Congregational Announcements
Faith Testimonies: Beginning on August 19, we will dive into a study of Acts, which focuses on the birth of the Christian church and includes many stories of faith and conversion throughout. As we reflect on the spreading faith in Acts and as we participate in Western District Conference’s "Year of Evangelism," we invite anyone who has a faith testimony that they would like to share in church to please contact one of the Tabor pastors. We would love to include a faith testimony for many of the Sundays of our Acts Worship Series, which will continue until Lent 2019.
MennoGrass 2018: Plan to join us in the Tabor park on Sunday evening, August 26 for MennoGrass! Supper will be served beginning at 5:30pm and music will be from 6-8pm. Our two groups this year are Hopeful Blues and the Smoky Valley Bluegrass Band. Please bring lawn chairs, table service, and a side or dessert. Let someone on the Fellowship Team know if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you there!
Karina Brandt to Share: During Faith Formation on September 2, we invite all Youth through Adults to remain in the sanctuary to hear from Karina about her year of service with Mennonite Mission Network in Ecuador.
Tabor Church is sponsoring a Community Service Sunday the morning of September 16. If you or someone you know needs help with a certain project, place a note in Kim Funk’s mailbox or send your request by email to:
tabor or phone 620-367-2318 no later than September 1. The time allotment for any project will be 2-3 hours (9:00-noon). Final decisions on all requests will be made on Sept. 5.
All teachers, helpers and anyone involved with children at Tabor. There will be an in service on September 5 from 7 – 8 pm for all adults who help with children including those adults who help in the nursery. Please plan to attend to not only sign the Safe Sanctuary Covenant, but also learn more about what will be happening this year.
Bible Study: Everyone is invited to join the Tabor weekly Bible study, which continues on Wednesday evenings from 8-9pm. Each week, we will study the passage from Acts that will be the focus during the following Sunday worship. If you have any questions, please visit with Pastor Phil. We hope to see you there!
You are invited for dessert at Alexanderwohl, Sunday, August 19 at 7pm as we hear Rosie Epp share experiences at the Texas/Mexico border. Rosie is pastor at Zion Mennonite Church in Elbing and traveled to the border with an MCC Learning Tour this summer. Alexanderwohl’s Peace Committee organized this event as an opportunity to hear first-hand experiences when news sources offer conflicting narratives. Please join us in the Fellowship Hall to enjoy refreshments and learn together.
Garden Produce: There is a table in the foyer where you may leave your donation of excess produce from your garden. If you would like to use the produce, help yourself. You are welcome to leave a donation for the food pantry.
Be Brave, Be Bold, Be You! Women & Girls Retreat 2018 – The schedule and registration forms for the 2018 Women & Girls Retreat, September 7-9 at Camp Mennoscah, are now available on the table in the foyer. Rachel Ringenberg Miller, pastor of Shalom Mennonite Church in Newton, will be the featured speaker. Many interesting and fun seminars are planned, along with plenty of time to relax and connect with nature and friends. This retreat is open to all women and girls grade 3 and older. Registration forms are due August 27.
Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. If you can help supply this life-saving resource please schedule an appointment between 1:00-6:00 on Mon. Aug. 27 at www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767. Workers are needed at the reception desk, donor escort, or in the canteen and you can sign up in the lobby. THANKS
Conference Announcements
Prayer Requests:
« Western District Conference: Pray for the WDC Stewardship Commission as they meet this week to review the WDC’s financial activity, and encourage generous support and participation in the ministries of WDC.
« Mennonite Mission Network: Robin Gingerich of MMN has served with LCC International University in Lithuania through teaching and administration ministries for 16 years. Pray for her as she continues in this role and as she gives hope to refugees through educational opportunities.
« Mennonite Education Agency: Pray for students, faculty and staff at Hesston College in the first week of the new academic year. Pray for Bethel College fall athletes as they begin their seasons – for good health and safety in travel, hot-weather practices and competition.
Western District Conference:
Jennie Wintermote, Conference Resource Library Director, will have new hours starting August 27: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 2:00-3:15 pm and Tuesday/Thursday 8:00-9:15 am. As always, the library is open Monday through Friday 8am-5pm; other WDC staff can assist you when Jennie is not in the library.
Camp Mennoscah:
—Mental Health Spiritual Retreat at Camp Mennoscah, Sept. 2-3! This retreat is for individuals affected by mental illness, including family members and friends. Come support each other, have fun and enjoy being at camp.Register online or call us for a brochure.
—This is our 70th anniversary! The Camp Mennoscah Annual Meeting is Sunday, September 23, at Camp Mennoscah, again part of our Work & Play camp (Sept. 21-25). Add it to your calendar, folks, and join in the celebration of 70 years of camping ministry on the Ninnescah River!
—Camp Mennoscah Scrapbook and Crafts Retreats coming up soon! The Fall Scrapbook and Crafts Retreats are October 26-28 and November 2-4.
Information for all events at Camp Mennoscah or to register:
Online at www.campmennoscah.org
Telephone: 620-297-3290.
Email: office.
Contact: olivia.bartel.
Mennonite Church USA:
—Potential Giving Project: Is your Sunday School or another group in your church looking for a giving project for fall? Does your family have a tradition of giving to an organization instead of giving gifts to each other each Christmas? Prairie View, one of WDC’s Institutional Partners, has a wish list of recreation equipment. They would appreciate it if you would donate cash, so they may purchase the items to "appropriate need and specifications." Please go to www.prairieview.org. Thank you!
—Calling practitioners of creation care, scholars, food justice activists, urban gardeners, environmental justice practitioners, farmers and church members! You’re warmly invited to the fourth Rooted and Grounded: A Conferenec on Land and Christian Discipleship: September 27-29 at AMBS in Elkhart, IN. The event will weave together worship, theology, biblical study and praxis. If three or more undergraduate students register from the same college or university, their registration is free! ambs.edu/rootedandgrounded
—Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies. Develop a plan of study that matches your interests in this 27-credit-hour AMBS program, which can be done fully online or with a combination of online, hybrid and campus courses. Ideal for international church leaders, bivocational pastors and other professionals. ambs.edu/certificate
MCC needs your help to gather 75 more prisoner care kits by August 24 so our local partner Offender/Victim Ministries, Inc. can distribute kits to men at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility. These kits are tangible reminders to inmates that they are loved and not forgotten. The most needed items are: men’s deodorant (2.25 oz or more), men’s white crewneck t-shirts (size L or XL- new only), men’s white briefs (size L or XL- new only). Please bring these items or completed kits (full list of kit contents, katemast, 316.283.2720.
The Annual MCC Flatlander Bike Ride will be held on Sat. Sept. 15, originating at the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) offices, 121 East 30th, N. Newton. This year’s ride will raise funds for an MCC water development project in Guatemala. Rides of approx. 35, 45, and 65 miles, as well as a shorter family ride, are planned. Contact the church office for informational brochures, or go to the MCC website: mcc.org/get-involved/events/mcc-flatlander-bicycle-ride for information and to register on-line. Both bikers and contributors are needed! If you are not a biker but wish to contribute to this MCC project, make your check payable to MCC; write “Flatlander Bike Ride” on the memo line; and send to: MCC, PO Box 235, N. Newton, KS 67117.
Mennonite Disaster Service: The fall season will soon be upon us! This fall we plan to work in the following locations:
Pine Ridge, South Dakota (2015 and 2016 Windstorms)
Lake County, California (2015 and 2016 Wildfires)
Victoria County, Texas (2017 Hurricane Harvey)
La Grange, Texas (2017 Hurricane Harvey)
West Virginia Bridges (2015 and 2016 Flooding)
Puerto Rico (2017 Hurricane Maria)
Fort Myers, Florida (2017 Hurricane Irma)
Citrus County, Florida (RV Project, 2017 Hurricane Irma)
Please consider becoming an MDS volunteer by applying for one of the opportunities.
Offender Victim Ministries is offering a FREE training for new and current volunteers to learn more about Neighborhood Accountability Boards in Harvey and McPherson counties. Join us Saturday, September 8 from 9:30am-4pm at the Harvey County Courthouse Community Room (lower level), 800 N. Main, Newton. Lunch included.
Safehope Information Nights: Safehope provides comprehensive services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Harvey, Marion, and McPherson counties. Come learn more about the agency, and how you can support survivors in your community. Marion Co: Aug 27, 7pm. See poster for details. Call 800-487-0510 or email volunteer for information or to rsvp.
Kauffman Museum: Sun., Aug. 26, 1:30-4:30 p.m.– Grand opening (open house and reception) of special exhibit “Better Choose Me: Collecting and Creating with Tobacco Fabric Novelties, 1880-1920,” featuring the collection of the late Ethel Ewert Abrahams.
Saturday morning retirement workshop to be held in September:
Everence will host an all-inclusive retirement planning workshop on Saturday, Sept. 8, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Topics will include Medicare, Social Security and retirement income planning. The workshop will be presented by Everence staff and will take place at MCC Central States Office, 121 E. 30th, North Newton. Reserve your spot soon by contacting Michelle Ramer at (316) 283-3800; (877) 467-7294 or michelle.ramer.
