Local Events and Opportunities
- Women Doing Theology Conference to be held in February 20-22, 2014. Mennonite Church USA and several of co-sponsors invite Mennonite women from across the country to come together in Leesburg, Virginia (near Washington D.C.) February 20-22, 2014 for a conference, titled “All you need is love: Honoring diversity in women’s voices in theology.” In a spirit of grace, participants will together contemplate what it means to love as Christians in the midst of a world rife with struggle and oppression. The gathering will include time for theological work in several creative forms. It will provide space that encourages strong relationships between women in the church and honors various vocations from which theological work is done: academic, pastoral, community organizing, etc. Women’s unique voices and perspectives will be explored. Capable hearts and minds will together contemplate the gifts and challenges that diversity presents to the church and how we might engage these while remaining committed to one another in love. Ideas and relationships that will be important to the future of the church will be shared and nurtured. Space will be offered for worship, storytelling, theological reflection. For more information and to register: http://www.mennoniteusa.org/executive-board/women-in-leadership-project/womens-conference-all-you-need-is-love/
- Make sense of your Medicare choices
“Retiring Soon? An introduction to Medicare” will be presented at the Everence Financial office in Harrisonburg the first Tuesday of each month from January through June (6 – 7 p.m.). Representatives from Everence will speak on Medicare, provide instructions on how to enroll, explain how continuing to work affects your benefits, and answer related questions. For more information contact Derek Blyer at (540) 437-7422 or derek.blyer@everence.com. RSVPs are requested but not required. - On January 13 the ACRS breakfast series features Carolyn Yoder and Elaine Zook Barge, the first two directors of STAR, to tell the story of this unique program which brings together the latest understanding of trauma with our vision of a peace that heals, a peace in which truth, justice and mercy meet. September 11, 2001! While the President and his advisers planned a war of retaliation, Church World Service and EMU's Center for Justice and Peace-building planned a response of healing. How to cope with trauma? How to activate the vision of peace-building amid fear and angry anxiety? Together they planned Seminars of Trauma Awareness and Resilience–STAR. These seminars have brought together religious and civil society leaders from around the world. Since 2002 STAR has offered this training and this vision to some 10,000 persons and has given a new focus to peace-building and doing justice. Where might STAR lead the Mennonite Church in the next decade and beyond? Join us for the discussion.
- Valley Mennonite Church League will be having an organizational meeting for basketball on Tuesday, January 21, 7:00pm at Mennonite Media Ministries. If your church would like to have a team please have a representative attend this meeting. If you would like to play please contact (insert name of your rep or basketball manager if you have one) your church VMCL representative or basketball manager. For more information please contact Denise Sauder, 607-6392 or saudcdb@aol.com.
- The Park View Mennonite Church (PVMC) Women are scheduling a workday on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2014, for members of PVMC, and others, to knot comforters for MCC.The schedule for January 15 in the PVMC Fireplace Room is: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. or 5:30-8:00 p.m.Bring your own bag lunch, beverage provided. If you can attend, please notify: Margaret Smeltzer 433-3615; Bonnie Zook 434-5458 or Dorothy Logan 434-1298 for planning purposes. In addition, PVMC will be sending hygiene kits along with the completed comforters to MCC.If you would like to send items along for a kit, bring them to the Fireplace Room at PVMC on January 15.Contents for a kit are: 1 toothbrush (adult size in wrapper); 1 squeeze-tube toothpaste (minimum 130 mi/6oz; leave in box; 1 large bar of bath soap; 1 fingernail clipper (good quality); 1 hand towel (larger than fingertip; dark color).
Employment Opportunity:
Eastern Mennonite University is seeking applicants for an Assistant Director of Communications position for the Washington Community Scholars’ Center (WCSC). Excellent verbal and written communication skills required. Experience with recruitment, college student relations, urban culture, and working with social media preferred. Responsibilities include recruitment of students, represent the WCSC program in the broader DC community, and serve as a liaison between EMU and the WCSC program, and direct program publicity. The position works closely with the director in long range planning processes and leadership programming. Position located in Washington D.C. Start date January 2014. Submit application, resume, and three references to: hr@emu.edu. For more information visit our website at www.emu.edu/humanresources <http://www.emu.edu/humanresources> . Persons who bring diversity are encouraged to apply. EOE.
VOLUNTEERS Needed:
- Our Community Place (OCP) has two open volunteer positions: Morning hospitality early opener (Monday and Wednesday mornings 7-8:45am – opening building with 2 or 3 OCP members and setting up light breakfast, starting fire, and opening doors for hospitality at 7:30.) and Front desk "concierge" position (Monday 8:30am – 2:00pm or Thursday 2:45 – 8:00pm.) Will be trained by Ron with four other volunteers. Six-month commitment preferred.
- Do you have an interest in reaching out to Harrisonburg’s homeless? OCP is seeking individual as well as group volunteers to welcome and greet our homeless friends 7am – 9am during the months of November through April 1. This will allow the community center to be available earlier to those without shelter during these cold months. As a Greeter you will arrive by 7am, lay out a light breakfast with coffee, and open the doors by 7:30am for community members. We are asking for a commitment of at least one morning a week, Monday – Wednesday, until April. Your time will be greatly appreciated.
- Volunteer drivers are needed to deliver Meals on Wheels to seniors in the Harrisonburg area. Time of delivery is 10:00-11:30 am from the Price Rotary Senior Center, 305 Dogwood Drive, Harrisonburg. If interested, please call: Dawn Shull, Valley Program for Aging Services volunteer coordinator, at 540-383-6855.
Upcoming Virginia Mennonite Conference Retreats:
2014 Youth Workers Retreat <http://virginiaconference.org/ministries/youth-ministry/2014-youth-workers-retreat/>
January 24-26, 2014
Williamsburg Christian Retreat Center
Speaker: Almeda Wright
"Fostering Everyday, Everwhere Faith." Increasingly, faith is viewed as something that only impacts our Sunday mornings and personal prayers. Dr. Almeda Wright will explore with us how we can model a Christianity that impacts every day and every element of our lives. Registration deadline: January 6. Learn more. <http://virginiaconference.org/ministries/youth-ministry/2014-youth-workers-retreat/>
2. 2014 Senior High Retreat <http://virginiaconference.org/ministries/youth-ministry/2014-senior-high-retreat/>
February 7-9, 2014
Red Oak Lodge, Highland Retreat
Speakers: Duane Beck and Lana Miller
"Amazing Grace: Our Relationships, Our Sexuality." We are made in the image of God – a God who desires relationship and created us for relationship. The great commandment is to love God and neighbor as self. Jesus said his new commandment is “to love one another as I have loved you.” What do healthy relationships look like? How does our sexuality mix into all this? And where does Jesus fit in the scheme of things? Registration deadline: January 9. Learn more. <http://virginiaconference.org/ministries/youth-ministry/2014-senior-high-retreat/>
2014 <http://virginiaconference.org/news/2014-ministry-retreat/> Ministry Retreat <http://virginiaconference.org/news/2014-ministry-retreat/>
February 28-March 2, 2014
Williamsburg Christian Retreat Center
Speaker: Mary Thiessen Nation
We who are in ministry often care for ones whose lives and assumptions are shattered by traumatic experiences. This weekend retreat on “Trauma, Hope and Healing” will help us not trivialize the painful wrestling of those involved in trauma but respond rightly with an honest, textured theology and authentic, robust hope. Plus, the peaceful setting and relaxed schedule offers us times of restoration and conversation with peers! Registration deadline: February 7. Learn more. <http://virginiaconference.org/news/2014-ministry-retreat/>
VMM Prayer News
January 12
Today Aaron Kauffman is commissioned for his role as Virginia Mennonite Missions president. Everyone is invited to Zion Mennonite Church, 6:00 p.m. for this service. Pray for Aaron as he serves God and the church in this way.
Pray for Mennonite Mission Network’s Mike and Teresa Sherrill and their three children in Japan. Mike works as chaplain and associate professor of Christian Studies at a women’s junior college. Teresa, co-pastor at West Tokyo Union Church, also ministers through hospitality and family ministries.