Update Newsletter

February 21, 2012 Volume 35, Number 3

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

The church’s annual business meeting was held on January 29 and was completed in record time. This year’s meeting stretching from opening song to final benediction was completed in 38 minutes.
The two main items of business were selecting Ministries Council members and passing the 2012 budget.
The Ministries Council serves as the over all governing board of the church by coordinating the entire ministry of First Mennonite and assisting commissions, teams and committees through the allocation of resources, and the empowerment of each to fulfill God’s call. The 14 member council includes senior pastor, moderator, recording secretary, treasurer and two members from each of the five commissions.
Selected to serve on the council (two year terms) were: Rick Sprunger (attorney) – worship; Phil Wulliman – care; Jeff Lehman (teacher) – witness; Bill Beachey – disciple; and Charles Habegger – stewardship. Selected for a one year term was Jane Nussbaum – disciple.
Also affirmed at the meeting were Charles Habegger and Ryan Sprunger to Stewardship Commission; Amanda Bluhm and Dave Fox to Endowment Board; and Sharon Neuenschwander as recording secretary, all three year terms.
Church treasurer Greg Meyer presented the proposed budget for 2012 of $652,200. This is a decrease of last year’s budget of $679,239, although the actual expenses for last year were $648,636. The budget passed,
Those in attendance were reminded that the Ohio Conference will hold their annual assembly in our church on March 9 and 10. Delegates from our congregation include Pastor Jeff Linthicum, Pastor Jerry Flueckiger, Pastor Darren Kloepper, Naomi Lehman, Greg Meyer, Malcom & Jeannie Stauffer, Mike & Laura Collett, Tom & Kathy Fox, and Orlyn Lehman.

CANNER REPORT

Because you care: 28,000 pounds of raw turkey was turned into 15,236 cans of turkey. For two days the Family Life Center was alive with activity as the Mennonite Central Committees mobile canning unit made it annual stop in Berne. Volunteers from Berne Evangelical Church, Emmaus Road Mennonite Fellowship, Apostolic Christian Church, Apostolic North Christian Church, various area Amish congregations, North Leo Mennonite Church and First Mennonite came together to help feed the hungry. The Peace and Service Committee would like to thank those who volunteered their time to work during those two days, the Kitchen Committee who prepared and served delicious meals, those who gave financial support, those who prayed for the project, the office staff for their attention to details, the janitorial staff, for members who housed the canner boys during their time in Berne, Marjorie Zurcher for washing the towels, Bud Marble for transportation of the turkey, those in the area who donated services: Berne Locker, Grabill Meats, National Oil and Gas for diesel fuel, Swiss Cleaners for laundry facilities, and to Liechty Farms and Dick Liechty for transporting the canned meat out to Akron, Pennsylvania. The 2012 project could not been completed without you and what you did. We sincerely appreciate all who helped, because when you care we can make a difference in the life of someone hurting in our world.

OHIO CONFERENCE

Ohio Conference’s Annual Conference Assembly will be held Friday and Saturday, March 9 and 10 at First Mennonite. Even if you are not registering to attend the entire Annual Conference Assembly, you are still welcome to attend the workshops being offered during the Friday dinner time slots and Saturday lunch time slots. The cost to attend is $5 per workshop. If you decide to stay for a meal the cost is $8 per meal. You are also welcome to attend the worship services on Friday evening (7:30 pm.) and Saturday morning (10:45 a.m.) at no charge. Copies of the 2012 ACA Workshop List/Sign-up Sheet are on the shelf outside the church office or are also available at the Ohio Conference web site, www.ohiomennoniteconference.org by clicking on ACA.

NOTES OF APPRECIATION

Thank you to all the caring people who have helped in making Christmas for our Chalet Village residents a success. We appreciate what each and everyone did and the time you contributed.
--Chalet Village and Residents

I would like to say thank you to everyone for their prayers during my recent back surgery for a herniated disc. It’s great to be part of a caring church. Thanks to Jerry for being at the hospital for the surgery, also to Harold and Marie for the home visit. Thank you also to those who sent cards. I also want to give God the glory for the healing he has provided.
--Paul Lehman

We humbly thank you for your generous gift from Mission Festival. The money will be used to assist families that otherwise would not be able to send their children to Nursery School. We also thank you for all the prayers and encouragement you have given to us. Your support allows this ministry to continue.
--Greta Lehman

Thank you to our church family for your concern and prayers for Paul Neuenschwander and family. He appreciated the many visits by Pastor Jerry and Bonnie Flueckiger, Pastor Harold & Marie Nussbaum, and the visitation committee. The prayer shawl is a wonderful ministry and Paul really appreciated his shawl. While at the village, he looked forward to watching his Sunday School Chapel Class. Thank you to Pastor Jerry Flueckiger and pianist Waneta Habegger for an inspirational service honoring our Lord and Savior and Paul. A special thanks to the funeral meal committee and all who brought food. The meal was a blessing to the family as everything was taken care of. We are thankful for the Christina heritage Paul left his family.
--The Paul Neuenschwander Family

Being in Nepal now (Gordon), for the month of February, and heading out to the far west on a 24 hour bus ride to facilitate a five day CHE Training of Trainers seminar, I am reminded of God’s call on Yarna’s and my life, and the fact that with His call, He provides! Much of the provision for our involvement in this CHE ministry of holistic transformation in South Asia finds its source in your church – from your generous hearts and hands. That fact was evident as the year end totals came in. Thank you so much for that, and for your prayers. We are blessed with the encouragement, inspiration and constant challenge to be “the best” for Jesus through you and the ministry of First Mennonite.
--Gordon and Yarna Claassen

The family of Evangeline Lehman would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the church for all the prayers, concerns and words of encouragement during Evangeline’s illness. A big thank you for the ladies of the church who furnished food and helped prepare the luncheon after the funeral. The kids enjoyed the guided tour after the dinner led by an able and informed guide.

Thank you so much for continuing your support with the Berlin Ministry and me for another year. It is such a blessing to have your partnership as you are a key part of building this ministry. We have already seen much growth in the first semester and I am looking forward to seeing what God has planned for the second semester. Thanks again for all of your support and prayers.
--Lynae Von Gunten

BOOKMARKS

New items in the church library include:

NEVER THOUGHT I’D SEE THE DAY! By Dr. David Jeremiah

SERENDIPITY BIBLE, New International Version for personal and small group study.

RADICAL by David Platt Taking back your faith from the American dream.

UNMERITED FAVOR by Joseph Prince

TEATIME IN MOGADISHU by Ahmed Ali Haile
My journey as a peace ambassador in the world of Islam.

FRIENDSHIPS WITH MUSLIM WOMEN by LaVonda Malone

COURAGEOUS a novelization by Randy Alcorn
Based on the screenplay by Alex Kendrick & Stephen Kendrick. We also have the DVD in the library.

WIDENING THE CIRCLE by Joanna Shenk

EXPERIMENTS IN CHRISTIAN DISCPLESHIP with a forward by Ervin Stutzman moderator of Mennonite Church USA.

ADDY – a set of 6 books by American Girl.
Discover what it was like to grow up during America’s Civil War.

AMONG OUR PEOPLE

Berneta Lehman was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Adams Memorial Hospital January 15. She was treated for a bowel obstruction. Surgery was done January 17 for release of adhesions. She was transferred to the rehab unit at Swiss Village January 22. She was able to return to her residence on the North Campus February 2.

John Laymon entered the MD Anderson Cancer Clinic in Houston, Texas January 17 for tests and treatment. He returned to Berne January 22. He continues to receive treatments for his cancer. He was admitted to Lutheran Hospital January 29 for further testing and therapy. He returned to his home at Swiss Village January 31.

Roger VonGunten became a patient at Adams Memorial Hospital January 18. He had tests done and January 23 he was transferred to Lutheran Hospital for further care. He was able to return home January 25.

Ernest Liechty was admitted to Adams Memorial Hospital January 24 where he received IV antibiotics for bronchitis. He was discharged to Blumengarten at Swiss Village January 31.

Ada Marie Frank was admitted as a patient at Lutheran Hospital January 29. She had a number of tests done and was able to return to her home February 6.

Irena Sprunger was admitted to Lutheran Hospital January 30 for tests. She was discharged to the rehab unit at Swiss Village February 7. She is being treated for a compression fracture of the back.

Colleen Lehman entered Lutheran Hospital February 14. She had surgery for the removal of her right kidney due to cancer. Plans are for her to be transferred to the rehab unit at Swiss Village when she is able to leave the hospital,

HOME GOING

Fredrick H. "Fritz" Liechty, 84, Goshen, former Berne native and businessman, passed away Thursday morning at Greencroft Gables, Goshen. He was the son of Hiram and Fanny (Beitler) Liechty born on January 8, 1928 in Berne. He married Magdalene "Maggie" (Lehman) on August 26, 1950.
A loving devoted husband, father and grandfather, Mr. Liechty placed great importance on his family.
A 1950 graduate of Bluffton College, Mr. Liechty was an outstanding athlete in basketball, baseball, and football, and was inducted into Bluffton's Athletic Hall of Fame. A dedicated jogger, Fritz ran more than 85,000 miles.
Mr. Liechty retired in 1993 as president of the First Bank of Berne where he had worked since 1950. He was a longtime member of our church; he was active in Stephens Ministry and taught Sunday school for many years. He and his wife were very active in refugee resettlement. He was a former board member of associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary and Mennonite Board of Education. A Goshen resident since July 2007, Mr. Liechty was a member of 8th Street Mennonite Church.
He is survived by his wife and 2 daughters. Nancy Liechty (Jake) Loewen and Mary Liechty (Doug) Caskey, both of Goshen: and four grandchildren, Emma (Alex) Dugger, Nick Loewen, Jesse Loewen, and Alex Caskey.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Laura Fisher, and Jane Bentz
A memorial service was held January 26 at 8th Street Mennonite Church, Goshen, with Pastors Kevin Farmwald and Brenda Sawatzky-Paetkau officiating.
On January 28, a memorial service was also held at the Swiss Village Chapel with Chaplain Anita Rediger officiating.

NOTES OF APPRECIATION

Thank you for the labels and box tops for Hopi Mission School. We sent 1,092 labels and 145 box tops. The latest report indicated that the school has 1,143,655 labels to its credit. A new 7-passenger van will cost 1,600,000. Continued participation will help greatly. The collection box is under the library table in the foyer.
--Ray and Clara Keim

On behalf of the Charles Wulliman Family, we all want to express our deepest appreciation for all the expressions of love and sympathy given to our family in the passing of our Husband/Father/Grandfather/ Mentor/Counselor and Friend, Charles Wulliman. The memorial service, your cards, gifts, prayers, words of comfort and encouragements have meant so very much. As usual, the “after funeral meal” was the exact menu that Charlie would have chosen for us all to enjoy around tables of memory sharing and fellowship. It was simply wonderful and the family is so grateful for all who brought food and worked so hard to make that time of closure so meaningful and satisfying. Thanks First Mennonite.

I want to personally thank you for all of your generous donations you gave to the Hope Clinic in January. It is awesome to see all of our shelves full of neat baby items. We are so grateful for the wonderful support of our local churches.
--Katie Sprunger, Hope Clinic