What's Happening...

As we celebrate our anniversary, we acknowledge another year together, which has brought changes to our church, our society, and our world.  We will join in a potluck following the Sunday School hour.  Please come and fellowship with us.  Guests do not need to bring food, as there is always plenty.

Our sermon this morning, September 12, 2010, will be delivered by Pastoral candidate Kent Beck.  Please welcome him to the pulpit and participate with us in the discernment process in our search for a new pastor.

Our Resurrection Day begins with a sunrise service at 7:30 a.m.  That will be followed by breakfast on the church lawn.  Our regular Sunday service, featuring an Easter drama, will begin at 9:30 a.m., with no Sunday School on this day.  You are welcome to attend either service or both, if you like.

Our Good Friday Service will begin at &;30 p.m.  In this service, we will remember Jesus' sacrifice for us through Scripture, song, and Holy Communion.  All are welcome to come.

Our Palm Sunday service at the regular time, 9:30 a.m., completing our Lenten theme, "Holding On and Letting Go". This will be a time of celebration in testimony and song.  Service will be followed by Fellowship Time and regular Sunday School classes for all ages.

Flaming hot, medium or mild?  Our annual Chili Cook-off, sponsored by the MYF, will take place on Saturday, March 6th, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.  For those of you who haven't attended this event at Koinonia in the past, it is barrels of fun, as nearly a dozen members and friends compete to see how much you think their recipe is worth.  The vote is by money and the proceeds help our Youth get to Youth Convention in Pittsburgh, PA.  Anyone can enter a pot of chili in the cook-off.  All of the instructions are on the bulletin board in the kitchen.

During a famine in post-war Eastern Europe, people were hoarding food.  A soldier came into a village and set up a cooking pot, into which he threw a plain-looking stone.  As he was heating the pot on an open fire, curious villagers gathered around.  He told them he was cooking Stone Soup and that they could join him for it when he was through.  He let on that it would taste better with some cabbage, and someone brought a head of cabbage.  It would be even better with some beef, he added.  Pretty soon, the butcher brought some beef, and others brought carrots, potatoes, onions, etc.  In the end, they all ate and enjoyed.  AND THAT IS HOW COMMUNITY IS BUILT.

 

Join us on Saturday, January 30, at 4:30 p.m.  Bring something to add to the Stone Soup pot.  While the cooks put together soup(s) to enjoy later, we will work on our community-building by playing games and working puzzles.  Our theme is "Community Building for Re-Building A Community," and we hope that your donations to pay for this meal will help us send about a dozen of our members to New Orleans on a Mission project in early June.  We intend to work with our Churches Supporting Churches Partner Congregation, New Orleans Bible Fellowship Baptist Church, as they continue to re-build their community which is still struggling to recover in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Consider yourself a part of our community and join us in this FUN-raiser for a good cause.

Our Christmas Eve service will feature carols, drama, communion and candle lighting.  In the drama, "The Greatest Joy," Mary, a shepherd and other characters tell their story to Luke, who is doing research for a book about Jesus.  We hope to see you all at 7:30 p.m. for this celebration of the birth of our Savior

For the past several years, Koinonia has been hosting a Ten Thousand Villages Holiday Fair Trade Sale, usually the first weekend in December.  This year is no exception.  We plan to open our doors so that people can continue to purchase gifts that give twice (once to the recipient and once to the artisan and his/her family).  The sale will take place on Friday, December 4 from 2-7 p.m. and on Saturday, December 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Each year, the sale has grown, and this year we have approximately $20,000 worth of merchandise, all hand-made in developing countries.  We are featuring goods from approximately 40 nations, including India, Sri Lanka, Peru, Kenya, Vietnam, the Philippines, Pakistan, Palestine, and El Salvador, among others.  Products include fragrant soaps, Christmas ornaments, nativity scenes, reverse-painted mirrors, textiles such as embroidered headbands, pillow covers and table runners, pottery, toys, musical instruments, candles, and a variety of holiday cards.  For those who like jewelry, there will be a wide selection, and for those who favor baskets, many of those will also be available.  Many of our regular customers head to the basket table first, and use their favorite basket to carry their other purchases to the checkout stand.  But, whatever your shopping technique, you are sure to find something that pleases you, while also helping the artisans and craftspeople represented to be able to support their families by earning a fair price for their work.  Our bake sale will again fund a training center in Kenya, and we will have periodic live music to entertain you throughout the day.  Please plan to join us for a shopping experience that will make you feel really good while you buy.

In your next stage, your tomorrows remain unwritten. You can redefine who you are and where you want to go. MMA's free booklet, Your Enough, can help. Your enough is out there - take the first step to find it. Visit MMA-online.org to order the book, or call 800-348-7468 ext. 202.

We do! A prayer chain is simply an arrangement for calling each other to pray when someone has a need for prayer. You can put a prayer request in the prayer chain by calling one of the elders. The elders call the people in the prayer chain. You can also become a link in the prayer chain. Just tell Pastor Rich or one of the elders that you would like to join.

Around the world coffee and fellowship come together where we share community. A warm pot of coffee is often the centerpiece of the fellowship hour, celebrations and other gatherings. As one of the most heavily traded commodities in the world, coffee is a direct link between our communities and farming communities in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Through the MCC US Coffee Project we can now enjoy great coffee while helping farmers earn a fair price for their products, have access to affordable credit and gain a long-term trading partner thy can trust, a Fair Trade Organization called Equal Exchange. With your support, these communities are able to invest in education, health care & agricultural improvements. In addition, for ech pound of coffee, tea or chocolate purchased by Mennonite & Brethern in Christ congreations through this project, Equal Exchange makes a contribution to MCC programs that support and strengthen community development in coffee-growing regions.

Under their programs for charitable organizations, every dollar spent at Bashas, Koinonia receives 6%. For every dollar spent at Fry's, Koinonia receives 3%. To participate in Bashas' program, purchase Bashas Gift Certificates from Koinonia's contact person - Hazel, in the amounts of $20, $10 and/or $5. To participate in the Fry's program, order a Fry's Gift Card through Koinonia (Hazel) for $25 or more. The card is then rechargeable at Fry's upon request.

Please pray for Mennonite Voluntary Service participants serving with a refugee and immigration resettlement program and with you care in Sioux Falls, SD.  Udo Behm, Betha Maust and Ryan Troyer.