FirstMennonite Church is affiliated with the Central District Conference of Mennonite Church USA. The Mennonites are named after Menno Simons, one of our early church leaders, and are rooted historically in the “Anabaptist” movement, which began in 1525, with origins in Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands now reaching around the world.
Some primary Anabaptist convictions then and now are following Jesus Christ in service to others, rejection of violence and war, and joyful community life.
TODAY, November 22, 2009
9:15 a.m. - Christian Education for all ages
10:30 a.m. - Worship Service – Robert Butcher Preaching
Welcome to our worship service today.Please sign and pass the friendship padsin the pews. Wireless hearing aidsare available. If you would like your children watched over while you worship, our staff will care for them in the nursery available down-stairs. Worship Activity Bagsare available.Visitorsare invited to receive a peace candle to take with you to your home congregationas our way of sharing the peace. These candles are found in the basket in the Fellowship Hall.
SHYF- Bowling and pizza today at Pandora lanes. Meet at the church at 3:45 p.m. to travel to Pandora. Bring $6 to cover expenses.
The Senior High Youthwill be selling soup and hot chocolate at the Blaze of Lights Saturday night. Join us for dinner!
Come to the Stable, the indoor walk through display of nativitiesis being planned for Wednesday, Dec.9, Thursday, Dec. 10, and Friday, Dec. 11. Forms for loaning nativity sets, nativity tree ornaments, or nativity wall hangings are available in the FH beginning today. Forms are due by Sunday, Nov. 22 in Lois Wetherill’s church mailbox.
Volunteers are needed for Come to the Stable. You can assist in a variety of ways prior to or after the event – donating cookies, helping with set up, checking in nativities, packing up nativities. During the event itself, volunteers are needed to operate the elevator, manage the food table, greet visitors as they arrive, respond to questions as they tour the display, invite visitors to sign the guest book. There are many time slots available – sign up sheets are found on a table in the Fellowship Hall.
Thanksgiving dinner with FMC familywill be held again this year in the Fellowship Hall. We will eat around noon on the 26th. Turkey will be prepared at the church, with the rest of the meal provided potluck style. Please let Lori Nester know if you plan to attend and what you would like to bring so that we can make sure we have plenty of food. Donations will be taken to cover the costs of the turkey and other expenses, with excess being donated to the Bluffton Food Pantry and the Deacons’ Benevolence Fund.
Red Cross Blood Drive will be here on December 3from noon till 6:00 p.m. Volunteers are needed for cookies, help with set up, registration, preparing sandwiches and other food, setting up and tearing down the tables and equipment. Thank you for your great support in the past years. Trella Kauffman will coordinate the volunteers for the drive.
timbrel is a publication of Mennonite Women for Mennonite Church USA. This bi-monthly publication includes a variety of articles for inspiration and challenge to encourage women on their faith journey.Mennonite Women of FMC encourages all women to subscribe to this important resource. Individual subscriptions are $15 a year. However, subscriptions to timbrel through the church group plan bring the cost down to $13 per year.Please return your subscription form to the church office Sunday Nov. 29 checks payable to FMC – marked timbrel subscription in the Memo line).
Pie Night for University Students- The Education Commission is inviting University students to take a break from studying for exams and come to the church for homemade pie and ice cream on Sunday, Dec. 13 from 9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. We are looking for volunteers in the church to donate pies and ice cream. If you are willing, please see the sign-up in the Fellowship Hall. The congregation is also invited to attend the event and share in fellowship time with the students. Thanks!
Subscriptions to The Mennonite for the coming yearwill be received through Sunday, November 29 in the church office. Cost for subscription is $33.
A service of Celebration of the Life of Laura Jane Diller Handford will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Sat., Nov. 28, 2009 at First Mennonite Church, Bluffton. Mrs. Handford, 68, a resident of Dauphin County, PA, died Sept. 22, 2009 at her residence. Mrs. Handford was born Feb. 2, 1941 in Bluffton to Leland and Helen Iutzi Diller, who preceded her in death. She married Dr. H. Allen Handford, who survives. Survivors also include a brother, Samuel W. (Joan) Diller, of Bluffton, OH; a sister, Mary Jo (Thomas) Lehman of Chapel Hill, N.C., and several nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to the Oncology Department of the M.S. Hershey Medical Center, P.O. Box 850, Hershey, PA 17033; Hospice of Central Pennsylvania, 1320 Linglestown Rd, Harrisburg, PA 17110 or BlufftonUniversity, 1 University Drive, Bluffton, OH 45817.
The Bluffton Area Ministerial Association (BAMA) invites the Bluffton Community to an evening Thanksgiving worship servicetoday, beginning at 7:00 pm. This ecumenical service of worship will be held at the Emmanuel United Church of Christ, 8375 Phillips Rd. In the spirit of this season, offerings of money and canned goods will be received for the Bluffton Food Pantry. Let us join together in thanks to our generous God.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
On Wednesday evening, December 2, at 7:00 p.m., at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Bluffton, Susan Sandager will give a one-person presentation “Corrie Remembers” about the life of Corrie ten Boom. Corrie ten Boom’s family was a Christian family who hid the Jews during the Holocaust to preserve them from death. They were eventually arrested and put into a concentration camp. Corrie is the author of the book The Hiding Place. This presentation will challenge and inspire you to live the gospel. Admission is free but a “love offering will be taken to support the work of Ms. Sandager in “Bridges for Peace.” A book sale, book signing, and a reception will follow. All are invited.
Have a Peace and Justice Christmas: A silent art auction will be held Dec. 6, 3:00 p.m.- 7:30 p.m., in Marbeck Center at Bluffton University. This is a great opportunity to share the hope of Christ at Christmas since every dollar raised at this event will go to build fresh water wells in Haiti through the Haiti Water Project. Clean water is not a luxury; it is a life-source and everyone should have access to it. Water brings hope to communities, and what is Christmas if not the gift of Hope to our global community? If you would like to donate original art to be auctioned at this event, contact Andrea Flack via email at or by phone at 419-358-3698. If you're more interested in purchasing than donating, you are encouraged to come visit the auction Dec. 6, either before or after the Messiah concert.
Brazo en Brazo Update - Sin Fronteras (Without Borders) a Spanish music group from Bluffton University, led joyful worship Sunday, November 15 with a total of 26 present. There was some translation and they introduced a new song. The offering was $125.
Creation Care: Stewards of the Earth (February 12-14 at Laurelville Mennonite Church Center) offers a wealth of resources for leading your church toward environmentally responsible practice. Join others who are passionate about caring for the Earth in an interactive, inspiring weekend sponsored by MMA, Church of the Brethren, and Laurelville. Visit Laurelville.org/creation_care.html or call 800-839-1021 to register or for more information.
Come join seven Mennonite congregations as we gather and lift our voices in song at the Fifth Sunday Hymn Sing at Lima Mennonite Church on Sunday, November 29 at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served following the song service. Lima Mennonite is located at 1318 N. Main St., Lima.
Chiles-Laman Funeral Home is planning a service called A Tree ofRemembrance Memorial Service on Saturday, December 12 beginning at 3:00 p.m. The location will be at The Centre, 601 N. Main Street in Bluffton. Each family will be given a personalized ornament to place on the Memorial Christmas tree and at the end of the service will be given the ornament to take home. All families are welcome regardless of which funeral home provided the services. Light refreshments will be served following the service. There is no charge to attend; however reservations are requested. To make a reservation or for more information call 419 358-2051.
GRATITUDE AND PRAYER REQUESTS
Mennonite Mission Network - 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.
We Wish Happy Birthday to Paul Klassen – 85th November 22, Treva Suter – 91st November 27, Harvey Bauman – 89th November 27, Edith Lehman – 84th November 27.
Martin Kooker, son of Clarence and Mary Ann, was moved back to Perry Point VA Hospital from Washington, D.C. VA Hospital. He is in a different room now than he had before, so his phone number is different. He is feeling well. Says his chest doesn't hurt any more (heart valve operation was Nov. 3).
