April 2012

The following congregations have provided Holy Week service information for The Icon. Churches not listed may send their workshop schedule to [email protected].

Good Friday community service

Each year, the Bluffton Area Ministerial Association plans an ecumenical Good Friday service.

"We begin by carrying a cross to local Bluffton Area Ministerial Association churches, pausing to pray at each church entrance," said Louise Wideman.

By Mitchell Gatzke

The Detroit Red Wings are preparing for the National Hockey League playoffs for the 21st consecutive season, by far the longest current streak in the league. Before they embark on their journey to the Stanley Cup Finals though, they have three more regular season games left to play.

In appreciation for our customers and in honor of Community Banking Month, every Citizens National Bank office will be serving cake to its customers on Friday, April 27, during normal business hours.

April is Community Banking Month, and members of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) and Citizens National Bank are celebrating the role that community banks play in the economic, civic and cultural life of their communities in cities and towns throughout America.

Tickets are available from several Bluffton businesses and members of a Bluffton Relay for Life team for a Bluffton's Relay for Life raffle.

Prizes include:

o Create your own weekend getaway, a $500 value, provided by Bluffton Travel Agency and Great Connections Logistics, Inc.

o Six months of tanning or skin rejuvenation, a $350 value, provided by Polished Nail and Body Salon.

oFlower arrangement of the month club, a $420 value, provided by Panache Floral and Interiors.

Tickets are $5 each or three for $10.

Russ Wekler "The Drum Guy" on the right

Last week strange sounds erupted from a large gathering room at Maple Crest - the booming of a bass drum, peals of laughter, shrieks and screams and infectious giggles.

What in the world was going on in there? "The Drum Guy" (Russ Welker) was leading a drum circle for residents, and everyone was responding to his enthusiasm.

Welker has played drum "on the side" for most of his life, but since 2009, he's been involved in a "dream job" - playing around with drums as his sole employment and seeing his love for "the beat" bring joy and relaxation to others.

Each year, the Bluffton Area Ministerial Association plans an ecumenical Good Friday service.

"We begin by carrying a cross to local Bluffton Area Ministerial Association churches, pausing to pray at each church entrance," said Louise Wideman.

This year the processional will begin at the English Lutheran Church at 11:30 a.m. From there, the cross will be carried to St. John's United Church of Christ, then to St. Mary's Catholic Church, to the Bluffton Presbyterian Church, Bluffton First United Methodist Church and finally to First Mennonite Church.

DI 47 - Should we assume DI was born in 1947? The Icon spotted this plate in the Bluffton parking lot on the east side of Main Street.

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Here's a Bluffton scouting snapshot that we've never seen.

The photo shows member of Bluffton Boy Scout Troop #56 in the summer of 1944. The photo was taken in front of the Bluffton grade school, likely before departing for a week of summer camp at Shawnee Camps, now Camp Lakota, near Defiance.

Back row: Scoutmaster A.C. Burcky

Second row from left: Assistant scoutmaster Charles Triplehorn, Ronald Diller, Gene Patterson, and assistant scoutmaster Donivan Augsburger.

Icon viewer Richard Goodenbour sent us this interesting photo of the Bluffton sky as he viewed it eariler in the week. The photo shows East College Avenue at the bridge near Triplett Drive.

Trinity Lutheran School, Jenera, finished their basketball season with tournament play.

The boys won the consolation game at the Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Saginaw, tournament and placed third in the league tournament at Huron Valley Lutheran High School, Westland, Michigan.

The girls won the consolation game at HVL. Avery Insley and Emily Heldman were named to the All-Tournament Team and the school received the Sportsmanship Award for demonstrating good Christian sportsmanship both on and off the court.

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