Mennonite Weekly Review

As the sun set on Good Friday, the Christ candle and peace lamp were the only light in the Lorraine Avenue Mennonite sanctuary. This began a 24-hour prayer vigil to help focus on Holy Week and to pray for peace. At least 33 people participated, covering most of the time period. The experience, with silence and darkness, was a meaningful way to prepare for Easter.

Filling our mouths with laughter and our tongues with shouts of joy, Holy Humor Sunday returned. Herr Harder led the singing, “the Grannies,” a previously unknown rap duo, offering up a lesson on Mennonite foods, and we had a new segment on Holy Confession, LAMC style, to name a few highlights. A very dramatic presentation of pennies collected for MCC in “Chute the Loot” was offered.

The first to fifth-grade classes participated in Peace Journey 2009 by raising money for Interfaith Ministries Go-Zones in Wichita, after school programs working with at-risk children. The Sunday school children baked cookies for a bake “sale” during fellowship hour, and more than $365 was collected.

Darrel Doerksen placed first in his age group in the MCC 5K Run at the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale. He collected $2,025.

LAMC welcomed seven new members at the annual Camp Mennoscah weekend, May 30-31. Those joining through confession of faith: Daryl Handlin, Stephanne Seals, Rhonda Woolard and Dwayne Schrag. Members received through baptism (in the Ninnescah River): Hillary Harder, Kerry Bitikofer and Kerry Hale.

Wedding: Joseph Schrag and Leah Rapp, April 25.

Wedding anniversaries: Judy and Nathan Ebersole, 25th, May 19; Dixie and Earl Schlabach, 30th, May 19; Darrel and Eunice Doerksen, 50th, May 26.

Graduations: Aspen Schmidt, Wichita East High School; Erin White and Laura Aronis, Bethel College; Andrew Ozor, master’s degree, University of Kansas.

Deaths: Lorraine Galle, April 5, and her sister, Kathryn Galle Vogt, April 14. Dwight Slade, April 17; survivors: spouse, Vera, children and grandchildren.