The Windows



First Mennonite Church of Christian Moundridge, KS
August 2008                               

Pastor's email:         Church email:
invalid font number 31506 =--> A Welcoming Community of Christians for Peace
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What's Inside: Announcements; Church Calendar; Prayer and Bible reading lists; Birthdays and Anniversaries.
Already we are nearing the end of the summer and the conclusion of my ministry with you at First Mennonite Church of Christian. I am grateful for the time spent together and grateful for your openness and hospitality. I am glad for the expansion of my circle of friends and the richness you have brought to my life this summer. Thank you.
At the time of this writing, you also are preparing for the remembrance and celebration of the move of your church from Christian to Moundridge. Perhaps that celebration will include some reminiscence of why that move was made. I have heard the question asked several times in recent days. It is good to recall and remember what happened as our ancestors tried to be faithful to the God they loved and served.
And then I am wondering what stories our grandchildren and great grand-children might be telling 100 years from now. Will there be stories of daring and innovative ways of loving our neighbors in Moundridge? Will there be stories of change in the way we do church, of new wine and new wineskins? Or will the stories be of attempts to conserve and preserve the past? Will our efforts be to increase our numbers, competing with other churches rather than cooperating in love ministries? Will we be struggling to stay alive or spend our lives loving those who struggle on the margins, as Jesus did? I think Jesus' words to the disciples which are repeated numerous times in the gospels are probably good for our churches too: those who want to save their [church] will lose it, and those who lose their [church] for my sake will find it.
May God help us to embrace a faith that is expansive, growing, and beautiful, one in which love is active and alive, where love drives out fear, where love propels us toward lives lived for the betterment of all in our community and the world. God bless you all. Mary Cross
invalid font number 31506 =--> The treasurer's report dated June 30 was presented in the church bulletin on the 13 ^th of July. The budget income for our first six months was $56,175.33. Expenses were $65,138.64 resulting in a deficit of $8,963.31. There are nine scheduled offerings scheduled for the second half of the year. Our projected budget for this year is $129,901.80.
The Capital outlay fund as of July 1 is $14,903.74.
Rick Krehbiel, James Ratzlaff and Varden Loganbill recently attended a Church MC USA meeting that is studying how to provide health care coverage to Ministers in our conference. The increasing cost of health care puts a burden on small and beginning churches. In an attempt to alleviate this situation, a co-operative health care program is being studied, in which larger and established churches would share in providing health care coverage for all of our ministers.
In our church budget of 2008 we allowed $6,000.00 for health care for our pastor. If this program come to fruition and our congregation co-operates, the health care expense would increase. It is felt that 80% of MC USA member churches would need to participate for the program to be successful.
First Mennonite Church of Christian Mission Statement
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We cultivate deeper relations hip with God.
Put a fire in your youth ministry with Iginite! a resourcing event on August 24 at Whitestone Mennonite Church , Hesston KS , 3-8 pm. Designed for youth leaders, Ignite! will inspire and equipyour youth ministry for the coming year with vital networking, workshops, and resources. This year Ignite! will have special focus on small youth groups and youth groups without youth pastors. Ignite! replaces and expands the former Youth Pastor Sponsor Banquet. Registration fee is $20 per person which includes a banquet meal. Sponsored by W estern District/South Central Youth Committee. Contact Nancy Funk at 316-283-6300, . Please RSVP by August 15.
We respond to the community needs and dreams.
Birthday Girls Give Special Gift to Needy in Community: Bailey Strausz and Michelle Morrison did something very different for their birthday party this year. They asked their guests to bring food or cash for the Moundridge Food Bank instead of gifts for themselves. The caring spirit shown in their actions is a wonderful example for the rest of us. Thank you, girls, for your generous spirit and your help to those who need it.
MCC Warehouse Sale, August 1 & 2
Help us help others by shopping at our warehouse sale. All are welcome to come and shop Friday, August 1 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, August 2 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the MCC building in North Newton. Volunteers are needed to prepare and staff this large sale. Proceeds will support the Central States Material Resource Center. Please call Irma Gonzalez or Maynard Knepp at MCC Central States with questions, 316-283-2720.
Selma M. Schilling Endowment Fund.
This fund was made possible by Selma's generous financial contribution. The church moderator and the chairmen of the four boards make up the Endowment Board. They are required to meet yearly, and determine which req uests for financial aid are honored.
In 2007, there was significant surplus, and the following requests were honored.
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Prayer Calendar August
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