Celebrating birthdays this month are: Mike Hostetler (May 11), Nathanael Shue (May 13), Kytrena Hightree (May 15), Weston Schroeder and Ashli Yoder (May 16), Ethan Zimmerman (May 22), Jaden Zimmerman and Jerry Gerber (May 26), Pam Gerber (May 27).
Celebrating anniversaries: Jeff and Holly Potelle (May 19), 29 years; Keith and Donnis Land (May 21), Brad and Brenda Shue (May 24), 28 years; Jason and Nikki Hightree (May 3o), 16 years.
There is a new way to find out website on the web! Just type in www.pleasantvalleymennonite.com
and you will be at our home page. It is a much quicker short cut to our website!
This past Sunday we prayed for the youth in our congregation as they graduate from college and high school. Samantha Hostetler, who will be graduating from K-State on Saturday will be taking a job in Garden City, KS. Good luck to her! :) We also prayed for Josh Patterson, Cody Zabroski, and Sarah Masenthin as they will graduate on Saturday, May 17th. Josh Patterson will be attending Wichita State University; Cody and Sarah will both be going to Hesston College in the fall of '08.
Joel and Leslie Gerber did a skit about "Friendship Trek" regarding about how we can help with our time (serving as a counselor) and our money (scholarships for camp). Also there is a meeting on Tuesday night at 7:00 PM about Bible School Camp at Camp Mennoscah.
Bible School camp will be held in Murdock, KS (Camp Mennoscah). The dates are May 28-30th (check in is on Wednesday at 4:00--Thursday--Friday. Check out time is 4:00 PM). The camp fee is pre-register fee of $35.00. Registration after May 12 the cost is $40.00. Multiple child discount of $5.00 each. This will include grades 1st through 8th. If you couldn't attend the kick-off party, registration forms can be picked up at the church office or Harper Elementary School. If you have additional questions, please call the Pleasant Valley Church office at (620-896-2004).
We are trying to finish up the planning for the upcoming Bible School on May 28th - 30th. Brad Shue has agreed to help with the Jr. High SWEAT project, but we still need one or two more people to assist him with that group. Let me know right away if you are interested in helping. It looks like their project will be in Harper or Anthony, so even if you need to meet them on site, that would work. Thanks!
Dick Busby (our terrific choir director/Sunday School teacher of the Excelsior Class) has accepted the pastorship offer at Freeport Presbyterian Church. Dick will also be retiring from teaching. His last concert that he will be conducting is Thursday, May 15, at 7 PM at CHS. Many of his former students will also be singing at this concert. Please attend!!
The last MYF/JYF meal is May 14th. Faith Penner thanked everyone who has helped during the past year by either serving a meal, contributing food, or cooking a meal.
Be sure to read "Mennonite Weekly Review," in the May 12th, edition. Our congregational report is in this edition! The paper will be available in our library by Sunday!
Pastor Bob started off a month long series about the four basic elements of prayer and how to apply them in ways that will invigorate and deepen our prayer lives. He will be using the ACTS model of prayer (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication). Please pick up a prayer journal (in your mailbox) and follwo along with our series by spending daily devotional time practicing each aspect of prayer.
Other college graduates include: Samantha Hostetler from Kansas State University on May 17th; and Jessica Reber from the University of Kansas on May 18th.
Graduating from CHS on May 17th will be: Cooper Teel, Brittany DuVall, Sarah Masenthin, Josh Patterson, Kyle Vogt, Cody Zabroski, and Keith Zehr. Graduating from Harper Grade School on May 19 will be: Ryan Masenthin, Scotty McCartney, Logan Zimmerman, Braeden McCann, and Ali Jaeger.
Church Family, Please note that on May 18th there will be a carry in dinner and baby shower for
Jordan & Kristen Brown’s son Cayden.
Erin Bontrager and Nathan Ramer will be getting married on Saturday, May 24th at 4:00 PM at Shore Mennonite Church in Shipshewana, Indiana. They are registered at Target and Bed/Bath and Beyond. They will be having a reception at Pleasant Valley on June 14, 2008 from 5--7 pm. Supper will be served.
There are 13 people signed up for CPR training. Kim Kauffman has stated the time for these classes: June 14th 8:00--12:00 PM and June 28th, 8:00--12:00 PM. We have 13 signed up on the list and only need 5 to 6 more people to lock in a date. We need to stress how important it is for you to show up if you commit. Please contanct kim at 896-2730 or email her at kimk@deweze.com Cost is $20.00 for materials.
The outside cross to the entrance has been removed. This is phase one to our remodeling efforts. Watch for more improvements within the week and weeks to come. Watch the transformation of the new entrance of our church!! We have also planted new trees in our east lot. Also the BYKOTA room now has new carpeting and painting! Other plans include the building of a basketball court/volleyball court. Exciting new things are going on at our church watch for the changes!! Kitchen improvements will begin in June and run through July!
The 2008 PV Mennonite Cookbook has gone to press! The cookbook will cost $15.00. It will be a 3-ring binder, featuring pictures of the quilts of PV Church. We have a sign up sheet on the bulletin board. We will order a limited edition of 300 books, with plans to reorder. If you know of anyone who hasn't signed up to get a cookbook or someone who is a collector of church cookbooks please sign the sheet. The payment will not be due until you get your books! The cookbook will be out in June. Profits for the cookbook will be going toward the kitchen fund. Thanks for everyone who contributed recipes and helped out with the process.
The Outreach Ministry would like to see if there is an interest in the congregation to provide Hospitality Meals to our visitors. If you have an interest and would like to sign up for 1 month or even split a month with another family that would be great. Your responsibility would be to greet and invite a guest at church that day to lunch. This can be at your home or take them out. If they cannot go that day, you might offer the next time they come or arrange for another time. Statistics have shown that the percent of visitors that come back to Church increases when this type of personal contact from the congregation is made. You would be reminded on the same sheets that go into your mailboxes when you are worship leader, or greeters, etc. If this interestes you, please choose a month or share a month. If you have any questions please contact Cheryl Ramer, Roger Masenthin, or Kim Kauffman.
For MDS opportunities and information click on this Link.
Darlene Bontrager is a consultant for Mary Kay Cosmetics.
Have you vistied the PV Church Library lately? Our librarian, Kim Bauer, has stocked the shelves with many children's books, and other authors include but not limited to: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Becky Spencer, Janette Oke, Lori Wick and Carol Duerksen and Maynard Knepp. At the PV library, please fill out the register with your book (s) selection and enjoy. There are no past due fees. Keep the book as long as you like (within reason). There are also a number of selected VHS tapes at the library. There are at least three Karen Kingbury books (2 are checked out) in the library. Drop by and visit your church library today!
Have you ever wanted to learn how to play the guitar but didn't know who could give you lessons? Just pick up the phone or email to contact Randy Kauffman for lessons.
Pleasant Valley's Past History
Prior to the 1970's, Pleasant Valley and other Harper churches--Assembly of God, Chicaskia Baptist, Crystal Springs Mennonite, First Methodist, First Presbyterian, and United Missionary--combined resources and pupils in a union Bible School. Pleasant Vally has sponsored an annual Bible school at Camp Mennoscah for children in grades one through eight. Those who return year after year assert that PV's Bible school has evolved into a ministry for all ages. Persons from the congregation volunteer as counselors, cooks, teachers, babysistters, medical staff and as leaders of recreation, music, and crafts. The warmth of fellowship during this time are indeed a significant mark of "passing on the faith to our children."