WEST UNION MENNONITE CHURCH

3253 305th St. Parnell, Iowa 52325
646-6004 wunionnetins.net

www.westunion.ia.us.mennonite.net

David Boshart, Pastor; Martha Yoder, Associate Pastor

Elders: Esther Gingerich, Bruce Hochstetler,
Kent Widmer, and Donna Yoder

Vol. 58 November 30 , 200 8 No. 4 8

First Sunday of Advent

Worship Service 9:30 AM

We welcome all guests and visitors to our worship service today. We trust you will be enriched by God as you worship and fellowship with us. Feel free to visit us again.

After a short time of fellowship, there are Sunday school classes for all ages. Come and join a class!

         Worship Leader: Kent Blossom
         Song Leader: Holly Blosser Yoder

         Children's Time: Anna Geyer
         Preservice/Offertory: Tanna Boshart

         Nursery: Donovan and Karen Bender

Ushers: Ron Brenneman, Jerry Powell, John Yoder, Milford Yoder

ACTIVITIES THIS WEEK

        Mennonite Women: Neta Faye Yoder will lead the devotion,
         ``Gifts for God.'' Please read Luke 8:1-3. Please bring a sack
         lunch. The project is mittens, caps, and scarves for Mid-Prairie
         children and money for a travel fund for Latin American and
         African women theologians who will be presenting workshops at
         the Mennonite World Conference Assembly in Paraguay in July.

7:00-8:30 PM The Jr. MYF will meet at the church to make items for

         the Silent Auction. Each family should bring a double batch of
         unbaked cookie dough.

NEXT SUNDAY , December 7 , 2008

Worship Service 9:30 AM

         Message: Tim Detweiler
         Offering: Home Fund

         Preservice/Offertory: Timothy Bender, Shay Durflinger, Grace Litwiller,
                  Sarah Miller, Jackie Widme r

         Nursery: Michael and Melanie Leichty

CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Children's Advent Offering for this year will go to Cesar Moya and Patricia Uruena in Ecuador to help them purchase Christmas gifts for local children that would not normally receive a gift and to purchase school supplies and pay medical costs for local Ecuadorian children.

``Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved'' Psalm 80:3,7,19 is our theme for this Advent season. The art work reflects six passages from Isaiah that show a progression of God's restoration. Each Sunday a verse from Isaiah will accompany the theme verse on the front of the bulletin. Beginning at the south side of the sanctuary and moving north the banners reflect in progression the verse that is written on the cover of the bulletin. Today the banner to the far south reflects Isaiah 64:9, ``Do not be exceedingly angry and do not remember iniquity forever.''

Today Arlin Yoder, Rena Yoder and Luetta Ropp are leading the morning worship service at Pleasantview Home. Our thanks to them as they serve in this outreach ministry.  Judy Yoder & Ruth Powell

There is no MYF tonight. Plan on meeting next Sunday, December 7th at 5:30 p.m.

The Girls' Club, Boys' Club, and Jr. MYF need your donations for the silent auction , to be held December 10th at 6:30 p.m. Items to donate include: Christmas and all-season craft items, baked goods, toys, in-home meals, themed baskets, etc. Any and all donations are appreciated. You can leave donations in the fellowship hall.

Are you interested in helping West Union behind the scenes? The West Union Sound Committee is in dire need of your help on Sunday mornings to bring God's word to all those who attend worship. If you find it in your heart to help, please contact Lee Schlabaugh. Thanks.

Mennonite Women Offerings:
·        

The December project for Mennonite Women is caps, scarves and mittens for Mid-Prairie schoolchildren. You can bring these items and put them in the labeled box in the fellowship hall.
·         Mennonite Women will have a special offering at our December meeting for Latin American and African women theologians who will be presenting workshops at the Mennonite World Conference Assembly in Paraguay in July 2009. Financial resources are limited for most of these participants. If you would like to contribute to this travel fund and cannot be present at our December meeting, please give your donation to Rosie Miller by December 31. Checks should be made out to West Union Mennonite Women.

You can celebrate Advent with Goshen College students, faculty and staff by joining us for daily Advent devotions online or vi a e mail . The West Union website (www.westunion.ia.us.mennonite.net) has a link to the daily devotions or visit www.goshen.edu/devotions/Home to have the devotions emailed to you daily.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Crooked Creek Christian Camp invites you to ``Come to the Table'' on December 6. Together we will spend the day cooking, laughing and tasting! Come to camp at 9:30 a.m. and enjoy cooking and cultural demonstrations from around the world. Get a group of 5 or more friends together to take advantage of the group discount. See the green flyers for more information, or contact the camp by calling (319) 653-3611 or email us at ccccampiowatelecom.net. Please register in advance.

Crowded Closet Volunteer Appreciation will be Friday, December 5th. The store will close to customers at 3:00. Volunteers are invited to the party and to shop from 4:00 p.m. Thrift shop items will be half-price and gift shop items will be 25% off.

Jubilance Children's Choir will be presenting a concert at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 6 at Kalona Mennonite Church . Jubilance Children's Choir is a community children's choir made up of 34 children from Kalona, Wellman, Parnell, Lone Tree, and Iowa City . Jubilance began meeting weekly this fall under the direction of Rhonda Miller. Come enjoy an evening of children's voices singing joyful songs!

Come and celebrate the Christmas season at the Iowa Mennonite School Music Department's Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 7, at 2:00 p.m. in Celebration Hall.

Musick's Feast, Iowa City's professional early music ensemble, will present a Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 13, at 7:30 p.m . at First Presbyterian Church, 2701 Rochester Ave, Iowa City. The concert will feature German chorale settings and English carols and madrigals, a group of variations on the tune of "In dulci jubilo," as well as some beautiful anthems and motets in honor of the season. Tickets are available at the door, and are $15; $12 for seniors and $6 for students. All proceeds benefit hunger relief locally and around the world.

You are invited to ``have a ball'' this Christmas season . Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church is offering cheese balls for your ``not so sweet'' tooth. Ordering information is available on the bulletin board by the offices. To place your orders call the Lower Deer Creek Church office at 656-2076 or Donna Miller at 656-2432 or Tara Yoder at 646-2994. Proceeds will go toward future service/mission assignments at LDC.

Young People:
·        

Central Plains Mennonite Conference will pay the registration fee, lodging, meals and travel expenses for one young person from our conference to attend Mennonite World Conference and the Global Youth Summit on July 10-19, 2009. We invite active participants of Central Plains congregations between the age of 18 and 27 (as of July 1, 2009) to apply. Contact Rosie Epp at (605) 357-9125 or smmcjuno.com for application information. Applications are due December 30, 2008.
·         If you are going to Mennonite World Conference in Paraguay next summer, Central Plains conference will make your travel arrangements so you can travel with a group of other young people. The group would arrive in time for the Global Youth Summit and stay through the end of Assembly Gathered. If you are interested in traveling with this group, please contact Shana Peachey Boshart (shananetins.net) right away.

UPCOMING EVENTS

December 10
·        

Annual Silent Auction in the fellowship hall at 6:30 p.m., sponsored by the Girls' Club, Boys' Club and Jr. MYF.

December 11
·        

Men's Luncheon at Roger Stutzman's

December 14
·        

Cocoa and Carols at West Union; 6:00 p.m.

December 24
·        

Christmas Eve Service, 8:00 p.m.

December 28
·        

Annual Christmas Breakfast at 8:30 a.m., Worship at 10:00 a.m.