Joyful Noiz March 2015 The Meaning of Lent??? Lent means many things to many people. Many of us think of Lent as a period where we give something up for God in order to honor His sacrifice on the Cross for us, which we commemorate on Easter. For others it is a time to add a new spiritual practice for 40 days (actually 46 if you count Sundays). One recent article suggests that Lent could be thought of as a yearly second chance. Each year we have these six weeks leading to Easter morning to take a long, loving look at our lives to see if our values and priorities are in line with God s desires for us. Even with a brief glimpse over the past year, it wouldn t take long for us to realize that we have all wandered from God s path. Lent offers us a second chance of sorts, or a do-over, a chance to right our ship. Over time, our hearts and souls, when consumed with all of life s demands, begin to look and feel neglected. Lent is not about quickly fixing things up, but honestly evaluating where we are and where we would like to be. Lent invites us to roll up our sleeves and make a conscious decision to intentionally improve our relationship with God, one day at a time. May Lent be a time when we all take time to draw near to Jesus, whether that comes through confessing our sins, fasting from something, adding something new to our spiritual practice, or giving to others. Zion Mennonite Church www.zionmennonite.org 149 Cherry Lane Souderton, PA 18964 215-723-3592 Fax: 215-723-0573
Joyful Noiz March 2015 Page 2 Answer Me This???? Spring is arriving this month. Spring brings warmer temperatures and brighter colors and lots of times more smiles to peoples faces. What is your favorite activity to do during the spring months? Yvonne Detweiler: I'm not usually an outside person, but when it gets warmer I will probably be out taking a few walks a week and enjoying the spring weather and pretty flowers. Of course I may have my camera in hand snapping photos of those spring flowers! Laura Martin: I like to run or walk outside. Dennis Detwiler: Golf What spring flowers will we see in your flower beds? Yvonne Detweiler: Daffodil, tulips & hyacinth! They are always so pretty and smell so good. I love seeing all the pretty spring colors. Laura Martin: I'm not sure yet, we'll see what comes up at our new house! Dennis Detwiler: Daffodils, tulips, hyacinths
Joyful Noiz March 2015 Page 3 Sweet Treat Confections! Ingredients: 3 cups powdered sugar 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter 1/4 cup butter or margarine melted 2 Tablespoons milk 1-2 Bags milk chocolate chips 2 Tablespoons shortening Directions: 1. Beat together powdered sugar, peanut butter, and butter together. At this point the dough will be crumbly. Add two tablespoons of milk and continue to beat together until the dough softens. If the dough still seems crumbly that is ok. 2. On a floured surface, roll the dough out to desired thickness - about 1/2 inch thickness. You can use egg cookie cutters or with a knife, shape the dough to look like eggs. 3. Place eggs on a cookie sheet and put in the freezer for an hour. 4. When you are ready to dip them, add the chocolate and 1 Tbsp shortening in a microwave and melt 30 seconds at a time. Stirring it after every 30 seconds and being careful not to cook the chocolate to burn. 5. Dip each egg in chocolate. I used a spoon to help cover in the chocolate. Place them on wax paper to set. 6. If more chocolate is needed, melt the second bag with the shortening. Enjoy! *Makes approx. 20 eggs Recipe adapted from Six Sisters
Joyful Noiz March 2015 Page 4 Youth News Congregational Auction & Luncheon Theme Baskets Dinner & Brunches Travel Opportunities Services Sunday, April 19 Arts & Crafts Mark your Calendars NOW!!! Start thinking about what you want to donate to help raise money for The Youth Service Fund. This summer the students will be traveling to Kansas for the Mennonite Conference. This auction helps defray the cost of the trip.
Joyful Noiz March 2015 Page 5 Let s Talk... This month s Let s Talk comes from the book Bread for the Journey by Henri Nouwen. Living with Hope: Optimism and hope are radically different attitudes. Optimism is the expectation that things - the weather, human relationships, the economy, the political situation and so on, will get better. Hope is the trust that God will fulfill God s promises to us to true freedom. The optimist speaks about concrete changes in the future. The person of hope lives in the moment with the knowledge and trust that all of life is in good hands. All the great spiritual leaders in history were people of hope. Abraham, Moses, Ruth, Mary, Jesus, Rumi, Gandhi, Dorothy Day, Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King Jr., all lived with a promise in their hearts that guided them toward the future without the need to know exactly what it would look like. Let s live with hope.
Joyful Noiz March 2015 Page 6 Book Corner New Books! Hiking Through: One Man s Journey to Peace and Freedom on the Appalachian Trail by Paul Stutzman After Paul Stutzman lost his wife to breast cancer, he sensed a tug on his heart--the call to a challenge, the call to pursue a dream. With a mixture of dread and determination, Paul left his job, traveled to Georgia, and took his first steps on the Appalachian Trail. What he learned during the next four and a half months, 2,176 miles, and 14 states changed his life--and can change yours as well. Along the way, you'll discover that every choice we make on the path has consequences for the journey, and you ll come away with a new understanding of God's grace and guidance--even in the smallest things. The Song of Annie Moses: A Musical Quest, A Mother s Gift by Robin Donica Wolaver The Song of Annie Moses is the story of speaker, songwriter, and mother, Robin Donica Wolaver. It recounts how one mother, born in mountain poverty and seclusion, developed her musical heritage, and then led her children, through hard work and spiritual development, to The Juilliard School and ultimately to the founding of the Annie Moses Band igniting a fire of purpose and spiritual excellence within them. Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body and prayer is to the soul. ~Matthew Kelly
Joyful Noiz March 2015 Page 7 Church Directory Updates The church directories have now been updated and will be distributed. If at any time your information changes, please remember to notify the church office so we can keep your information as updated as possible. It s That Time again! The Nursery School is having their annual Hoagie Sale! See the church office if you are interested in purchasing WaWa hoagie coupons Cost per coupon is $4.50 Thank you for your support in this great fundraiser! February Church Board Highlights Zion Mennonite church has agreed to host the EDC Spring Assembly. Board focused a great deal of time looking into names for the Pastoral Search Committee. Board also wants to focus time on the Covenants of Understanding and the review process for Pastors and Staff. ~ Amy Bergstresser
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Joyful Noiz March 2015 Page 10 Creati n Care Tidbits You CAN Make a Difference! I rush into Giant supermarket to pick up plates for tonight's Children's Church. Standing in the paper aisle, being a frugal person, I am faced with a moral dilemma- do I choose the cheaper styrofoam plates or go with the healthier choice for my planet? Why does it always seem to be more expensive to do the right thing? Does this one little choice really make a difference in the big scheme of things? The Mennonite Church supports the idea that we can make a difference and we at Zion have now started replacing polystyrene plates and bowls with Green Wave Sugarcane/Bagasse Biodegradable and Compostable products*. Our styrofoam cups are being replaced by paper hot cups with sleeve/jackets. We are proud to join fellow congregations in making this commitment (and the products are pretty cool besides!) We as individuals CAN also make a difference. Just imagine, in addition to the church purchases, if all 497 of us individually decide to make that choice? Now that is a big impact! Zion requests groups using our church to choose environmentally friendly products. Won't we also make that choice - not only for church functions, but also for personal use at home for our get togethers with family and friends? ~ Suzanne Gunden *webstaurant.com
Joyful Noiz March 2015 Page 11 Just a note of Thanks "Wow! When Zion Mennonites reach out to brothers in prison, they don't fool around! Thank you so much for the calendars (384), Guideposts (115), and devotion booklets (106). Not only do they help our inmates to keep track of their time and faith, they remind them that they have not been forgotten by brothers and sisters on the outside. God bless you." Chaplain Russ Gates, Graterford Prison Thank you for your cards, prayers, and kind words in the passing of our mother and grandmother, Lilly Ann Neufeld. Joyce & Ron Price, Erin, Laura & Isaac Eco-Tip of the Month In our ever-expanding global economy, goods are often produced without the environment or workers in mind. Your dollar is your vote; vote for fair wages and a healthier environment by choosing products that are Fair Trade Certified. This certification ensures that the workers making the products were given a fair wage, and that the item was crafted sustainably. Look for Fair Trade coffee, chocolate, teas and other artisan products: http://www.transfairusa.org/ Eco-tip provided by GreenFaith: www.greenfaith.org
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Joyful Noiz March 2015 Page 13 March Birthday & Anniversary Birthdays 1 Amy Keller 1 Ava Landis 1 Sue Moyer 2 - Cole Constanzer 2 Gerry Kulp 3 Rori Constanzer 5 Tanya Neuman 6 Kay Kehs 6 Sidney Keller 7 Bernice Gilmore 7 Rebekah Solt 7 Nolan Watkins 8 - Bradd Yoder 9 - Becky Yoder 12 Brianna Moyer 13 Bill Fridey 16 Dylan High 16 Pauline Musselman 17 - Dave Levin 17 Ruth Moyer 7 Hanna Schmidt 17 Nanci Ziegler 18 Jim Landis 18 Mary Ziegler 19 Trey Ziegler 20 Howard Peters 20 - Dan Rhoads 21 - Orpha Rickert 21 - Sherry Russell 21 - Dale Yoder 22 - Kyle Groff 22 - Rudy Rauschenberger 23 - Brayden Helfrich 23 - Juliana Landis 23 - Nolan Worman 24 - Nathan Koffel 25 - Katelyn Fox 26 - Arlene Alderfer 26 - Michael Helfrich 27 - Mason Keller 27 - Marilyn Ritter 28 - Mark Watkins 29 - Irv Detwiler 31 - Patrick Francis Anniversaries 7 - Jim & Yvonne Detweiler 11 - Phil & Betty Bergstresser 16 Richard & Grace Price 20 - Lee & Rut Keeler 24 - Craig & Sumi Gerhart 24 - John & Marcia Young If your birthday or anniversary is incorrect or missing, please notify the office.
Joyful Noiz March 2015 Page 14 March Children s Ministries Bible Mania Children s Church March 1 March 8 March 15 Heidi Borisow Ben & Sherry Russell Enjoy Time in Worship! Heidi Borisow Ben & Sherry Russell Mike & Steph Helfrich Dan & Amy McDonough Eric & Katie Musselman March 22 Enjoy Time in Worship! Brad & Sue Schanz March 29 Enjoy Time in Worship! Mike & Carrie Dennis Sunday Morning Child Care Nursery Attendant: Tammy Smith Infant & Toddler Nursery March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29 Worship Service Nancy Detweiler & Alice Green Betty Bergstresser & Edie Landis Amy Bergstresser & Chelsea Picon Terri Musselman & Sue High Andy & Erin Constanzer Sunday School Stefanie Dockery & Kay Kehs Mike & Carrie Dennis Mark & Trish Watkins Amy Leight & Wendy Levins Judy McVaugh & Barb Schanz
Joyful Noiz March 2015 Page 15 April Children s Ministries Bible Mania Children s Church April 5 Enjoy Time in Worship! Tim & Julie Wallace April 12 April 19 April 26 Heidi Borisow Ben & Sherry Russell Enjoy Time in Worship! Heidi Borisow Ben & Sherry Russell Andy & Erin Constanzer Gail Grim & Chelsea Picon Lori Groff & Dawn Repsher Sunday Morning Child Care Nursery Attendant: Tammy Smith Infant & Toddler Nursery April 5 April 12 April 19 April 26 Worship Service Suzanne Gunden & Tina Rhoads Laura & Matt Musselman Mike & Steph Helfrich Nathan & Bekki Dibble Sunday School No Sunday School Today Amanda Evans & Ashlen Godshall Donna Halteman & Eric Musselman Stefanie Dockery & Kay Kehs
Joyful Noiz March 2015 Page 16 Did You Hear? THE YOUTH ARE TAKING OVER ON MARCH 22! Be sure to come to support our hard working students when the youth will be leading worship time. On March 23-25, you can help feed the hungry here and abroad by graciously, lovingly, and compassionately contributing your money or your time to the MCC Mobile Canner Project at the MCC Material Resource Center (MRC). To donate a few hours of your time, call the MRC at 267-203-8074. Tax-deductible contributions can be made payable to the MCC Canner Project and mailed to the MCC Material Resource Center, 737 Hagey Center Drive, Unit C, Souderton, PA 18964. If you are interested in learning more about Zion and what it means to be a member, contact the church office. A class on exploring membership will be forming soon. IT S BLOOD DRIVE TIME AGAIN!! Mark your calendar for March 19 when Miller Keystone Blood Bank will be here. Go to GIVEaPINT.org to schedule your donation time. The Joyful Noiz is published monthly by Zion Mennonite Church. The editor is Jennifer Moyer. Contributors this month included: Scott Benner, Amy Bergstresser, Bill Fridey, Mary Keller, Laura Martin and Suzanne Gunden. Stories and information for the newsletter can be submitted to jenn@zionmennonite.org or left in the mailbox marked Joyful Noiz in the church office. Next Deadline: March 18, 2015