Newsweekly: 2/28/16

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Newsweekly for February 28

Local Events and Opportunities:

Encore!, an EMU music department alumni group, along with musical collaborations with faculty and students, will perform a free and public concert on Saturday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. in Martin Chapel (Seminary building, EMU campus), in honor of retiring University President Loren Swartzendruber.

Shenandoah Valley Men's Chorus: You are invited to attend the following concerts featuring a variety of men’s a cappella music: hymns, anthems, gospel songs, and spirituals. Sunday, February 28, 3:00 P.M. at Eastern Mennonite School Auditorium (801 Parkwood Dr., Harrisonburg, VA) or Sunday, March 6, 7:00 P.M. at Strite Auditorium, Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (1475 Virginia Ave, Harrisonburg, VA). Proceeds from free-will off erings will benefit the mission service of Richard & Elsie Bowman, serving with Virginia Mennonite Missions in Lezhë, Albania.

This March we are fortunate that Harrisonburg is on the touring schedules of the select choirs from both Hesston College and Bluffton University. We invite you to attend a performance and enjoy the music of these excellent musicians. Admission is free to both concerts, with a free will offering taken to support the music programs of the respective schools.

  • The Hesston College Bel Canto Singers, including EMHS alumni Kiara Boettger, Elliott Leichty, Kathryn Leichty, Caleb Schrock-Hurst, Rachel Shenk, and Andry Stutzman, will give a concert at Park View Mennonite Church at 2:00pm on Sunday, March 6. The program entitled Transform Our Lives features works by Stephen Paulus, Moses Hogan, Vijay Singh, Jake Runestad, and Alice Parker, among others, and is inspired by the paradox of our faith journey. The 23-member, mixed chamber choir is conducted by Dr. Russell Adrian and accompanied by Ken Rodgers. Bel Canto Singers will also sing during worship at Lindale Mennonite Church on Sunday, March 6 at 10:30am and in chapel at Eastern Mennonite School on Monday, March 7.
  • The Bluffton University Camerata Singers concert will be at 7:00pm in the EMHS auditorium on Tuesday, March 8. The 30-member, select choral ensemble, conducted by Dr. Mark J. Suderman, will perform the program, Songs of Praise and Love, featuring sacred choral music from the Renaissance period through to the present with repertoire from a variety of styles and genres. The choir will be accompanied by Ana Yoder Coulter and a number of student instrumentalists. EMHS alumnus Mary Bender is a member of the Camerata Singers. Park View Mennonite Church and Eastern Mennonite School are jointly sponsoring this concert. If you have interest in hosting students during their stay in Harrisonburg, please contact Lisa Mast at Park View Mennonite Church.  lisa@pvmchurch.org  (540) 421-3597. You can also sign up directly and find complete information about hosting by going to http://tinyurl.com/hnnbfm6

The Board of Virginia Mennonite Missions is seeking nominations for three at-large Board members. The 15-member Board of Directors is made up of a representative from each of the nine districts of Virginia Mennonite Conference, as well as six at-large members. This diverse group of men and women represents a range of vocational callings, both rural and urban communities, and various racial and ethnic backgrounds. They share a common commitment to steward the vision and resources of VMMissions to make disciples in the way of Christ. VMMissions is strongly committed to building a board that better reflects the racial, cultural and gender diversity of God’s global community. Learn more at http://vmmissions.org/u/br5

Jerry Holsopple, EMU Visual and Communication Arts professor, is exhibiting at the Margaret Martin Gehman Gallery through March 4. Holsopple's project is in response to the serial sexual abuse by John Howard Yoder and the legacy of pain he left behind. (Yoder was an American theologian and ethicist best known for his defense of Christian pacifism.) The title "Seven Times Seven" is a twist on the biblical text about forgiveness (seventy times seventy).

The Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale will be celebrating its 50th sale this year!  If you have pictures of some of the early sales that you would be interested in sharing, please email 50yearsofsales@gmail.com.

The traveling history exhibit “Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery” is currently open at Eastern Mennonite University’s Campus Center through March 2. Mennonite Central Committee, which sponsors the exhibit, will also be on campus Wednesday, March 2, for a chapel presentation in Lehman Auditorium at 10 a.m. and a participatory workshop, “The Loss of Turtle Island,” from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Campus Center Greeting Hall. The discovery doctrine is the controversial concept of international law set by the US Supreme Court in 1823 that supports the way in which colonial powers claimed land belonging to indigenous peoples.

Eastern Mennonite University invites you to Amazed with Grace, a program of Medieval and Contemporary scripture, poetry, and song on Friday, March 4, 7 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, 7882 Main St., Middletown, VA. The Emulate Chamber Ensemble is an intimate vocal ensemble, specializing in jazz; modern, and contemporary concert literature, both secular and sacred. The ensemble was founded and directed by assistant professor of music, Dr. Ryan Keebaugh.

Come and enjoy an evening of fun and facts about what God is doing through Rehoboth Mennonite Church's prison ministry at the Rehoboth Jail and Prison Ministry Banquet, March 5, 4:00 pm at Mountain View Mennonite Church 55 Love Road, Lyndhurst, Va. See the attached flyer.

Diane Marin from New Song Fellowship is starting a new ministry called “Biblical Story Telling” and will have a video/audio taping at Alive Studios in the MennoMedia building, Sunday, March 6 at 2 pm. Children ages 5-100 are welcome to be part of the live studio audience. Doors will close at 1:50 to begin taping.

Hear two very talented singing groups at a Bridge of Hope Benefit Concert, Friday, March 18. The Walking Roots Band, a Harrisonburg-based folk/bluegrass roots band, and Into Hymn, JMU's only all-female accapella Christian singing group, will perform! The concert will be held at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church beginning at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $10 a piece and all proceeds will benefit Bridge of Hope, a local ministry serving homeless & at-risk single mothers and their children in the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Co. area. For ticket information please call 540-478-2356.

Leading into the Common Good: an Anabaptist Perspective is a conference for practitioners, scholars and students. Come join us to discuss a future leadership paradigm. The workshop topics are Emergent Leadership, Leading Innovation, People Management Ethics, Developing Resilient Organizations, and Authentic Leadership. The first session begins Thursday, April 7 and continues through noon Saturday, April 9.  For registration and more information: emu.edu/leadership-conference

EMU leadership conference to create a new paradigm of “Leading into the Common Good.” Author and speaker Peter Block headlines a list of notable speakers for “Leading into the Common Good: An Anabaptist Perspective,” a conference for practitioners, scholars and students April 7-9, 2016, at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU). Block, a well-known expert on organizational development, community building and civic engagement, will address the conference live via video. Many other speakers and workshop leaders will provide input over the two days. Learn more at  http://emu.edu/now/news/2016/02/emu-leadership-conference-to-create-a-new-paradigm-of-leading-into-the-common-good/

On Saturday, April 16th, 2016 Shenandoah Valley Autism Partnership & JMU will join together to host the 9th annual 5K Run/Walk for Autism at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va.  The event is being sponsored by community organizations around the Shenandoah Valley to help support the many families touched by the ever growing epidemic of autism.   The event has chip timing and over 1,000 participants in the past. Jim Bishop will once again emcee the event and anyone is welcome to join Team Jacob Hummel for the team rate.  Any questions, please contact Jenny Hummel 540-246-8925

"Holy and Beloved" is a gathering for women who minister in many ways.  Come to share your passions and encourage each other on April 16, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Discipleship Center, Eastern Mennonite University. The day includes worship, workshops and lunch.  Cost is $20 and childcare is provided. www.emu.edu/seminary/women-in-ministry.

Does your Sunday school class or small group desire some interesting and serious Bible study material? Herald Press has published Creating a Scene in Corinth by Reta Halteman Finger, which uses simulation to recreate a house church of slaves, masters, and ordinary workers who listen to the letter we call First Corinthians. It’s full of juicy topics—leadership problems, sex, lawsuits, marriage, food fights, raucous worship services, and much more. Not everyone will agree with Paul—which makes for a lively discussion. Not sure how to get started? Reta lives in the Harrisonburg area and is happy to introduce your study group to the book and help you understand how this informal role-play works. It will work best with at least eight participants. You will never read First Corinthians the same way again! Contact Reta at LFinger@Messiah.edu or find the book at HeraldPress.com.

Employment and Volunteer Opportunities:

Eastern Mennonite School is seeking a Dining Hall prep cook and dishwasher position. This position is part time with benefits, working approximately 30-35 hours when school is in session, with occasional evening and summer work for catered events and banquets. Job is available immediately. Applicants must be able to lift 40+ pounds and spend a large amount of time on feet. A complete job description and downloadable application are available at http://emhs.net/aboutems/employment.html or email stoltzfusm@emhs.net.

The Board of Virginia Mennonite Missions is seeking nominations for three at-large Board members. The 15-member Board of Directors is made up of a representative from each of the nine districts of Virginia Mennonite Conference, as well as six at-large members. This diverse group of men and women represents a range of vocational callings, both rural and urban communities, and various racial and ethnic backgrounds. They share a common commitment to steward the vision and resources of VMMissions to make disciples in the way of Christ. VMMissions is strongly committed to building a board that better reflects the racial, cultural and gender diversity of God’s global community. Learn more at http://vmmissions.org/u/br5

Virginia Mennonite Missions Prayer Request:

February 28

Lift up Joyce Crissman and her work with the Waynesboro Mennonite Church Kids Club program. Pray for new and deeper connections to the local community.

Community Mennonite Church
70 South High Street Harrisonburg, VA
office@cmcva.org
540-433-2148