CONNECTIONS with the Manchester Church Of the Brethren for March 2011
Joys and Concerns
There are many ways in which our lives intersect with one another. Please keep these concerns in your minds and hearts in the coming days.
Within our church family:
· Our deacons this week: Francis Barr, Liz Hoffman Bauer, Ann Beattie, Angilee Beery, Stan Beery and Joan Fahs.
· And we pray for those who are not able to join us for worship due to their current health limitations, including: Jane Cassell, Barbara Smith, Eunice Brightbill and Marg Dilling.
· Lee Smith recovering at Timbercrest following his recent hospitalization.
· Anita Sautter having surgery at Parkview Hospital.
Within the wider community:
· Our sister church in El Salvador, Emmanuel Baptist. We pray for Emanuel’s peace and justice committee as they work in solidarity with others on behalf of a more humane society.
· And in the midst of a violent world, we pray for peace.
Cards for Frank Miller
Frank Miller, longtime resident of North Manchester and former member of our congregation continues to recover from serious surgery. Cards would be appreciated. Please send them to Holladay Park Plaza, attention: HCC, 1300 NE 16th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232
Thank you
Cleona and I have been sincerely blessed by all the cards and expressions of love and caring sent our way since Ernie's illness. Thanks to each one of you who have offered prayers and good wishes on our behalf. Thank you, Cleona and Ernie
You are invited to help us celebrate
Lee Smith’s 90th birthday
Open House
Saturday, March 12, 2011, 2-4 p.m.
Timbercrest Assembly Room
Additions and Corrections to the Directory
Bob & Helen Hollenberg, 982-6513 and their e-mail is: rlhandhrh@resident.timbercrest.org
Ernie & Cleona Barr: egbarr26@gmail.com
Weekly Calendar
The Family Life Center is open from 8 to 10 am for walking and exercise. Nursery School may use the FLC from 10 to 11.
Monday, February 28
12:00 pm Noon Women’s Bible Study
6:00 pm Yoga
7:00 pm Circle of Trust
Tuesday, March 1
9:30 am Peace Patch Preschool - FLC
10:30 am Staff Meeting
2:00 pm Nurture Commission
5:00 pm Weight Watchers – Room 220
NO Bell Choir Rehearsal
6:30 pm Worship Center/Decor
7:30 pm Volleyball
Wednesday, March 2
9:30 am Peace Patch Preschool – FLC
6:00 pm Yoga
7:00 pm Transitions Workshop - Nancy Olson
7:00 pm Pastoral Ministry & Personnel
Thursday, March 3
9:30 am Peace Patch Preschool – FLC
4:30 pm High School Soccer in FLC
6:30 pm Education Commission
7:30 pm Ecclesia Choir practice
Friday, March 4 – Office Closed
Walkers may enter FLC door
9:30 am Peace Patch Preschool – FLC
5:30 pm Parents’ Night Out
7:30 pm Indoor Soccer
Saturday, March 5
8:30 am Zumba
9:00 am World Friendship Committee
Sunday, March 6 – One Great Hour of Sharing
9:30 am Worship. Come Morning. Pastor Kurt. Text: 2 Peter 1: 16-21. Ecclesia Choir
10:30 am Fellowship Time. Blood Pressure Check. Sub Sale. Pantry Sunday
10:45 am Christian Education. Peace Patch
1:30 pm Circle of Trust
3:00 pm Council Meeting
5:30 pm College Student Meal
6:30 pm Open Basketball
7:30 pm Room 213 in use
Pastor On-Call Schedule
Kurt Borgmann, 982-4233, cell 1-260-450-0759
Karen Eberly, 982-8420, 578-1247
March 6-12, Karen
March 13-19, Kurt
March 20-26, Karen
March 27- April 2, Kurt
March Worship Themes The Beginning of Lent
March 13 - Confession. Psalm 32. Taizé Choir
March 20 – Assurance. Psalm 121. Ecclesia Choir, Bell Choir
March 27 – Obedience.Psalm 95. Ecclesia Choir, Melodia Choir
March 6 at 3 pm Council Meeting Agenda
Devotions by Dorothy Weldy
Adoption of Agenda
Approval of Minutes
Treasurer’s Report
Executive Board Report
Staff Reports
Other Items
Closing
Childcare provided
Lenten Devotionals Delayed
Brethren Press has had to delay shipping of all devotionals due to re-printing. We have been assured that the devotionals will be shipped in time for the first Sunday of Lent.
Entering Lent: Turning Toward the Sacred
March 12, join us for a day-long Lenten retreat as we prepare for the season by addressing our questions of faith. The format of the day is modeled after Circles of Trust work by speaker/writer Parker Palmer. Cost for the day is $25 and includes lunch. The event will be held at Victory Noll in Huntington from 9am-4pm. Lunchis included. Make checks payable to Manchester CoB and put “Entering Lent” in the MEMO line. The retreat is open to the first 20 registrants. Facilitators are Jim Chinworth, Nancy Olson and Martha Waas.
Adult Christian Education
Questers meet in the Chapel
David Waas leads the group to examine Religions of the Caribbean on March 6
March 13, Joan Deeter will share her Faith Journey
March 20 Harold Statler will share M.GT. Brumbaugh
March 27 Jesus as Wisdom Teacher with John Moore
Koinonia meet in the Conference Room
Don Willoughby will lead discussion this quarter focusing on the book of Acts.
March 6 – Beginnings in Jerusalem
March 13 – The Day of Pentecost
March 20 – The Witness of the Early Church
March 27 – The Martyr Witness of Stephen
Friends Class meet in Room 211
All Things Considered Class meet in Room 220
Jubilee Class meet in Room 301
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CBWF Relief Sewing March 10, April 14 and May 12 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. Join us for lunch and sewing baby comforters. Questions? Call Esther Rupel (982-1410)
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Middle School Youth
March 6 - Final Sub Sale of the year.
Be in the church kitchen at 8am on Sunday.
March 18 - Moms and Youth. 6-7:30pm in the FLC.
March 20 - Movie Night at the Sollenbergers (Note new night!). 5:30-8pm.
Ash Wednesday Service March 9
An Ash Wednesday service is planned following Food, Fun and Friends for Wednesday, March 9. The service will include hymns, scripture, reflections and a service of ashes and begins at 7pm in the sanctuary.
College Student Suppers have been well attended, averaging 40 hungry young adults! Thank you for supporting this ministry. Call Loyce if you can pitch-in on Sunday evenings at 5:30 pm.
Ease into Spring
Yoga classes will be held on Monday in the Narthex from 6pm to 7pm and also on Wednesday in Room 220 from 6pm to 7pm. Monday’s class is the Gentle Yoga Class and Wednesday’s class is the Active Yoga Class that combines cardio fitness with the benefits of Yoga. For more information please contact Adria at (260) 774-9336.
Zumba classes will be held on Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. in our Family Life Center. Jada Nichols will be your host (jadanichols@hotmail.com) and suggests you wear supportive shoes with comfortable clothing that lets you move and dance!
Hop on In!
The final Food Fun Friends of the season will be Wednesday, March 9, from 6 to 7 pm. Enjoy a fabulous pizza buffet & salad bar. Let the kids run off steam in the Family Life Center while adults visit. Look for our R.S.V.P. form in the March 6 Sunday bulletin or make reservations directly with Joel Eichenauer (982-1509)
Check them Out! There are some new books in the church library: we have something for everyone!
Spring Forward! The second Sunday in March starts an hour earlier to observe Daylight Saving Time.
School of the Americas (SOA) Coffee House
The School of the Americas (SOA), renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC) in 2001, is a US army school at Ft. Benning, GA that trains foreign military personnel mostly from Latin America in torture tactics, counterinsurgency, sniping, military intelligence gathering, interrogation, and more. Graduates of the school have used their education to commit horrendous human-rights abuses to their own people back in Latin America, targeting union organizers, religious leaders, students, and those striving for a working democracy. Over 64,000 Latin American soldiers have been trained at the SOA since its inception in 1946, and some of the worst human rights abuses committed by graduates have included military coups and massacres of hundreds of people.
This past November, Manchester College Peace Studies had a group of 18 join the nationwide vigil to close the SOA organized by the School of the Americas Watch (SOAW). We attended workshops, concerts, film screenings, and participated in nonviolence trainings, direct actions, the Saturday rally and puppetistas show, and lastly the Sunday funeral march—memorializing the hundreds of victims. We hope to share with you our knowledge of the SOA and also our experiences at the November vigil.
More specifically, students will offer a presentation for a March 13 Coffeehouse at 6:30pm. The presentation will include an introduction of the SOA, student reflections from the November trip, and information on the successes and setbacks in efforts to close the SOA.
Fellowship Meal Menu
Musical members of our congregation will demonstrate their culinary talent by sponsoring the Fellowship Meal this month. Prepare to be delighted by this eclectic mix of casseroles, salads and desserts at 6 pm Wednesday, March 16! Proceeds from a free-will offering go towards the Matching Scholarship Fund.
Calling all Campers!
Camp Mack registration and fees are due to the church office by Friday, March 11. If you are registering on-line, you can still qualify for discounts if you contact the church office with: Camper’s name, Particular camp attending, Date attending.
Our church sponsors first-time campers 100%!
Returning campers will get half the fee sponsored by our church. In addition, there is an early registration discount of $20 if you contact the church office by March 11. Contact Laura Gable with any questions concerning this process (982-7523 or 578-0378)
Study tour of El Salvador this summer
New Community Project offers a study tour to El Salvador July 12-21, 2011. The delegation will spend time with our sister parish, Iglesia Bautista Emanuel, and visit people and sites connected to the development of justice and peace in El Salvador. Several days will be devoted to a service project. Costs for the trip are $675 plus airfare. The Parish to Parish Committee can provide partial assistance based on need. Priority will be given to people who will visit El Salvador for the first time. Please let Joel Eikenberry, Brad Yoder, David Rogers or Julie Garber know of your interest in participating. Youth and adults are welcome.
CONNECTIONS with our Community:
Into the Woods
The Firehouse Black Box Theatre will present “Into the Woods,” an adult fairy tale musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, on Thursday and Friday, March 3 & 4, at 7:00 pm and Saturday, March 5, at 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm, featuring the talents of members Debbie Chinworth, Katharine Ings, Olivia Watson Ings, Emily and Erin Lynn, and Eric and Jennifer Reichenbach. Tickets are $10 each and seating is limited. Reservations can be made by calling 260-568-0483.
Fellowship of Churches
Selection of officers. Teri Workman continues as president. Phyllis Penrod was elected for Vice President as Lavonne Lee Knecht has served consecutive terms. Alice Campbell, treasurer. Celia Shankster has served consecutive terms as secretary. Teri Workman will be contacting local pastors to encourage more involvement by their congregations.
Thursday’s Child served 34 children last month closing only once due to of snow. They could use soft, warm pants for toddlers and a strong arm to dig snow.
The Thrift Shop appreciates the volunteers who plow the parking lot. They are looking forward to the improved lighting project soon to be underway. They also ran short on warm clothing for pre-schoolers.
REACH reported assistance with utilities and housing for 22 clients.
The Food Pantry served 195 new individuals last month (607 total) and logged 264 volunteer hours. They need dependable manual labor to pick-up food being donated. They need a walk-in cooler and freezer when they move into their expanded facility.
Church Women United will sponsor
World Day of Prayer
March 4 the World Day of Prayer Celebration will be held in the Timbercrest Chapel. The event is open to everyone with registration beginning at 9:30 a.m. The Celebration, written by the Christian women of Chili, will begin at 10 a.m. Each person who attends is invited to bring a loaf of bread (homemade or purchased), which will be given to the Fellowship Food Pantry at the close of the meeting.
School Kits for Church Women United
Church Women United continue to be part of Church World Service Indiana Kentucky Kit Project. Our North Manchester goal this year is 200 blunt scissors and 200 of the 70-count spiral (or tape) bound pad or 8” x 10 !/2” ruled paper. These items can be brought to the church, World Day of Prayer, March 4, at the Timbercrest Chapel, or May Friendship Day, May 6 (place to be announced). Let us help make a world of difference in the lives of refugees, dislocated people and victims of natural disasters. Dorothy Weldy, Church Women United
2011 Relay for Life!
Manchester College will sponsor the Relay for Life Event at their Track and Field on Friday and Saturday, April 29 & 30. You can form a team of your fellow parishioners, family members and friends, or walk as an individual. Volunteers are also needed to provide their time and talentto ensure the success of this year’s Relay For Life event. For more information, call 1-800-227-2345, visit RelayForLife.org, or e-mail Lisa Ulrey lkulrey@hotmail.com.
CONNECTIONS with our District …… and our Denomination:
South Central Indiana District
Phone: 260-982-8805; Fax: 260-982-7181
Toll Free: 877-730-9315
District Minister: bsollenberger@brethren.org
Office Email: scicob@kcaccess.com
District Website: www.cob-net.org/church/isc/
Friends,
She’s here! Beth Sollenberger, our new District Executive Minister, is now in the S/C District Office. She plans to have office hours of Monday-Thursday from 9am-12noon. Her email is bsollenberger@brethren.org and her cell phone number is: 574-238-9156. She can, of course, be reached at the District Office numbers above.
One Great Hour of Sharing
For over 60 years through One Great Hour of Sharing, the Church of the Brethren has shared material resources with a hurting world. Those gifts bring joy not only to those who receive them, but to those who give them, and to God as well. On March 6 come prepared for this special offering; envelopes will be the bulletin insert that morning.
Annual Conference
While our delegates are pre-registered, you may wish to attend this year since the Grand Rapids location is near enough to be do-able. The 70-page information packet is available in the church office or on-line at www.brethren.org/ac and click the Conference Information link.
Brethren Benefit Trust
BBT is offering 18 workshops if your Sunday School class, small group, enrichment event, committee, or gathering has an interest in learning more, please contact Loyce Borgmann and she will work with appropriate staff to determine availability and time frame. (1-847-622-3364 or lborgmann_bbt@brethren.org)
Prayer Calendar
Week of March 6: In the evening of each day read the Song of Simeon in Luke 2:29-32. In what ways have you witnessed the presence of God? Pray that the Church universal may be a sign of Christ's presence in the midst of the world.
Week of March 13: During this week the board of On Earth Peace gathers to support our witness for Christ's peace. Lift these leaders in your prayer that the Spirit of God may whisper the possibilities for peacemaking in violent world. http://www.onearthpeace.org/
Week of March 20: This week the Bethany Theological Seminary board gathers in Richmond, Indiana. Give thanks for the study their work supports. Celebrate the gifted leaders, scholars and ministers who have been shaped by the their studies at Bethany and who have served the Church of the Brethren. http://www.bethanyseminary.edu/
Week of March 27: This week youth from around the denomination are gathering in New York City and Washington DC to discuss the economics and politics of food. Pray for their safe travels and widening vision of God's creation. May their time together be a witness to the wider Church.
