young children are always welcome in the worship service. We have also created a space in the overflow area with a table where parents/supervising adults can be present with toddlers and young children for quiet table activities; and we’re also designating the nursery as a toddler room. We will assess in late fall how we move forward.
 
Summer change in the sanctuary- The church staff are trying something new. The padded chairs in the overflow section have been moved to the northwest corner of the sanctuary which will allow alternative seating beyond our regular pews. Those with young children are still welcome to sit in this area or make use of the pew and quiet activity table in the overflow area. We’ll provide an opportunity for feedback at the end of the summer.

The Children's Sunday School classes are on hiatus through August 20. Fall Sunday School classes will begin with an open house & activity on August 27.

We have two youth and one sponsor who would like to attend the Mennonite Church USA Youth Convention, July 3-7. A male sponsor is needed! If you could meet that need, please talk to Analisa Gerig-Sickles for more details.
 
Thank you to all who participated in the congregational/pastoral review, both by sharing stories in a focus group and filling out a short survey. Last Call:  You can still respond to the survey at this link or submit your paper copy by SUNDAY NIGHT, June 4! (Paper copies available on the narthex table at church … leave it in the drop-box on that table).  
 
The Pride Parade and Festival in downtown Iowa City is just around the corner (Saturday, June 17) and we would love to show up as a congregation again to support and celebrate in community. This is a beautiful opportunity to share our welcoming and inclusive stance with the broader community and to help community members looking for a safe & loving worship space to find us. 
This year we are hoping to walk in the parade from 11AM-Noon and to sponsor a table afterwards from 1-6 PM. Please join us! Click here (https://volunteersignup.org/Y87PA) to fill out the volunteer form. This will allow us to help you know where to go on the day of the event and to ensure we have enough people to carry our signs and work at our booth. – Mission Team
 
Hebrews 12:1 mentions “a great cloud of witnesses”, encouraging us to run the race of faith well. Our Narthex contains a tree trunk plaque with the names of the saints from our congregation who watch over us and surround us from heaven as we run our earthly race. Mary Hendrickson has now created a "Cloud of Witnesses Memorial" scrapbook album with a page of information for each of these individuals. Thank you, Mary, for this labor of love. Individuals should feel free to contribute additional pictures, obituaries, or memorabilia. The album can be found in our church library.

CONFERENCE AND COMMUNITY NEWS
An Opportunity for Developing a Community of Caring: You’re invited to attend an Alternatives to Violence (AVP) mini-workshop on Sat., June 17, 10 AM to 12:30 PM at New Song Episcopal Church 912 20th Ave., Coralville. Regular AVP workshops (usually 20 hours over 3 days) were held in most Iowa prisons for nearly 20 years prior to the pandemic, as well as in some local schools and with other organizations. AVP is now being re-introduced in our area in hopes of resuming workshops in prisons down the road, as well as in the community. More information about AVP can be found at this link, along with the sign-up for the June 17 mini-workshop. Let me know if you have questions.
Peace, Dorothy Whiston, D.Min., Interfaith Chaplain, Inside Out Reentry Community, Spiritual Director, Soul Friends Ministry
 
Meals on Wheels of Johnson County helps older adults stay in their homes by delivering hot fresh and ready to eat meals Monday - Friday. Volunteer to help our seniors in Johnson County get the meals they need to stay well-nourished and stay in their home. Information is on the Local Missions bulletin board.
 
The Oakdale Community Choir & songwriting workshops brought incarcerated & non-incarcerated individuals together to sing and build community. This Summer 2023 Collaborative Songwriting Workshop Project is designed to do similar community building in smaller partnerships or groups of two or three people. A grounding framework for the Oakdale Choir & our summer songwriting collaboration is Ubuntu. To what extent are you familiar with it? It is a South African concept centered around the idea that who I am is directly related to who you are. Please read this brief article.
You can sponsor someone directly or indirectly. Descriptions of the project can be found on the Missions bulletin board in the Sip & Chat area. Maybe you know someone who is interested to join as a songwriter, AND/OR you would like to participate in the education component? Contact Mary Cohen, Oakdale Community Choir director
 
From Central Plains Mennonite Conference:
  • If you've ever wondered Where do we go from here? then the Central Plains Annual Meeting is the place for you! Register TODAY (Registration ends June 4!) to see your friends in CPMC in York, NE, June 15-18! Our website has all the details: www.centralplainsmc.org
 
From Crooked Creek Christian Camp:
  • Catch all the needs, service opportunities, and opportunities for FUN this summer at Crooked Creek by reading the Creekline News.
  • We are once again in dire need of male counselors (ages 16 and older). Counselors are the heart of summer camp and the ones making the BIG impact on the campers. We ask that you prayerfully consider joining the fun this summer as a counselor! We are also hiring for other summer and year-round positions. Find more information and apply at http://www.crookedcreekcamp.org/.
  • Food is an important part of the summer camp season. Here’s your chance to help in a variety of ways. Opportunities include Make Ahead & Freeze Day, becoming a Food Sponsor, Working on Kitchen Duty, and providing Counselor Snacks. Read the details and sign up HERE.
 
From Crowded Closet:
  • Crowded Closet Thrift Shop is building our team for a summer of goodness and growth! Summer volunteer openings in all areas, including Cashier, Retail Assistant, Furniture, Adult clothing, Craft, and more! Youth volunteers are encouraged to apply now to plan summer service! Now hiring for part-time Donation Receiving Assistant to support our donors and volunteers. Contact the shop to learn more about these service opportunities, 319-337-5924 or crowdedcloset.volunteer@gmail.com.
 
From Hillcrest Academy:
  • Amazon Wish List:  As we prepare for welcoming 6th grade students onto our campus next year, we continue to do the necessary things needed to make their experience what it should be. We have two Amazon Wish Lists set up which you can use to help support our middle school. They are sort of like a bridal or baby registry. You can make your purchase and everything will get delivered to the school. It’s that easy! Thanks for taking the time to check them out at hillcrestravens.org/amazonwishlist.
  • Host Family:  We’re looking for a family to host a World Link foreign exchange student during the 2023-24 school year. Hosts can be single or married with young children, no children, teenagers, or grandchildren. Students are selected based on their leadership qualities and academic performance and the program provides the student's medical insurance, pays school fees and expenses, and gives the student a monthly allowance. Please email Rebecca Beachy Miller indicating your interest.
  • Bus Drivers:  We are in critical need of shuttle and bus drivers. Our shuttles are essential in providing transportation for students to and from school who wouldn't otherwise have a way there. We are also in need of bus drivers for our athletic teams when they travel to competing schools. Contact Rebecca Beachy Miller with questions or if interested. 
 
From Mennonite Central Committee (MCC):
  • MCC Virtual Visit to the DR Congo on June 5: Learn about the impact a clean water project has had in the Democratic Republic of the Congo—and how you can help bring it to more communities. In this virtual visit, we will hear from Jacob Yoder, country representative from Wellman, IA, and Gracia Falo, program assistant, about the need in DR Congo, and their hope for its future. Linda Espenshade and Christy Kauffman will share stories and photos from a recent trip. Join us for this free webinar on Monday, June 5 at 11 AM CDT. Register for the Zoom link at mcc.org/dr-congo-webinar.

From Mennonite Church USA (MCUSA):
  • Join us for “Delegate Assembly 2023: Know Before You Go, Part II,” an informational Zoom webinar on Thursday, June 15 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. Leaders from MC USA, Everence and MHS Association will discuss the proposed organizational resolutions for the upcoming Delegate Assembly in Kansas City. Delegates and nondelegates are welcome to attend. Register and submit your questions here.
  • Mennonite Church USA strives to live into its Accessibility Resolution at MennoCon23 by removing barriers to make people of all abilities and needs feel welcome. MennoCon23, the denomination’s leading faith formation event, will take place in Kansas City, Missouri, July 3-6. Read more here.
  • #BeTransformed: “Pastoral transitions are a natural part of congregational life. At some point, your pastor will leave. They will leave for all sorts of reasons, and the majority of reasons have nothing to do with the congregation,” writes Rachel Ringenberg Miller, denominational minister for ministerial leadership for Mennonite Church USA, in her helpful blog about next steps.
  • #MennoCon23:  Hugo Saucedo, a longtime MennoCon volunteer, attended his first convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1993. “I was 16 years old, when my youth group drove from Brownsville, Texas, to Philadelphia. In spite of the long drive, the memories I made have stayed with me to this day.” Read more about Hugo’s experience here.
 
From other Mennonite Organizations:
  • Meet the 2023 graduates of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) and more in the News.
  • Read this month’s In Touch newsletter from Mennonite Central Committee.
  • Keep in touch with MennoMedia through their Staying Connected update.
  • Find out the work and service happening through Mennonite Men at Engage, the monthly newsletter.
  • Read this week’s news from Mennonite Mission Network (MMN) at Network News & Beyond and News From Around the World.
  • Read a devotional reflecting on gender, celebrate Sisterhood and SisterCare, and more at The Grapevine, the Mennonite Women USA’s newsletter.
  • Mennonite World Conference (MWC) is active! Engage with our Anabaptist siblings through MWC’s newsletter, Info.
  • Subscribe to PeaceMail for all of the news and blogs from Mennonite Church USA in one weekly email. Mennoniteusa.org/peacemail​
Birthdays (June 2 - 10)  
Friday  Robert Nelson
Saturday  Nile Elliott, Lynn Gingerich, Cole Ours, Steve Yoder
Friday  Elaine Yoder
Saturday  June Hershberger     

Events for the coming week
(June 4 - 10) 
 
Sunday:  9:30 AM Worship & Communion, Karen Martens Zimmerly, proclaimer
10:30 AM Congregational Meeting
10:45 AM Adult Christian Education: Central Plains
Conference input gathering in the sanctuary for all interested
Tuesday:  7 PM Missions team meeting
Wednesday:  7 PM Worship Planning team meeting 
Next Sunday:
  9:30 AM Worship, Terry Zimmerly, proclaimer
10:45 AM Shower for Jardely Martinez & Michael Darby, fellowship hall
10:45 AM Adult Christian Education

Variety Soup & Show  Jan. 29, 2023

Christmas Eve Service 2022 

FMC LIBRARY
See WHAT'S NEW in the LIBRARY for WINTER 2022-23. (Click Winter 2022-23  [above] or  LIBRARY under the WELCOME tab.)
Search the FMC library catalog  https://17027.rmwebopac.com/search. No password required.


Images from Virtual Services 2020 - 2021

Photos from our annual All Church Retreat at Crooked Creek Christian Camp,
​Oct. 11-12, 2019.

Picture
First Mennonite Church of Iowa City
405 Myrtle Ave  Iowa City, Iowa  52246
319-338-0302  firstmenno@msn.com