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invalid font number 31506 =-->Upcoming Events November 1-Harvest Thanks guest speaker-Dorothy Nickel Friesen Carry-In Dinner following Church Suppers begin Wednesday, November 4 at 6:00 p.m. Community Wide Service with Brenda Matthews at Moundridge High School Gym Friday, November 6-7:00 p.m. Sunday, November 8-10:00 a.m. Sunday, November 15-Youth serving the meal. Annual Meeting to follow Sunday, November 22-Community Wide Thanksgiving Service at First Mennonite Jim Sugars preaching, refreshments following in church basement.
What's Inside:Announcements,Church Calendar,Prayer and Bible reading lists,Birthdays,and Anniversaries.
Pastors Notes
Though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit is on the vines; though the produce of the olive fails, and the fields yield no food; though the flock is cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will exult in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NRSV) One strand of thought about God, common in American popular culture, is the notion that everything that happens, good or bad, is somehow God's will. I don't believe this. I believe that such a notion ignores the reality of evil and the existence of individuals and systems that act in a way to oppose God. I also believe that our Christian theological heritage recognizes God as the source of all good things, and the reality of an evil that wishes to thwart God's will. One angle on this passage from Habakkuk is that as bad as it gets, it could always be worse. And the reason things aren't worse is God. I think that's about right.Ultimately, God is and will be the source of our salvation. God is not the source of evil things that happen, but God helps us persevere, and gives us the assurance of salvation. I am heartened by the testimonies of people who have endured the abuse and violence of others, even over a long period of time, yet remarkably remain capable of love and kindness. I find no more powerful sign of the reality of God in our world. God does not will abuse and violence, but God does help us overcome and persevere, and God keeps abuse and violence from having the last word. This last year has been a hard year for many people in our nation and in our world. Can we praise God even through the lean years? Can we remember this Thanksgiving season that God sustains us even through these times? And can we especially remember that we can trust God for our salvation?
General Announcements
First Mennonite Church of Christian Mission Statement We serve our neighbors as seekers and followers of Jesus Christ and as peopleof faith who experience God's gifts of love, grace, and salvation.Biblical Passage: Luke 10:25-37
We cultivate deeper relationships with God
HYMNSING FOR CHRISTMAS - Mark your calendars now for a special musical evening on Saturday, December 12, 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Bethel College Mennonite Church led by Dr. William Eash. This is a fundraiser with proceeds divided 50% for Western District Conference Vision 2012 and 50% for Bethel College. Let's sing together!
We respond to community needs and dreams
Nov. 1-3, Scott Holland, professor at Bethany Theological Seminary, Richmond, Ind., presents the 2009 Menno Simons Lectures at Bethel College, ``Prophets, Poets & Pragmatists: The Historic Peace Churches and Public Theology'': Sunday, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m., ``Public Theology as Seeking Cultures of Peace''; Monday, Nov. 2, 11 a.m. (Bethel CollegeConvocation), ``Entering Whitman's America: A Theopoetics of Public Life''; Monday, Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m., ``The Poetics of Peace''; Tuesday, Nov. 3, 7:30 p.m., ``Prophetic Vision, Poetic Voice and Pragmatic Solidarity''; in Krehbiel Auditorium of the Fine Arts Center, free and open to the public. Nov. 8-9, Staley Lectures at Bethel College with Al Staggs, D.M., a performing artist with theology degrees from Harvard Divinity School and Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary: Sunday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m.The Sermon on the Mount(delivered in a conversational, understated manner as though the words are being spoken for the first time);will take placeMonday, Nov. 9, 11 a.m. (Bethel CollegeConvocation)A View from the Underside: The Legacy of DietrichBonhoeffer(a one-person play that brings the audience into the prison cell where Bonhoeffer awaits execution and listens to his struggles with evil, injustice and God); both in Krehbiel Auditorium of the Fine Arts Center, free and open to the public. Seminary courses can fit you schedule, weekends, evening, or online.In January: The Church's Witness in the World. FebruaryMay: Thelogy and Ethics of the Gospels, Family Systems and Pastoral Care; The Arts in Worship; Understanding the Church's Contexts. Check out those and other course for credit or audit at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary-Great Plains Extension, North Newton,Kansas, at www.ambs.edu/Great Plains. Register for January classes by December 15; for spring semester classes by January 12. For more information, contact Lois Barrett, Director, AMBS-Great Plains, PO Box 306, North Newton, KS 67117; phone; 316-283-7098; email:. Associate for Peace and Justice:A half-time Associate for Peace and Justice is needed to assist in both the program and administrative work of Peace and Justice for Mennonite Church USA. The ideal person will combine a passion to integrate peace and justice understanding and practice with planning and organizational skills. Sheorhe must be committed to Mennonite Church USA 's goal of being an anti-racist church. Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to maintain a robust database is necessary. Ability to vary schedules and travel independently within the US is required. This is an interim position through August 31, 2010. Newton , Kansasoffice preferred.
Weseek andPracticeShalom
November 1 Pray for Neal Blough who will travelfrom the Paris Mennonite Center to the Theological Seminary Bienenberg in Switzerland to teach courses Thursday through Saturday of the coming week. Pray also for the French and Swiss pastors who are deepening their knowledge through this continuing education program.
November 8 Pray that God will provide for the needs of Melanie Quinn and the youth she works with at the Bopaganang Basha youth center in Francistown , Botswana , as they study God's word together and share the good news that there is life beyond an HIV-positive diagnosis.
November 15 The people of the Argentine Chaco are used to getting along with little water, but this year the drought is severe. Pray for rain and for the health of people who are obliged to use unclean water for their daily needs.
November 22 Today, participants are concluding the first Korean Mennonite leaders' consultation in Pasadena, Calif. May God guide these church leaders as they return to their congregations in the United States and in South Korea to share what they learned.
November 29 Benin Bible Institute's vision includes agricultural training for pastors, most of whom are self-supporting. Knowledge of farming helps to provide food for pastoral families, and introduces improved techniques into local practice. Pray that God would provide the teaching staff and material resources for this new program. Mennonite Central Committee Increases Asia Disasters Appeal In response to the needs of flooding and earthquake survivors in Asia, MCC is increasing its appeal for donations to $250,000. The additional contributions will allow MCC and its partners to respond to extensive flood damage in southern India and Cambodia and to provide permanent housing for people in Indonesia where earthquakes devastated entire villages. Please donate by sending checks designated Asia Disasters to MCC Central States PO Box 235 North Newton, KS 67117 or online atdonate.mcc.org.
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Reading the Bible throughout the yearNovember
1 Jeremiah 31, 32 Titus 2 2 Jeremiah 33, 34, 35 Titus 3 3 Jeremiah 36, 37 Philemon 4 Jeremiah 38, 39 Hebrews 1 5 Jeremiah 40, 41, 42 Hebrews 2 6 Jeremiah 43, 44, 45 Hebrews 3 7 Jeremiah 46, 47, 48 Hebrews 4 8 Jeremiah 49, 50 Hebrews 5 9 Jeremiah 51, 52 Hebrews 6 10 Lamentations 1, 2 Hebrews 7 11 Lamentations 3, 4, 5 Hebrews 8 12 Ezekiel 1, 2, 3 Hebrews 9 13 Ezekiel 4, 5, 6 Hebrews 10:1-23 14 Ezekiel 7, 8, 9 Hebrews 10:24-39 15 Ezekiel 10, 11, 12 Hebrews 11:1-19 16 Ezekiel 13, 14, 15 Hebrews 11:20-40 17 Ezekiel 16 Hebrews 12 18 Ezekiel 17, 18, 19 Hebrews 13 19 Ezekiel 20, 21 James 1 20 Ezekiel 22, 23 James 2 21 Ezekiel 24, 25, 26 James 3 22 Ezekiel 27, 28 James 4 23 Ezekiel 29, 30, 31 James 5 24 Ezekiel 32, 33 I Peter 1 25 Ezekiel 34, 35 I Peter 2 26 Ezekiel 36, 37 I Peter 3 27 Ezekiel 38, 39 I Peter 4 28 Ezekiel 40 I Peter 5 29 Ezekiel 41, 42 II Peter 1 30 Ezekiel 43, 44 II Peter 2
