TO KNOW CHRIST AND TO MAKE HIM KNOWN . . .

TRISSELS MENNONITE NEWSLETTER published every other week

LOCATED AT 11246 HISERS LANE, BROADWAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2007

Pastor: Phil Kanagy

Phone: (540) 896-7289

Email: Trisselsmc@juno.com

Website: Trisselsmc.org

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 549,

Broadway, VA 22815

Our Sunday Services . . . September 9

9:30 AM Sunday School

10:30 AM Worship

September 16— A Missional Sunday

Linford and Janet Stutzman lead adult Sunday school and worship. After a fellowship meal,

they will lead an afternoon session.

Nursery Schedule . . .

Sept. 9: Karin & Katie Halterman Sept. 16: Janet Miller & Daniel Richards

Stewardship Report . . .

August 26: worship— 72, offering—$3,42

Sept. 2: worship— 86, offering— $1,858

Marv Zehr September 15

Charles & Laura Turner September 16

Donald & Sandy Lambert September 19

Sarah Mumbauer September 20

Laura Turner September 22

Michelle Hamsher September 22

From the Secretary’s Desk . . .

An assortment of stray cats passes through my yard. Lulu, a petite calico barely tipping a six-

pound scale, took shelter underneath our shed a couple of years ago. If she even caught sight of

me watching her from yards away, she ran. Now she lies on her back on my lap, purring barely

audibly, kneading her paws against my arm. She had a sister, Mattie, that shared the apartment

underneath the shed. Mattie never warmed to us. After a mess with her sickly kittens, Ryland

and Margaret helped me catch Mattie to take her to a friend’s farm in Singers Glen. She took

the first door out of a warm calf barn, and the last we saw her, she was running straight towards

a woods where coyotes live. Another kitten showed up last spring. On a frosty night when I had

the shed open while covering strawberry plants, O’Malley slipped inside for warmth. The next

day when I opened the shed, perched on a shelf was a long-haired, white and tan Persian kitten

staring at me with frightened, blue eyes. For days he ate ravenously, his feces left in the shed

indicating his diet had been John the Baptist’s fare – bugs. O’Malley is slowly warming to us,

but really, it’s up to him whether or not he will let us fully care for him.

As I’ve watched these cats, I am struck by the parallel free will God gives us in living into His

goodness. Philip Yancey’s book, The Jesus I Never Knew, keeps turning over in my head on

just how much Jesus respected this freedom. Jesus had the power to destroy Satan in the tempta-

tion in the desert. He could have won over the crowds by creating food on demand. He could

have opted for the power behind a crown of jewels instead of the pain from one of thorns.

Plainly, why didn’t Jesus, God Incarnate, just bedazzle us, crush Satan, and get rid of this

worldly mess? Because He knows that the only way righteousness grows out of our sinful na-

ture is when we choose to live into His love -- ever-patient, never-conditional, pain-bearing love.

So, which stray are you like? Lulu, Mattie, or O’Malley?

. . . Becky

Wishing a

Happy Anniversary

and

Happy Birthday

to . . .

~ At Trissels ~

Heartfelt condolences are extended to Janine Kanagy and her family as they grieve the loss of Janine’s father, Joseph Mininger.

The Worship and Church Life Committee meets Thursday, Sept. 6, in the library at 7 PM.

On Wednesday, Sept. 12, during school hours, Trissels Mennonite Women gather in the fel-lowship hall to make items for missions. All women and children are welcome with work available for all skill levels. Come for fellowship and a carry-in meal served at noontime.

Church Council convenes in the fellowship hall on Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 7 PM. Quo-rum members are council chair & vice-chair, pastor, elders chair, treasurer, finance committee chair, adult & primary Sunday school superinten-dents, minister of music, Mennonite Women president, senior building & grounds trustee, senior legal trustee, youth rep, head usher, and Brotherhood Fund administrator. At least eight quorum members must be present for congre-gational representation. All church members may vote on matters presented.

The Ladies Fall Retreat is at Sparkling Springs on Saturday, Sept. 15, starting at 2 PM. Finger foods will be served in Cottage #58. Visitors are welcome. Please bring lawn chairs, and maps will be coming shortly.

Missional Sundays coming soon! ____________________________________

September 16, Linford & Janet Stutzman share about their experiences resailing all of Paul’s missionary jour-

neys, focusing on how to apply Paul’s principles and practices to Trissels’ missional work. Share in a

fellowship meal at noontime followed by the Stutzmans leading an afternoon session.

___________________________________

September 23, Loren Horst, Virginia Mennonite Confer-ence Minister, leads worship on a

missional theme.

Jr. YouthJr. YouthJr. YouthJr. Youth Whoohoo! The Junior Youth Retreat at Smith

Mountain Lake is around the corner (Sept. 29 & 30). Get your medical release forms to Mel or John

ASAP.

Sr. YouthSr. YouthSr. YouthSr. Youth Ya’ll know what a ROAD RALLY is? Find out this Saturday, Sept. 8.

Your sponsors will be calling with details.

~ In the Community ~

Be a part of the audience for live videotaping of Fish-Eyes and Creation Chronicles at Eastern Mennonite School auditorium on Sept. 18, 20, & 21. Ted Swartz has assembled a cast of seasoned actors to play roles he had created with Lee Eshelman during their 20-year partnership as Ted & Lee Theater/Works. Fish-Eyes will be performed on Sept. 18 at 4 and 7:30 PM. Creation Chronicles will be given on Thurs., Sept. 20 and Friday, Sept 21 at 7:30 PM each night. Tickets are $5 at the door. Because of videotaping, the programs are appropriate for children ages 6 & up. Call 574-4877 for more information.

Harrisonburg Pregnancy Center is looking for Christian nurse volunteers who have a heart for women in crisis pregnancies and who agree with HPC’s Statement of Faith and Mission. For more information, contact Peg Martin, RN, at 434-0685.

Virginia Mennonite Missions is seeking a team of skilled workers to go to Charlottesville on Saturday, Sept. 29, to assist with a construction project for a transitional program beginning there. An electrician, floor tiler, carpenter, and plumber are needed. If you have a skill in any of these areas and would like to help, please contact Philip Rhodes for more information at 434-9727.

~ Missions ~

Skip and Carol Tobin, EMM and VMM workers in Thailand, are relating to a wide variety of people in Southeast Asia. Thank God for their deep commitment to spreading the Good News and ask for protection daily as they move around the region.

Trissels Mennonite Church

P.O. Box 549

Broadway, VA 22815

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