WESTERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE
SPROUTS
August 4, 2015
A weekly communication for:
WDC Churches and Pastors
WDC Executive Board, Commission, Committee and Task Force members
Any content may be used in bulletins and newsletters and forwarded to congregational leaders and members.
WDC Sprouts is also available at: www.mennowdc.org (Publications)
IN THIS ISSUE:
*Making Sermons Stick in the Brains of Congregants
*Announcements
Making Sermons Stick in the Brains of Congregants
by Jeanette Roberts, Interim Resource Librarian
Do you want your listeners to think beyond an emotional tug and wondering whether you’ll finish the sermon before the big game starts?
Read Truth That Sticks: How to Communicate Velcro Truth in a Teflon World, by Avery T. Willis, Jr. and Mark Snowden. Understanding how the brain works, they propose different methods of storying (the entire process of oral and visual communication; engaging the memory senses) and discipling (individual, small group, large group).
In a very readable book that sparks ideas, the authors help pastors and other leaders fire on all cylinders as they share the message. Note: The Sticky Faith titles in the list below complement this book. Also, visit this site: story4all.com.
**Check out the growing list of books by subject at the Conference Resource Library! Go to: http://mennowdc.booksys.net/opac/crl/index.html?mode=start#menuHome,click the LIST tab. New lists include: Faith Formation-Leadership, Church Planting, New Books at the WDC Resource Library, Sticky Faith. We would be happy to mail resources upon request! Contact us at crlib@mennowdc.org/316-283-6300/
WDC Announcements
- Program information and registration forms for this year’s Womens/Girls Retreat at Camp Mennoscah, Sept. 11-13, have been sent to each church and are available from the church office. Discounts are available for early registration, so register now! The speaker is Nadine Friesen speaking on the topic of: Joy! It’s More than a Detergent! Come one or both days for fellowship, seminars, campfire, food and fun!
- Western District Conference is on Facebook – check us out and LIKE us!
- Pastor Simon from the Chin Emmanuel Church in Houston, TX reports that his native land/state Chin, Myanmar has had heavy rain and flooding which has destroyed many houses and resulted in landslides. Read about this at: http:// chinlandguardian.com and m.irrawaddy.org. Prayers are requested for this situation.
- The Camp Mennoscah Camp Sing is NOW (or almost now)! Everyone is invited to come to the Camp Sing at 6pm on August 9 at Grace Hill Mennonite Church in Whitewater to sing camp songs (or to listen), have generic pop and popcorn, and raise funds for toilets for the new bath houses. An offering will be taken for the toilets ($250 each). A limited number of Camp Sing tee shirts will be available. Contact Camp Mennoscah at 620-297-3290 with questions. Bring your friends, bring your parents, and remind your camp friends to be there!
- Camp Mennoscah’s Mental Health Spiritual Retreat for individuals, family, and friends affected by mental illness is Sept. 6-7. The theme is Power Up! and activities include fellowship, worship, music, speakers, and a hayrack ride. A nurse will be on site for this retreat. Scholarships are available. For scholarship information, contact Camp Mennoscah at 620-297-3290 or office@campmennoscah.org. A brochure can be found online at www.campmennoscah.org in Retreats.
- The fun is never over! Our summer youth camps may be finished, but there are still things to do and fun to have. Work & Play Camp for folks of all ages will start with Camp Mennoscah’s annual meeting on September 20 (and the unveiling of the new disc golf course) and run through the 23rd. Donations welcome, no camp fees apply. We work, we chat, we have coffee and snacks. There will be tasks for all skills and abilities. Choose your own project and how much you want to work. Contact us at office@campmennoscah.org or 620-297-3290 for more information or to register.
Mennonite Church Announcements
- There is an upcoming opportunity to participate in an anti-racism analysis training. The Newton Community for Racial Justice, an open group of Newton-area citizens, is organizing an anti-racism analysis training in Newton on October 2-4. The training will be facilitated by Roots of Justice. See the attachment for details about the training, sponsorship and registration. The early registration deadline is August 14.
- Unique Opportunity! Interested in a 20 lb. case of fresh peaches from Palisade, Colorado? Call the Mennonite Central Committee Central States office by August 14 (316.283.2720) to place your order. Each case is $35. Peaches will be available for pick up on August 29. This is not an MCC fund-raiser, simply an opportunity for you to get some delicious peaches. Got questions? Give us a call!
- MCC Mobile Cannery Dedication – you are invited to join MCC on Friday, August 28 to dedicate the new cannery. A meal will be served at 5:30pm (please RSVP by Aug. 14 to 316.283.2720/denisevoth@mcc.org), a free will offering will be taken to help cover costs. A service of dedication will take place at 7:30pm (no RSVP necessary). All events will take place at the MCC Center in North Newton, 121 E. 30th Street. Every year the MCC Mobile Meat Canner travels across the United States and Canada meeting volunteers who prepare cans of turkey, beef, chicken and pork to be sent around the world. Annually, over 30,000 people volunteer to make this work happen. Join us to dedicate the brand new canner as the 2015/16 canning season gets underway.
Western District Conference
2517 North Main, PO Box 306
North Newton KS 67117
316-283-6300; FAX: 316-283-0620
Email: wdc@mennowdc.org
Website: www.mennowdc.org