Announcements for the Congregation

WORSHIP – Relating to God

Christmas Eve: This year we are changing the traditions for the Christmas-New Year season. We will have a special service at Silverwood on Christmas Eve, and will not have a New Year’s Eve service. The Christmas Eve service will be a candle lighting service that is a series of “Lessons and Carols.” The “Lessons” are Scripture passages that prepares for the incarnation and birth of Jesus and that tell about his birth; the “Carols” are the songs that we love to sing of the joy that accompanies these Scripture passages. Reserve the early evening of Christmas for a time to remember who Christmas is all about.

DISCIPLING – Strengthening/Encouraging Relationships

Christmas Candy Collection: Looking for that perfect gift? Do you love to serve homemade Christmas candy for parties, but don’t have the time to make it? Purchase hand-dipped candy made by Silverwood’s Sr. youth!

2009 Candy Collection (per pound):

*Hand Dipped Chocolate Caramels ($8)

*Milk Chocolate Peanut Clusters ($7)

*Dark Chocolate Peanut Clusters ($7)

*White Chocolate Peanut Clusters ($7)

*Chocolate Peanut Brittle Crunch ($7)

*Peanut Brittle ($7)

Pre-orders are due by November 15 to Janice Troyer or Cheryl Schwartz. Make checks payable to Silverwood.

You can also help by taking an order form and flyer to your place of work, or by signing up on the volunteer board to help make candy on December 5.

COMMUNITY LIFE – Relating to Each Other

Alternative Christmas Gift Giving: The Sustainability Forum will have an Alternative Christmas Gift Giving  display set up in the fellowship hall on Sunday, November 8.  We will have resources from a number of organizations with suggestions of charitable gifts to give this holiday season in honor of those on your shopping list who already have everything they need. 

The Sustainability Forum has started a group page online that is available to Silverwood members and friends for discussing green/sustainability topics, share information and green tips, etc. You may post notes saying, for example, you have garden seeds you'd like to swap with someone or that you're looking to borrow a specific tool to avoid a one-time use purchase. Upcoming events will be listed on the group calendar. In lieu of paper handouts at our meetings, printed materials and resource information will be placed in the group files for easy access. NOTE: This is a limited access group—meaning access is not open to everyone using the internet. You may join at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SilverwoodSustainabilityForum/. Once you've joined you will be able to access the entire group page.

Family Movie Night! Mark your calendar for November 13. We will watch the movie Kit Kittredge: An American Girl. Please invite your friends and family to enjoy a movie night here, at Silverwood starting at 6pm. We’ll take donations to purchase pizza, and please bring munchies and snacks to share with it. All interested persons should contact Megan Eichorn and let her know how many people from your family will attend, so we are sure to order enough pizza.  You may email her at or call her at 534-2451. (More about the movie at www.kitkittredge.com/ .)

Attention Moms!  Do you worry about your children?  Come experience how you can replace your anxiety and fear with peace and hope by praying with other moms.  Moms In Touch International gathers moms together to pray specifically and scripturally for our children and school.  Won’t you join with us in prayer for this next generation?  Gail Shetler leads the moms who pray for the staff and students of Goshen . The GMS group meets Monday mornings at 8:30 at Silverwood .  Please contact Gail if you would like more information at 534-5446 or Don't know if your school has a MIT's group?  For more information about Moms In Touch International and to locate a specific school, visit www.MomsInTouch.org. Mennonite Church Middle School .

OUTREACH – Relating to the World

CANned Food Drive We CAN make a difference! Please bring CANned foods into the lobby every Sunday through the end of November. At the end of the month, Gail Janssen will build a “CANstruction” project with all the CANned goods. The more cans we bring the more creative he CAN be and the bigger difference we will make for those who are hungry in our community! Please note that for this specific food drive we are requesting only CANS. Thank you.

WMs Activities: We will meet at 9am on November 12 at the Church for a devotional on “A Life Worth Living” given by Gail Shetler. Afterwards we will go out to lunch together. Even if you do not attend WMs in the morning, please plan join us for lunch at the County Seat at 12:30pm. 

Please also note that there will be no sewing at the church in December, just our Christmas party at Marie Yoder’s house on December 3.

Free Christmas Shopping: A free Christmas shopping day for needy families is being organized by College Mennonite Church and will take place on December 12. Silverwood will be collecting gently used toys (puzzles, board games, sports equipment, craft items, dolls, cars, books, movies, video games, bikes, etc.) every Sunday through December 6. Items for ages 9-12 are especially needed. Please leave your gift items on or near the canned food table. If you prefer you may leave items in the Church office. Contacts: Carolyn Hertzler, 533-0657; Carol Grieser, 534-1328; Angie Hochstedler, 533-6870.

ADMINISTRATION – Supporting all areas

Severe Weather Protocol for 2009: The time of year has come, in which we think about having to cancel events due to weather. If we need to cancel Sunday morning worship or any other church-related event, we will follow the guidelines listed below:

1. An event will be canceled no later than two hours prior to the start of the event.

2. There will be a church email sent as soon as we make the decision to cancel. PLEASE CHECK THIS FIRST!

3. If you do not have email at home, you will be notified by way of the phone tree.

4. We will also notify WSBT (22), WNDU (16) & PULSE-FM (96.9 & 92.1).

If we are experiencing severe weather, please be sure to check these things before heading to church.