Scripture: Living and Active

Scripture: Living and Active
Our most significant scriptures are marked with post it notes.

Continuing the work of Jesus, simply, peacefully, JOYFULLY, together.

We gather for worship at 9:30 am on Sunday.
Children go to Sunday school following their special time in worship, about 10:15 am.
Potluck is the first Sunday of the month.

17975 Centreville-Constantine Road, Constantine, MI 49042

florence.brethren.mennonite@gmail.com

Sunday, September 26, 2010

606 TAMALES! Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale



Ah! The last weekend in September is the Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale, to raise money for development work around the world.

Last Sunday after church we made 606 tamales, and sang "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow."



On Friday and Saturday of this weekend we quickly sold out! Lots of hard work, and lots of fun.



Thanks to ALL who helped!

Journey Learning Weekend at Amigo


Nora, Jane and I spent another full weekend at Amigo Centre this September for the Journey Program. This is our third and final years of leadership training together. As a mentor I walk alongside Nora and Jane as they are active in ministry and as we read and reflect together on their experiences.



As part of their learning Jane and Nora will be leading a Family Night at Florence during the first Thursday evenings of October, November and December. There families will have a chance to enjoy one another around a simple meal, time for homework and time to play games together.

We are grateful to Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Central District Conference and Indiana Michigan Conference for offering this training and making us part of the Journey community.

Instructor on the spiritual discipline of prayer: Eleanor Kreider --



Conference Ministers: Lois Kauffman (CDC) and Dan Miller (IN-MI)--



Amigo classroom --

Vibrant Rural Camp-In at Amigo



Due to the generousity of our "Well Endowed Aunt Lilly" (Lilly Clergy Renewal Grant), over fifty of the Florence flock spent Friday through Sunday of Labor Day weekend at Amigo Centre. This Mennonite camp offered us comfortable rooms with private baths, generous meals, the beauty of woods and lake, and many places to sit, talk, walk, canoe and play.

Our typical fall weekend away is tent camping across the lake at Amigo Park. So this more simple retreat felt like a true breather.

Saturday night entertainment was Karaoke, led by Dallie and Gary Nichols.


Sunday morning worship included the lakeside baptism of Nora followed by communion.


I enjoyed my "Lucy Booth." Under my beach umbrella I invited folks to come and tell me their passions for life. And I gave THEM five cents! For four hours on Saturday afternoon there was one person after another. I heard passions for family, fabric, teaching, local food, mending old wounds, and opening opportunities for Native Americans. One person asked me, "And Nina, what is your passion?" That was a gift.



My passion for conversations such as these hopefully gives me the chance to listen deeply for God's invitations in and through the Florence Friends. Despite protest -- ENOUGH PASSION, ALREADY -- I consider the Passion Booth and the weekend a fabulous success.

There are already new projects bubbling up out of these passions. Then we meet Frederick Buechner's vision for our part in God's mission:

THE PLACE GOD CALLS YOU
IS WHERE YOUR DEEP GLADNESS
(or passion)
AND THE WORLD'S HUNGER
MEET.