On Saturday, June 6, 21 adults and children spread mulch around the landscaped areas of the Mennonite Church of Normal. We had a beautiful day, lots of help, great refreshments and good “coverage.”  All the plants, and all who look on our renewed landscaping say a big thanks.    

The MCN Wellness Committee revised a similar 2001 Funeral Preparations Manual and distributed it on May 31.  Features include Resources Offered by the Mennonite Church of Normal, Resources of the Christian Faith, and Advance Directives Information.  The Manual includes downloadable Living Will Declaration, and Declaration for Mental Health Treatment. Additionally, Forms to Assist in Preparation for a funeral can be downloaded and printed.

Midweek Connection for June 3, 2015

The Midweek Connection for May 27, 2015 is available here.

Do you know what % of your donations to a charitable organization go to the people you want to help?  Charity Watch can help.  Read this blog post by John Bertsche about Charity Watch.

Whether by tractor or by truck, MCC’s partners have delivered emergency food to 2,189 rural families affected by the earthquake in Nepal. In addition,789 of those families received tarps, cooking utensils and blankets. To learn the latest about MCC’s response since the second major earthquake, check out this story online. Donations for Nepal are welcome!

Resources to help prepare for Congregational Meeting on May 17. Resolutions to come to Mennonite Church USA in Kansas City June 30-July 5 Churchwide Statement on Sexual Abuse Forbearance Resolution Resolution on Status of Membership Faithful Witness Amid Endless War Israel Palestine Resolution Additional Documents MCN Organizational Chart MCN Model of Pastoral Relationships Leadership Selection Process Campus Plan    

Midweek 05132015

Midweek Connection May 6, 2015

At the MCC Great Lakes gathering on Saturday, May 2, we heard a report on the work of SWAP (Sharing With Appalachian People).   A short film emphasized that while outside volunteers coming to KT give much in terms of physical labor and monetary donations, the people there have much to teach the volunteers. This quote, attributed to Phillip Yancey’s The Jesus I Never Knew seems to underscore that point. The poor, the hungry, the mourners, and the oppressed truly are blessed. Not because of their miserable states, of course – Jesus spent much of his life trying to remedy […]